NBL1 East 2026 Championship RECAP - featuring Gem Hudson and James Mullan (Waratah on VCR)

Transcript

Speaker: well well Well, look who's back again for another episode of East Got Game where we give you the X's, the O's and the insights of NBL One East.

Speaker: 2026 even though it's officially wrapped up we've still got more to share I'm Jacinta. That's lucky. And how the bloody hell are you mate? Still tired. Still bloody tired after the weekend.

Speaker: Still tired. What did you do after I left you there? What's the men's game or the second half of the men's game? Got some Guzman with ah Caleb and Damien and Louis.

Speaker: Went home? and then I think I relaxed on Monday, but yeah, I don't know. It doesn't feel like it. Hmm. Goodness me, your Monday has already come and gone, giving out, apparently it's Tuesday.

Speaker: um But that sounds like a hell of a way to spend grand final day. I had to dash off at halftime of the men's game, unfortunately, with regrets in my heart that I had to leave.

Speaker: Because I would have loved to have joined you at GYG with the lads. ah It was good. It's good. Good times. Good. You know. Yeah, the post -game drives with the r with the guys.

Speaker: always always always good fun Yeah, sometimes it's better things that you remember from grand final days and not necessarily who won by what margin. I mean, we'll remember who won, but not necessarily what margin.

Speaker: Yeah, thanks. yeah Well, maybe you do. Maybe you do. But, yeah. I mean, MBO 1 ACE 2026 is done. um The grand final series it all kicked off at GYG Stadium on the New South Wales Central Coast.

Speaker: They did a fantastic job. hosting the finals this weekend. um Just really put on a show. lots of space for a lot of the spectators and supporters. um making the journey for the day um And it was packed. It was absolutely packed. um Yeah. was it anyway I mean, what that was it was a lot bigger than I was expecting, Lockie.

Speaker: yeah well i think caleb said to us that central coast holds more than penrith i think because it's got the bleachers rather than the individual seats you can really you really cram people in there and the men's game actually sold out in the end Yeah, that's a fantastic result for that to sell out. um

Speaker: Yeah, it was heaving, the venue, and we were very lucky again to be selected to commentate the women's grand final as East got game. So another big thank you to Basketball NSW and everyone involved in NBL One East.

Speaker: particularly with the support of the The GOAT, the greatest of all time, no one better. Caleb. uh fogity for advocate for you know putting our names forward to be selected. It's always an honour to be selected for a grand final and it's never an expectation from where I stand.

Speaker: Hey, I expect to not get selected most years, to be honest. and it all Listen, Lucky. um and this is no shade but you know me i gotta call a spade a spade And at the end of the day, it is what it is. But we crushed that. We crushed that game.

Speaker: Yeah, yeah, we did We did. And it was such a good game. It was. I really... At 47 -28 midway through the second quarter, I was like, oh.

Speaker: bit. It ended up being an absolute ripper. Thoroughly entertaining. We'll get into the game a little bit more. We're going to have a very special guest join us in about 10 minutes' time. to help us dissect the game that was between the Bankstown Bruins and the Manly Warringah Seagulls in the Women's Grand Final.

Speaker: but we've actually got some Great news to share, just as the season has ended. Some clubs are already focused on the 2027 season. Tell us about the announcements ah that... um We're shared today online, Lockie.

Speaker: Well... I've already got... Two new head coaches announced. So, Inner West Women have a new head coach, Danny Kordahi, who's been involved with the very much involved with the club. uh that's a Very familiar name. to Anyone who ah watches men's...

Speaker: Waratah and MBL1 aced. And, yeah, he's after being heavily involved in their youth league program and junior men, he's ah taking over the i the women's NBL One East program. and I think in the West, there actually are.

Speaker: Got a construction commencement date. sometime next year for their new facility in eastwood so things are on the up for the uh for the bulls And then, Hornsby, Karingai, Spiders, men.

Speaker: Danny Kim He's back! He's back! He's back! I'm so excited that Danny Kim is back! um and he is just going to be coming at the right time for the Hornsby Caringo.

Speaker: spiders men's program who again another club that's just been going strength to strength to strength in both their men's and women's program, especially considering they missed the inaugural NBL 1E season in 2022.

Speaker: Like this is. Fantastic news for the club. Oh. Cheers, he's been. like He was assistant coach in the West. He went overseas. He's been killing it over in Asia.

Speaker: To have him back in NBL One is a massive boon for it. for the team and the league. Yeah, so if Shaq Shora... uh returns as the women's head coach for hornsby karingai spiders and you got danny kim as the men's coach I mean, i think that's going to attract some people maybe we might see some club movement Yeah.

Speaker: It's a hole. It's a big hole. Play a bit. Yeah. Because I mean. could very well happen he's a he's a very well respected man they both are Yeah, they certainly both are. I mean, we know what Shaq can do now. um Again, just I'm lucky not to be nominated for coach of the year this year.

Speaker: uh given how far he was able to take the spiders women's program so yeah it'd be interesting to see if that that attracts some player movement um i'm sure that Danny Kim is going to be able to.

Speaker: use his now expanded network in the basketball landscape to attract some great imports perhaps or even just attract some local talent coming out of college Like opportunities are endless.

Speaker: 100 % off. And. There was a third announcement that's just been released, Squint. Oh yeah? NBL One Nationals commentators have been announced.

Speaker: They sure have. They sure have. And representing the East this year. Will be. Caleb Fogarty. And squint! Well, I mean, can I say that I represent the East, even though... ah i i did obviously just do the women's final and i covered the Life members round.

Speaker: for the Crusaders back in round 12, I think it was. or can i say representing north because i know i'm i'm I'm by conference. I'm bilingual in conferences. you you are you You can represent whichever conferences you want, for you are.

Speaker: Just into government. Thank you very much mate. I'm very excited to be heading to Adelaide this week. ah and thanks to the shout outs as well on the Instagram live to hamish from Hamish and Caleb as well.

Speaker: Caleb's saying I can count as east as well as north. Sorry. if he approves it then no one can really argue with that but yeah so super excited to be heading to adelaide on friday for nbl one nationals which we can talk about the draw as well at the end of the show um It will be in my fourth time at Nationals out of the five possible tournaments.

Speaker: which she is also an honor to be selected again. um like i said these things are always a an honor to be selected it's never an expectation none of this is ever a guarantee so it's always very nice to be to be selected and yet thanks it thanks to Damien as well, sending his congrats on the Instagram live.

Speaker: That just means I get one more opportunity to. Getting in the go to the Gunners, boys. Sitting sideline. um I wonder if I should take my TUI jersey for when I'm off duty just to sit on the sideline and support them.

Speaker: but i think i might need to start i might have to borrow your bankstown bruins jersey we How many? Which one? I've got three. Take your pick. I'll take any recommendation. Actually. I mean, I got the number 11 out I won't turn it around. We we can call it a Shiloh Hill number 11 for tonight.

Speaker: Because who is it normally? Georgie Nowak. Oh, okay. Deep cut. We like that. We like that. And the North Jersey you have in the background as well tonight. Yeah, I've got a rep. Wrap the champions.

Speaker: yeah I don't think the North's men even, do they even have a number five on the roster? I don't think they do. That's a Rebecca Donnelly number five. but ah There we go. Champions represent.

Speaker: Might have to quickly look that up, unless there was someone that didn't unfortunately hit the court. Ah yes. On the weekend. Yeah, there was no number five at the grand final. I don't know if they had one throughout the season. but There we go. Chance represent.

Speaker: That's right. It's still it's still the the champions at the end of the day. So it'll be interesting to see who... also gets to suit up on the weekend. um damien saying as well on in the instagram live that loki has every team I only have seven, Damien. We talked about this on the weekend.

Speaker: I only have seven NBL One East Clubs jerseys. So far So far. Do you need a crew one? You need a crew one.

Speaker: ah Okay. Okay. Okay. Good to know. Good to know. I'm going to try and store that in the important part of my brain for next time. um All right, well. That was the muse of the round, which is great. 2027 season is already on the forefront of a lot of people's mind, despite.

Speaker: the 2026 season. finishing literally 48 hours ago but let's get stuck into this women's grand final game between Bankstown Brawls and Manly Warringah Seagulls. We're going to bring on a special guest.

Speaker: to give us their perspective as well. A massive fan of women's basketball. She is the original basketball diva herself. her name is jem hudson hello jem thanks for joining us on egg tonight Hi, thank you so much for having me. It's so good to be here.

Speaker: Absolutely. Now, um Like in the ah in the most diplomatic way I can say this, you're relatively new to the NBL One East community. So for those that don't know you, give us a little bit of a spiel about yourself and how you found yourself in your current role at the Comets.

Speaker: Yeah, so I started getting really into women's basketball last year through the WNBA. And so I started making some TikTok videos about it. um And so...

Speaker: And I kind of just continued. And then I got really excited about Australian women's basketball and the WNBL. And ah earlier this year, the comments put out a call on their Instagram saying, we're looking for more commentators. And I thought.

Speaker: How different can talking on a mic be to talking on TikTok? And that's how I kind of made my way over to comments in the NBL One East. And found your way in the seat next to the voice of the NBL One East himself, Lockie France. so you Voice of the Earth. you've been um Yeah, you're lucky to find yourself in like one of the...

Speaker: best possible mentors in commentating as well. Have you found a lot of similarities and differences between making content and having to commentate a live game. I think that there, obviously the live aspect is something that's very different. I come from like a debating public speaking and theatre background. So that was something that ah was not as intimidating to me as I imagine it could be for people without.

Speaker: a kind of background in performance experience i think one of the toughest parts about commentating is how you mesh with the person you're working with. Obviously, I'm very lucky to have mostly commentated with Lucky, but being able to figure out what is the what are the habits of the person you're working with, when is a good time to jump in, when...

Speaker: uh How do I make sure that I have something genuinely valuable to say every time I'm jumping in? um Those are the things that are kind of the most different. um

Speaker: And obviously the thing that I've kind of admired the most about the people that I've commentated with, so Lockie, Will and Matt McQuaid, is just like the level of knowledge that people have. um Like whenever I tell anyone about commentary, I'm like, the guy with Lockie, he can tell you everything. He can tell you a player's junior club if they are. went overseas every single place I've ever played at and I think that that kind of knowledge base is so valuable to commentators and that's something that I'm kind of working on building.

Speaker: That is a fantastic answer already showcasing why you are a budding commentator with how um succinct you were with your answer and i didn't realize you got to commentate with matt mcquade as well so you Already been commentating with two really high caliber play -by -play commentators, not just in the East, but...

Speaker: in the country.

Speaker: Yeah, Matt needed an extra commentator one round and I was like, I'll do it. So that was very exciting. Awesome. And the only other piece of advice I'd give you is when you're working with people like Matt and Lockie who do know a lot of things, don't.

