Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Season 2 Episode 16: EGG Goes Instagram Live, again!
33 Plays3 months ago
This week Lachy and Squin recap the final round of NBL1 East 2024. As expected, the top 8 teams were decided by literally the last round games of the season!
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Upcoming NBL One East Finals
00:00:02
Speaker
All right, that seems a little bit better, hopefully. Now we just gotta invite Locky.
00:00:24
Speaker
Hello, those who have joined. We're just gonna wait for Locky to jump on. Did try and do it on, ah another streaming platform, but it didn't work. So I'm going to have to work on that, unfortunately. um But thanks for jumping on so soon. It's getting down to the crunch now of NBL One East. Yes, we are going live
Benefits of Live Streaming and Episode Planning
00:00:50
Speaker
again. Hello, Matt McQuaid, going live. And MBL One has joined. The top dogs have joined. Hello. We are doing another live this week because, again, short on time, but also, so you know, so we editing episodes take a long time and sometimes lives are fun because then we can just have a random guest come and join in. So um hopefully that's what we'll be able to do again today.
00:01:16
Speaker
ah Let me just try and
00:01:22
Speaker
Hopefully that will work. But yeah, and it's been a good
NBL One East Finals Discussion and Viewer Interaction
00:01:28
Speaker
time. um If you've got any questions, so this episode we're going to be talking about, you know, now that MBO1 East regular season has wrapped up, we're going to be talking about the results, what it means and the elimination finals that are going to come up in the first round. So it will be elimination finals this weekend. And then that will head into, I guess, preliminary finals and then end or semi-finals before we head into the grand finals. So if you have any questions that you'd like to ask us about the elimination finals or similar, um you're welcome to drop them in the comments, even if it's now or even if it's um throughout the Instagram live today.
00:02:16
Speaker
You can probably also try and or It would be tricky to try and send us a DM of your questions just because um going live on our phone means that we can't always get to our inbox. So probably best if you join, if you ask some questions in the comments.
International Finals and League Comparisons
00:02:37
Speaker
Qualifying finals as well. I knew I forgot something there, Matt McQuaid. All the different finals, elimination finals, qualifying finals, semi-finals, grand finals, national finals, international finals. Well, not really, but that would be kind of cool if there was international finals.
00:03:00
Speaker
It'd be interesting to try and think. um
00:03:07
Speaker
If we were a national an international final, what would be the equivalent leagues around the world that the NBA one champions would be able to do? who that
00:03:28
Speaker
and If you you remember, if you cast your mind back to ah last episode ah when we did do an Instagram live, but we also had Sydney Hunter as our guest for interview.
Interview Reflections: Sydney Hunter on WBBL vs. NBL1
00:03:41
Speaker
She meant mentioned that playing in the WBBL in the UK is pretty similar to MBL1. So maybe that's someone we could have in our international final.
00:03:54
Speaker
and MBL1 would roast New Zealand NZMBL. That's a possibility.
00:04:05
Speaker
Depending on, I guess if you had your NBL1 national champions at full strength, there is a chance maybe that they could roast NZNBL. I mean, roasting is a pretty strong word for it. It'd be pretty competitive. if um I know that there's a team up in NBL1 North, the Makai Meteors, and their starting five is essentially an NBL starting five with Blanchefield, White, Emmett, Emmett-Nah, and a couple others.
NBL1 Competitiveness: Ipswich vs. NZNBL Teams
00:04:49
Speaker
Matt McQuaid's not too sure about if NBL1 would roast NZ NBL. and Competitive when NBL1 teams got their best, I'm not too sure about roasting.
00:05:10
Speaker
um I'll never be calm when you know it Matthew. We jest, we jest.
00:05:20
Speaker
I think Locky might just be having some trouble jumping in.
00:05:34
Speaker
the Ipswich 2023 team over any NZ MBL team. That was a pretty outstanding team, but did they win? Did they win MBL one North by with that team? Because from memory, I don't think they did.
00:05:59
Speaker
The two feet in the paint boys have into the wave. I'm trying to there we go. Hello James.
00:06:12
Speaker
I can see too but I can't hear you. I think that was yeah totally accidental. I didn't mean to. I think I fucked up my oh sorry I broke my uh thoughts the other day so I just can't I can't speak to them.
00:06:27
Speaker
So I got your speaker. Oh, okay.
Technical Difficulties and Humor in Live Streaming
00:06:30
Speaker
Okay, right. So that's why we keep getting flashes of your hair and your ears in the meantime. Yeah, I just wanted to the show off my haircut. My roommate did it the other day. It's not very good though. So if it's not very good, it's not something worth showing off though, is it? Yeah, not too bad. Oh wait, sorry. We, are we live now. Sorry. I was just thought requesting to come watch this. Yeah, no, you were requested to join live as I'm still struggling to get Locky to connect somehow. So we're still just waiting for Locky to jump on. Oh, I'm happy to be budget Locky for a little bit. But about 10% of the knowledge he does. so
00:07:10
Speaker
Yes, we all I think you're cutting out good enough question though about the NBL one versus New Zealand and NBL. There's some second level Euro leagues that have NBL one teams that would highly be competitive with a certain Asian league as well. Yeah, some of the leagues versus the NBL one would be very close. Oh yes, Ipswich did win the whole thing. They beat the Gold Coast gold coast in the final game. Not sure how I could forget that. That would have been epic. Gold Coast ah bowing out of the top six, I think, this year for MBO1 North. They were leading the way at the start and then it just ended. I'm not too sure, James is now frozen. So I'm not too sure what's happened there. And now Locky is with us, so that's good. Locky is with you, if I can position my phone better. I can't remember how I had it last week.
00:08:09
Speaker
Oh no, and that's okay, that's all good. um we did have We did have James checking in on the two feet in the paint account, but he's frozen. There we go. Which is a bit of a bummer.
00:08:28
Speaker
um So I can see you though, that's the main thing. How are you going?
NBL One North Awards and Quarterfinals
00:08:33
Speaker
I'm great, how are you? I saw you were at MBL One North Awards the other night. It sure was. I was was very lucky to be invited to the NBL One North Awards and it was quite a spectacle. It was really, really swanky. do everything was um Everyone done up in cocktail attire. ah um
00:08:58
Speaker
what It ran very very smoothly. There weren't a lot of delays or pauses. They just kind of got on with it and you know we got dinner served, which is always a bonus. How good? How good, yeah. And the yeah, so now we're also starting quarterfinals on the weekend. have you got Have you got the call? I do actually. I've got a call. I've got Spartans versus North Gold Coast sea eagle Seahawks in the women's. Okay. Yeah, very lucky.
00:09:34
Speaker
mean any Are there any New South Wales players on those teams?
Desire for NBL1 East Awards Night
00:09:40
Speaker
I can't remember. but Matt McQuay says, nice if BNSW did the same thing for MBL1 East. Yes, I would love an MBL1 East awards night. And it doesn't necessarily, like not everyone from every team attended the MBL1 North awards. Understandably only a select few from each team were able to go. So even if BNSW did something similar. But Any New South Wales plays in those teams?
NBL1 East Season Recap and Finals Outcomes
00:10:09
Speaker
Oh, Jess Rel. Jess Rel for North Gold Coast. Yes, Jess Rel does play for North Gold Coast. Marky Earth is technically on their roster and she was originally from the Rebels. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Who else was in New South? I'm sure there would be.
00:10:33
Speaker
um I don't know about Spartans, so it would be pretty tricky. I don't think they'd be in New South Wales place. Spartans, the closest we get to New South Wales is former Hornsby Korean guy spider, Abby Kabilla. Yeah, that's right. That's right. Abby would be the closest.
00:10:51
Speaker
um However, what is the the East is now done and dusted. Round 14 is finished and it was literally a sprint to the finish line, particularly in the men's competition, um as we predicted. But I honestly still didn't think it was going to turn out how it turned out. yeah What, with ah someone throwing a ball into the speakers above the stadium,
Dramatic Game Endings and Finals Impact
00:11:13
Speaker
sending the game to overtime? Oh, what was that? I don't remember. I don't know. Did you say that happened happen in the Southern Bankstown game? No, I didn't say it. Well, it was 70. It was 76. So it was 76, 74 Bankstown with 1.6 to play. Um, Jeff Gerlach in bit down to Lucky Hutchison wide open under the basket. 76 all 0.8 to play. Hayden blankly goes to throw a full court pass.
00:11:44
Speaker
but ah they tend to try and win it because they're time out outs. And at Sutherland, there's the the speakers hang down from the rafters. And he threw the ball and hit the speakers, which counts as out of bounds. Oh, OK. So then Sutherland had a chance to win it under their own offensive basket with point eight to play. which they missed and then it went to overtime. But still, yeah, as Lucky Everett says, it's on the lead. Yeah, he posted a video of the ball getting thrown and then you say they cut the shot to the speakers and they're swinging. You can see them swinging for a good 30, 40 seconds after ah so he hits the speakers. Wow. No, I had no idea. I missed that clip. I missed that clip. Yeah.
