Season 3 Episode 9: "The kids have got hops!" ft. Sherrie Calleia

Transcript

Speaker: Hello, hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of East Got Game. We're giving you the X's, the O's and all the insights from the NBL One East competition for 2025.

Speaker: My name's Squinn and with me as always is Lachie France. How are today, Lachie? I'm great. Squinn, how are you doing on this fine Tuesday evening? Oh, look, I'm okay. I was a little bit stressed and pressed leading into today's episode, but I'm ready to shake it off and get into another round of NBL One East.

Speaker: Looks like you had a huge round with Anzac Day for round four. Yeah, I um ah called four games over the weekend. I did the Freeway Cup on Friday between Sutherland and Illawarra, which was great as always. And then...

Speaker: Went up to Alexandria and called Comets versus Maitland with Wilcon Stantonides, which was absolutely awesome as well. Yeah, two two really good games. Yeah, that sounds great. um And what was your preparation like going into the weekend, given you had four games? Now, four games on paper doesn't sound like a lot, because I think sometimes people think commentating is just sitting and watching and talking.

Speaker: They don't realise the hard work that goes into it. So what was your prep like? Well, there's a notebook over there on my coffee table, which I put 12 pages into.

Speaker: Six on Thursday and then six more on Saturday. So yeah' that was my preparation, all being written. That is a lot, my friend. That is a lot. Wow.

Speaker: ah But it wasn't all it was all worth it, I take it? Always worth it. Always worth it. Excellent. and That's what we like to hear. And well just before we get started into the episode, we'd like to say thank you for joining us tonight live on YouTube,

Speaker: ah Instagram is not working just yet. I'm not too sure if I'll be able to get it working um now that we're already streaming. So that's okay. But thanks for joining us on YouTube. And if you're listening to us after our recording time, we can still subscribe to our YouTube channel for next time.

Speaker: ah Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at escottgame. or our episodes will always be uploaded onto your favourite streaming platforms as well. So on today's episode, we'll be covering our ESCOT game, game of the week for round four, our top performances of the round, and also an interview with a very special guest to cap off the episode.

Speaker: But first, we'll take a look at some of the headlines from round four. So, Lockie, have you got any outstanding headlines in the NBL One East competition to share with us?

Speaker: I do, and it's very it's a very, very recent announcement. It is that Northmen have signed a new player. They have signed Austin Patterson out of the University of Montana. and we only fit Well, it was only posted an hour ago on Instagram, and they've just come off a a pretty good weekend, and now they've... ah added added another player to their NBL 1 men's roster. So the Bears are definitely on the come-up.

Speaker: Yes, like you said, it was literally an hour hour ago um from time of recording tonight on Tuesday, the 29th of April, that the Bears announced this, as you said.

Speaker: And based on the description um provided by the Norse Bears Association, they describe Austin as a dynamic guard who is, you know, known for his scoring. And I think he's going to fit in quite nicely and be a missing piece with his Norse Bears outfit.

Speaker: Yeah, um yeah. um Played about 20 minutes a game in his senior year in college, but ah definitely had the ability to ah score the ball even as far back as high school. Was dropping 24 a game back in high school. So definitely are definitely knows how to fill it up.

Speaker: And in our short preparation time for the episode, I did try and look for some highlights of Patterson's game online. All I could find was clips from his heist from high school. I couldn't find a lot of clips straight away from his college career, but maybe I have to dig a little deeper when I have some more time.

Speaker: But, yeah, you did mention that the Norse Bears men's team are on the up and up. They had a shaky start to the season. We reviewed their game against the Bankstown Bruins for round one on a previous East Scott game episode.

Speaker: But now they're three and three. They were able to get two wins recently in round three, one at home and one on the road, one including Sutherland Sharks, I think. So, yeah. It looks like that Coach Gallup has started to make some very small but significant changes and has managed to turn the tide in a short period of time.

Speaker: Yeah, it was a low-scoring game they are had against Comets as well. Managed to eke that one out and, yeah, then knocked off Sutherland, who had just knocked off Illawarra. So, ah i mean, that's...

Speaker: Very exciting for the league that, are you know, yeah so the circle of our teams beating teams is ah very exciting to see. Yeah, the men's competition love this in the East, don't they? They love this kind of ah circle of um chaos in who's beating this person, beat this person, this person, beat this person. This is how we get that dreaded five-way tie.

Speaker: We keep referring to it.

Speaker: We do. We do. We do. it's it's As long as we do this podcast, it's always going to get a reference at least once a season, I'm going to say. ah

Speaker: ah Another headline, I just wanted to give a quick shout out to some of our NBL1 East athletes who are in some of the top five statistics, like of statistics are from across the entire league. So not just in our conference, because I mean, that would be silly because everyone would be there.

Speaker: um So in the men's competition, We have Luke Cassidy from the Central Coast Crusaders sitting fifth in assists overall, averaging 6.4.

Speaker: And then we have Mirko Derek, who averaged seven assists per game. But I think he's only played, has he played since the start of the season or has he only just joined the school? He only just got here. He was over in Sweden where they are, think team got knocked out in four games in the first round of the playoffs. so two games, five assists in one and nine in the other.

Speaker: yeah that's right so i thought it was only a short period of time that he's been back in east and i think sometimes with these nbr1 uh conference or nationwide stats i i don't know that i think they should probably have like a particular average of games before including them in the whole stats but it's very early days for everyone i mean north's only starting on friday yes ah In the rebounds, though, three of the top five all come from NBL1 East. So Dodd Blanchfield is second behind Jock Perry, averaging 13.80 rebounds per game.