Speaker: Try to match them. Yeah. Yeah. Jase! You will just end up going down a rabbit hole. ah Yeah, that that has no...

Speaker: and and um Yeah, just bring what you can bring. Um, and obviously respect what they can bring and just sit there and admire it. Cause I'm like, I. I don't think I'd be ah ever be able to keep up. I'm always learning something new from Lockie.

Speaker: That. In the same vein, I could never match Squinn's ability to see things on court as they happen. Bye. Which is. i think why we work so well together on the weekend because i'm I wasn't going to try and match Squinn.

Speaker: for basketball you know in -depth knowledge of what's going out on court Because I know squins squins got it covered because you know it's when you played at the highest level in australia so It was a long time ago and now I'm just reliving those days in any social comp that I can on a weeknight. um so it's still it still counts but are you enjoying it jim like are you Kane already for 2027.

Speaker: Oh, I'm so excited. I think the thing that I really liked the most about the NBL one is like every game, I feel like I'm discovering something. Like I feel like being able to see the new up and coming talent and also to see players that I haven't gotten to see in play before is so exciting. Like I went home, I'm from Canberra and I went home one weekend to watch the COE versus ah Nationals game. And I remember picking up my phone and sending Lockie a message being like.

Speaker: like i am singing the gospel of katie jones or something like that and then she just signed a contract with the capitals and so it's like that seeing that kind of thing is very exciting and i feel like that's partially what's so great about like the NBL one is...

Speaker: Feeling like you're discovering new players um and being able to see them succeed in that whole journey, I think has been my favorite part.

Speaker: She gets it. She gets gets it. she gets it Look, we're not going to lie. then There is something fun about being able to say, I knew them first. yes Yeah.

Speaker: and it's we i think loki and i've often over the four years that we've done this podcast have had these really weird proud parent moments and we neither of us are parents and obviously sometimes don't know the athletes of when you see someone say at COE. and then see the or even you know for lucky and watching them at under 18s or youth league and see their career progress so far um I mean someone like

Speaker: ah Even Satea Fagan, I remember her debut season with COE and there was literally a clip where she had slipped and done the splits like a Bambi. and give her 12 months later and she's off. playing for the opals do you know what i mean like just things like that is um the things that yeah you really remember and this makes the whole kind of commentary gig pretty fun too. Yeah.

Speaker: But on on Instagram Live, we've got Deeksy. I'm saying more women behind the mic. Keep up the great work. Love the energy. Love the positivity and always the support, Deeksie, as well. Always good to see you on the weekend.

Speaker: um someone who's always in our corner so love that you're tuning in but shall we get stuck into this grand final game Yes, let's do it. All right. So I feel like I've been yabbering on quite a bit. So obviously, Lockie and I were already there. Gem, were you watching live from home?

Speaker: So I watched like I got caught the second half live and then I went back to watch the first half and I think it was really interesting like the way the first half of the game really informed the second half. um So I've seen it all now.

Speaker: Well, yeah, tell us more about that, how what what helped you come to that conclusion of how some of the things in the first half then. Well, I guess start by telling us what you saw in the first half. I think the thing that to me was the most the most notable and kind of made me zoom out and go.

Speaker: the shape of the whole game kind of impacted each other was fouls. Like I think a lot of the time players picked up a lot of early fouls and it was almost like in some ways the foul trouble of players dictated who was on the floor a bit more in some ways than like coaching could because. ah players had picked up a lot of fouls early. And I think that...

Speaker: When you think about ah basketball in particular, it's a game where momentum is very important. like the basketball is a game of runs thing. um And I think that in this particular game, it's almost like the momentum that Bankstown picked up in the first quarter essentially allowed.

Speaker: them to ah win it all because that momentum got them so far ahead that even when Manly goes on a really good run through that second half, they're still able to stay um above it all.

Speaker: You know, I think like the way that. Kiana Davis -White. um pulls out. for them in the first quarter. To me, I'm like... I'm still thinking about that at the end of the game as being something that. sets the tone so early and then allows them to win.

Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. And um when the point that you made as well about how some of those early fouls really impacted key players early in the game, Davis White was also... impacted with foul trouble like you're right she'd did set the tone.

Speaker: for that game particularly for bankstown i think even the first play out me and lucky were like oh it's it's on like she is out there to win bankstown are really focused in here definitely to win um and then she was off for a long period of time And then she was able to keep that. momentum and she got that block off de delay of Delaney of Delaney's three and then went out and got the transition lay up and Side note, Rob Schott's got a...

Speaker: Perfect photo. of that block as well. But I think those points that you made with the vowels and the momentum and setting the tone is really, really sound.

Speaker: Loki, did you have anything to add? I... I... I mean, when you talk about Kiana Davis -White. all um Oh, Amy. when she came back she had that block she also had those two tips on consecutive possessions as well um So she was.

Speaker: It didn't matter when she was coming back into the game. She was just... walked in as soon as she stepped onto the court. but I mean... You couldn't have said a better gem. I mean, it was 47 -28 at one point. it's It's so tough to come back from a marginal like that. but i 22 free throws in the first seven minutes.

Speaker: The fact that either team was able to actually... build any kind of run. And it was even more impressive by Bankstown because... The fact that it was stop -start. Even though Manly got eat more of those free throws, just the fact that it was stop -start makes it hard to... really develop any kind of rhythm throughout the game. So I think that was probably one of the most impressive things was that Bankstown were able to put together something.

Speaker: A run. or multiple runs, because I think... Their biggest scoring run was only nine points. so In the first half, anyway. so they were Putting together little runs.

Speaker: Maybe nearly get a stop. Oh. Mainly you get a basket, but then Banks got to get two or three. All right. It wasn't so much that they were able to just Put the foot down. and blow them out of the water but they were able to just Push ahead.

Speaker: you know Snowball effect almost. and get out to a big lead.

Speaker: Yeah. this Sorry. The snowball thingies. The snowball thing is right, you... That's why. When I watched went and watched back the first half, I was like...

Speaker: that snowball thing is why that first quarter becomes so important um and i think like the idea of going on little runs also is like that's when you get the doing things possession by possession i think because bankstown had that attitude being um disrupted by fouls became less of a problem because they're like, we'll just do it.

Speaker: every single time regardless of what the kind of vibe is. um Yeah, Bankstown just really didn't seem perturbed by anything.

Speaker: in this game they came they like you said like we said they set the tone very early in the game whoever came Whoever subbed on at whatever point in the game, it was almost like they were just as focused as they were in the warm -up.

Speaker: i mean we saw rachel dunlop come on and hit two threes in the first quarter. then she's hitting threes again in a stretch of the game which power move by coach curtain She took Davida Dale off. in the last five minutes of the game which given that she's an import and a previous defensive player of the year in the league.

Speaker: that's a big call and she's put rachel dunlop on and i'll we initially are were like huh That's an interesting move. but in terms of just being able to have that. Even. ah another another another scoring option for the stretch of the game and as soon as she was subbed on Rachel Dunlop had The Runner.

Speaker: and then she went on to make a three but even a sister jane only had very limited minutes but as soon as she was on she She scored a bucket. like i The focus of this team was like incredible.

Speaker: And interestingly, both kayla proctor and rachel dunlop ended up playing more minutes then Davida Dale. So Devita played 19 and a half, and Kayla and... Rachel, both. Crack the 20 minute mark. Rachel actually played almost 24 minutes. so I mean... i think look Oh sorry.

Speaker: sorry well i think To me, that kind of is why.

Speaker: was thinking during the first quarter which is that they feed the hot hand right like they're not thinking necessarily about like oh who's meant to be the best scorer on the team or who's meant to be this that or the other I think what the coach is able to recognize is who on this team right now is having a really great night and how do we capitalize off that as well I think like that's particularly evident in this but in that first quarter like Davis White has this crazy ah

Speaker: amazing scoring run. She had like seven of their first 11 points or something like that. And so I think. that will the willingness to take off a starter and maybe sub in some of your bench players more is also a recognition of that.

Speaker: And I think that's something throughout the league that... a few coaches a lot of coaches could learn from because we talk about it week after week Bye -bye. Uh... So I'm not going to. Name players or coaches now. um but we We talk about this player. Why did they only get...

Speaker: 12 minutes, 15 minutes, they're five or six from the field. and then you look at the starter that they brought on and they go three of 11 and be like Why did you not just run with the person who's balling out and keeping you in the game?

Speaker: And look I mean. Lauren Curtin. Steve. absolutely loves this program she loves the She's talked for a long time about the balance of the big names supported by The Bankstown Babies.

Speaker: The babies! That that's uh You got a trademark now on, Lauren? Um, But. you know and it is it's You know, four starters.

Speaker: Talia, Shaila, Margot, DeFratis, Davida, Dale. And then. Fifth starter is a Bay Sound junior. And then your entire bench. Just to be up. is Bankstown Juniors as well.

Speaker: Rachel Dunlop, Jane Dunlop, Kayla Proctor, Lily Austin. you know All Bankstown juniors, so. Um, And. Lauren Kern is just great at recognising who should be on court.

Speaker: Win. And she did it. brilliantly throughout the game, even when players did get in a bit of foul trouble. But on that point One of my special mission.

Speaker: Shiloh Hill had three fouls very early in this game. We mentioned it on the call. She didn't fail again. in the entire game Hmm.

Speaker: One of the reasons. She was in the mix with Defensive Player of the Year. I think defending without fouling is like such an... underrated skill. um because it's like about the discipline you have and the control of your body that you have and i think that We're used to, you know, our top defenders often picking up a lot of fouls because of the intensity that they're playing with. But being able to go...

Speaker: I have three fouls. this is a problem. And. to not drop your intensity is like a really significant skill that I think needs to be kind of recognized and rewarded more.

Speaker: um Oh, totally. And it's also kind of showcases how it's that attitude of like i'm on three thousand this is a problem like if for for the whole team not just for me.

Speaker: I need to stay in this game and perform my best to make sure my team wins. I need to be as disciplined as I possibly could, just as you said. That's really putting everyone.

Speaker: ahead of you um But yeah, I have to say like. I know that Shiloh over the years has copped a lot of. varying criticisms for her style of play, if she's in Opals, if not.

Speaker: And I said this on the call too, but this has definitely been my favourite season watching her play. So much more maturity. She's still able to be a prolific scorer.

Speaker: get all the shots that she creates for herself, but she's still creating a lot for others. Like she was still in the top five of the league for assists. um but sometimes those league starts you know you only have to play five games so It's a bit.

Speaker: Whatever. but um still yeah Still in the top five for the league in assists. And she's still, again, in the mix of defensive player of the year. She's just sharing the ball more. She's making better decisions offensively. She doesn't... play with that sense of i have to carry this team on my back and do everything she just seemed to play with so much more ease and trust in everyone else and i think when someone like shyla and even talia tupai who have that experience in that leadership

Speaker: When they're actually doing those things and showing trust in the bench, that's going to be such a great lesson for the bench in return.

