Perth Lynx co-captain Anneli Maley is threatening to produce a WNBL triple-double after stunning run of form

Is Anneli Maley about to create history? The Perth Lynx co-captain is knocking on the door of setting Perth Lynx records after an incredible run of form in recent weeks. Maley fell one rebound short of equalling her own club record of 22 during the win over Canberra before Christmas and then was on triple double watch for the second time in three games when the Lynx thrashed Geelong on Sunday. She will enter Friday’s clash against Adelaide Lightning at Perth High Performance Centre having scored 19 points, won 11 rebounds and had seven assists against them less than two weeks ago. Only four women have managed triple doubles throughout Perth’s history and coach Ryan Petrik knows he may have to ignore his desire to keep his big names fresh if Maley maintains her form. “She’s just a jack of all trades right now. I literally don’t know what she’s not really good at, to elite at, other than me dragging her and making sure she doesn’t get a triple double,” Petrik said. “She just keeps adding strings to her bow. She’s always been an elite rebounder, and she’s always busted her backside. I remember in year one in the league for me as head coach, that’s six years ago when she was in Sydney, she could not shoot a lick. So we would sag right off her and dare her to shoot. “Now she’d be top three in our team from the three-point line. So you’ve got to get up and guard her, but she can put in on the floor and get to the rim. If you’re going to come from anywhere are you going to come from Amy’s corner? Are you going to come from Ally’s corner with the way she is playing right now? You can’t really come from anywhere. “The fact she’s added shooting to her bow now means the defence have got to get up and that adds to her ability to put it on the floor.” The Lynx have been blowing their opponents out of the water in recent weeks with their average winning margin across a six-game winning streak sitting at 23 points. Co-captain Amy Atwell said the team is setting goals during games to keep them focused so they don’t fall into bad habits. “Not to discredit anyone else but right now we are trying to prepare ourselves for Townsville and Bendigo at the end of the season if that’s the way it shapes out,” she said. “They’re really tough covers. They’re really physical. So we can’t take games off. We can’t walk into a game, if it’s not Bendigo or Townsville, and take a night off. Right now we are trying to get better, game by game.”