00:12:44
Speaker
Wow, and then what did overtime look like? Uh, extremely close as well, because Bankstown only just got up. Sutherland were up, I think Sutherland were up five during overtime. And Bayesown managed to reel it in and get the win. Can you imagine if Sutherland had got that basket of getting regulation? Because that would have sent Bankstown out of finals. Well, yes, I was going to ask because, uh, I think I only really ah clocked on to what really happened and once I saw CB's tweet with a broken heart. And I was like,
Team Agreements and Finals Competition
00:13:21
Speaker
oh, and then you made ah a comment about his great season. And I was like, hold on, what happened here? I thought Hills won. Manly won. Hills did win, but thanks for that one in overtime.
00:13:32
Speaker
Yes. So I was like, Hills won, Manly won. And that's what Mason and CB made an agreement on last week's Instagram live. they They agreed to both win their games to get Hills in the final. And then literally in the last second, the last game of the round, it came down to that. That's insane. Yep. Wow. Oh, yeah. Sorry. I, I, very i but I very much. I very much earned my post game beer. It would have been a fantastic game to call, especially knowing that Bankstown had to win to make the top eight. It was ridiculous. And the whole right hand side of where we sit to commentate was all Bankstown fans. Oh wow. Sitting behind the Bankstown bench. Yeah. So they brought an army with them as well. They did.
00:14:29
Speaker
I'm just looking at the latter now. Both Bankstown and and um Hills ended the season with 11 and 9. Yeah. And Banktown got the split. Yeah. and Oh, okay. So that's how it works out because Hills actually have the better points percentage. Yeah. But it came down to the basket was a Jack Lopez three with six seconds to play.
Qualifying Finals Matchups Overview
00:15:05
Speaker
Wow. Yeah. And then Hutch had a chance at taking it to double over the time, but missed. Wow. oh what yeah That's intense. Matt McQuaid dropping the news. He's got Daniel. so ki calling the bulls um it's a elimination game with him Yeah. How cool is that? Welcome back. guy That's awesome. him Yeah. I think he's also just done an episode on, uh, love of the game with SJ. Right. How good. Yeah. So he just popped up this afternoon, but it's good to have Daniel Kim back, um, in NBL one East, even if it's for a short period of time. Um,
00:15:50
Speaker
Oh, Matt McQuaid hinting that there's something going on with that Sutherland team, Lockie, as well.
00:15:59
Speaker
Men, women, otherwise. Who knows? Who knows? But yeah, Daniel Kim is back after coaching his first season in the Japanese League and congratulations to him for re-signing for another season and for getting engaged. Nice.
00:16:21
Speaker
but Oh, there's some thought there's some tea about the men's team. All right. Well, we might have to hear that on the down low. And we've got time for news and gossip later. We'll have to wait and see. o Right. So you're we can certainly his engagement party was great. Oh, that's because that's lovely. He's sounds like Coach Kim is fitting in a lot of things while he's here on his off season. All right, so your MBL One East 2024 regular season ended with and ah the most exciting game possible. Yes. Yes, it did. Yeah.
00:17:05
Speaker
All right and you've done all the hard work again to prepare for today's episode and we've jumped we've kind of jumped ahead but you've got the qualifying finals um listed first to have a chat about so yeah do you want to start there? ah Yeah we'll go men's men's qualifying finals first considering we've got a rival well actually we've got a be a few rivalry games but Canberra vs CoE, Capital Punishment, Saturday 7pm. Of course these teams, their two games this season were back to back on consecutive days right when we had Tri Savage on our guest. So Canberra, of course, finished off at the table. CoE, they finished fourth but we haven't we haven't seen much of them in a while because they haven't been playing.
COE's Lineup Challenges Due to Global Tournaments
00:18:00
Speaker
Of course, the winner of that goes through to week three and the loser plays the winner of Aubrey Widonga, Bankstown. Pretty interesting because Canberra beat COE by 31, then COE beat Canberra by nine, but that COE team is a little depleted. Let's go in. Yeah, that's right. So I'm trying to figure out as well. Since the COE's last game, they've had the under 17 men's World Cup. And then they've also have a bunch of players at a and NBA Global Academy event or tournament. So I'm just trying to figure out the timing of that and NBA Global Academy event and this game. Are they going to be back in time?
00:18:50
Speaker
i Not 100% sure.
00:18:58
Speaker
big but Well, regardless, I suppose the ah team, though, that you were referring to that beat the Gunners last time by nine is going to be very different because all of the new scholarship holders and and the really young COE athletes are going to be there, yeah potentially. And the graduated guys won't. So yeah, speaking of Kai Savage, he's popped some posts on his Instagram that he has arrived in Brisbane and he started some workouts with some other bullets players and even some of the MBL caliber players in MBL One North that we have up here already. So he's already hard at work. Yeah, good. Very nice. But yeah, they're definitely going to miss him in that ah game against Canberra. And I mean, Canberra,
00:19:51
Speaker
Canberra top for a reason. I mean, it's tough enough regardless.
00:19:57
Speaker
Yeah, that's right. So we've got qualifying final. So like you said, the winner goes straight through to play the winner.
Maitland vs. Manly Qualifying Finals Preview
00:20:04
Speaker
Winner goes straight through to week three, loser plays the winner from Albury, Wodonga or Bankstown. um And then who we got in the second qualifying final. That would be the Maitland Mustangs and the Manly-Waringa Sea Eagles. So these teams only played once in the regular season on the 1st of June and Maitland got up 96-73. And ah but we were talking to Mason Bragg last week and what did Lucky Everett say? Would you rather be punched or kicked than playing camera or Maitland? Well, Manly have already been kicked by Maitland once, but I mean,
00:20:48
Speaker
probably learn a lot of things from a 23 point defeat to a team. So go back up there and see what you can do. I mean, man, that big tree of manly, if they're on a roll, they're very tough to stop even for a team like Maitland. Yeah, and I think as well, since then, you know, June 1st, not being that far away, but there were lots of games played between now and then, especially for Manly, who didn't play the same amount of games as ever everyone at the start of the season. I think they were, you know, as much as three games behind at some point. And they've certainly improved a lot since that last time they played Maitland. Their team chemistry is looking pretty good right now.
00:21:32
Speaker
um So yeah, it's going to be almost like a semi-final, grand final, caliber game I'm expecting. 100%, and I think, I mean, mainly support players as well, role players have certainly improved throughout the season as well, which but you expect from players, you know, play those supporting roles, get minutes throughout the year. A lot of them are younger players that play supporting your roles or just players that are getting more minutes than they are as they go throughout the season. so ah Definitely yeah yeah, I do not see another 23 point win for Maitland. Maitland won't win it. I'm just saying it probably won't be by 23 again. At least they've got the advantage of playing on their home court and I reckon that's going to be a pretty active crowd. That is is one of the biggest home court advantages in the league I reckon. I've been to Maitland for games
00:22:29
Speaker
Uh, I went last year for Sutherland versus Maitland and that was, it was rocking. Very good. And like Mason said last week, he was, they were pretty confident that the top four, or or at least the top three were going to stay in those positions. And they've been preparing for Maitland for a little while now. So they'd be pretty, pretty fired up. Yeah. I mean, it's finals. You're not fired up for this. What are you going to get fired up for? Yes, and I love finals time because there's always there's something a little bit extra in the air when it comes to finals time. Yeah. um So the winner of Maitland Mustangs and Manly Waringa Seagal's qualifying finals, the winner goes straight to week three and the loser plays Inner West all Comets.
Inner West vs. Comets: Game Dynamics and Expectations
00:23:20
Speaker
Yes, and this is one of the more interesting ones because Inner West defeated Comets
00:23:26
Speaker
64.58, I called that game. And that was the game where we were talking about the smaller court dimensions at comets affecting the two athletic teams. But this goes up at ELS on inner West home court, which as far as I'm aware, is a, you know, regulation sized court. So that cramped area that we theorize might have had an effect on the game won't come into play for this game. So I'm expecting, I'm expecting a lot more scoring than 64-58 in this one. And it might be a chance for someone like for Wylie Bales to really show out for comments.
00:24:14
Speaker
um Good question. loie everett Do we know why they were at Auburn this regular season? I feel like Matt McQuaid had told me during the year as to why some of their games were changed to that venue. But I can't remember. And if I remember, I will ah will mention it. um But yeah, you're right, Lockie. An unusually low scoring game. And also really interesting that similar to the Maitland Manly game, ah Inner West Bulls and Sydney have only met each other once as well. this
00:24:48
Speaker
this ah season. So that's pretty interesting in that similarity. But yeah, low score, unusually low scoring game. um I think that that playing on a regular size court is definitely going to make the game a lot more fun. And I expect there to be a lot more scoring, a lot more transition options, hopefully from comments as well. Hopefully they'll be able to use their speed. And I mean, they've got some great guards with some great court vision. Use that to your advantage, right? um But in the West now with the soon-to-be Cairns Taipan Alex Higgins titcher. How good! so good id try I'm so glad he got you got the call up. but there There were whispers about it last year weren't there? We heard we heard around the traps I think someone mentioned. and
00:25:38
Speaker
yeah Yeah, definitely heard that he has some interest at least. There was definitely, or at least he was starting to make a name for himself in the and NBL circles as someone to keep an eye on. And especially after he had a season in the African BAL League under coach Liz Mills, I think that would have also put him on the radar of some NBL teams. And, you know, even Liz Mills and Daniel Kim um have been really supportive of Alex Higgins' teacher and his game and and knowing that he could take it to that next level.