Speaker: But. um it I got to talk about... You guys go last. I was going to say. and and it frees up the rest of the team you know there's a lot of players here Between Talia, Charlotte and Margot.

Speaker: They could all be seen in this league as being... good enough to be dominant. and in other teams have to carry the team. and they almost look like they play with freedom.

Speaker: I'm Talia. Last year was basically one of two. on that In a West Ross tour. Um, Yeah. Shiloh, probably not so much at Comets. You know, she was there alongside DeVita and they had Piper Anderson at the time.

Speaker: um so i said a bit more story but probably still was she was still doing a lot um i Does Shiloh have 50 in an overtime loss for Comets against Canberra? do she get to and think she got to 50 in that game and they lost in overtime so seriously how much she was uh doing that season but Um,

Speaker: I think yet. Shaila and Talia together. it's Unbelievable this is the first season they've ever played together. I can't believe they haven't crossed paths at... Some point.

Speaker: Considering how much, like, Shiloh played for the Flames and Talia was at the Flames for... forever but Just off by one season. but Um, Yeah. ta Talia. Don't let the field goal percentage fool you. because just go look at the free throws.

Speaker: Perfect 19 from 19 from the free throw line in this game. And I will say on the record, so I can claim it in case someone posts this later, I'm pretty confident that that is the most number of free throws made in an NBL one women's grand final.

Speaker: Eva. i've been trying to go through I've been trying to go through all of the grand finals in the last couple of years for all the conferences. And nothing has come close so far. The closest that I've seen so far is Steph Reid in 2022 for Townsville, where she had 10 from 10.

Speaker: I mean, 19 of 19 would be up there for three throws in. Any game, I'd say. but bottle but And then especially she went. Eight free throws.

Speaker: Then it and one And then the rest. So even when she got. A - shot from the field she's still got free throws after it as well

Speaker: Yes, I mean, that's why they keep saying the free throws win games, right? nineteen And you look at the stat line, wow, 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists, a steal. And then you would expect someone to be having a high shooting game. Nah.

Speaker: Just going to earn it from the stripe. But... And look at, but look at the team free throws. 24 of 26 plays 25 of 28.

Speaker: That's what I like to see. Special right there. That's what I like to say. I'm always critical about free throw percentages. And that was probably one of my quite highlights of the game. how well both teams shot at the line.

Speaker: But it also kind of reminds me of the point we made on the call to Manly. Why aren't you getting to the line more? They had that early run of getting to the free -through line, shooting such a high clip. Their three -pointers weren't dropping, which is uncharacteristic for them. but I think.

Speaker: throughout this particular season their three -point percentage wasn't as good as we've seen in previous seasons But they were staying in the game by getting points from the free throw line and then they just went away from it.

Speaker: Yeah, that's... It was 13 free throws in the first seven minutes. i didn't I didn't know down what it was after a quarter, but 13 in seven minutes and then... 15 for the rest of the game.

Speaker: With Bainstown in foul trouble. Yeah, and I think particularly when there's foul trouble, that's usually when... you should go, okay, it is now in our best interest to get to the line more.

Speaker: even more than we were already trying to. So I think that's maybe. Like, maybe that's a big credit to Bankstown's defense for kind of... pushing people out of the paint or deterring manly from even trying to make that push um

Speaker: But yeah, I think. um mainly we're just settling for too many threes just settling for threes settling for threes As a team, they were 10 from 35. Um,

Speaker: And. like I know they say shooters have got to shoot. but at what point do you think actually I'm scoring everything from the free storyline. I'm not getting anything from the arc.

Speaker: Maybe I should just trade one for the other. I mean, it got to the point. uh Sorry, Jim. Go. I think that the kind of... You're The shoot -or -shoot thing is such a hard thing to balance. Like, every level of basketball I watch, like... all the way from like

Speaker: Like. NBL one all the way to the WNBA. It always seems to be a conundrum. Like when your shooter is having an off night. how do How do you adjust? How do you make sure you're not shooting yourself out of game? And I think that... at least in this game, something that I really noted was like,

Speaker: Zoe Miller wasn't having like her best shooting night, but I think what she does is she goes to the other end and starts making plays on defense. And I think that part of that is part of what makes the game so close in the end is the fact that. when a player is able to go.

Speaker: Oh, okay, like... the shooting is not shooting for every possession i'm you know, maybe taking a sound of possession, I need to go and get one back on the other end. And I think it's that kind of attitude that keep that and makes the game end up being closer. then perhaps you would have thought at halftime.

Speaker: yeah that Yeah, that's a good point too. Zoe Miller was definitely, you could see, making a conscious effort on if I'm not contributing on the offensive end as sometimes I'm expected to do. She was diving for loose balls, making deflections, putting her body on the line, and that's a really great way that players have got to stay.

Speaker: mentally in the game and try and keep those any kind of intrusive thoughts of or dwelling thoughts of missing shots. At bay. And Zoe's just such a massive big game player as well. i mean I have.

Speaker: not Not ashamed to say I dropped the 2022 Newcastle reference into the... r into the call from uh Because her for her late her late stage of the game was absolutely...

Speaker: Brilliant. She put up quick points. She was just. Everything Manly needed to be. Yeah, I like how I said she had a quiet night. Ends up with 19 points leading scorer on the team. but yeah You know, like. i think it's there's players who can really come alive in the fourth quarter. like when their number is called and i think that she showed that in this particular game Yeah, she did also almost have a double -double with the 19 points, four rebounds and eight assists. so

Speaker: um Yeah, definitely still did her absolute best. And all of those things like deflections, loose balls, hustle plays that aren't on the stat sheet definitely. Added to the. to mainly coming back.

Speaker: in the third but Um. It was a bit of a struggle for them on that comeback because there was a long period in the third quarter where they didn't score. No. It was 6 -0 for the quarter after about...

Speaker: Four minutes. And man, we were walking Bankstown down and... Mm -hmm. We got to the point where we were saying... like we were apologizing for harping on about manly Trying to hit quick threes.

Speaker: But yeah. But it's... Yeah. I think one of the kind of like... Tough. things is like you're down so you want to try and get some quick points to try and close that gap but also at the same time like you do have to kind of run your offense you do have to kind of use that shot clock and I think that I was just. team you've got to go

Speaker: I can't rush this even though time pressure is a factor. actually getting through your offensive action in some way is going to set you up for a better shot. And especially just going back to your point before, Gem, about making runs, how Bankstown, sure, the biggest run they had and was only nine points, but making those short runs that made a big difference in the end, this was Manly's opportunity to do that back to them.

Speaker: They made so many consecutive defensive stops in a row and they could have just gotten stops and run layups because they're still. arguably one of the quickest teams in the league.

Speaker: um next to like someone like north and especially when sari mowbray zoe miller Even Brie Delaney. when they're penetrating without hesitation like just get out of the way Because you're either going to fail them or you're going to get. run over because they are just so

Speaker: strong and tenacious when they're making a strong play that this was the opportunity to get those stops and make those runs and just go lay up lay up lay up or free get to the free throw line I think that would have really boosted them overall in the in the second half

Speaker: Yeah, you kind of want to make sure you're not living and dying by the three -point line. yeah yeah yeah see basketball cliches are cliches for the reason and that is certainly one of them Um, But you know what was interesting as well? ah that it was 10 you know thanks to jason caddy as well for posting this on his instagram It was 10 years ago that the Bankstown Bruins men...

Speaker: One, what? What was it? called back then, Lockie Warratah, ACA. No, it was Waratah Championship. Waratah Championship. Well, the equivalent of NBL won for back in the day. The Bankstown men won.

Speaker: the championship 10 years ago. ah pretty much to the day and on the exact same court as the bankstown women won the championship on the weekend which is Kind of scary, but nicely serendipitous.

Speaker: And I don't think the women have won a championship. Was it since 2015, Lockie? 2015, they knocked off Sutherland at Sutherland. Our team had Casey Samuels.

Speaker: Rohani Cox. um I think. Adrian Bywater in that team, the Hennessys. Uh. Yeah, we're off.

Speaker: Going way back in the WNBL annals there. Oh, yeah, that was. Bankstown were always my least favorite team to play out, so it was good to play them. yeah that yeah that um that Sutherland team had I think Liv White was on that or Liv Douglas, I think, was on that team.

Speaker: um Lauren Sparks was on that Sutherland team. based And yeah, nought Norse were hot favourites coming into the... r i remember that day like nothing else i walked in i had to work the saturday And I walked in just after the first semifinal finished.

Speaker: And. The Norse players. look like they've... facials were going to melt off their skulls. name were hot favourites to win it all. And then Bankstown, yeah, Bankstown beat Sutherland in the in the granny.

Speaker: Amazing. So yeah, history. Certainly made again on the weekend. um But, Gem, before we say goodbye to you, thanks again for joining us to share your... review and perspectives on

Speaker: the nbl one women's grand final match and also to officially introduce yourself to our nbl one east community so for those listening and watching online please keep an eye out for jem whether that's comments or around the league or i i imagine you'll be around for the wnbl season jem have you got your i will be around Sorry. trust believe perhaps Trust and believe. believe.

Speaker: Sydney, Canberra, I'm probably at the game. But before that... We're going to have you this weekend at Waratah Finals. Oh, yes, I will be there. I will be. I am.

Speaker: uh on the mic at for our top finals this weekend. wherewi You got Waratah Youth 2 women and you're with me for Waratah women. Yes, yes, yes. yes Awesome. Congratulations on the call up, Jim. It's going to be a really, really fun weekend. You're going to keep sharpening your tools as a commentator.

Speaker: like finals weekend is so fun you're getting some more love on the instagram line from damian clark keep repping those comments jim he says Thanks, Damien. Okay.

Speaker: um But, yeah, have you got any kind of final words about this game before we say goodbye? And then before you leave as well, please tell our listeners and our viewers online where they can find you.

Speaker: on Instagram and on TikTok especially. Yeah, I guess my kind of final thing about like. The... game is like my biggest takeaway from it was that the whole shape of a game has impact like thinking about the things that happen in the first and the way that those flow on and I think that's something.

Speaker: That is really interesting to think about just from a storytelling perspective about the way that we view games and the stories that they create. And then, yeah, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok both at gems Hudson.

Speaker: um That's where I can be found. Yeah. Thank you so much for having me guys. Good stuff. Thank you very much for um but like for coming on and being a guest. It was essentially very last minute, so we appreciate you jumping on and being all prepared.

Speaker: um But yeah, please check out Gem on Instagram and TikTok. I used to follow you on TikTok and then I just got overloaded with social media apps and had to delete. a bunch of them so Um.

Speaker: That's why I'm not around anymore so but I'm sure your content is still pumping. But yeah, best of luck on the weekend commentating war at our finals. you'll meet a great bunch of people in our community and uh yeah it's going to be great i'm very excited for you Yeah, I'm super excited too.