Speaker: Hunter Goodrick is in third with 12.33 rebounds per game. And Ryan Beastie in fifth position with 12.20 rebounds per game. that Is that something you would have expected from the East, Lockie? Yeah.

Speaker: I mean, that those guys, I mean, Todd just looks like a different athletic specimen out there. And Hunter, and I mean, Ryan could be top five in any stat.

Speaker: And I wouldn't be surprised to be entirely honest with you. And yeah, and Hunter just looks like a different animal out there. So not surprised that these three guys are pulling down rebounds for fun, to be honest.

Speaker: Yeah, and you you mentioned Ryan Beasty could be in the top five for any stat. Or I was just going to have a look to see if he at least made the top ten for assists because I know his assist numbers are already high this season.

Speaker: But I think sitting here at eighth of the top ten is actually Lachlan Hutchinson from Sutherland Sharks. Beasty not quite in the assist just yet. But in rebounds, though, certainly enough for bragging rights.

Speaker: And over to blocks, we've got Lino Manum from Central Coast Crusaders averaging 2.80 blocks per game. And then Zach Hudson in third position a averaging 2.5 with that monster block that we saw a couple of rounds ago. Oh, that only ended up being like number five on the plays of the week as well.

Speaker: Yeah, i mean ah I mean, man, he is he is ah very, very tall human and parked himself around the rim for a lot, especially when you compare to someone like maybe like Johnny Kunagorak at Comets who gets out around the perimeter a bit more. So ah definite trouble for anyone trying to get into the paint against the crew. And Zach Hudson, he keeps getting up like he did for those blocks, that block, the highlight block.

Speaker: Oh. not and but he mike He might get top five in highlight reel plays by the end of the season. Oh, that one, and that particular highlight has stayed in my mind so far all around. It will be hard to top that block, I think.

Speaker: And then we go down to the three points made per game. Max Clark from the Inner West Bulls is sitting at 4.5.

Speaker: And ah in second place. And then we go over to steals and we actually have two men in the top five steals in the entire league with Christian Little from the Maitland Mustangs averaging 3.8 steals per game and Mason Bragg in fifth place.

Speaker: with 3.40 steals per game. And maybe it might be a good time, now we're talking about Christian Little and Mason Bragg, between you and I and some of our peers across the NBL One East, we have submitted our predictions ah for the end-of-year awards.

Speaker: and we'll be putting them on our ESCOT game Instagram before round five tips off. And Christian Little and Mason Bragg are two names that have come up in Defensive Player of the Year when we surveyed our friends, Lockie.

Speaker: um I'm sure you're not surprised to see either of them on the table for Defensive Player of the Year. No, I am completely unsurprised. and I know if you look at last year's voting, the steel numbers definitely had a big impact on the ah on the final selection. So maybe ah could be people think that who is deserving or they might be just trying to ah gauge the selectors are elect is vibe when it comes to that award again this year.

Speaker: Vibe. Vibe is a very good way to describe it. Sometimes that's all you can go up is just the vibe. It's the vibe. It's Mabo. It's the vibe. It's Mabo. It's vibe. Yeah. yeah

Speaker: And now we head over to the women's competition across Australia. Can you guess which NBL One East player is in the top five for points per game?

Speaker: Nicole Munger. Yeah, I was going to say, just go off your gut. What's the vibe? What's the vibe telling you? Who's going to be that fifth spot? It is Nicole Munger averaging.

Speaker: Get this, though. She's fifth. averaging 27.20 points per game. Like that's an extraordinary number of points per game after four rounds to be averaging, and she's only fifth.

Speaker: But three of the people above her are Opals. Correct. yeah Annalie Mailey with 33 points per game, Isabel Bourne with 30.67 and Maddie Roche with 27.4.

Speaker: Then sitting pretty on fourth spot is Brooke Basham with 27.25. All very high caliber, very high caliber scoring from this women's competition. assists per game. ah We unfortunately don't have any East representatives in there yet, but also featuring a few Opals in that category.

Speaker: And we go to blocks per game. Number one in the country, number one in the East is Jada Rice from the Bankstown Bruins. And then we've also got the fifth spot, Hannah Chicken from Newcastle Falcons with 2.0.

Speaker: Love Hannah Chicken. Love Hannah Chicken. Big fan Hannah Chicken. In the free throws made, ah we've got Talia Tupaya at the very top of that list across the country, averaging 9.25 free throws per game.

Speaker: She's just so good at putting herself in a position where if she's not scoring, she's drawing a foul. What she's been doing literally since she was 15 years old in the WNBL.

Speaker: Correct, correct. and And we still fall for it. She's still so good at it. and In the same category, Abby Curtin is averaging 6.83 free throws per game.

Speaker: And in the threepoint three pointers made per game, Riley Lutfer is second, averaging 4.40. And former ESCOT game guest is Shakira Riley with 4.0.

Speaker: And then take a guess who's topping the steals per game in the whole country. Well, I am looking at the list, so i know who you are. But can guess pretty easily. It's Jessie May Hall.

Speaker: Jessie May Hall, the 18-year-old, is topping the whole country and steals per game with 6.33. She is above Jazz Shelley, Izzy Borlase, above them. That is mind-blowing.

Speaker: And I was just checking the top 10 in assists to see if we actually snuck anyone in. Jessie May Hall and Vanessa Panousas equals six with 6.67 assists per game.