Alex Higgins' Signing with Cairns Taipan
00:26:12
Speaker
What's really cool is that the Cairns' type hands
00:26:16
Speaker
listed ah posted a video on their Facebook page last night, just showing some glimpses of the open trials that they had. So they had open trials to pick, I think, the last couple of roster spots and the development player spots. And even though the clip is designed to show a Dylan Styth from South, who's now an Australian resident, so he can now play as an Aussie and not necessarily as an import. You can see clips of Alex in the background and there's actually a couple of clips where he gets some really good dunks in the scrimmage. But yeah, I'm really, really psyched for him because
00:26:58
Speaker
It's just always such a nice feeling and a great story when you have someone who wasn't, who's just kind of like done the hard work and they haven't played in Australian Junior teams and all that kind of stuff, but they still made it to the NBL. So I just love those stories. I think everyone in New South Wales has been pretty high on him for a while. And it's kind of just especially like especially like in club circles, like all throughout Youth League. and then getting into MBL1. Everyone's always been pretty high on him and I'm glad to see that, you know, the word spreading and Cairns have been the team that they can apply on him and hopefully it comes out, it worked out well for both teams, both parties, because he's got, it's a club option on his second year. So it's not just one and done. If he performs, he's locked in.
00:27:50
Speaker
um So I just kind of looked up my old conversation with someone about why inner West Bulls were playing at Auburn. One of the responses that was received by this person was that the dressing rooms um allocated were too far away from the court, if that's a legitimate reason or not. um and And I think also perhaps because things like the camera and the um score bench and the bench for the commentators may have been a little bit too close to the sideline. So if a player was going for a loose ball, then they were kind of being crushing into tables and people. So a bit of a safety issue as well, perhaps. Oh, okay. I had great ILA. William Cranston Land should get an NBL contract. Yeah.
00:28:39
Speaker
Yeah, fingers across Isla that Will Cranston will at least get a DP spot somewhere just to at least dip his toes in the water. It'd be great to see him take his game to the next level as well. I was just going to move on to the next game, but if you've got more to say about Inner West, go for it. No, no, I was just wrapping it up so you can welcome to roll on to the next game. Okay, well... Aubrey Woodonga and Bankstown. This is the fifth versus eighth match up. And well, the first time these two teams met Aubrey Woodonga got up 106-84. But the second time they met, which was just two weeks ago, Bankstown narrowed the gap to 87-75. That game was down there at Aubrey as well. So Bankstown
00:29:36
Speaker
definitely have every reason to be confident, optimistic, and but it's going to be rocking there at the hideout because they're, Aubrey Woodonga, the only club that have got men's and women's home finals this week. Yeah, what a massive advantage. And they've been pulling great crowds all season. So it's going to be even bigger and better come finals time and back-to-back finals as well, which is very rare for clubs to be able to have that. And it's been forever since Aubrey Wodonga men had even been in finals, let alone hosting one. So it's going to be off ah yeah be pretty hectic down there at the hideout.
00:30:22
Speaker
and ah i mean Banks down to playing with house money. It took them overtime to get, that they probably feel like they can make a push, but I guess looking from the outside, it looks like they're playing with house money, but I don't think Banks down will feel that way. Yeah, and now coming off that big overtime win as well. Yeah, or confidence is going to be riding high. um So a couple of questions. where do they I'm guessing, where do they play week three? Is it higher team venue? So, good question. So, for example, um say Canberra ah go to through to week three and end up having to play, say, Albury or Bankstown. My understanding is that the team that finished higher on the ladder will get that home semi-final. Is that correct, Lockie?
00:31:17
Speaker
so yeah so
00:31:21
Speaker
I was of the understanding that in week two it would be the team that lost the qualifying final would host against the team that won the <unk> the elimination and then in week three the team that had had the bye would host.
Finals Hosting Determination by Ladder Positions
00:31:34
Speaker
So even if COE won and they finished fourth and they played Maitland they would still host because they won in the qualifying finals. ah ah So it's determined by place on the ladder but also you're winning winning your particular type of final as well. Yeah so the the winners of the qualifying finals host the prelims in week three and then obviously the grand final at Penrith. Yeah shout out to the Quest in Penrith.
00:32:06
Speaker
ah Another question. Can you explain the reasons for all the finals games being on at the same day and time? ah My guess is that it's just like a regular season game. like Generally, most of the regular season games are Saturday from five to seven or six and eight, and I'm guessing they're just running with the same times. I would hazard a guess that most of the clubs would have said we want Saturday night because that's the time and date most people get to the games.
00:32:42
Speaker
why a and sunday Our Sunday crowd, even with all the Bankstown people coming, wasn't as big as our Saturday night crowd at Sutherland, I don't think. And it's the same here. We've got the... So up here at North, it's top six this season and not top eight because two clubs were taken out of MBL 1 North. And so we've got two quarterfinals, I think, or elimination finals. We've got two elimination finals on Saturday. The women's one scheduled at 5.30 and the men's one, I think, is scheduled at seven. at seven And they're both going to be on KO.
00:33:23
Speaker
And um the the thing is, and we've got the memo saying that if the women's final goes into overtime and will go goes past seven o'clock, the men's final, like as the game, not the broadcast has to like be delayed. like oh So they're actually. so oh okay so they're scheduled they're scheduled for seven or seven thirty but they will have to wait until the women's final is finished to then start playing because the one stream has to go into the other when it's going to be on ko oh all right interesting only one of the four comp lucky ever has jumped in only one of the four conference finals is not on a saturday
00:34:10
Speaker
Interesting. Yeah, I think you're right though. Lucky France that it has to do with what the clubs want in terms of getting people to come and watch. And just quickly, Isla also asked us, ah who are our champions of NBL 1Aced? Well, it's very different. We will ask this at the start of the season before all of the rosters were announced. And I think my answers probably would have changed by now.
00:34:39
Speaker
So who did, you had, I remember you had manly women, but who was your men's pick?
NBL1 East Champions Predictions
00:34:43
Speaker
I had manly women and Aubrey men. Okay. I have and you had women and Maitland men. yeah but I'm going to stick on that. I think I can, I'm not going to change now. Yeah, I think I think that's still a pretty safe bet. I think that's definitely a safe bet. I still think manly women and all three men definitely have the it definitely can still win. And I mean, at least they've all both made finals. That is true. Got to be in it. That's right. That's right. But when I was asked to name my um who was going to win when I asked it, when I was asked to pick the champions, it was before all the rosters were proper announced.
00:35:28
Speaker
I was going to say, well, Aubrey didn't have PIVIC and definitely didn't have UNIQUE because she wasn't announcing until much later. Whereas I wasn't officially asked by the league, so I just, I did mine like two days before the start of the season. Oh, look sorry. That's so fun. um And what would our All-Star Five be? I think that's a great question, Isla, but we might have to save that one for another episode so we can have a proper sit and think about it. Yeah, I think we want to come back, write that down and we'll do that next week. Yes, so Isla, please remind us to make sure that we do that for a future episode, All-Star Five for the whole season, and then we can see if it matches the official All-Star Five that the league announces. It will not. and me if It will not.
00:36:18
Speaker
And that's okay. people Just to quickly recap the men's before we head into the women's. So qualifying final number one is Canberra Gunners versus Centre of Excellence, aka the capital punishment game, Saturday at seven. The winner will go straight through to week three. The loser will play the winner of Oru Wodonga or Bankstown. Then the second qualifying final is the Maitland Mustangs versus the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, also Saturday at 7. Winner going through to week three, loser playing the winner of Inner West or Comets. Elimination final number one is just that, Inner West versus Comets, Saturday at 6.30pm. And elimination final number two is Aubrey Wodonga versus Bankstown.
00:37:09
Speaker
ah in Aubrey Saturday at 7.30pm. So just get multiple screens. Y'all are going to have to have about four screens if you want to watch those games. the i You will actually literally have to have four screens. Yes. And we've got ah Brown Bear Coaches saying go Gunners. Shout out to Brown Bear Coaches, S and&C Coaches in the ACT. um Glad you know who it was. yeah um And yeah, so obviously the between Inner Western Comets and Albury and Bankstown, the losers will be eliminated. Their seasons will end at that point. So it is really do or die in those two games. So it's just kind of exciting. Yeah, wow. I'm psyched. I'm up for it. You're up for it. All right. Let's roll into the women's qualifying finals before we have a guest jumping on at seven o'clock.
Aubrey Wodonga Bandits vs. Newcastle Preview
00:38:03
Speaker
All right. So ah first off,
00:38:06
Speaker
is the undefeated 20-0 Aubrey Wodonga Bandits hosting the Newcastle Falcons and the last time these teams met Aubrey Wodonga got up 98-66 but Lauren Jackson played in that game, she won't be playing in this one and Newcastle coach Christy Baltitude is pretty bullish about their chances without LJ
00:38:33
Speaker
Yeah, right. Has she ah come out and publicly said she's quite confident? There was something in either the Newcastle Herald or maybe on the Falcons Facebook page saying absolutely no qualms with travelling down to Albury.