Speaker: lucky you got any departing words of wisdom before we say goodbye to jem Um... No, we we'll probably talk before Waratah finals because I know Gem wants to ah pick my brain about the history of these Waratah women's teams, considering there is a...

Speaker: there is a uh A lot of old Waratah Youth League experience in our info these. in these ah or at our teams. Yes. War Tire is a whole other thing.

Speaker: Yeah. I don't know. I personally don't have space in my brain for Warratah as much as I would like to stay up to date with it. Between MBL1 North, MBL1 East.

Speaker: And then WNBL and Opals. That's enough. Yeah, I'm also super excited because there's going to be a couple of Canva teams. um And I'm always excited to see. the camper divas Mm hmm.

Speaker: I got a soft spot for Canberra too. I spent some of my playing days down there. so I've always got a soft spot for them and keeping an eye out on what's up and coming.

Speaker: so yeah be secretly supporting Canberra in spirit But, yes, Gem, thanks again so much for joining us. It's been an absolute pleasure to have you, and we'll have to have you back for the 2027 season.

Speaker: Yeah, I'll be here Awesome. Cool. Peace it out. Peace out. Bye, guys.

Speaker: What an absolute delight, Lockie. You are very lucky to have Jem in the commentary booth next to you at Comets. Cheers. Amazing. And it looks like we've got someone in the ah in the green room who's also been on the commentary booth at Comets this season.

Speaker: Oh, yes. and I mean, which commentary boost has this guy not been in this season? He's been hustling. i didn't say people hustling People joke about how many clubs I've commentated at. This guy's got me.

Speaker: You're looking at me in the rearview mirror. i'm pretty sure he's probably punched his card nearly at nearly every club by now Yeah. But yeah, this is someone who is no stranger.

Speaker: um Two e -scot game at all. He's someone who has also followed NBL One East for a particularly long time. He is now.

Speaker: forging his own very stylish, very informative path in the in content creating. covering Waratah League with Waratah. on VCR it is James hello out my friend how are you it's good to see you again Yeah. Yes.

Speaker: it It's been a long time, guys, I tell you what. I miss you both so, so much. and um No matter how hard, lucky not tried. to try to get you to stay in new south wales just until you still have to get on the plane but that's fair enough it's just good that we can meet up again You're right. luke Listen, I did message Lockie after I left and said, I wish I stayed longer. I really, in hindsight, should have stayed for the whole day and just come back to Brisbane Monday morning and instead of Sunday night.

Speaker: Bye. Yeah, the um the Sunday scurries were very real. um It's like so such a calm down. Normally Sundays are a bit of a calm down, but especially after... like those two grand finals.

Speaker: Oh, then getting home on Sunday, all these thoughts running through your head from what happened, what this means for the clubs and nationals ahead. hotel finals ahead and then to get up on monday and just sit at my desk and be like Alright. Back to work. But luckily, um as part of my job at the local newspaper for North Sydney, I got to write an article about the Bears winning the championship. So at least I got to get some of those thoughts out on the Monday.

Speaker: Monday morning was still. mbo1 east related which i love when there's a little bit of a crossover and my boss is probably getting sick of me pitching um basketball stories but come on they won the championship so that that was pretty significant That should be front page news, no question.

Speaker: Always, yeah. I definitely made sure I pinned it on the um pinned it on the front page because, ah yeah, look, yeah I don't know how much you know about other sports on the North Shore, but our rugby league team's pretty rubbish. Rugby union team's okay. The North Shore Bombers are pretty good.

Speaker: Um... ah And I don't know about the cricket, but anyway. we're here to talk about basketball but yeah the bears are definitely the um shiny oh sorry the bears basketball there definitely is a shining light on the city's not sure Yeah, your rugby league team moved to Perth. I'm not sure if you've heard.

Speaker: Ha ha! Yes. So, yeah, um'm I'm looking at changing back to see West Tuckers season tickets next year. Yeah, well, because I'll save it for another podcast, my thoughts about the Perth Bears. because um I'm not not particularly happy because I'm a local sports guy and I think sports clubs are...

Speaker: ah where they're based that's the kind of important thing so um yeah i don't i don't really get it All right, anyway. respect that we were talking about the north bears who are based in the northern suburbs The Bear Cave, which is actually in Crow's Nest.

Speaker: Yeah. Oh. And that's so good. I mean, it's one of the the few local spots still in the area. Yeah, um and what ah what a weekend it was for the Bears, um especially... I mean, a lot lot of talking to a lot of the Bears fans.

Speaker: A little bit of heartbreak and and shock still from last week's women's preliminary, but we'll skip over that. um we Just fast forward through that part. um So there was a little bit of nervous energy. um before the game.

Speaker: for the men's grand final um Seeing if the Bears could break their drought. Last time I think they won was 2017. um And they've always had somewhat competitive squads from there, but...

Speaker: um Definitely in the NBL One East era, they've definitely paid second fiddle to the women's side who have been one of the powerhouses. So I'm definitely nervous energy ah before the game on Sunday.

Speaker: Yeah, but ah they came through in the end. So, obviously, now that we've got James as our next special guest, we will be reviewing the men's NBL One East 2026 Grand Final between North Bears and Sutherland Sharks. I mean, arguably the two best people to talk about this game given that.

Speaker: You are in the North Shore, James, and lucky you are a shark yourself. um But James, what was some of the I mean, apart from the history that you just recapped for the North Bears men's side.

Speaker: in the competition, whether it was NBL One East or otherwise, like what other things do you think were making you a little bit nervous coming into this? grand final matchup. Oh, um...

Speaker: It's the play of shockies. Like... um ah i recall back in 2023 when north bears had a junior ball um It was Lewis Holy's first year back at the Bear Cave. um The side was looking pretty good. Mike Golding was still playing, so um the the ultimate glue man.

Speaker: ah younger Mikey Young, younger Robbie Moore, that kind of squad. and We thought, oh, here we go, the Sharkies. They're okay, aren't they they? They didn't finish that high seeded. Maybe we'll get a win here and um and move on.

Speaker: And then the Sharkies came out and just blew the Bears apart um on home court um to advance through to the prelims, then eventually win the championship. And um the the team for the Sharkies this year is the very reminiscent.

Speaker: um I'm sure Lucky can attest to that. it's It was starting to look a lot like 2023 all over again. Oh. And I was i was thinking, oh, this Sharks team, the Cabreras, the Hutchinsons of the world, they just go to another level. They somehow dig deep and they somehow find a way to just...

Speaker: I don't know pull through when the times are tough. so i was like you definitely can't discount this sharky side although this north side is but is and showed that they were absolutely top quality, plenty of NBL players, but the Sharks side just have...

Speaker: and i know they just have a spirit about them that um that's very good by the way i was I don't know. I guess I was a neutral fan on Sunday, but I don't know. Turn it up. I was standing next to you. And I was like, you were about as neutral as Lockie was neutral.

Speaker: Yeah. i And that's coming from someone who has a North Jersey hang -in.

Speaker: you no no sorry to the sharks guys i love you all but um ah yeah i was definitely going for the bears sorry yeah I don't think I'd hold that against you. Bye. It's fine, James. Yeah. Although I kept telling him is he's a Hornsby boy. That's all he needs to worry about is ah this weekend. at at Sutherland, but back to the game that actually has already happened.

Speaker: The thing that... made me nervous for the sharks was the same thing that made me nervous for the bears and it was the Game at the end of the regular season. And it was.

Speaker: That North... I. that nor for sutherland it was North could play that badly and Sutherland only beat them by one. And then for North, it was...

Speaker: We've played these guys. and played that badly and lost to them before.

Speaker: And. Which... And I know since then they've played a qualifying final. Which... North played a lot better. and got the win. But that.

Speaker: What happened in that last round of the regular season was just the one thing I could not stop thinking about was... Yeah. it North started the game one of 20 -something from three -point range. It finished 63 -62.

Speaker: Um. The thing was that Sullivan committed 19 turnovers in the last round of the regular season. and won by a point, committed 12 in the qualifying final. and lost by 15.

Speaker: And that was what made that was what made me kind of... iffy about the Sharks. I was like... They played that badly. We only beat them by one. We played better and they beat us by 15. But.

Speaker: I mean, the Sharkies, they were up early. They were flying early doors.

Speaker: But and even like before we get right stuck into it, I'll ask Lockie, even the fact that the Sharks beat Illawarra Hawks to get there. Black. did anyone even for you james did either of you think oh okay whoever beats hawks is going to win the whole thing like have that confidence going into the final of like Sharkies knocked off hawks. They can beat anyone.

Speaker: No, no, I didn't really. I think the the top of this league is so close. I don't think. I know like Illawarra down there in the state pit, that's massive to get a win against that Illawarra team. but we We look at this every year. We look at the table and go, oh, there's these teams out there on top. And then you take a look back historically and you look, actually.

Speaker: It was actually pretty close at the top of the table. They weren't big teams that aren't always... really is far ahead of as it looks. kind of thing. I mean, it came down to the final day of the still the final weekend of the season. to even for ill -worn even snatch Top spot, so...

Speaker: Um. Yeah. it was it It was great. i And conversely, it didn't feel like the Sharks played their grand final in that game either. Sometimes you get a team gets a big win in a prelim and it's like, ah.

Speaker: They burn all their matches. Grand Finals are going to come and they're going to be. Nothing. It all felt very, very close.

Speaker: yeah all right well let's get stuck into it then you guys uh will probably paying a bit more attention to the game than i was before i left i was already starting to mentally Check out and glazing over um But... From what I remember of this game,

Speaker: um as to be expected pretty fast pace It was a little bit of a grind, as I think even Caleb was predicting before this game. It was just that bit of a grind where...

Speaker: For me, it was just a lot of up and back. a lot of one -on -one opportunities, a lot of like... whoever's open is going to shoot it or whoever feels like it is going to shoot it. what There wasn't for me, I couldn't really.

Speaker: see a lot of structure or plan or execution. All. too many x's and o's necessarily. from what i saw but again like i said i wasn't paying as much attention to this one as i would have the women's game um james what did what did you kind of see what was your initial impression of the game it was yeah was Well, first of all, it was really physical um to start off with. but You kind of expect that in a grand final, both sides looking to like come out and swing. early on

Speaker: um ah I think the Sharks especially did a good job just choking down the paint. I think that was definitely their MO um all game long, but I think they executed it really well in... the first quarter they knew the bears would just want to Pound, pound, pound. I mean, you look at their their squad, it's it's built around um three dominant bigs in Boff, Fabian and... um and hunter goodrick as well so they knew We'll leave with North shooting threes.

Speaker: um but don't give them an inch of space in the paint. And I think they executed that really well in the first quarter. North so were just jacking threes up. They were kind of daring them to shoot almost the sharkies and North were falling for the trap.