Speaker: And Carla Pittman in tenths at 6.4. So not the top five, but still very well represented. And 6.4 to be tenth, again, just shows that calibre of talent that's playing in the NBL1 women's competition But like six assists per game is already outstanding and to be 10th is wild.

Speaker: Yeah, legit. And what's interesting about the assists statistic as it stands is that top of the list is a centre. Love to see it. Yeah, a very, very good centre.

Speaker: Very, very good centre, yes. Zatina Akuso is over in Western Australia playing for Willington Tigers. It's averaging 8.67 assists per game. She's certainly gotten a lot out of her debut season in Europe, but we we shouldn't harp on too much about the talents of NBL West, should we?

Speaker: No, they can i'm sure they I'm sure they have plenty of very good podcasters to talk about their league. Yes, especially like our friends at Hey Power Radio. That's all ah Now, something that I want to talk to you about, Lockie, is Will Mayfield from the Canberra Gunners in his MVP season.

Speaker: Tell me what you think. Well, I hope so because I picked him.

Speaker: You sure i did. So there's a little bit of a sneaky insight into Lockie's predictions for the season. I mean... The way he's going at the moment combined with how well his team is doing,

Speaker: um

Speaker: the biggest challenge might be one of his teammates. I mean, that's that's just the thing. I mean, yes, he is definitely playing well enough and doing enough to be MVP, but is Glenn Morrison going to take a couple of votes from him here or there and is that enough to swing things?

Speaker: um Because those two between them are just... absolutely killing it. um I mean, there's a lot of players out there that are very, very good. I mean, we're we're talking about Will Mayfield in a league where like Todd Blanchfield is second in scoring. But I just think – I think the grand final loss, they they're they're hungry to come back and Will himself is very, very hungry.

Speaker: to ah You know, because he came back from Mount Gambier, got back to a grand final. Didn't get ah yeah it done in the on the big day. And yeah, I mean, yeah, I feel like I'm big on Canberra every year, but especially this year.

Speaker: Yes, and our East Scott game listeners and fans are probably keen to see as well who we've predicted to win the championship. And the Gunners have been favourites amongst some of our peers, ah but more of that when we release those slides online.

Speaker: But Will Mayfield, if we talk about statistics just in the East, he is leading score the conference in scoring at the moment with 23.00 points per game. And His teammate, like you said, Lockie, who may take a couple of votes away from Mayfield, Glenn Morrison, is fifth in points per game with 20.6.

Speaker: And Mayfield is also featured in three points made per game. He's second with 4.0. um i think I think if he maintains these numbers, he's definitely going to be in the conversation.

Speaker: But also statistically as an individual, he's already averaging more points, more rebounds and more assists per game than he has his previous seasons with the Gunners. He's averaging 8.4 rebounds as well and 4.4 assists.

Speaker: Certainly on track. What I don't think, other than perhaps ah the Brindabella-Beacon situation, accidentally pinching some votes. If Will Mayfield stays healthy, he's definitely got to be in contention.

Speaker: I mean, he just went out and dropped 33 against COE on the weekend. I mean, Will, they've got the ah the Hunter Valley road double on the 10th and 11th of May. We'll see how he does in those two games. Maitland first, then Newcastle. So we've ah we've already seen that... ah Aubrey Wodonga women split that one and one.

Speaker: So see if Canberra can come through that unscathed and how their stars do.

Speaker: And then we also need to make mention that ah the Bankstown Bruins and the Illawarra Hawks women got their first win in round four. One of the two we're going to feature later in the episode.

Speaker: But how about those Bruins with the gutsy win over the Crusaders? That must have felt good on their home court. Oh, 100%. I mean, ah you talk about, you know, trying to tread water till your big, big name import shows up and, you know, still waiting on Debea to be a Dale. That British season feels like it runs longer than the NBA.

Speaker: so yeah but um But, you they... as I've said before, and I'll say to anyone who'll listen that they could have, you know, probably two or three wins under their belt by now, if the beta was here for the entire time, but you know, they got one on the board.

Speaker: so they've just eked it out. Uh, central coast with no jazz for Kadea. I think we have another headline to mention the reason she wasn't at the game.

Speaker: um But, you know, they it out. They had four players in double figures. They had three players with double-doubles. You know, Sienna Titani and Kiana Davis-White putting up stat lines that almost matched Jada Rice, who almost had 5x5. She had 11 and 13 and then four assists, four steals, and four blocks.

Speaker: That is just doing it all. Doing it all, really? It really is. and You remember, they they were trailing in that game at halftime and stormed home in the back end.

Speaker: Oh, yeah. No, you're right. You're right. They were trailing by five at halftime and yeah, turned it around. I'd love to know what um the coach said at halftime inspire them to get the get the win in the second half. But the Bruins went on to win the third quarter 15 to seven and in the fourth quarter 22 to 11.

Speaker: So a convincing 14 point win in the end for the Bruins.

Speaker: Go Bruins. Go Bruins. And now something that we need to talk about, which may be a little bit unorthodox for us to talk about on East Scott Game because normally we like to keep a pretty positive, pretty light.

Speaker: But this has just become such a fascinating point of conversation in the last couple of days. Are you ready to get into it? Are you ready to speculate? I am ready to wonder what the hell is going on.

Speaker: Okay, so for context, for those that are listening um and for those that perhaps may not have seen this on our Instagram story or not follow us on Instagram yet, there was a post that came up via another Instagram page that I follow.