00:38:53
Speaker
And getting the win on the right side. Yeah. Not fair enough. and I mean, a coach has got to have confidence in their team. Otherwise he's going to have, confidence if you don't have confidence in your own team, you can't expect your team to have confidence in them themselves. Exactly. And so who do you think, what do you think the match ups are going to be? Because obviously the the two main players from Newcastle being Nicole Munger and Isla Juffamans and then obviously they all the Newcastle Falcons will then have to compete with the likes of Michaela Pivock and Eunique Thompson.
00:39:30
Speaker
um But then we've got, they've also got Ash Hannon, Emma Mahade, and you know Newcastle got Hannon Chicken, Kate Kingham. What match-ups are you expecting? Well, I'm trying to find this article. um Well, I think, I think Thompson versus Joplinens. I think that's pretty much going to going to happen. um well first of all ash hannon didn't play last week again in the last regular season game so fingers crossed um i think i think pivot will pivot will guard manga just
00:40:27
Speaker
for the absolute shutdown effect that are you're probably gonna need to be to beat Newcastle. You know, shut down Mongo, you you know, kind of cut the head off the snake kind of thing. um Yeah, it'll be interesting, yeah, if Hannan plays, because I think like, I think Hannan Chicken's a very underrated piece for Newcastle. So that will be big. Um, with Hannon, if Hannon is playing, which fingers cross she is. Um, yeah. And then what does that lead? Leech. Leech. Guardian. Kingham. And then. I didn't think who else. And and then Newcastle bring a list of bread off the bench.
00:41:17
Speaker
ah but So, but what's the play out? mean And also, just on Ash Hannon, also a congratulations due to Ash Hannon for signing with the Bendigo Spirit for the next WMBL season. Yes. Yes, how good. Last we heard she was just not returning to Penrose. To her, not Penrose. Yes. Yeah, so it's kind of, it's very cool that I do like how a lot of the WMBL clubs or even the MBL clubs too, they'll say like a thank you to a player as a nice way of saying this person's not resigning or returning for whatever reason. But it was a really quick turnaround that Perth posted a thank you Ash Hannon. And then the next day she was an announced with Bendigo. So that was a really nice surprise and turnaround. Yeah, well, and
00:42:14
Speaker
and I mean that sounds like given the timings That you'd probably already have um Signed with Bendigo, which is yeah it's it's nice to see that you know clubs can leave on you know good terms Definitely doesn't happen all the time but I put the Further pretty good at that. They posted one for Emily Potter and Aaron McDonald again as well today. Yeah, that was and a soft way of letting us know that Aerie isn't returning, which I was a little bit sad about, because it was she's very entertaining to watch. Yes. Yes, very entertaining. so So entertaining that she almost gave me a heart attack during an NCAA tournament championship game against Stanford. Yeah, she was a standout at that particular tournament.
00:43:08
Speaker
Yes, but we won. But you yes, Stanford did win. That's right. OK, so that is what the first qualifying finals for the women's Aubrey Wodonga versus the Newcastle Falcons. No Lauren Jackson, but still plenty of talent in both teams for that game. So it will be it will be very close and entertaining, too.
Defensive Battle: North Bears vs. Manly Seagulls
00:43:30
Speaker
um And then the second qualifying finals for the women's, we have the North Bears, who placed second, against the Manly Waringa Seagulls, who placed third. So another spit bridge stouch. Yes. a And they played each other last week and it went through overtime.
00:43:52
Speaker
yeah they're not Not ideal when you have to just play the the same team again that you just went into over time. I mean, they're really competitive. People would probably love it. But um also a little bit anxiety provoking. And yeah, and James said during the commentary that that was North's first loss at the Bear Cave since round one of 2023. Wow. That's that's an impressive streak. I mean, North don't lose many games anyway, but that is really impressive. And I mean, to go down in overtime, it wasn't like they went, they North lost, you know, they got thumped. To go down in overtime is pretty impressive. but Yeah. And I mean, yeah, that that is a ridiculously good, good streak. That's all. That's the best part of two seasons undefeated at home.
00:44:48
Speaker
at um Just adds to the spice for this game because I mean, nasa you know you look at the table of Norse, are there two winds clear of manly? you know They should be at least slight favourites, but its but yeah look at what happened literally five days ago. Yeah, and um i from what I hear, Norse didn't have their best shooting game. and probably a little bit, they looked ah ah looked a little bit rattled and disorganised at times and Manly had returned to that really sound team ball that makes them quite unstoppable. So I think we can probably expect Manly to to continue to stick to those sound team principles against North. But I think um
00:45:36
Speaker
As much as each of these these teams have a lot of firepower on the offensive end, I think it's actually going to come down to who's going to lock down those shooters the best. Like, I think it's going to actually be a defensive game, this game. I look, pretty low scoring. Their first game, 68-52, North got up, so that's, what, 120 points. 73-68, a little more high scoring, but not exactly, you know, you know, blowing the doors off kind of offense. You know, manly love to tell us that Annie Henderson is the best defender in the league, guard all five positions. I mean, North, I mean, hang their hat on defence more or less. I mean, you know, you've got to, you've got to at least make an effort on defence to even get in the door at North, so.
00:46:29
Speaker
yeah ah Very, very interesting one. And,
00:46:37
Speaker
not a really game you don't want to lose because those central coast and comets teams they are dangerous and if you got to buy one of those in week two after losing your home patch either either of those things could bite you Yeah, so so speaking of the first elimination final is Central Coast Crusaders at home versus the Sydney
Central Coast vs. Sydney Comets Elimination Final
00:46:59
Speaker
Comets. And I can't tell you the last time the Central Coast Crusaders women's team, Youth League, sure, but MBL one or equivalent team, I can't tell you the last time they had a final at home. Well, no, because the last time they finished second with the um COVID season. So the whole finals series happened suddenly.
00:47:22
Speaker
Yeah, ah yeah, that's right. That's right. Yeah, the whole thing was there. So, um but just going back to a lot of the game and putting the question, who is more equipped to beat the band that's north or the sea eagles? um I would say i probably north and more equipped to beat the sea eagles with or without Lauren Jackson. What would you say, Locke?
00:47:51
Speaker
hey I tend to agree, but it's not by, yeah, it's not by much, but yeah, I tend to agree.
00:48:06
Speaker
not North, I think, yeah, you think you've got a, like ah Emily Simons, Matty O'Hare, the two youngsters at the guard spots are getting better all the time. um
00:48:20
Speaker
Yeah, Pivvy can only guard, well, she's Michaela Pivvy, maybe she can guard two people at a time. But she can only guard one person at a time. But um yeah, i think I think North just, but um yeah, if it came down to it, with Aubrey without LJ, I still think Manly could give him a decent shake, but it's a very tough question. question yeah Yeah, i guess I just only purely picked north because I think they just have the slight edge over Manly with rim protection. Yeah, that is a good, very good point.
00:49:00
Speaker
I think it was just that slight edge with their two bigs. Yeah, I think has a bit of an edge over the manly inside game. But I mean, Kimberly Dickinson, formerly Hodge, has it come back like at the right time. And in her first couple of games back, it looks like she hasn't missed a beat. She was looking really, really fit and back to her her old tricks. She certainly was and yeah still coming off the bench with. ah Yeah, so. So. finally are over all this time. you know Now that they have Brooke Flowers, who's actually you know been with the team for a while, and they finally have Kim Hodge back. This is what was meant to be happening eight or nine weeks ago. Yeah, and so mainly we're able to be still still be so successful without Kim Hodge. And so now Kim Hodge is back. That's, yeah, perfect timing.
00:49:54
Speaker
But yeah, anyway, back to this first elimination final, Crusaders versus Comets. um Yeah, this could be, these to me, I'm going to be brutally honest. These are two teams to me who, if they're going to lose at the end of the day, it's because they're their own worst enemy. These are the two teams of the women's competition who are have lots of potential, but always get in their own way. And I think that's how they lose their games half the time. But by the same token, I um i just didn't want us to play Sutherland, because we had to beat Bank Sound on Sunday to get fifth. I did not want us to play Comets facing Shyla Hill, who dropped 52 games in a row two weeks ago.
00:50:46
Speaker
i know I know how good Sutherland's defence can be, but I still don't want to risk it.
00:50:52
Speaker
Even if you've got, you know, reigning defensive player of the year Lauren Nicholson on your team? Yeah, but if she's tied up, you know, guarding Shyla, then that leaves still a few other options around, especially and we haven't seen Devita Dale for a couple of weeks. So she's back. I haven't heard what's going on there. um That changes things again. yeah But yeah, you're right. These teams, so much firepower to put out such great performances. but then somehow don't always. Yeah. i have How do you lose a game where someone drops 50? I mean, Lizzie Tonks dropped 39, but... Yeah. yeah But um they you can you can have a player drop 50 and still give up another player dropping 39.
00:51:44
Speaker
Yes. Yeah. So the the two teams that can be their own worst enemies ah Depends. Are they going to? Yeah. and It depends if it's going to be one of those games where they lose because they didn't come and compete at their best or they lose because they lost it for themselves.
Sutherland vs. Canberra Elimination Final Preview
00:52:02
Speaker
I think that's what it's going to come down to for these two teams. I know Crusaders have that kind of blessing and a curse of having a really talented the roster with a lot of scorers, but sometimes they don't like to share. We need multiple. Yeah.