Speaker: Um, the And I don't know, North looked a little, they looked a little shaken, a little nervous in that first quarter, trying to execute, trying to get those open shots. but the spacing was just a bit off.

Speaker: and um Look, ah this may apply for the rest of the game, but a part of me was thinking that... Wait, where's the shooters on this team? They do have decent shooters, but I'm like, where wait where where are the shooters for this North squad?

Speaker: Um, the and i realized oh wait bailey hansen's not here And he he's he's, I think, one of the best shooters on this North team. He's a good spot -up guy, i can do it off the dribble as well, but also runs the point at times, which gets the offense going. um So, yeah, I think...

Speaker: I think the shark is really... Did the scouting report well. And then on the other end, we're moving the ball quite well. But, Lockie, what do you reckon about the Sharkies in the first quarter? I'll handball that one over to you. Sorry, I did want to... um Talk about your three pointers three -pointers comment because just how many players went over in this game with multiple shots for the Nook Bears?

Speaker: Wait till 0 of 4. Chris Levitch, 0 of 5. Popping job. 0 of 5. Um, Mike Young 0 -2, that's it. slightly less but um Yeah, only three guys actually hit threes.

Speaker: for the Bears in this game. and to get them to 10 of 35 and apart from those three guys it was actually Pretty dismal. for being entirely honest.

Speaker: I mean. this north this The entire game was really... bit. It was built around Tyler Robertson. He was. in everything. Four.

Speaker: For the Sharks. um Again, three point i mean three -point shooting wasn't great for either team. um Sharkey's 5 of 23. uh We know they, you know, they love to be physical.

Speaker: I really wish they had Bailey MacArthur. just It was so good last time. I think he really would have – I think he was missed. He was really missed. Um. like Bye.

Speaker: as you were saying very one Yeah. We are. we might have had we might have had our jameson and our walker but we were all out of baileys um that was so good on the day i loved it you got to claim that one forever i'm glad that it's now cemented in history on this recording and in the digital footprint Hmm.

Speaker: Amen. I'm sorry, just on the Instagram live, we've got Baby Chol tuning in. Love to see you popping up always, Baby Chol. And he wants to give a shake a shout -out to Jake Weinstein with three from three from the arc, while you're talking about threes.

Speaker: And. the commentator for the one of the commentators for this final hamish zahlberg ah Two from 19 in the first half, then Mr Weinstein lit it up.

Speaker: Mm.

Speaker: 2 of 19, and they finish 10 of 35, and we will... Get to that because... ah I think the ah second half shoot, three -point shooting, and particularly our one player in clutch moments might be... r worth discussing.

Speaker: Um, But the Sharkies, yeah, I mean... Great battle physically. Hot was... being playoff hutch you know he finished with six deals he was defensively a weapon i'd Love to see. Let me just check the analysis for the first half.

Speaker: Um, at least three fast break point and i'm as we say fast break points are so hard to uh come by in this league they don't really they don't like to give them out too much Um.

Speaker: But. Yeah. I mean, yeah. Great point, yeah James. 10 points in the paint to four. Yeah. Spurge, Jamison. and ja I can't believe Jamison only had four points. He had seven rebounds. He only had four field goal attempts.

Speaker: Would have liked to see him be able to get downhill a bit more because we know he's got a... He's got great um He's got great speed for a big man coming from his coming from his AFL days.

Speaker: um Yeah. Bye. for I mean, the first quarter was where it all really happened for the Sharks. And going into the second, they're up 27 -17 at one point. um until Norse kind of... ah Kind of took it over there in the second quarter, which...

Speaker: Really broke things open. They actually took the lead into halftime, which I know Sharkey's would have been very... very disappointed about considering the lead they had because you can't give this north side a sniff. Hmm.

Speaker: Nope. No.

Speaker: Those bears, like they got a good sense of smell to the bears. James, your rebuttal. and my brotherdo that Yeah, they did. The Bears did kick in again. Yeah, sorry. Thanks, Baby Charles and Hamish, for stealing my point. I did have... um Did have Jake Weinstein name highlighted.

Speaker: is Yeah, one one of the quality shooters. And honestly, I thought maybe he could have done with a few more minutes. I mean, I was thinking that at the time. Obviously, after you see the result, it doesn't matter what my coaching tips are. But also, I would i wouldd be stupid to give Tom Gullop coaching tips because he put on a masterclass by yeah Weinstein. I think bought great energy. um If he wasn't getting his shots off, he was getting off good dribble penetrations, spacing the floor out to open up those lanes for everyone. and um

Speaker: I think we saw that a lot in the ah in the second quarter as well when when Hunter Goodrick um started to start to assert himself a little bit, I think. um At times they just put Goodrick out there at the five and that kind of opened things up a little bit with Fabs on the bench or they'd rotate in or out.

Speaker: um and space around Goodrick. um um Also, Iggy Mitchell, I think, kind of started to step up in that that second quarter. He was looking a little shaky at the start, but Iggy Mitchell got into his flow. and um He's one of the guys, Iggy Mitchell, I think, got to give him a shout out because he was part of that 2022 inaugural squad.

Speaker: um in the nbl one east for the north spares it was a weird year it was a weird year but but we have time to get into it is that the pat sanders you um which is great go check out the highlights but um yeah uh iggy mitchell a younger e mitchell was um part of that squad and um to think all those years on him mikey and robbie are one of the few guys from that inaugural 2022 squad who are still around um

Speaker: and Yeah, Iggy, I think... He's played in some really high level teams all throughout his career. So I think he's really... found a way to dominate. around other dominant ah other around other dominant players so being able to slash off ball be able to play high hard nose defense and um to be able to get out and run as well And all this from a player who had injuries that almost looked like his career was going to be over like two years ago.

Speaker: so i know that's that's a bit of a side note from from the game but i just really did want to highlight iggy mitchell and and what a special player he is and what a special story it is for him to get the championship Yeah, he he... did look like he took a bit to settle in i think he was set well took a bit to settle in because he was settling a bit for shots early on Once he found his groove.

Speaker: he He looked like a different player. um 4 of 14 from the field but i feel like those misses were kind of front -ended I felt like he ah he missed a few earlier. Three of 10 from three. It doesn't feel like that's how it transpired throughout the game. but um But, I mean, he's more than just shooting stats. He's just...

Speaker: James, I don't need to. Don't need to. repeat your point um yeah i thought i thought he was Excellent for the most part.

Speaker: yeah I mean, you mentioned... Oh! That's all right. That one's always in the back pocket. But I think we've got to retire it, getting eager with it.

Speaker: Retire it. What's going to be the replacement? i don't know we've got to figure it out but i think i think I don't know, getting jiggy with that. That's 90s. I don't think we can keep using it. Hey, there was ah a time last year at work, a friend of mine.

Speaker: was doing ah the musical Ann Juliet. which is all of the Max Martin pop hits from the 90s. um and then my colleague referred to that oh because they're all those songs are 30 years old and i said no no they're only from the 1990s and they're like yeah that was 30 years ago And then I died. And then I died and I had to go home sick. Ridiculous. Anyway, sorry.

Speaker: but It's like that there's a meme text of... um I'm out. I just heard Green Day on the classic rock station. That's it. I'm out of here See you later. Nice to know you. Nice to know.

Speaker: um I want to get. Your opinions, though, guys, on Hunter Goodrick. um I really like how he plays. I traditionally really like. uh textbook power forwards and centers maybe because that's how my favourite positions to play when I was a player.

Speaker: despite my size. um But what something I noticed was really interesting is anytime he caught it in the post or at least a catch from the post, the low post, I should say.

Speaker: Defence would take a step back off him. rather than playing him tight and when they gave him that extra space i felt like he kind of struggled to know what to do, how to.

Speaker: how to make that into a scoring option and he was very reluctant just to turn and front up with that extra space and just bank it off the backboard did you see something similar or uh you know opinions on on kind of that kind of technical aspect to his game.

Speaker: Yeah, you you don't want to... get between Hunter Goodrick and the basket when he's getting into a back down situation. Like he's such a good back down big. And I think you live with him facing up and shooting middies, which you can do. He's really good at them. Adding a three to his game as well, which I think is really starting to come along.

Speaker: but when i went to goodrick there was i can't actually honestly can't remember it was those Definitely one in the first half and one in the second or two. Anyway, I can't remember, but he got called for two charges, potentially even three um in that game.

Speaker: um and that was facing up and going into bodies with a bit of a run -up So I think maybe the Sharkies were trying to maybe bait him in to um getting in and having a bit of a run -up into contact as opposed to just being able to catch it. and sorry i can't sorry no the screen's too small i can't it she can't show it here but Yeah. yeah i can't i'm a utility nowadays everyone grew taller than me um But yeah, the

Speaker: like could just You don't want to get in a one -on -one battle with Hunter Goodrick backing you down because he'll just take you to the spot. pump fake the crap out of you sorry pump fake the um Pump out the hell out of you and umm ah and get to where he needs to go and maybe draw a foul. so I think the face up. face up call was a good one squint that was um definitely Definitely a decent choice from the Sharkies.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean any it's the How good he looks. When he's backing people down, it... it you know, exacerbates how he looks when people are not trying to contact him. It just shows, you know.

Speaker: it shows it a lot more so it's a lot more obvious when you are when you see not taking contact and I mean... You think who the Sharks head coach is? Sean Roger. Probably knows Hunter Goodrum pretty well at this stage.

Speaker: Yeah.

Speaker: yeah yeah i thought that was a really smart defensive move it almost sometimes you know hunter would get it where he wanted he'd kind of hot front up or half front up and then just kind of get stuck like what to do next and sometimes the ball was stuck in his hand a little bit too long And then that would have the flow and effect of.

Speaker: making the rest of the ah offense either stagnant or slowed down as well. So it's really interesting to have something as small as that. on the defensive end, can have this low -on effect of being disruptive for your opposition's offense. So, yeah, I thought that was a really...

Speaker: Really nice move there from the Sharkies putting that in. Yeah, and and I think the Sharks knew as well they could play a lot of help defence off ball um because Norse weren't knocking down their shots, at least in the first first half. um They knew they could sag off a little bit on shooters and play that help defense. so um Good execution of the plan.

Speaker: Hmm. And then rolling around, so first half I saw most of, second half, what did I miss? Were there some any dramatic changes in style of play? um you know Were there other players stepping up?

Speaker: with are other players out of the game what what did you see from the second half james It was a slog. It was a slow down for the quarter. It was, I don't know, I feel like I blacked out halfway through. I was just like, is is who wants it? who I kept saying, so I was like. No one wants it. Neither does this team.

Speaker: I'm pretty sure during the third quarter I said, if this wasn't a grand final, people would be switching off. It was getting really scrappy. It was knock them down, drag them out. I mean...