Speaker: ah Perhaps I won't mention the page, but this page presents itself as The most successful professional player placement program in the world, which ah is a big call.

Speaker: ah The page has 21.6 thousand followers on Instagram. ah Even lists its WhatsApp number in their Instagram bio. Yeah.

Speaker: And this very page, you know, it's one of those pages where they screenshot potential jobs for athletes all over the world, like where they can get a player contract.

Speaker: So, for example, five days ago they advertised that there's some male job openings in the big V in Victoria. Yeah.

Speaker: guaranteeing $3,000 a month, media immediate start, gym access, Wi-Fi, because apparently Wi-Fi is an attractive thing for players playing internationally.

Speaker: ah So a lot of jobs like that, sometimes the... presentation of some of these ads. I think they're either a literal screenshot from the website and posted, ah but I can't verify whether this person is just putting jobs out there ah as like ah like just to help people or if they're then providing the service of connecting the person to the club.

Speaker: ah So the post in question was posted three days ago. Female job opening. An organisation in the W, NBL1 East, is looking to replace and sign two imports for the remainder of the season.

Speaker: They will review all position, not positions, position, and offer respectable pay, flights both ways, gym access and meals. This is a great player for female athletes, a great player for female athletes, so not Great club.

Speaker: Needing a summer opportunity. what What do you make of this so far, Lockie? Well, to start with, we we tried to figure out what club would be, has two imports and would be dumping them. and We couldn't come up with one.

Speaker: Yes, we couldn't come up with one at the time. um Yes, keep keep going with train of thought and then I'll... And I made... i made Calling it the WNBL One East kind of felt kind of weird.

Speaker: um And yeah, I was trying to come up with the situation. Like, is it sign one, replace one? Like, replace one and sign an extra? or And yeah, there's something about screenshotted things that just nothing about it felt 100% right.

Speaker: right It felt kind of weird, but yeah, it's like one of those things that's like, oh, someone's advertising players in NBL 1. And you start thinking about which club needs players, which club has imports, which club could use another import.

Speaker: But yeah just yeah, something about it didn't feel 100% normal. noble I'll be honest with you When some of our listeners and friends from the East replied to this Instagram score story, my response was it feels scammy.

Speaker: Yeah. Based on the screenshots, the language that's used. You know, sometimes you'll get those texts where you're like, oh, the ATO need my receipts from. 2008 to 2009 all of a sudden and then you go, hang on, the spelling's wrong, the punctuation's wrong, this feels a little bit scammy.

Speaker: So I'm not too sure if perhaps there's a communication breakdown given it is an overseas company or what.

Speaker: But, yeah, for me that also read a bit scammy where i'm like this doesn't look right. But then going back to what you said before about how um we were trying to think of the team. So someone very kindly has messaged us and was like, have you figured out the teams yet? And I was like, no. So we're going through the teams that have two imports in the women's competition, and that's Maitland, Sydney Comets, Bankstown Bruins, Penrith Panthers, Newcastle and Albury.

Speaker: And we can confidently say it's not Albury. I think we can confidently say it won't be Newcastle where both imports are going to be replacing because one would think it's still technically Nicole Munger.

Speaker: ah ah can't I don't think it would be Penrith because both of their imports are performing well. And one of them they just brought back for a second season anyway. so like Yes, that's right.

Speaker: Correct. Maitland, I don't see that happening. Bankstown, one hasn't even arrived yet, so that might be a little bit unfair. So I guess it puts a question mark on Comets, but given that they've just included Kelly Chase in their squad, why would they go then and advertise for her to be replaced?

Speaker: And considering she's the out, she's not even, it's like she lives in Australia. They didn't bring her out for basketball anyway. It's not like they have to pay for her to be here as an import.

Speaker: She just happens to not be an Australian citizen. yes correct correct um so you know yeah they're not shelling out money for yeah the contract and overheads and whatnot um so yeah that then left us scratching our heads as well as like okay so what club actually wants to replace their two imports because now this sounds a little bit silly um and then got some very very informative and interesting messages from a former player in the league basically saying that confirming that its it is scar a scam that this this particular person uh has started to get a reputation amongst those semi-pro or professional players that we like to see like that level of player in nb01 east and the like

Speaker: um of basically promising a lot of things to players and not delivering, and it's a bit of a scam. So even now when I just tried to look them up on Instagram, just using the first two words of this particular account, there are four there are five other accounts related to this particular name and that particular person on Instagram.

Speaker: Yeah, that's ah that's that's that's never good. No. And this particular person who very kindly messaged just all these receipts and screenshots and there's news articles even about this particular person um essentially being a scam and that it's fake. ah they They use lots of different accounts.

Speaker: um I actually, the WhatsApp number that's advertised on this Instagram account, I actually messaged on WhatsApp and was just like, hey, what club are you recruiting for? Yeah. And they said, oh, that's only, you know, I can only share that information with my clients. And I was like, okay.

Speaker: ah Just tried to get as much information out of this person as I could. The number is actually located in Bosnia and Herzegovina. So it's not even someone that's local.

Speaker: um not yeah just Not a region we get a lot of imports from. No, no, that's right. Like... like

Speaker: 95% of the players that, I mean, count imports, if you include like Asia Oceania imports, are Americans. So unless they're coming from Europe to here.

Speaker: and even then, I don't know why, i wouldn't know why athletes from North America or otherwise would want to use someone from Bosnia, herze Herzegovina to get them to Australia. There's other more direct routes to do that.