00:52:20
Speaker
yeah um But yeah, in the regular season, ah they went one and one. They did. They were, yeah, two very tight games. And they were a while ago as well, April 13th and then June 16th. So it's been over a month since they've played each other. A lot of water under the bridge.
00:52:44
Speaker
the Yeah, but I mean, to be honest, this bottom half of the top eight teams are all like,
00:52:54
Speaker
You know, they can all be wiped out on their day kind of thing, but someone's got to pack up and go home after to this game. Yeah, and hopefully everyone from both teams will be fit and healthy as well. I know that the Crusaders didn't have their full squad when they played Manly last week, and it showed on the scoreboard because Manly just had an absolute field day. um And hopefully to be today, we'll be back for comets and and ready for finals time. um Yeah, and I just hope that there will be a big Central Coast Crusaders crowd there. are
00:53:34
Speaker
as the sixth player on court. Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's been a, yeah, it's been a, as you said, you can't even remember the last time Central Coast women held a host at a final. We won a crowd like that grand final that they won, the men won. Oh yeah, that would be outstanding. Where people ended up, were just literally standing because there was nowhere to sit. Yeah, I remember exactly where I was when that tiffian happened. because I was watching from the ah ah was watching from ah bar looking straight down the court. Oh yeah, good place to be. And and then the place erupted. Yeah. All right, so the winner of um the winner of the Central Coast Crusaders versus Sydney Comets Women will then play um the winner all the winner or the loser of North or Manly? The loser of North or Manly. Yeah.
00:54:33
Speaker
All right, and and other the final elimination final for the women's competition is the Sutherland Sharks and the Canberra Nationals. So the Canberra Nationals sneaking in in the eighth spot, Lockie. Yeah, so they had to beat Hornsby Corringo on the final day of the season. So Sutherland actually did them a favour by beating Illawarra after Illawarra beaten Hills on the Friday night. and um Yeah, and then when Canberra beat Hornsby Careen Guy, that got Canberra over Illawarra. So they're in, this would be, c ah this would be Sutherland COE, otherwise I'm pretty sure. ah Instead it's Sutherland Canberra. And yeah, last time they met, it was only a few weeks ago, it was 8479 Sutherland got up, but it was without Lauren Nicholson for Sutherland. So that is, yeah, that's one of the biggest
00:55:29
Speaker
um
00:55:32
Speaker
biggest game changes. With Sutherland's depleted roster, it's arguably the biggest in slash out for anyone at the moment as to what the team looks like with and without that player a single player.
00:55:50
Speaker
And interesting interestingly for Canberra, they really didn't have the best start to the season. And it took a long time for them to develop their team chemistry. And then they added a new piece quite late into the season. And since then, they've just been playing much better. So perhaps this is the case of Canberra Nationals peaking at the right time. And now they've got this second chance that but see with COE pulling out. Oh, it's certainly, I mean, yeah, they are peaking at the right time. um
00:56:24
Speaker
And I mean, on the weekend, look how they went. They had three players score 20 plus Kelly Bourne with a massive triple double. Like, you know, she didn't just sneak that triple double 24, 17 and 10. That is massive. And, um, just boots off. She'll just pop up with 20 points every now and then. I love it. Um, and yeah, I mean, You know, Sutherland can, I mean, they won't think this way, but yes, they went down to Canberra and got a win without Lauren Nicholson, but they can't say, oh, now we've got Lauren, it's going to be, you know, 20 points easier, kind of thing. are I mean, we thought Libby Thomas did just a couple of weeks ago. thirty She is in electric, she's been pretty good for most of the season, but she's in electric lately.
00:57:15
Speaker
And funny, uh, not funny, but it was pretty cool that Kelly Bourne was named the NBA one, uh, East player of the round with her triple double in the same round or the same week that her sister Izzy Bourne was clay of the week in South. I saw that. How good. not to I don't know if Izzy matched, uh, Kelly's triple double, but she definitely had some pretty monster stats. Yeah. That's yeah, that's a real cool. I love that um So sublin so on the plus side of sublin now playing Canberra sublin being at home you get to call an elimination final I Do get to call an elimination final 5 p.m. Saturday. I'm psyched. Yeah Yeah Jake I Jake and I on the call as always and
00:58:10
Speaker
Very good. And that means so you'll be okay. So our friend Matt McQuaid and now and coach Kim will be on the call for the inner West Bulls men. Our friend Caleb Fogarty will be on the call for the Maitland Mustangs men and if anyone's listening make sure you go and give Caleb a follow because he's started to upload some extra content of him commentating and some um little pre and post game interviews that he's doing at the Maitland Mustangs which is pretty fun so go give him a follow on Instagram and check out that content.
00:58:45
Speaker
So Caleb gets to call, you get to call, Matt McQuaid and Coach Kim get to call, and then obviously the two Feed in the Paint boys, James and Garen, get to call the qualifying final between North and Manly Women. so And our good friend Hamish Salberg will get elimination final to call too. So it's it's nice when our friends can be calling these games too. Yeah, yeah good. oh
00:59:17
Speaker
Big old commentators love him. Everyone's getting a gig this weekend. well ah and And kind ah Caleb will get, he's guaranteed two because he's got a qualifying final. and no ah So were um James and Garren, because yeah even if North's lose, they'll host next week. And same with Maitland. Yeah, yeah that's right. That's really cool. That's very cool. um All right, so it's just on past seven o'clock. It's time to invite our guests to the Instagram live for this evening. I don't know if you can still see it on your screen, Locky, but I'm still splitting a screen with... with... trains. Oh, it's still there. Yeah. um Hang on. I need to turn my camera around. You're just looking at a water bottle. ah
01:00:09
Speaker
but say our very special guest this week isn't perhaps a cold water bottle. It is actually Sammy Mack, the head coach of the Albury-Wodonga Bandits women. How are you? um
Coach Sammy Mack on Undefeated Season Strategy
01:00:21
Speaker
Good thanks. How are you guys? Spectacular. Spectacular? That's good to hear. There we go. earlier on Very good. How are you coach? How are you feeling? 20 and 0. Congratulations. Yeah, thank you. um we We're good. I'm feeling pretty good. Getting excited, you know. Wednesday. Last bit of prep, scouting wise. Getting done at the moment. um Training session tomorrow night. um And a little bit of a get together with the boys team as well, given we're both playing this week.
01:01:06
Speaker
um After training, which would be nice. um And then, yeah, locked in to Saturday. Can't wait. Will you get some shots up in the morning on Saturday as well? I definitely will. I've been practicing. um but and na but Unfortunately, we're restricted by Albury City Council and they don't generally let us into the stadium um too early. so We will see what we can get planned and hopefully we can get some shots up but yes we might just stick to our normal routine what we've done all season um a lot of consistency um in our approach. dont If it ain't broke don't fix it. Yeah yeah I agree.
01:01:59
Speaker
so how yeah How's the buy down in Albury-Wodonga at the moment? I mean you're only the only club with both teams in finals, tickets must be ah and must be quite literally the hottest ticket in town. Yeah I think they're sold out. um They went on sale on Sunday night to to our season ticket holder members um and the the whole main grandstand was sold out pretty much straight away. And then the general admission went on sale last night and they were snapped up very, very quickly. So I think we're looking at 1100 people crammed into the into the stadium. So yes, looking to be a very, very loud
01:02:43
Speaker
Proud, rowdy, and it's hard out on on Saturday night. That's literally over 1% of the population of Aubrey Wodonga will be at the game. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. cool That's cool. But that's that's what it's been every week. So it's really not really anything new, is it? Or maybe for the other teams when they come down. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I mean, there would be definitely other clubs that don't experience something like that at their home game. No. that but Yeah, 20 and 0 is quite an achievement. So yeah, again, congratulations for 20 and 0. How yeah thank you ah do you kind of keep your team grounded and focused around all of the hype and success of an undefeated regular season?
01:03:41
Speaker
um Well I think it's like I've said to a few people we we put together a good team you know I heard you guys saying before and you know you made your predictions without knowing about Mick and and unique but Mick was the only surprise signing for us because we had unique signs sort of back in November last year um and you know nobody I don't know anyone that would go out there and say we're going undefeated. you know we We just set ourselves little short term goals, mini goals that led towards you know um a term goal, which was first of all to to lock up finals. you know We wanted to make sure that we were back there, redemption for last year. We felt like we fell short last year in what we were doing.
01:04:34
Speaker
um and then the next one really was for our club and I've spoken to you just into about this before getting home finals you know it's really really key um not just from a travel perspective for us you know it's quite a trek on the old bus up to up to Sydney but it's also an opportunity for us to capitalise financially for for the club um because it's not cheap to travel up to Sydney every second weekend and put two teams up in in accommodation. So um we just kept building on on those little mini goals that we had. We knew that we had Lauren. She was going to be in and out with work. You know, I think she trained five times for the season. She played 13 games.
01:05:22
Speaker
um And so that was always, I guess, added some more excitement each time she managed to turn up to training. um And just the a little nuggets, you know, creating little nuggets of oh difference and joy that the players can get from a training session out of the games, you know, little mini goals from games. So yeah, I think we just approached it like that, you know, tick the boxers each each week um on and off the court.