Speaker: It was a 14 -17 third quarter but didn't even feel that high scoring at times.

Speaker: Yeah, and I mean, to be to to give my team's credit, they're playing great defence. Yeah, they're playing great defence.

Speaker: They're playing great defense. not Not one for the highlight makers out there. But, um yeah, really did get into a bit of a grit and grind game. but of course that does favor north style of play i think the sharks are at their best when they're playing a kind of um like free -flowing offense getting a little ball movement inside outside kind of stuff but again north are just happy to play the muscle game and i think that's what gave them the edge in the third quarter so if i sound like a broken record but again when you have the players that north have you use your size advantage use your physicality

Speaker: Hmm. I think that's borne out probably in Harrison Rainer's stats. you know you see someone who can really benefit from when sullivan get the ball movement you know I'll say it again, 50 % from three -point land for the season.

Speaker: um Yeah. Only had one field goal attempt. in 21 minutes. of ah of playing time. that's Not really something you'd expect from a player like Harris, and he'd usually get more opportunities than that. And really, it was four bench points to 27 for the game.

Speaker: Um, 16 from Goodrick, 9 from... weinstein and two from mikey gilligan Sutherland's only two baskets off the bench came from Abbott and Rayner, one apiece.

Speaker: i Both shooting one of one though. Bye. Oh, yeah, and I think if you guys... Sorry, I didn't give you guys the update. I have sent an email through to BNSW requesting a refund for for no Jimmy Hunter action um in all of the grand final.

Speaker: Um, haven't got back to me yet uh and look fair enough if you don't want to give me a refund for the ticket but I'd... I was baffled at the end. We didn't at least get... yet five seconds of jimmy hunter i mean come on that's it's what the people came for Yep.

Speaker: Give the people what they want, Jimmy Hunter. What a guy. What a guy. You know he's played He's been in all but one grand final. That's something James Hunter and I both have in common. Four grand finals in five years.

Speaker: Please. That's right. You both need to recreate that Michael Jordan photo you referenced an episode or so ago. with the With the cigar. If you could do it together, that would be great.

Speaker: Yeah. And on a serious note as well, sorry. I mean, sorry to interrupt. On a serious note as well, I think maybe some Jimmy Hunter minutes may have kicked the Sharks' um offense into gear. I remember...

Speaker: commentating early this year with Lockie down at the Shark Tank when they played on the Spiders. And and I noticed Jimmy Hunter... Does a lot of dribble handle faction, a lot of high posts, playmaking. um Obviously can get down to the low posts and um get a few buckets. He's just another, he's a great playmaker as a big, which I want you think is an underrated part of his game. so maybe some minutes from him him could have opened up the offense a little bit.

Speaker: uh for the sharks but I'm just a pundit, though. Like, don't quote me on that. it's just It's just what I saw, and maybe I'm biased for Jimmy Hunter. He's one of our favourite players. But I think maybe that could have helped. just a little bit with the offense from that second unit.

Speaker: It's not a bad point, to be honest. like We all know what he's capable of. There's a reason why he's been in these championship teams. you know like he he's a big part of he was a big part of Maitland especially getting to those championship games in those finals um and it's not a bad shout james honestly sometimes when you keep trying the same thing over and over expecting a different result and not getting it.

Speaker: um you need to go that's why the bench is there you need to go to the bench you need to find something else who's going to get the job done, who's going to create a spark, who's going to be a bit of a circuit breaker to get something different going. That's why your bench is there. I mean we were talking earlier about how We were so impressed with Lauren Curtin's coaching decisions in the Bankstown Bruins win that she put...

Speaker: Rachel Dunlop out in the last five minutes to clinch to help win the game instead of an import in DeVita Dale. And because she knew exactly what piece she needed.

Speaker: she knew that rachel could do it and off and rachel Dunlop did it. Like she was able to score, she like she stepped up when a number was called. um And Lockie then made a really good point that sometimes coaches need to put the players out there who's going to execute your game plan, not just playing coaches because...

Speaker: oh this one's an import this one expects this many minutes whatever um you just got to put players out there that gets the job done.

Speaker: um But ham Hamish is still on the Instagram live. love Love you, Hamish. Big shout out to you. He mentioned something about Tyler Robertson's ankle injury. and Yeah.

Speaker: yeah i noticed that actually lucky beaver said that on the call like i think i think he hit a shot and then was back pedaling it was then down in his haunches okay i definitely can't display that in a small screen but he's down in his haunches and and uh lucky be that is said yeah he's he's coming up a bit gingerly there um so What what what do you think happened?

Speaker: Don't. don't actually know but yeah he definitely was yeah sorry it people mention it after the game to me um you know 29 points on on one leg kind of thing. um Yeah, I mean...

Speaker: it is something It is something worth. um mentioning but i mean the guy hope he put up 29 points in any event in a game like that um I think 11 of 23, 4 of 11 from three -point range.

Speaker: I mean, It's one of those things you... We'll just never know. I guess. yeah Yeah, it may have i just been a little tweak or or something like that even, just a roll. I mean, I did my knee yesterday in in social basketball, like doing doing a bounce pass and I went way too hard jumping. like putting pressure on to the front knee and i just went oh you know like when this sort of breaks sort of snaps or anything but your knee just goes like oh oh no no thank you um

Speaker: Ugh. that's not not if Not if I don't believe it still. but um And, yeah, and it was sort of pass as well, not even going up for a wicked dunk, which I normally do. But um sometimes injuries just come in, like, in in minor moments. um But, yeah. im for yeah for tyler robson that i mean he still still went out there and got buckets and i gotta say like i'm gonna sit and play live twice now he is got the purest jump shot i think i've ever seen

Speaker: It is. It's... Cheers. Like, he'll just walk up, just... When he walks up in transition. So just... goes out It just feels like it's going down every time. Even if he's in a shooting slot, it just feels like this is going to be the shot that breaks him out of it every time. Hmm.

Speaker: really smooth quick release kind of thing like straight from the pocket Straight from his pocket up into a shooting action. like And sometimes I notice as well because he is on the shorter side for.

Speaker: A god. Um, He also has to create space by having to lean back a little bit like a Shane Hill type of shot. Not so much over the head though, but just being able to.

Speaker: um to fade away just a little bit. um But. it's a bit of a bummer that it got so scrappy in the end with this team and like to be fair i think Caleb.

Speaker: before the game started was expecting a little bit of little bit scrapper did get a little bit chippy Even in that first half, there was a bit of chat here and there. Um, something that i found interesting and I genuinely mean this when I say this is no shade.

Speaker: ah But. Krislovich being named MVP.

Speaker: it's over i mean In a game like that. But based on what you described, it would have been hard to pick an MVP if it was so scrappy and there wasn't any kind of true narratives or or heroes or anything in this particular game. I mean, Robertson ended the game with 29 and 11.

Speaker: but on the losing side. Never going to get an MVP, right? The top scorer for North was actually Wani Swakala Bullock with 18 points. He went four from six from the arc.

Speaker: He had one rebound, one assist, one steal in just under 30 minutes of play. krislovich had eight points ten rebounds four assists two steals two blocks He was two from nine from the field overall.

Speaker: And it gets MVP. What do you think was some of the X factor that helped him? be named MVP for this game.

Speaker: If any way of the game. Yeah. Yeah, Madam Speaker, I'm just going to declare a vested interest here and probably sub out of this conversation because Fabs can do no wrong in my books. We know that. I think it's the best player Australia has ever produced. um No, look, just based it based on the vibe tests.

Speaker: based on Mabo that that um the the last The last stretch there, those last five minutes of the game and and... Don't worry, fans, we will get and talk about Wani Swakla Bullock um in that fourth quarter in just a moment. but yeah fabs i think

Speaker: inhaling every rebound in those last five minutes those two huge blocks LeBron James style S blocks, you know, um to secure the championship. And there was a little bit of ball handling in the those crunch time minutes as well, which I think, again, and it might not come up on on the stats.

Speaker: But I just think that leadership he showed, especially in crunch time um and defensively as well. um and i don't i don't know look i think if if anyone else could have got it may have been whiny but um i think fabs just just on the on the vibes test on the vibes test and the intangible things um I think she'd get it. and um have his jersey retired everywhere he's played, in my opinion.

Speaker: I mean, he was extremely noticeable out there for a player who finished with only eight points Yeah. 10 rebounds four assists two steals and the two blocks were both massive moments.

Speaker: And he was. Yeah, he was just noticeable Yeah. At both ends. um Look, like Tyler Robertson could have done a Bradley Clyde, Clyde Churchill medal 1993, get it on the losing side.

Speaker: Um.

Speaker: But, I mean, it's very rare that a player on the losing side ever. I mean, it's happened four times in the history of rugby league, but and I don't know that it's ever happened. I mean...

Speaker: If I didn't give Ruby Perkins the three votes in last year's Youth League Women's Grand Final, I don't think anyone's ever getting the three votes in it. losing side in the grand final. um it just does't It just doesn't happen. Um,

Speaker: No. especially in basketball. Yeah. I mean... my drink six state and not an I know. Yeah.

Speaker: I mean, he famously did it. But I think i think unofficially slash officially it was David Hickey's grand final MVP. Hey, man, we're getting to that. That was a class with Fardelli, nonetheless.

Speaker: And. Yeah. but Sorry. like you so interrupt but

Speaker: That's a good reference though, James. I did forget about that. that's it And that's that only happened, what, two years ago, right? yeah Yeah. um But I'm all kind of brought up the point because when I saw.

Speaker: uh the post on instagram you know chris levitch named finals and mvp and they put his stat line i was like There'll be a lot of people. questioning that without having to see the game. So that's why I asked for your insights in what else did he bring?

Speaker: to warrant an mvp vote that isn't on the statute and i think the way you described it is You know, he was, it like you said, his leadership skills. the fact that he had such a presence at both ends of the court.

Speaker: ah which you can't. measure, right? You can't measure that in any way other than having to watch the game or be part of the game in some way. Um, And so he just sounded like a true anchor.

Speaker: for for north at both ends of the floor but also just being able to his presence was just enough to kind of keep the sharks at arm's length and that really is MVP stuff like you can't.

Speaker: teach that that's just him as a guy. Yeah. But you can't coach that. Right. Yeah. Yeah, players have to one out come out and do that kind of thing. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. Yeah, and and it's... It's the V in the in the whole thing. It's the value you bring to a team. And that doesn't necessarily have to come through numbers. and i don't know look this may be a rant for a longer podcast but i i'm kind of against the whole stats obsession um

Speaker: I think it's something that in basketball we need to calm down on a little bit. um because I don't know. and Anyone can put up big numbers, but... you know you can put up you can score 40 and still lose a game you know you can you can put up incredible eye -watering numbers but you can be incredibly selfish at the same time um i think we need to

Speaker: I think as a basketball community around the world, um and we're starting it here on Eastcott Game, um and I think we need to just relax a little bit on um putting too much credence on the stats. And I don't know, I was just thinking about this earlier in the year with...

