Hard to get in recruiting': How Thunder managed to lure Barker back home

For the past six seasons, Lachlan Barker has been entrenched in Frankston's NBL1 South side.  But when the door opened for the 28-year-old to come home and change his on-court role with the North West Thunder, he could not say no.
Thunder coach Sam Armstrong had high praise for his new recruit - who is the third player to put pen to paper this off-season.  "I think first and foremost, it's exciting to get another North-West Coast player home, that's the real key to how we're going about our team," Armstrong said. "Someone of Lachie's calibre, they're hard to get in recruiting.  He's been such a pivotal part of Frankston's and their success and has a wealth of NBL experience. To get someone of his calibre is great."
The Somerset junior, who is no stranger to the Thunder program, played under Armstrong in 2019.  According to Armstrong, the 187-centimetre combo guard was eager to return to Coastal shores for one reason.  "This time around, with our style, I can offer Lachie a position that he wants to play and a role he wants to pursue.  He really wanted to come in and run a team and change his role from being such a prolific scorer to a leader.  And expand his game, that is the overarching thing - come in and change his role. I think we had the ability in our group to be able to work that in."
During his time with the Blues this season, Barker averaged 16.59 points, 2.41 assists and 1.95 rebounds across his 22 games.  He has also spent time in the NBL, and is currently contracted to the Tasmania JackJumpers.
Barker is the third player to commit to the Thunder for the upcoming season, joining Devonport's Kye Savage and Archie Woodhill.