01:05:52
Speaker
Keep looking forward and not so much backwards on, hey, look how great we were, but keep focusing on what the ultimate goal is for this season because the job certainly is not done yet. No, it's not. That's exactly right. Thanks, Toby, for that one. But, um you know, we it's pretty cool so to i'll I'll be honest, to reflect on it. You say not looking back, but it's great to reflect on the growth of our team. You know, we We had Lauren, we had Mick, we brought Unique in partway through the season. Once Russia was finished, we had Ash. But then we look at the growth of, you know, Jess Freeman, who turned up to our Youth League tryouts and has played almost every game for us this season. um Didn't even think about playing MBL one. um You know, Caitlin Quintile, she's the same from Wagga, Tamika Coleman, you know.
01:06:48
Speaker
Caitlin from Wagga, Tamika from Griffith, drive down and back Tuesday and Thursday and are so committed and have done a fantastic job in you know getting themselves into a position to be part of our roster leading into finals now.
01:07:09
Speaker
yeah i was I actually, I mean, obviously I haven't watched much of these young players. I was actually really impressed by Jess Freeman when she played up here at Sutherland. I didn't know what to expect from any of the young players. And I mean, even though we were short-handed, it is still a young player coming out against a lot of MBL1 talent. Yeah, that's right. You know, Jess is, she's from Yarawunga, about an hour from us as well. So she does the trip as well.
01:07:41
Speaker
and she she was on the victorian under 20s team the and i think it's the navy team um as an underager or not underager like bottom major um so yeah she she's a great talent you know and a real real hard working um athlete so she's been a great find you know we've got even if you look at Aotearleach coming over from New Zealand had been playing up at Gladstone I think as well so you know just really good solid pieces that are committed to our squad and we're very very lucky.
01:08:20
Speaker
and it was like It's really great that ah you were able to feel the pieces of the likes of Brodie Page Theodore and Casey Ardern who have been staples for the women's program for a long time. So it was great that they were you were able to find other pieces that could kind of fit in as well. um if Just for those who perhaps don't know, like what was the term the time turnaround between you learning that you got the head coach's job and then when you were able to start recruiting?
01:08:54
Speaker
um well I guess I started recruiting once the season finished and before I'd actually applied. you know You've got to be prepared, don't you? That was always in constant conversation with with players um who had been on our roster um because I knew that we had a lot of good pieces and really wanted to get them back. um and so yeah pretty much i was talking to people got got given the job and then that's when i was able to sort of go out and really say hey look this is what's happening this sound going about it um what do you think and then i don't know i think first first real well we obviously we signed lauren um but unique was like i think we actually signed unique before we signed lauren
01:09:47
Speaker
You know, so that's that was our plan straight away. um Get unique back. And then, you know, Lauren was kind of just the cherry on top, really being able to get her back because we like I said, we didn't know whether she would be playing after the WMBL season because what a phenomenal way to go out um with the championship with the Flyers. You know, then there's obviously there was the Opal stuff. So, yeah.
01:10:17
Speaker
We built our team the full arm.
01:10:24
Speaker
yeah she is always really fine so She can't hear that. next And I highly doubt that she's going to be tuning into the regular episode of E. Scott game number anyway. So now think I think don't doubt yourself guys. You do a great job. Yeah, thanks. but i't I don't know if it's quite future Olympics, great, but we'll take it. yeah What was I going to ask about, ah ro but yeah, it is really interesting to know that um I guess give people that extra insight into what it's really like being a head coach with recruiting is that you never really
01:11:04
Speaker
stop thinking ah about it or you always have to be conscious of the relationships you're building with people for that situation and being having that level of preparedness for when the time comes to start
Recruitment and Team Culture at Albury-Wodonga
01:11:17
Speaker
recruiting. It's not going to be like pulling teeth or trying to sell someone the world and then have to deliver on it. In the short period of time that is off season. Yeah, absolutely. and lucky I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty damn daunting for me. Like, I'm pretty new to the whole thing. um And so, in a way, and that was why my strategy was to go after the plays that we had had previously. um Because you've got that connection. You know, even talking to some players um who didn't eventuate
01:11:55
Speaker
I could understand why I didn't for them because complete unknown. um Just the guy that sat on the sidelines and kind of waved a towel as as an assistant coach the two years prior. um It's a lot to how do I put it? They're putting a lot of faith in me um without runs on the board. So I'm very grateful for players like Michaela and Uniq. Lauren didn't have a choice. I made her. But, yeah know even even our a tear you know, you know, she's fantastic. um And her agent um Lauren Gandini over at Stella, you know,
01:12:39
Speaker
really great com conversations with them. um they They believed in what I i was putting forward to them so that was awesome and that just came about. I happened to flick on to the New Zealand league um and saw this game and then I saw, I would see like this amazing like defensive play and then went down the court and got all out and I was like oh that looks good. So then I started like researching and yeah the research part. That's fun isn't it? the
01:13:10
Speaker
but The research part is fun. When you are trying to recruit players and you've got to sell them on coming to not, um especially if they play in somewhere way like Melbourne or Sydney or Brisbane where there are 12 or 13 clubs in some cases they could go to, how do you sell them on coming to Albury instead? Oh, we just flash a big brown paper bag at them. No, that's all. Well, sorry. That's what people think.
01:13:45
Speaker
um No, I mean, like people are have been to Aubrey. A lot of them have been through junior championships like the Australian, the country cup. There's quite a few. um and they've some through the the COE and stuff get to go there. So they know what Aubrey's like. You know Awatiya actually she played for New Zealand and at the Country Cup. So she knew exactly what Aubrey was like. um And how do I I sell it?
01:14:20
Speaker
Man, I've lived here 40 years, so it's just a ah fantastic place that we're in the middle of Sydney and and and Melbourne. You know, we have high-level basketball. We have, like I said, 1,000 people at each game where you are absolutely adored. Like, all 1,000 people are not going to say a bad thing about you. They're they're in your court and they will back you to to the end of the game. Then, I don't know, That's a really hard question to totally answer, but I think I've worked for a couple of people, so that's OK. And I can't give away all my secrets. It's been a spark of all kind of the main game in town. How mean how many state league teams, ah any sport, are there in Aubrey Wodonga? Is it just the band? No.
01:15:14
Speaker
no um ah Sorry, we are the highest level of competition for any sport in Aubrey Wodonga, but um football, AFL, massive, absolutely massive takes. I think we've got um four or five leagues in our area. So they have a lot of cash. um they They like to flash it at at players, particularly basketballs. And when there's not a lot of money floating around in basketball, that's a very big incentive for ah young young athletes. um
01:15:51
Speaker
the We've got rugby. We've got soccer. Netball's massive too, ah but it's not at state level. so um we do lose a lose a bit of commitment to netball but yeah in terms of national competition or state level that we're the the only real big one um oh that's what i was gonna ask so yeah
01:16:24
Speaker
ah Quite often when we, well through ah throughout this season of e-scot game and would be talking about all-star fives or I'll shout out bandits basketball, love that you've joined the Instagram live so Sammy your bosses are online so make sure you don't say anything bad. but yeah That's something I don't do very well. ah so And yet here you are, 20 and zero. Yeah, so often when we talk about your team on Eastcott Game this season, and we're talking about match-ups, we can kind of sometimes roughly have you know create certain match-ups, but then the one big question mark is always going to be, who is going to guard Eunique Thompson? ah So which she's probably one of the hardest people to guard in NBL One East, I would say.
01:17:14
Speaker
just because of her size, her versatility, her experience. But is there anyone from the opposition that has gotten close to doing a good job on UNIQUE, you think? You just said I had to say something. I couldn't say things out of line. No, I'm being facetious. um Look, the one I'm really interested in is Ree Harris at North because Younique wasn't playing then. um I think that would be a really interesting matchup. um When we played Central Coast, they didn't have Mick Dompkins or Leilani as well. So I don't see how Mick goes against against her.
01:18:02
Speaker
um
01:18:05
Speaker
I don't know. Unique really is just. She's unique. half all round see you um But like, you know, she can go inside and play on the block. She can then step out and shoot the jumper. She's shooting. I was actually just looking. She's shooting a three ball at nearly 40 percent at the moment. um So she's a three level scorer. um And I don't think it's one person that can defender it. It's a whole team from what we've seen the last few weeks. So that's that's what we're preparing for. Triple Taming. It happened at the weekend against Sydney. um It happened.
01:18:56
Speaker
the weekend before and the weekend before that. And I think it actually happened against someone too. So well but while whilst we had enough players to triple team, you guys are getting Vanessa Knusis back, aren't you? Your words, not mine.
01:19:15
Speaker
i see coffee wins that five Rumor has it by Adele playing in the background. Yeah, absolutely. These fellow people cry foul all year and they just, next thing they roll out the big guns. but I don't know how many people you're talking about, but it's not me. Okay. Yeah, we just sit pretty quiet in the commentary box and know no difference. Yeah. Me too.
01:19:52
Speaker
um because one of the questions that came up earlier in Instagram live was a really great question from our love of the game who we felt between Norse women and manly women were a better match up for your all rewood donger bandits women and I felt like it was probably north because of that of the re Harris factor yeah um um I got to ask this question the other day as well. Naws are just good. Like, they they're good all round. You know, Matty O'Hare's having a fantastic season.