Speaker: where I tie league games and youth league games where you've only got the scoring stats in there and they don't have shooting percentages, rebounds, this kind of stuff. um Sometimes it takes you to actually watch the game and you're like, oh, this person put up...

Speaker: Like 30 points, but then you watch the game tape and they completely killed the offense, for example. so I think... um Yeah, I think we've got to... maybe take the uh take take stats and numbers with a grain of salt sometimes but yeah definitely in the eye test um fabs was the MVP, the grand final MVP. Well, either way, it's in the books now, so you can't change it. Yeah, well, he is the grand final MVP. Let's not take it that way. I mean...

Speaker: Bye. Look. There's plenty of players that had a case. And I don't mean after the game, because I'm sure they all went back and celebrated quite well. but uh I mean, yeah, plenty of players had a case for MVP, but...

Speaker: I mean... It's not. it's not the egregious decision that it looks like. when you just look at the 8 and 10. because of everything that we've just discussed.

Speaker: Hmm.

Speaker: yeah i think Yeah, I think that was important. it Really important insights and context you both brought too. why Krislovich was named MVP and Listen, is there any word on the ground if...

Speaker: North are going to be taking their full squad to Adelaide this weekend. Don't think so. Oh. No. no I don't think so. Well, I mean...

Speaker: if you can If you can share, you don't have to reveal sources, but... I don't remember who told me. would Oh no! Well, with that i I just... by I think it's in general.

Speaker: like it's just getting too close to mbl season as it is every year with the with the national finals. Um, Which could give the Gunners the inside track again. Ooh, yeah. Is this Bernabella Bacon going to be back?

Speaker: Die. Don't know about that. No, that's okay. That's the intel we need. that um Look, i think I think regardless, though, um I know – sorry, just to wrap the game up just a little bit. I know Warnie Swacklebrook had a big time in that that final quarter.

Speaker: um some massive three -pointers um even banking in a few um ah some some huge field goals and just really stepped up big time um when he struggled bullock so um yeah just want to want to make sure we do to highlight him because um that yeah to To be honest, it was.

Speaker: Pretty quiet. through the first three quarters. um and you know obviously playing great defense um got a couple nifty baskets here and there but the way he played there at the end was was incredible Yeah, that that was exactly who I was alluding to when I was talking about the fourth quarter and the three point shooting.

Speaker: light on was with Guarni coming up massive down the stretch for them. Hmm. And. If I can just say, though, I mean, hey, even if there's a full squad going to Nationals and this might be a little tangential when it comes to um the MVP thing.

Speaker: um There's players on the bench that got DNPs in this game. I do want to just give a little shout -out to players like Robbie Moore, Lewis Holey, Pietro Badalassi, the captain. um Did the captain's speech at the end with um without playing a minute. but Guys like that, um I think, especially Lewis Hull in battle last year, like the the real leaders of the squad.

Speaker: And, um yeah, they they maybe didn't play in the grand final. But what they mean to the culture um that Norths have developed and and the winning style that they play, um a lot of that comes down to players like Lewis Hole in Petrobras. And shout out to Ben Gill as well, Norths junior, getting a championship.

Speaker: um Yeah. So hopefully maybe at Nationals we'll see a bit of Lewis time. I know the crowd was um was chanting, we want Holy at the end. um Maybe Pietro Badalassio will get some minutes at Nationals. We've got plenty of depth on this north side. So maybe even if if some of the NBL guys aren't there, it's still a really quality squad.

Speaker: I think that's a really good point as well because especially players like Robbie Moore, Lewis Holey, Mikey Young. We say they make, you know, this Norse team doesn't win a championship without them, not just because they make up the bench of this 2026 side. But like you said before, they've been in this program since the very, very start.

Speaker: They had to start the program. They had to keep it competitive and sustainable. Um, and without players like that. keeping this team together.

Speaker: Um, as competitive as they have been over the years there is no 2026 championship So they have had to, like they they have sewn. the seeds of this championship.

Speaker: over the years. So I think it's a really, really good shout out. Yeah, that was that was huge. Sorry. I mean, i yeah, I know. I can't go on about Lewis Holloway. I mean, I could go on about Lewis Holloway, but um really that's that season where he returned to the Bear Cave. It was one of the first of those, the the whole bunch of North's players had gone off to college who came back. It was one of the first actually.

Speaker: um start that trend and i think you actually almost single -handedly turn the culture around for the side. um and then the the next Part of that, I would say, was getting Tom Gullop. um to I guess, return in more of a hands -on role at the club. um As the NBL One men's head coach, of course, we know what he did with the women's sides um in the late 2010s, early 2020s, getting two championships. but to get him back into the fold at Norths. to

Speaker: um to help recruit all these great North's juniors back to the club um and not just that, but get them playing a great brand of basketball. um I don't think you can underestimate um the impact. tom gallop had on this championship and i was so worried for his health all game long he looked stressed so i'm just he was like the vein popping meme kid Oh.

Speaker: Yeah, I think his vein exploded in the in the first quarter. So I'm really happy for Tom because... Oh, look, if yeah if if maybe the result didn't go their way, it would have been miserable. But yeah, I mean, big shout out to Tom.

Speaker: um for taking taking taking the championship home and and raising another banner at the bear cave he's um was a player in that 2015 waratah champion oh sorry 2014 championship um squad with the men um of course had those two championships with coaching the women's side.

Speaker: um and now has got a men's title under his belt and um was just doing a little bit of research before this there's only one other person who did this i'll put this up in the war time vcr ah story nate kirwan's the only other player who's won as sorry only other person who's won as a coach um for the men's and the women's and then one as a player as well i think nate got a couple of times.

Speaker: A couple of championships with Manly in like 2010. I'm not very good with years. um Obviously got the NBL One East Championship as the women's coach. um last season and then um helped Manly to those World Star Championships.

Speaker: um in the last few years of waratah so shout out to nat cohen as well um tom gallops just joined him as one of the few players who has those three categories ticked. so an amazing feat.

Speaker: So what you're saying now is that Tom Gallup has to start playing Masters League and put up ridiculous scoring numbers. yes yes yes yeah let's get it let's get it tom I know Tom still works out, so he'd probably be good for it. And, um yeah, I forgot to mention that. I've just found that Kerwin, a ah Masters champion as well with um Manly Ringer. So, yeah, Tom.

Speaker: I mean, the challenge is out there. Born 86, so he's eligible as of... this year. All well go Looks like we're going to have to keep Eastcott game going in the offseason and keep on top of the Masters League as well.

Speaker: I will give you a bit of intel. No, I'll just give you some Intel Going back to your worries about Tom Garlop and his health during coaching, he was wearing a scarf.

Speaker: under that jacket. So. He was really, he was getting getting a little bit too hot, literally hot and bothered under the collar. but he couldn't take the scarf off because it was something he'd apparently worn all season No.

Speaker: So you have to stick with the superstition. Yeah. oh jaez Yeah, so that's a little bit of the intel. Don't lose your voice. Because I know Tom does the steam. Maybe that's why. That's, you know, that may be a good reason why I actually did have the scarf on as well.

Speaker: protect his vocal cords as well, so who knows. Yeah, so that's that's massive for Tom. And um yeah, finally, he can get go home to Renee and say, I've got an NBL One Championship too now. So now we're even. oh gosh i mean they would need a whole other room in their house just for their accolades between them Really impressive. i arguably the most successful basketball couple in australia ever More so than Tom Meyer and Robin Meyer, I reckon.

Speaker: We're making some hot takes here. Oh, geez. That is spicy, Squid. I just think if you look at like. You know, championships and.

Speaker: like just winningness. ah I reckon that would have. probably be the most successful. But ah having said that, if you compare them, say, to Tom Ma and Robin Ma.

Speaker: Tom Marr and Robin Amar wouldn't probably have similar opportunities to what Rinayan. Tom have had in terms of coaching MBL1, coaching. Australian junior teams, that kind of stuff. Pound for pound pretty close. um another hot take though that i think the three of us also individually came to the same conclusion. Pietro Badalassi probably the only NBL One East player to now go to nationals representing two different clubs.

Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. ah a shim so i mean and I'm sure if Norths get knocked out, i mean the Canberra might just be like, hey, you want to... Do you want to chuck it? Camera jersey back on? Come on.

Speaker: um So I can make an exception. He can play both. Yeah, yeah. that's just just Put on the same headband, different jersey, same thing. um Yeah, but I think you're right with that one, Squint.

Speaker: Yeah. Oh, no, you're never wrong. Sorry. So, yeah, you're right. I have definitely been wrong. Definitely been wrong before. um but yeah Any other final thoughts for this game, lads, before we wrap up? and say goodbye to James.

Speaker: dont I don't want to talk about this game anymore. Aww. You sound like our mate Jacob when we were covering the finals. yeah skip this segment when we were talking about when maitland lost Bless.

Speaker: Oh, we got some ah lovely feedback again on the Instagram live. Courtesy again of Damien Clark. He says, love your analysis, James. It's almost as impressive as the moustache.

Speaker: Always a pleasure when you're around the games. Ha ha. Thank you. And big shout out to Damon as well. um that credits uh video he did for the sydney comets um to end the year That got me. That was... um The creativity, the style, everything about that. I love i i kind of...

Speaker: as you can tell with water time vcr fusing um kind of pop culture and references and aesthetics from outside of basketball with basketball i love it so damien i appreciate that one and we will get a coffee or a beer or um or a stelter or whatever soon um but yeah shout out to damien and um all the great work he's done this year And um i do I do remember watching the replay of the grand final and So I think Lockie and Hamish crowned Adrian Cabrera as the best moustache in the East. so

Speaker: I'm going to give it to him. I can't disagree with that. Do we need a separate player and commentator categories for these things? Yeah. On court and off court. Of course, of course.

Speaker: The Stash 5 at the end of the year.

Speaker: I'd love to see it. but um If if I can, just get him on the set box just for my mom, I swear. Sorry, sorry. it just this This North Championship was quite big. There is a few people behind the scenes at North who I do want to give a shout out to. um ah Founding father, Doug Golding, um he's been there since day one for the North Bears, um helped to change rooftop from an outdoor venue to an indoor venue, helped to found the club. um And he was actually up until now. um Up until this season, he was the manager for the NBL One men's team, Doug Golding. I'm of course, father of Mike.

Speaker: um And, yeah, and and a big shout -out to Doug and the dedication he has for North. He's, I don't know, he's really inspirational, and I think every club needs a guy like Doug Golding. um He was their court side for the grand final, so I'm tearing up a little bit when they won. um But, yeah, I think without the work he did back in the 80s to set this club up, the championship would have been possible. And you'll still go in on on Sundays and see him doing court supervising for junior reps. so

Speaker: um A big shout out to Doug Golding. He's an incredible guy. He's very friendly. um he was He didn't even make me feel bad about jumping over spiders, but I did feel a bit sad having to leave Doug at the bear cave.

