Staples was part of the Australian women’s sevens team that recently won a silver medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The team lost a thrilling final to the New Zealand Silver Ferns after extra time, as Kiwi Ellie Brazier raced the length of the field to score the winning try.

Staples described the feeling after the full time siren.

“We were absolutely devastated straight after the game,” she said. 

“The Kiwis played well, and in general it was a tough, messy game. We had missed opportunities, they had missed opportunities.

“We’re proud we still got to medal at the Commonwealth Games with our best friends, family, and supporters around us.”

Cassie’s parents, Wayne and Lily, described their daughter’s mood after the final siren, and said they were proud of their daughter.

“We saw her after she got the medal,” Wayne said. 

“She was disappointed, but at the same time happy to get the silver medal; it’s no mean feat to get that medal.”

“There’s nothing for them to be disappointed about, they all played well, and they’ve won a silver medal,” Lily said.

Wayne said the atmosphere on the Gold Coast was electric.

“It was fantastic, the whole experience, we really enjoyed it,” Wayne said.

“The girls were incredible, so excited and proud just watching them play.

“There were so many other parents, so many people supporting the Australian girls.”

The final was played in front of a packed crowd, with many Queenslanders getting out to cheer on the Aussie girls.

“I was panning around the crowd, and when I looked at the other grandstands, they looked pretty much full,” he said.

“Everytime Australia went forward, everybody just screamed, it was just excitement as soon as someone looked like they’d run forward.”

Cassie also praised the home crowd.

“Credit to the crowd, they were amazing,” she said. “

“The level of the support, and the level of the excitement was something very new. It’s something I’ve never experienced before.”

Cassie scored a try in a pool match against England, much to the delight of her hoarse parents.

“We were really happy because she only came on for about a minute at the end of the game,” Wayne said. 

“It doesn’t give you a lot of time to do much. Fortunately she got an opportunity, chased the ball down, and scored just before the dead ball line.”

“I really wanted to score a try,” Cassie said. 

“The ball was bouncing, and I thought to myself, ‘I’m not gonna let this go’.”

Cassie traveled to the games with the team before the Opening Ceremony, spending some time at the athletes’ village before a training camp on the Sunshine Coast.

"It was an insane kind of feeling, and everyday in the village with the team was overwhelming, I had to pinch myself,” she said.

“We went up to the Sunshine Coach for a week for a training camp, just so we weren’t distracted in the village.

“Even on the Sunshine Coast, people knew our team and were wishing us well.”

Cassie may have been one of the athletes on a silver-medal-winning team, but even she was star-struck at the athletes’ village.

“I’m from a netball background, and our first couple of nights we were across from the Diamonds,” she said. 

“They were such a bunch of lovely girls, and it was crazy to finally meet them and introduce myself.

“It was great to meet Laura Geitz. I was secretly super excited, but I tried to hide it.”

Cassie said she had a huge amount of support from people back home in Batemans Bay, and hopes that her experience has an impact with young athletes.

“I had an incredible amount of support,” she said.

“I had my swim teacher from when I was six-years old contact me, high school teachers contacted me.

“I had lots of people in the Bay contact me, and I really appreciate the support. If I haven’t got back to you yet, I will.

“For young females and guys in sport, I encourage them to get involved and pursue any dream they want to, and be persistent, because that will get you there one day.”

Cassie hasn’t had much time to process her time at the Commonwealth Games, as she is already in Japan at the Kitakyushu sevens tournament. 

Unfortunately, that tournament also ended with a loss to the Silver Ferns, this time in the semi-finals.

Batemans Bay Post