01:20:32
Speaker
um
01:20:35
Speaker
Em Simons is still Em Simons and can get put points on the board. Caitlin Martin's done a great job stepping in for Kate Seabomb taking the lead there. um And then you know, Carla Pittman, she's still, I'm still waiting for her to really go off at the moment, I think, you know, haven't really had one of her explosions yet. um And then really Harris, she's she's an athlete and she's strong, you know, she brings a really good quality to, or skillset to their team. So we would definitely have our work cut out for us against them, manly.
01:21:19
Speaker
We've still got our work cut out against them. you know We played them um on the back of playing Central Coast um on the Saturday night with not a lot of sleep due to the extreme hike all the way up to Central Coast and then back down to Sydney to our accommodation. um and they had us down 17 points in the second quarter you know um and no Lauren in that game so everyone that says we can't move without Lauren um go back and watch that game we ended up getting up by five points so you know it mainly brings a completely different skill set because they said don't have the out and out big bulky per they've got Brooke Flowers who's a great interior defender um and then you know I think you mentioned it before Annie Henderson um who can guard one through five um so yeah you know that they bring different um different skill sets that make it really hard to go against both teams um and they just make them really really good
01:22:32
Speaker
good hit outs, a real good challenge, something that we really like. But I'm going to love it right out there. I just said it, if Vanessa Penoose comes back, but even without her, don't sleep on Sutherland right now. Lauren Nicholson is a class and she can drag most teams over the line. So when you look at the finals and the crossovers and that, you really don't want to be getting into that kind of mix up.
01:23:02
Speaker
No, very good. and point but Thank you, Simon.
01:23:09
Speaker
Oh, she should be going to Paris anyway, but we won't get into that. That's another story. That's another podcast for another day, I think, as ah tokyo at Tokyo, a Paris edition podcast. Well, look ah for our yeah ever I think we'll qualify for finals. Well, most of the games she hasn't played, which wasn't she with the Opals? Yes, that's exactly right. yeah help However, if you can't read if you go and read the rules, it's interesting. It is an interesting situation. Do camera national north no you go lock taberra nationals get to play bandits in the second round of finals after they beat
01:23:59
Speaker
uh only if bandits lose to new castle so we're going to keep coming back about to say no we don't plan on that shane sorry mate fair question well i got time for that i'm too busy to emailing you sam uh yes that's true We did have Ash
Player Development and Finals Preparation
01:24:25
Speaker
Cannon on there very briefly, and we gave her a shout out earlier, Sammy, for signing with the Bendigo Spirit for the WNBL season. um And we, in another conversation, spoke about, well, I was excited for Ash to then be playing and training and learning and from alongside someone like Tolo. ah But I didn't realize that you were playing her a little bit more at the three spot. So she signed with Bendigo at three?
01:24:57
Speaker
I may have to ask Ken that one. But I think it's fantastic that Ash has got another WMBL gig, you know, her growth last year was was awesome. What she did over the WMBL season with Perth was really, really good. And then, you know, this this MBL one season, she's been defensively a masterclass for us. She's done a great job. I think she's averaging like three blocks a game. Had a game where she had seven blocks or eight blocks in it um and then you know had a rough start to the season shooting but really just stuck with the process, kept working, kept working and and I think she was shooting the three ball at 40% over the last 10 games of the season. So
01:25:49
Speaker
really, really grew into it. And, you know, we're we're super excited for the opportunity that she's got down at Bendigo. I think it'll be a nice fit for her with Kelsey Griffin, um Tolo, you know, slot into that spot that Frolin had, which would be really good. But yes, we have played her at the three, you know, Lauren, Lauren and unique and then Ash. It's not bad. It's not bad. um So, yeah, but then Ash has been fantastic. She's been so versatile that once they go out, she shifts back to the fall or, you know, we throw Mollie Rice in there and you've got um unique Mollie and Ash. It's been good.
01:26:41
Speaker
And how soon until we can get Michaela Pivik a WNBL gig, huh? Oh, you've got to talk to those WMBL teams. They're mad if they don't take her on, I tell you now. Average of triple double for the season. um As just a ah great human being, um her growth as a point guard, fantastic and her feedback that that she gives me from what she's seeing on the floor. It's been awesome for me as a um um as a first year coach as well because she's got a lot of experience, she can tell me what she's seen and we're able to bounce our views off each other and and really try and push our team forward. Yes, she's a-of-a-kind athlete really, she's so versatile, she's so smart, she's very grounded and is a great culture person, like why would you not want her? I know, like when you talk about a culture person it's unbelievable like
01:27:40
Speaker
we'll sit there and you know she rucks up another triple double and at the end of the game you sort of you know you go through and you sing everyone's praises and you're like hey great job um you had this this this and this and she just turns around to you and she's just like another win guys another win that's all that matters don't care about me it's just another win um so yeah we're we're very very fortunate to to have a play like that And we're just really, really hoping that she gets gets an opportunity here in Australia over the summer because I think she'd be an absolute asset to any team. Blue Lockie's new favourite ah favourite team, wherever she signs. She doesn't sign for the planes though. Well, look, you guys have got the connection. Talk to Liz Nicholson. She can get that sorted out.
01:28:32
Speaker
Your two favourite players on one team, Wocky, what would you do with yourself? I'd buy two dreads. yeah okay
01:28:42
Speaker
You'd always have to wear them, I don't know, half and half, or do you have to take it in turns? between that's how you get in We're not doing any half and half dreads either. Yeah, I'm not a real fan of those, either. They're weird. Just wreck one player one night and another player the next night.
01:29:01
Speaker
And now, finally, Sammy, you are getting ready for your qualifying final on the weekend against the Newcastle Falcons. Lockie was saying earlier that Coach Bultitude has a lot of confidence in her team coming in into this game. and Are these fighting words kind of scaring you off a little bit, or do you just kind of shrug it off?
01:29:26
Speaker
ah Look, everyone, should be confident they've just gone through 20 games for the season and they've got a shot at winning and getting a week off especially like the top four um so you've definitely got to carry that confidence um because if you don't your your players will feel it and um and that really so rubs off so you know we're we're very very comfortable within ourselves we're very confident with um
01:29:58
Speaker
what we've done to prepare um over the last 20 games plus this
Newcastle's Strengths and Finals Strategy
01:30:05
Speaker
week. And we're going to go out there and we're completely focused on ourselves. ah You know, they're, they're, they're a good team. Nicole Munger, she's reigning MVP. She's a gun. Ahla Jufferman's, you know, she's come out of the, the COE. She's, she's starting to put up some good numbers. Um, as you mentioned earlier, had a chicken. she she can She can get points on the board and be disruptive defensively. Alyssa Brett, you know, she's um been not a bad addition for them. And um Arian Nichols, you know, she's a very underrated player. um So, you know, we we have definitely got our work cut out for us, but I have a very, very strong belief in my
01:30:56
Speaker
playing group and they have a very, very strong belief in themselves that they are a very, very good team. So, you know, we take care of our business, game takes care of itself. That's right. And that the Newcastle team, I'm really, it was really impressed particularly against the game we reviewed when they played. manly warringa away just how well they're able to weather a storm together given that their team is still relatively young but having a um anchor like Nicole Munger in your team setting the standard of staying calm in dire situations i think is going to rub off on that team for a couple years i don't even know what happened at the end of that game do you guys
01:31:51
Speaker
we know the result yeah yeah yeah i um no And that's exactly right, you know, that was a really That was an interesting game too, given Manly like just turned the screws in that fourth quarter and held them to only nine points. um So, know I don't know, Manly would feel like that's one that's got away, but at the end of the day, it worked out okay for them because Manly finished third. so um But yeah, that's right. then and They're still able to weather the storm. Nicole Munger's a big shop maker. She's the kind of person that you know when when the going gets tough, she will
01:32:31
Speaker
throw the team on her shoulders and and away they go. So we're definitely going to have our work cut out for us. But, you know, Sharla Hill had two 50-point games the weekend before and we held her to six points in three quarters last weekend. So I believe in our team's grit, determination and ability to execute defensively and down the stretch. And we've done it on multiple occasions. So we're in a good spot. very exciting i mean well best of luck for the weekend uh obviously we'll be keeping a close eye on all of the results and yeah it's going to be it's a final time i just love finals time oh you know me both i've been sitting at school this week it's the first week back and i'm mentally excited that the kids are back but all i'm thinking about is like saturday night i can't wait we've got our game and then we've got the we've got the men's game you know against bankstown which is
01:33:32
Speaker
turning into a little bit of a rivalry. So we we're so pumped for the men because it's quite some time since they've been in the finals. um I would say that 2022 and 2023 were missed opportunities for the for the team. And what Matty Kay has done with his group, I can see KB um is watching. KB's been phenomenal for us. um Davo, he's been unbelievable. um You know, Sean Montague, what a get from from Hills. He's he's a ripper on both ends of the floor. And then, you know, I need to give a big shout out to um Jacob since he's had a had a great year this year on the court and in the bus on the way back home. He's um he's really led the way for us. But, you know, it's great for for that group of guys.
01:34:29
Speaker
um because they deserve it. they They've worked really, really hard. They've they've really committed to to playing with and for each other, which I think has been missing in the past couple of years.