Speaker: So I asked this guy, are your clients agents or clubs? And he said, players enroll in our program and become our clients. Then we get their film and information and then send it to clubs.

Speaker: But, yes, it's all reading very scammy. So for those listening, if you'd like to know what the profile is, send us a message on Instagram at escottgame. Happy to share it with you so you and your friends can avoid potentially getting scammed by this particular outlet.

Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. I think um it's really, really disappointing when there's people out there trying to take advantage of of others knowing that, you know,

Speaker: You know, people have so many aspirations to play at a high level and play overseas and now there's people out there exploiting that.

Speaker: um Yeah. But it's it's also a good lesson as well for those who want to take their game either overseas or otherwise and need a bit of extra help and you need an agent, just remember that whether it's basketball or any other kind of industry, you don't pay agents up front to get a job.

Speaker: And this also sound advice also came from our secret squirrel in our DMs. If an agency really wants to represent you, they'll sign you up first with a contract and then book you a job and then only take their commission. So anyone that's asking for money up front, just be be cautious.

Speaker: All right. Well, that was my main ah piece of gossip from the NBL1 East. It's a very unorthodox piece gossip and information. For all the news and gossip we've had over the sort of bit seasons, that is definitely up there.

Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. I think it'll be interesting to keep an eye on it to see if any more WNBL1 posters come up or to see if there's actually any roster changes regarding imports in the men's and women's competition. You never know.

Speaker: Now, just aware of the time. It's 7.45. We do have our guests jumping on at 8, and we still need to do our game review. So should we do our other segments first, Lachie, for the sake of time?

Speaker: Yes. Yes. So let's do our other – we'll do our ah good eggs of the week before we get prepared for our lovely guest that's going to be on in about – 10 to 12 minutes.

Speaker: I feel like I've been talking this entire episode, Lockie. So please start off the segment with your good egg of round four. My good, my good egg, my good eggs. So I have one from Friday afternoon or Friday evening.

Speaker: And my good egg, i was tasked with the men's side this week is Luke Jamison from the Sutherland Sharks. He's been out of the game a while. Not out of the game, but not played five a five on five at this level for a while after i finished up. with He was with the Illawarra Hawks, played a bit of kneeful footy in the ruck for Canberra.

Speaker: He's come back. Pat Williamson had wanted to sign him for Yonks. They finally got him this year, and he's only gone out. He's less than half a dozen games in, and he's already picked up an Anzac round medal for 16 and 10 on Anzac Day in a...

Speaker: on anzac day and night In a comeback win over Illawarra. Sutherland, they were down Luke Jamison, just ah yeah absolutely great out there. Just a great addition to the team as a player. And haven't had the chance to talk to him individually, but he just seems like a really, just a really top bloke.

Speaker: I know SJ from Love of the Game thinks he's pretty great as well. So... Yeah, there you go. Luke Jamison. And then just want to give a secondary shout out ah to Jack Edwards from Maitland, who once again was off representing Australia in touch footy over the weekend in the Trans-Tasman Series over in Christchurch.

Speaker: Picked up two tries as the Australian team picked up a 3-0 series win over New Zealand. So, Jack, that's enough touch footy. Come back.

Speaker: Mustangs need you.

Speaker: Do they, though? Do they need him?

Speaker: Well, i wanted I wanted to commentate on him on Sunday. Oh, yeah. I mean, he's always a welcome addition to – we love watching him play. Since he was in Youth League, we've loved watching him play. So we do miss him.

Speaker: um But if whether the Mastangs, like, you know you know, when they really need someone. but oh well. Many hands make light work. That's right, that's right. But, yes, no.

Speaker: And also, actually, you touched on it before, the reason why Jazz Forkadeer wasn't ah playing against Bankstown on the weekend. Why was that? She was getting married.

Speaker: Which is also it appeared why Alex Delaney wasn't at the Manly game because she was there.

Speaker: So, yes, another NBL one wedding. We love an NBL1 wedding. Normally they're in the off-season, but Jazz is changing it up, having an in-season wedding. It looks like some close family and friends having a small, small nice, ah intimate ceremony in the Philippines where Jazz's dad, Ed, is from.

Speaker: It looks beautiful. it didn't adjust. Yeah. If you're going to pick an overseas destination for a wedding, in the Philippines, like especially El Nido, would be an excellent choice.

Speaker: Excellent choice. So, yeah, congratulations to Jazz and Dion, who are now Jazz and Dion Forkadeer-Smith.

Speaker: Taking double barrel, which we love to see. Love it. um And now my good egg of the week I also did a team again this week and it was to the Maitland Mustangs women's team.

Speaker: They're my good egg of the week collectively ah because what I really like about this team so far, well, we've we've always liked this team for their culture, their genuine love and support of each other in the highs and lows.

Speaker: And you can tell that they generally love playing with each other. because you've got the likes of Sydney Hunter as an import, rick like coming back to back to back seasons, right?

Speaker: So that's always a good sign when your import especially wants to come back. Your hometown heroes like Shaq and Rach Williams wants to come back. But it also looks like purely based on statistics as well, that whatever they're running and how they're playing is really showcasing all of their players' strengths.

Speaker: So you've got Shaq and Sydney top ski top scoring for their side with... 20.4 and twenty point zero points respectively You've got Rach Williams, the top of the assists.

