Discovering a love for cricket while growing up in Bendigo, Cailin Green didn't have many female cricket role models. Now, as she completes a year-long placement at Northeast Health Wangaratta as part of her medical degree, the Carlton Women's Premier Firsts vice-captain will offer just that to young local cricketers. She's lending her experience as an assistant coach with the North East Knights under 15 girls' squad, which will be overseen by Wangaratta and Carlton cricketer Sienna Sims, with fellow Wangaratta product and Carlton player Grace Kerwin taking on an assistant coaching role during the carnival. Green, 22, has been involved over the last couple of years with Northern Rivers - her home region's cricket development equivalent of the North East Knights - and when she knew she would be based in Wangaratta this year, offered her services to the local squad. "I played with the boys all through my junior cricket in Bendigo, and you didn't see many girls playing; I didn't know the pathways until I had contact with Carlton," she said. "You can't be what you can't see, so it's nice to see female coaches working with the girls. "I thought, while I'm here, I'd like to be involved." In addition to the North East Knights connection, she is hoping to do some coaching during her local stay with Wangaratta-Magpies, where Carlton clubmates Sims and Kerwin have previously played. Green has close connections to the Wangaratta area beyond her medical studies; her mum Fiona grew up here, grandparents Peter and Kate Murray still live in the rural city, and father Barry is a former director with the Rural City of Wangaratta. While she had a taste of cricket in primary school, it was a couple of years later when one of her friends encouraged her to play with Bendigo Cricket Club. "I was in year eight, and there were four girls in a team of boys," she said. She attended cricket coaching clinics where she came under the tutelage of former Australian Test cricketer Graham Yallop, who she credits with teaching her "everything about cricket", and represented Northern Rivers in the under 16 state championships two years after taking up the game. "I played with Bendigo until I was 16 and then moved to Carlton-Brunswick (a Premier 1st XI club in 2018-'19 which became Carlton in 2021-'22)," Green said. Fully committing to Premier Cricket, she travelled to play and train, and grew accustomed to the long, straight road between Bendigo and Melbourne, first with her parents and then on her own when she gained her licence. It's a tough gig for young country cricketers, travelling long distances for a game where their day can sometimes be over with an early dismissal; they and their families are driven only by a passion for the game and a desire to hone their skills. Initially selected in Carlton's line-up as a batter, Green worked to win opportunity with the ball, and now considers herself an all-rounder (last season, she took 4/15 in a T20 against Box Hill). In 2020, she was selected in Cricket Victoria's under 19 female emerging performance squad, playing with the under 19 Victorian country team against the likes of Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll and in showcase practice matches against the Victorian women's team, and learning lots along the way. She was named Carlton's firsts team champion in season 2023-'24, when she was also runner-up for the Una Paisley Medal (the highest individual honour for Victorian Women's Premier Cricket), missing out by just one vote. She's now had five years with Carlton, which she considers her second home. "One of the best things is that we make it so incredibly fun," Green said. "We're obviously serious about our cricket, but you've got to love the people you're spending so many hours with, and we do. "We're good at getting each other up when we need to during a game, because we know what our teammates need, and the fact that we all like to hang out together afterwards tells you something too. "I really found my people - these girls are exactly like me, and we have such a team spirit and have each other's backs." Six months into her stay in Wangaratta's University of Melbourne student accommodation, having completed her first year of study in Parkville, Green is also enjoying the balance of life as a medical student and cricketer. Pre-season training kicked off last weekend at Carlton, and she's taken time while here to explore the North East with fellow students, as well as drawing on the knowledge of staff at Northeast Health Wangaratta. "I had heard that the hospital had a great reputation for training, and everyone has been so welcoming," she said. “The nurse clinical educators - experienced nurses who help run all our simulators and procedural skill classes - are the biggest support for the medical students at the hospital. "The clinical education here is so good, and the doctors have so much time for you and put a lot of effort into making us be good and safe doctors. "All of the teachers I've had have been amazing, including Diana (Gaitan Carvajal) and Paul (Molina Chavez), Kate Davey, who teaches us how to talk and think like a doctor, and Steve Bismire. "They are also passionate about work/life balance and the need to have a life outside work." Green will travel to Melbourne for Sunday games, and hopefully for one training session each week with her Carlton 'family'. She's enjoyed the chance to step into leadership positions and further develop her knowledge of the game in recent seasons, and said she hoped to build on that in 2025-'26. "Last season I captained when Erica (Kershaw, firsts captain) wasn't there," she said. "I love the tactics of cricket; figuring out puzzles is one of my favourite things, and it's similar to that." While she expects to head to Ballarat for her third year of studies in 2026, Green hopes to return to Wangaratta for her fourth year, in what could be another boon for female cricket in the region.