Basketball Finals Draw and Team Optimism
01:34:43
Speaker
um And so they're they're starting to reap the rewards. And the way that the finals draw falls, they actually get not a bad run at it. Given COE's situation, and yeah get over banks down this weekend and away we go we're on very exciting yeah well best of luck to both of you this weekend um yeah we'll definitely be watching with anticipation at home and hopefully the bandits can go to and oh yeah thank you very much thanks for having me on too and again like i said you guys do a great job we love the podcast um
01:35:28
Speaker
And thank you for that for having me on, finally. No. We did at least you got at list as long as your arm of people we need to get on. so and We actually it's all on we'd actually had you scheduled for later. um But yeah, things fell fell through and I was like, oh, I'll just ask Sammy if he's free to come on this week. So you never know, you might have to come back again before season two of EGG wraps up. Well, if I keep paying people off, it'll be all right. I've just found out who the list is. So your checks in the mail as well. Don't worry, guys. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much. ah I need to buy a new computer tomorrow. So that's going to be helpful. no ri very Just just more of our money bags down here in Aubrey. Money bag bandits. Absolutely.
01:36:27
Speaker
All right, thank you guys. Thank you very much. No worries. See you later. Enjoy the first week of finals. Go Bandits. Yeah, we should show her. Thank you. Yes. All right. Well, let's... Oh, she's gone. She's gone. All
FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup Recap
01:36:48
Speaker
right. Well, let's finish up with some news then and it looks like you've got some really cool bullet points here And it's all centered around the fever you 17 women's basketball World Cup Yeah, well the group stage is just wrapped up. So I thought I'd ah break it down a little bit. So the sapphires finished second in their group So they lost to the US but they beat Puerto Rico and Croatia finished second in their group which means
01:37:17
Speaker
um Well, like these tournaments, as we said last week, all 16, first in one pool versus fourth in another pool, second versus third. So as second in a pool, we'll be playing Chinese Taipei, who finished third in their pool in the round of 16. We get through that, then we get Spain or Mexico in the quarterfinals. And Spain. Thanks, Ben. yeah If we can get the blessing in disguise of having the USA in your group, if they finish top and you finish second, then you then avoid them until the gold medal game. And I hate to say it, but in basketball, most of the time, the USA are unbackable favourites. So, um yeah, so the draw, I mean, getting past Spain would obviously be difficult, got to get past Chinese, try pay first, but at least we don't, you know, if we
01:38:08
Speaker
At least if you get through the semi-finals and have to play the States in a gold medal game, at least you guaranteed a medal. Otherwise yeah you have to go and play that bronze medal game and you know, you lose that then you don't get, or not only do you lose, you don't get anything to take home with you. So just shouting out few players who have been at the COE. Our leading scorer is former COE player Lara Sonfire putting up 16.3 points per game. The Tayah Fagan. 10.3 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game, so averaging close to a double-double. And Ruby Perkins from the North, she's averaging 12.3 points per game, but 25 of those came in the win over Croatia, so she actually top scored in that game, Sompai had 23. So, a few of our, I mean, but the team is absolutely brimming with COE players, but I just thought I'd shout.
01:39:05
Speaker
yeah out those ones out. So I've um been putting up some ah pretty healthy numbers. Yeah. but Perkins, I mean, under understand we kind of expected some fire to be impressive at this tournament. She was already impressive at the under 18 Asia Cup only a few weeks ago and playing as a bottom major. And now she's playing in her own age group. ah She's just, you know, playing like leaves ahead against everyone else. ah And Perkins, I'm really happy that Perkins is having a great tournament because we mentioned her and Jessie May Hall um in an earlier episode of Eastcott Game just after they won the gold medal at the under 18 state championships up here in Brisbane where they beat Queensland South.
01:39:51
Speaker
And I'm just glad that Perkins' game, as good as it was there, is trans transferring into the international stage, because she's a flat-out baller. So she's
Australia's U17 Comeback Against Croatia
01:40:01
Speaker
been great. But just back on that game against Croatia, where Somphi had 23 and Perkins had 25, Australia, I think, had a 41-point third quarter to help them win that game. We were down 26-14 after a quarter and 38-31 at half time, and then 41-26 in the third. 41 points in a quarter of under 17s international basketball.
01:40:31
Speaker
Unhurdles. Well, I think the Yankees might have put up something that big, but they were they also won by 90, didn't they? Yeah, those games, you know, they don't count. Yeah, because the Yankspeak US, ah the Yankspeak Croatia 123.42. But they did not put up 41 in any one quarter in that game. Mmm, there you go. yeah
01:40:58
Speaker
and And the other news will gossip from
College Offers for Bonnie Diaz and Jade Crook
01:41:00
Speaker
around. with ny or one Just a couple of things I saw around the traps. Bonnie Diaz got a couple of college offers from ah Pittsburgh and Syracuse. And Jay Crook got one from Mississippi State. I saw that news posted around the traps. Yeah, that's great. I saw the news. I saw the news about Jade Crook, which is good. And remember, these are offers they haven't committed just yet, but offers are always welcome. I mean, Son-Fi has been getting not necessarily offers, but she certainly had a lot of top colleges trying to court her. I think she's down with top. but her Her top five that have offered her is just
01:41:40
Speaker
Ridiculous. Yeah, so don't worry yet Yeah to but is's good enough yeah that's what it is right and Stanford ah Yukon but Virginia was Virginia Tech, but then coach left for Kentucky. So I don't know what's going on with I think coaches leave like coach Taran just retired ah from Stanford coach Lisa Bluto retired at Iowa um Kenny Brooks went from Jim didn't take to Kentucky and So, you know, coaches move, you know, maybe the player, you know, depends how interested the player is in the coach versus the school versus the combination. And so it would be really interesting to see those that are playing at this FIBA Under 17 Basketball Women's World Cup, how many of them now that they're on that international stage, what college office they're going to get?
01:42:38
Speaker
ah after this that's pretty exciting. It certainly is. turn off my work laptop um Yeah and I mean there's always college coaches at those tournaments looking at players and they're the coaches that players will remember as well. The coaches who were there for the day one game you know when they were playing Puerto Rico or Croatia You know, the coaches who came along to that rather than just being there for the USA game and, you know, seeing them on the off chance. So coach coaches get in early and you get in to play as good books. That's right. And the other news from around the league we've already mentioned throughout the episode about Alex Higgins' teacher signing.
WNBL Signings: Alex Higgins and Ash Hannon
01:43:22
Speaker
Two-year deal with Cairns Typan's Ash Hannon going to Bendigo Spirit. I'm not sure if we missed any others just yet.
01:43:33
Speaker
but hopefully like there'll be a lot more news and gossip coming from around the league in the next coming weeks. No, I don't think there's been any WNBL news, pre-agency of note for Ace, but J.T. Sheldon signing with Townsville is pretty cool. That's huge. Huge. ba Yeah. Townsville are really, it's their redemption league season again signing the roster that they signed. yeah Crazy. I love to see it. Especially in a year where there won't be quite as many top, top level Aussies to go around with how many players have already signed to Europe. The net number of going to Europe versus returning from Europe is definitely swinging in the way of going to Europe this year.
01:44:24
Speaker
Yeah, and I think those that are going to Europe for next season, for especially for their first time, it's the right move for their careers. um I think we see that often in the year after an Olympics as well.
01:44:37
Speaker
um yeah You know, you're not really preparing for a major tournament. You know, and yeah you you can be maybe not out of sight for one season, but you don't have to be right in the shop window 24 seven kind of thing as much as you do the year before an Olympics.
New Finals Format for NBL1 East
01:44:54
Speaker
with the WMBL. Interesting. Yeah, so well, anyway, big weekend ahead, ah right across the MBL1 competition, but our eyes will be fixed on MBL1 East because I think this is the first time since we've had MBL1 East technically that we've taken a top eight. So this is the first time that we've had this format for finals.
01:45:18
Speaker
Second time Top 8, first time with this second chance format. We had Top 8 last year. We had Top 8 finals. Yeah. That's right. This format I like a lot more, makes it more interesting. And gives you a more incentive to get Top 4. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. All right. Well, if have you got anything else before we close it up tonight, Locky? um
01:45:47
Speaker
Not really. Get out to a game. And if you can't get out to a game, watch the live stream. It'd be lovely to have your company. I'll call you amazing at the end of the game as well. So you've got that going for you if you watch the Sutherland game. The under 14 kids were there with my sign again at the Sutherland game. The sign they made for me. Thank you. If possible, take a photo and pop it on the EGG Instagram. ah will they're there this weekend yeah um um but yeah also ah as of I guess yesterday it's gonna be one month until nbl1 Nationals on the Sunshine Coast
Anticipation for NBL1 Nationals on the Sunshine Coast
01:46:32
Speaker
you'll be there I will be there one way or another I will be there
01:46:37
Speaker
um And yeah, which is kind of weird to think that it's only a month away, but we've still got so much finals possible up until then. So yeah now now is the exciting bit. Now we're hitting the peak. Yep. All right. Well, that will wrap up for this week's episode and then we'll see each everyone for next week again. Yes. When we'll have even more finals results and climb another step in the mountain to national. Yes. yes
01:47:10
Speaker
All right, signing off. See you, look. Peace out.