Speaker: You've got Sydney Hunter, the top of the rebounds. You've got Rach top of free throws. You've got Shaq top of three-pointers. Like it all just seems like they're playing to their strengths. So well I'd love to review one of their games later in the season for our EGG game of the week to see what Coach Will Granger has put in place.

Speaker: And it looks like the Mustangs women are now – currently on the ladder in, I was going to say second, but it's the in third position ah with a win loss record of four and one. They do play the Newcastle Falcons though in round five, Lockie, any, any early predictions on how that one's going to shape up?

Speaker: I mean, everyone's got to play the Newcastle Falcons at some point. It's just something you have, it's just something have to deal with. Uh, ah They are local rivalry. it ah ah does some funny things.

Speaker: I mean, Newcastle newcastle will be favourites in every game they play this season, you have to say. But if Maitland don't turn the ball over 30 times again like they did against Comets, and ah it might be a close one.

Speaker: The Maitland team will definitely be up for it. They still got the win over comments, though, despite those turnovers, right? they definitely They did. yeah I called that again. Yes. Yes. It was a story once again of one team turning the ball over, but the other team giving up a lot of offensive rebounds.

Speaker: he And it all evened out in the end, and that's why I finished the close game. Jeez, that old chestnut. Yes. starting to become an NBL 1A staple sometimes. I wonder if that that particular pairing of statistics have must happen in the other conferences.

Speaker: And what about Will Granger, head coach now for Maitland Mustangs Women? um I think he has had history of coaching at the NBL 1 level once upon a time when he was coaching, think he was coaching the Crusaders men for a short period of time.

Speaker: I think this is his first job back as head coach of an NBL1 team. What sense did you get of what he's putting in place? What are kind of his systems? What are kind of his non-negotiables based on the game that you got to commentate where the Mustangs played at Comets?

Speaker: Well, I mean, I think you mentioned, you know, the culture that they have. And think just leaning into that, like, team ball. um And...

Speaker: um I guess probably the right term would be

Speaker: playing to the strength of the players that are ah feeling it almost. um You know, Shaq was outstanding, but they let her be outstanding. I mean, Shaq is always going to be the focal focal point, so it was easy to see there. But, you know, they ran they ran with what was working. They didn't go away from it and try to get someone else hot.

Speaker: kind of thing like that. um I mean, yes, they they turned the ball over 30 times, but also they didn't have Rachel Williams there to... ah which is They didn't have Rachel Williams and then Milo Wascovic fouled out early in the fourth quarter. So for fair yeah various stretches, you ball handling yeah kind of fell apart a bit. But it all looks really positive.

Speaker: um There was one... When Miller found out, he subbed on Sophie Williams and um ran one player that subbed in Monique Rudder to Sophie, subbed off. he just did He just did this, like the the brain explosion thing, like his fault for subbing on the wrong player almost, I think is what he was saying. And then just laughing it off and getting back the piece. So, you know, just not letting anything really get to them.

Speaker: I think it was really good because Comets were storming home in that one. They just managed to... managed to to finish it off. And Will, if you're listening, I have flashbacks to that youth league semi when you were up one possession with 24 seconds to play. You'll know the one I'm talking about.

Speaker: But they got the win on this occasion.

Speaker: but Yes, they did definitely did, only by two points too. So it looked like a quite an exciting match, especially well once you mentioned that Comets really made a storm home to get that win.

Speaker: Maitland, a couple of people down, lots of turnovers. Yes, and that I remember you text me about that fatal situation about the time timeout, and I know exactly what you mean, and I don't think it would be too far in the back of Coach Granger's mind either.

Speaker: Do you know what else I found out about Maitland on the Sunday night? It's that Lexi Plater is still travelling down from Coffs Harbour every week. Wow, that's wild.

Speaker: She's finishing year 12 and travelling down from Coffs Harbour to play every week.

Speaker: That's, yeah, i I can't believe that. That is wild. that is um That's a lot. That's a lot to take on, right? Yes, that is huge.

Speaker: ah Now, Lockie, our very um special guest has joined us in the green room of our studio, and we're both very excited to have this play as a guest.

Speaker: I thought that given you are such a fan of ah our athlete today, would you like to do the honours of reading the intro? ah I suppose I could do that for one of my...

Speaker: I mean, one of my favourite players. You say everyone's my favourite player, and it's probably true, but this is definitely one of my absolute favourites. And they are arguably one of the most exciting NBL1 East homecoming signings for 2025.

Speaker: They are known for their strong work ethic and for being a positive role model for every club they have played for. This athlete formerly had an underdog type reputation and is now a staple in the NBL one after having a successful season with Mount BNBA Pioneers and in the WNBL with the Sydney Flames, Melbourne Boomers and the UC Capitals.

Speaker: Off the court, they're a proud mental health advocate who often shares their personal journey on social media. Our guest today is Sheree Kalaya. Hi.

Speaker: um ah Thank you for jumping on and especially last minute arrangements made for get you to jump on. So we really appreciate it. But as soon as we saw you assigned to Hills for 2025, we're like, we've got to get shits.

Speaker: yeah Yeah, of course. No, it's all very exciting. Yeah. Beautiful intro, by the way, Lockie. Loved it. Yes, thanks for that. I've got a good script writer.

Speaker: That's not AI, right? No. It's definitely not AI, no. We run our own stuff here. Yeah, yeah. That's good. So how are you? I'm good.