Speaker: um and there's just sorry just a few more people rachel wu as well who's um i think been working um in like a managerial kind of accounts um for north she's really held the club together year in year out um especially financially um through some good times bad times um so big shout out to rachel wu and to former ceo graham reed who's also a life member um and graham was the ceo when the mbl1 program got started

Speaker: um he's a life member he's still refs um midweek comps as well um ah so yeah there's a lot of people behind the scenes at north who um through their hard work, um countless hours of effort and energy um have helped to make not just this championship happen, but previous championships as well. and to make north one of the most successful clubs in new south wales so

Speaker: i i'll get off my soapbox here but there's a lot of special people behind the scenes who um hold a special place in my heart who i just wanted to take a moment to thank And to give credit to. I'm always here for Graham Reid. shout outs because graham actually gave me When Princeton toured Australia and they played Norths and they did the souvenir T -shirts for the players to get.

Speaker: Graham hooked me up with one of the spares. So I've got a North V Princeton. t -shirt that by right side. really should not have. He's a man of the people. And yeah, geez, what a good guy. Of course he would. Of course he'd do that.

Speaker: That's a good get as well, Lockie. Very good get. um but yeah james thanks again for joining us again similar to jim uh very last minute and being prepared to jump on to talk about the men's final Again, always a pleasure to have you on um And congratulations for Waratah on VCR. this Yeah, it was your...

Speaker: like it's only been around this season right and it's just gone absolutely gangbusters the quality in terms of the presentation of your content and the information of your content is exceptional so like super proud for you to to put that together and your hard work certainly paying off.

Speaker: No, thank you. And thank you for um having me on multiple multiple times on Eastcott Game. um Again, going from ah a fan to ah to a guest. is um a dream come true and uh All I can say, if anyone does want to thank me for doing Waratah on VCR, get out to the Waratah finals this weekend.

Speaker: If you're not there, I'm going to expect a written a note or an email um saying why you weren't there because I will find you. I will come find you as well, and you'll have to do some up and backs or do some badgerals, okay, some badgers okay youre just some burpees, of these kind of things. because um It's going to be a great weekend out um down at Sutherland. um And ah if you can't make it.

Speaker: Again, you will need an excuse, but you can tune in on YouTube and get out there and support your clubs. um especially the spiders We were in the Warratah Women's Grand Finals, so... um Luckily, you won't be commentating that one. um lucky with lucky's on that one but i will be in the grandstands try not to lose my voice because i got to do the wartime men's afterwards but yeah You've got to get out to the Waratah finals this weekend. dude James, make sure you get there nice and early on Saturday.

Speaker: So you've got to stop off at Sutherland Farmers Markets for a bacon and egg roll beforehand. Woohoohoo! That's true. That's the the pilgrimage. um Prescribed fly.

Speaker: The prophet of Sutherland himself. um Yeah, no, I definitely will. I will have to get there early, but um I think you'll see afterwards that ah we'll be doing a little more than commentary this weekend. So I'm excited to... um be there the whole day uh doing a few different things um for bnsw but you'll see that um next week but thanks guys and um thank you both for all the work you do you've been a huge inspiration for me um the whole time

Speaker: been doing uh too thin the pain and then waratah and vcr as well um there's it's a very kind of little niche community but um every wednesday morning I get up.

Speaker: I put on Eastcott game. I listened to it on my way to work. And um yeah, it makes makes me feel feel part of the bigger world of um basketball in New South Wales. and And I love your dedication throughout the years.

Speaker: i know how hard it is to do this week and week out so i just want to say thank you both um and thank you for your support over the years. and um We'll lock you in for another season. Next season sounds good. All right, that's good. That's a yes. Okay. well we don't have a choice now but yeah thanks for always having our back as well james and making uh The NBL One Ace community is such a good place.

Speaker: and for supporting. for supporting us and supporting others. Okay. but yeah i'm sure we'll see you soon have Have a great weekend commentating Waratah finals. Massive weekend ahead for you. Hopefully you've taken Monday and or Tuesday off work next week to recover.

Speaker: Uhhh... Duh duh duh duh duh. No, I've used all my links this year on on basketball and university basketball league commentary. I also tuned into the UBL to start it as well, but I don't have time to plug it. But hey, just get around your UBL sites.

Speaker: All right. Thanks, Heath, brother. We'll see you again soon. Peace out, John. Thanks again. See you real soon.

Speaker: What a guy gosh he's All over this league, yeah, can't give him enough credit for Waratah on VCR and always having our backs here at EGG. But just before we wrap up, Lockie, we do have the, m oh, actually, before we get into NBL1 Nationals.

Speaker: Speaking of people like Damien Clark, we... definitely like if anything is certain in this world after the nbl one east grand final is that we have the best photographers content creators.

Speaker: videographers, creatives. in the country of any conference. We got to give a shout out to Damien Clark who was there on the day putting all of that film together. Floyd Mallon making absolute cinema as well of the day. Rob Shorts was on ground. James O'Donoghue was on ground.

Speaker: there's also another couple of other photographers kai So is it Santa Rosa? Yep. He was there. We also had, is it Jake from Manly? Is it shit not Sherrington?

Speaker: Shervington. Shevington, Jake Shevington. Who's there? And there's also one other photographer. I can't remember her name though, so I'm going to lean on you. Uh...

Speaker: I didn't even see everyone. You've run off and named the people I didn't even see there now. AHH! okay there were there was another there was definitely a female photographer there and i do apologize for not remembering their name. I do follow them on the gram, so we'll try and find them. But we we there's not there's no argument. We have the best. photographers, creatives, videographers in the country.

Speaker: 100 percent. a Floyd Mallon got me. tearing up. Watching that. video with the fleet we would go your own way on it my goodness he oh he smashed it and it's so good like I know...

Speaker: but We don't commentate for... you know, to be the story. We tell the story. We don't try to be the story. But honestly... Having that highlight video. with the commentary on it.

Speaker: It's just... Oh I love it! I love liking the... you know, where just. you know locked in there forever, part of the archive.

Speaker: Yeah. It's amazing. Yeah, Damien Clark, shout out again. He says we definitely have the best in the East. There's absolutely no doubt. So dedicated as well.

Speaker: our creatives in NB01A compared to other conferences. Other conferences do have great Uh. creative types as well, certainly. uh but we so definitely have the best so big shout out to them for another fantastic year led by caleb fogarty of course um but yeah just appreciate all the stuff that they do also week in win out week out to promote mbo1 aced um

Speaker: especially promoting our players and how good of a league that we know that it is. So keen to see more of that in 2027. But I'm hoping that we see some of those creatives. this weekend in adelaide for mbl1 nationals because the draw has been finalized and it tips off this Friday afternoon at four o 'clock with none other.

Speaker: than the north bears and the frankston blues Just like the inaugural NBL One National Finals, the are East champions against Frankston. Correct. Yeah, we're now the gunners.

Speaker: had to. turned up against frankston who were the wild card entry that yeah um But and yeah, it's good. Your gun has almost got up in that one. They did. They sure did. and You know, that inaugural year, people were just kind of counting out East and, yeah, Gunners really did us proud representing the East at that tournament. See you, North Bears.

Speaker: men and frankston men are first up then they've got Bankstown women women and the Warwick senators are also on Friday. 6 30 Australian Eastern Standard Time. Remember that Adelaide is half an hour behind.

Speaker: You can take that literally or as a joke, if you like, because that is one of the common the common Adelaide jokes when I lived there was that. adelaide half an hour behind or if someone's you know slow on a conversation you call them adelaide because they're half an hour behind Maybe showing my age there as well with that joke.

Speaker: I think it's timeless. timeless Timeless. Uh... Then the Canberra Gunners man up against the Rockingham Flames from NBL One West to finish out Friday at 8 .30 Australian Eastern Standard Time as well. so Yep. You can go to the NB01 website. It's got all the, it's got obviously the draw for Friday and it's got the format of how the competition is going to work and how we determine.

Speaker: Um, who makes the grand final. Should be a great week with Squint on the call. Hopefully you get some ace games. I know you're officially there as a – you're listed as a north rep.

Speaker: Surely you're going to get the hook. I mean, they do the... the three -person crew minimum for every game so share the love although big crew this year 13 comments. Bree crew. It's six from central, four from south. oh Yeah, big crew.

Speaker: Very big crew, yeah. And to be fair to the central commentators, they usually only have one at every other. NBL One Nationals, so they they're loading up this season. Some games on Friday, we're actually going to have five on the broadcast. We'll have three in the commentary box and a sideline each, which is what we started in 2024 just for the grand final.

Speaker: Um, So I'm pretty sure that I've got both NBL One North games. uh for this. for um for Friday. because other games also include waverly falcons and the makai meteorites so i've got that game The Knox Raiders play the Stuart Sabres in the women's competition as well.

Speaker: and I should say actually the final get game for the competition on the weekend is Forestville Eagles and Gold Coast Rollers. So ah I'm on the mic for the North games and I'm sure I'll be able to do some East games while I'm there, given that I'm.

Speaker: bilingual in conferences. He just... dropping forestville and you're going to not mention the most important part of our forestville What, did they play Eagle Rock when they win a home game?

Speaker: Why do you know so much about Forestville, Squint? ah That's that one time that I played at Forestville, which... It's really funny because when we went to nationals last year in Canberra.

Speaker: That was the first time I'd returned to Targranong. stadium since I left Canberra and finished playing for the Caps in 2008. and now this time going back to Adelaide and to Wayville.

Speaker: for the first time. for me going back to Adelaide and Wavell since I finished basketball the first time in 2009 after I played for Forestville. Just all swings and roundabouts, this basketball world.

Speaker: And. James, who is still in the studio, and I don't know what he's making for dinner. But he just dropped in the chat because I wasn't even thinking about club -specific people. but The woman who was for talking taking photos that you saw. would have been Laura Sullivan from the Sharks.

Speaker: who is an amazing human. Thank you. Good assist. Thank you very kindly, James, for that assist because I did feel really bad I'd forgotten her name. um But yes, that is... He's making eggplant lasagna.

Speaker: Nice. Well, listen, that's that's making me hungry, the thought of eggplant lasagna. So all the more reason we should probably wrap up this episode. But like we said, another fantastic NBL One East season. ah and The NBL One Nationals tips off in Adelaide this Friday.

Speaker: um Should we come? let's see if we come back again next tuesday and really wrap it up lucky we've got a week to decide Let's see. It's a big weekend in for both of us this weekend, but let's see how we go.

Speaker: Correct, but... What is our parting words of wisdom regardless? any time of the season. Look fam. I know we're tired. But there's one week to go, so just don't sleep on the East.

Speaker: Absolutely not.