Speaker: I'm doing well. Yeah. are you guys? ah yeah, pretty good. You're all right. I'm smiling and stuff a bit. hey

Speaker: Yeah, I imagine you might get that a lot, actually, Shez, because it's not often that I'd see you not smiling. Yeah, no, not not often, but maybe a bit lately. Not always had a smile on my face, but that's okay. We have those moments, which is fine. we have to embrace that.

Speaker: We might have to get into more of that a little bit later in the in the episode. um But, yeah, thanks so much for joining us. Very excited that you can be a guest here at East Scott Game.

Speaker: And I'm not too sure if you've listened to us before, given that you've been in South a lot, so that's okay. But when we have our athlete interviews, we always start and end with the same question, like we bookend our interviews with the same questions.

Speaker: Okay, yeah. So our first question is always, where did your basketball journey begin? Yes, um I'd say my basketball journey began um at Hills Hornets, which is great, um playing bitty ball and just watching my older sister play like at training sessions um of hers.

Speaker: I'd always, if they're having a break, I'd get a ball, dribble it, do some ball handling skills on the side and try and shoot at the big hoops. So how how old is bitty ball? Bitty ball, I think is probably around maybe, want to say six, six or seven.

Speaker: But yeah, I think I started skills at around five. So maybe I lied a little bit. ah it Skills and then bitty ball, yeah. And why is it called bitty ball? don't know. It's just a, and yes I I don't know.

Speaker: I don't know if it's still called that now, but that's what it was called back then. I don't think I've heard the term bitty bitty used anywhere else have you lucky out it i hope that's what it's called otherwise i just yeah so so how much older is your sister ah five years okay so you didn't ever play on teams together did you play play each other in the backyard

Speaker: Oh, here and there a bit. I think that happened more when we got a bit older. But um I think I played a few local comp games with both my sisters. That was really fun.

Speaker: Oops, I'm in the meantime looking up what Biddy means. Yeah. And I'm not sure how it's related to learn to play basketball for children. But the first thing that pops up when you Google video is a woman, especially an elderly one, regarded as annoying or interfering. Oh, okay.

Speaker: Are you sure you were in the right age group? yeah it was like like um they had both boys and girls in the teams and everything and we're just like thrown into a team and just like ran a havoc on court so is that kind of like the precursor to them playing more organized social comp yeah yeah yeah and then uh how soon did they recruit you to play reps for hills hornets I actually played under 12 when I was nine. So I was bottom, bottom age. Yeah, I was pretty, pretty young going into it, but I'm pretty sure was only in division three anyway. So maybe they just needed numbers.

Speaker: Don't talk it down. Bottom, bottom age is still pretty good. i Yeah, it's not bad.

Speaker: So how many, that means like, assuming you didn't miss a year of reps with Hornets, how many consecutive years is that? Oh, and then including your youth league career as well. How many consecutive years?

Speaker: Yeah, I don't know. oh When did start? 12s, 14s. I don't know. My math is not – I don't have quick math right now. But a lot of games, let's say a lot of games. um But I was fortunate enough to also get in a few games and train with, like, the then ABA team, which would be now, I guess, the NBL1 East.

Speaker: So, yeah. and got a few games under the Hills Hornets.

Speaker: Yeah, Lucky, can you do the quick math on – Junior career in youth league, number of youth league years? Three years of 12s and then 14s, 16s, 18s would be, that's nine years in and of itself. And then a couple of years of youth league before, mean many years of youth league before oh jumping up?

Speaker: I reckon I only had maybe one, one full year, maybe like half a year. Because did you play, did you play Seaworth for the Sparks?

Speaker: I did, yeah. I did play Seabull. So you would have been playing that instead of playing for Hills. Yeah, yeah. I wouldn't go on every away trip for Seabull. So I'd still be playing Youth League, yeah.

Speaker: Yeah, okay. And I think that's that was 2018. We ended up winning the Banner Youth League. So that was good. Yeah, you did. I was there for that. That was on your own court well.

Speaker: Were you commentating? That was my the first year that I ever commentated. Oh, that's so cool. That's so good. Yeah. How weird that? So I think that was the year where I played championship league for crew. I'm pretty sure we were wooden spooners.

Speaker: That's okay. I will wear that. And so I had nothing to do come finals weekend and BNSW put on their social media pages. Hey, does anyone want to try commentating? And ah someone tagged me and I was like, yeah sure. Yeah.

Speaker: Oh, that's awesome. That's how I began. That's how again I began. I had that false sense of ah confidence. I was like, yeah, I can do that without really understanding what it is, what it takes do properly. But that's how it started, yeah.

Speaker: Oh, cool. That's awesome. Lockie, were you at that finals weekend two I was at that, but I wasn't commentating. I was at the bar. I was at the bar.

Speaker: is where I spent most Warratah League finals and still I started compensating. Oh, yeah. That's okay. That's good. Either celebrating or most times drowning my sorrows. yeah i it Back in my... Back when I was a full-on Norse fan and they are took a while to win a a title.

Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. well That's funny. But... um Yeah. Anyway, I'm going too far back in my history. Yeah. Spending so much time around hills, who were your basketball idols growing up? there Are there names that us Waratah League OGs going remember women amongst your idols? Potentially, yeah. When I think of the women's team, definitely Wendy Strong.

Speaker: I think she's retired now. um i don't know how long ago. i can't remember she played... ah for Hills last season but she was definitely one of the big names that I'd like look up to and be like oh my god she's so like cool and athletic and yeah I want to be like her so definitely Wendy Strong um a few other names oh Rachel Herrick I had the pleasure of um playing with her too a couple of games um which was fun so definitely those two

Speaker: Yeah, that's great. They're two homegrown heroes. Yeah. Sorry, you go, Lockie. You were around the program when Katie Samuels was playing four games a weekend. Was she one?

Speaker: Oh, yeah. You would have in juniors? Yes, I would have been in juniors. Yes, definitely. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I forgot about that, actually. That's a really nice deep cut, Lockie. That was my first season i watching Warratah.

Speaker: Who else was in that Hills team if they had Casey Samuels?

Speaker: Jamie Samuels? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Did Jamie leave? Samuels still play too. Yeah. Yeah. So, wow. I feel old though. Even though was like young back then. Years get along. There's a little bit, there was a bit of a difference in coaching and how would I say, delivery of instruction, I guess, from that generation compared to your generation.

Speaker: So what was it like when you were really quite young and then playing with that generation of players in ABA or least training with them, like what was the things that stood out to you the most?

Speaker: um My memory's not that great, but from what I remember, um i A big trend when you like you play in WNBL, like the vets will like put you in your place. But I think I've been lucky enough, like coming up through hills and everything, vets were very like open and um not quite harsh, which is quite nice. It makes for a better environment to learn. So, um yeah I think that's what I remember from it.

Speaker: And I guess it's different when you come in as like a training player compared to a rookie who's fighting for minutes and potentially taking minutes from the veteran. They're more willing to teach you and help you improve rather than having to battle you for but playing time.

Speaker: Exactly. Yes. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, that's a really good point, actually. Yeah. um And what about other basketball idols outside your club? Did you have anyone in the WNBL at that time you looked up to?

Speaker: I'm trying to think. I'd go to a lot of Sydney uni games. um I'd say Leilani Mitchell for sure. She's one that I remember.

Speaker: um Point guard. ah Who else? Yeah. Other teams, I'd say Christy Wallace. um Yes, she's just like a force on offense and defense. So she was always exciting to um watch play. And now you get to two of the idols you just mentioned you get to play against now.

Speaker: Yeah. Well, yeah, actually. Well, Christy, Wait, as in the WNBA? Oh, no, sorry. In NBL1 East, Rach Herrick. Oh, right, right. That's playing for Crusaders.

Speaker: Yeah, crazy. Yeah. That's amazing.

Speaker: Sorry, Locke, did I cut you off before? No, no, keep going. Right. Oh, cool. um So, and so growing up too, were you someone who made a lot of junior state teams, whether that was for New South Wales Metro or, you know, NITP programs, all those high performance type squads, or were you someone that kind of had to fight for your spots in those high performance squads?

Speaker: I'd say a bit of both. um i was lucky enough to be picked in the NITP, the high performance programs, to be exposed to like a high level of um training in basketball. um And I think I did make state teams like every, I was always top age though, but they were, they were a fight to get in. Yeah.

Speaker: um It was difficult, um but I was always like, what can I do to improve whether that's in the team or as a development player? um But yeah, it was, it was tough like going on those road trips and playing away.

Speaker: um Yeah. a Different style of basketball to what I'm used to. And It was fun and made friends from like other associations, but it was hard. It was definitely hard as a youngster, even though it was like a top ager. I always felt almost like an outsider because I was the only like Hills representative, which is cool. But um yeah well yeah, it was hard. I'd say that for sure. And does it, i mean, know, you're coming in every year, trying out at the bottom major and then missing out, making as the top ager. Do you ever get like,

Speaker: the feeling that like, oh I made it in top age, but next year I'm just going to go through bottom age again and probably miss out? does it Is it hard to like get back up every year for it?

Speaker: I think so, yeah, a little That definitely play in my mind. I'd have moments i'm like, oh, they're not going to pick me because I'm a bottom major or like, I'm not from their association, they're not going to pick me. But, you know, it's just like politics of basketball at that young age, like, yeah,

Speaker: Yeah, maybe I wasn't good enough to get in the team as a bottom major and that's completely fine. But I always think I had a good mindset going into it. Like I just do the best I can and whatever they saw um in me or didn't see in me, that that's completely fine. I'm still going to work on my game either the way.

Speaker: Good attitude to have, I think. ah Hopefully one that you can instill in some of the juniors coming up through the ranks now at Hills Hornets because it looks like are you doing a little bit of coaching while you're back home too?

Speaker: um Yes, I'll start being more, I think, yeah, around the community and doing some coaching once I can get back on my feet. Yeah.

Speaker: Yeah.

Speaker: Is there a ji but is there a ah kind of timeline for that at the moment or is it you sort of wait and see Wait and see. I'm currently on crutches at the moment. I probably will be for like another three weeks because I can't wait there on my knee.

Speaker: um But, yeah, I'm thinking like around that time I'll try and, you know, be more involved with the um Hills team, um you know, develop my leadership skills and then, yeah, maybe do some coaching on the side as well.

Speaker: Yeah, how much are you able to share with us about your unfortunate injury? Yeah, now I can share everything if you like. yeah Okay, cool. I was like, do I say I don't know?

Speaker: Oh, no, you can share as much as you're comfortable with sharing this. Yeah, it was. we were all super excited you were back playing for East and back playing for Hills. Like this 2025 season has been like this hometown hero kind of return with like yourself and Susie Wormsley, McAllister. Yeah, Susie.

Speaker: Isaiah Lee, Jason Caddy. So it was it's was so cool. And then we were equally as devastated for you and we heard that you got injured. But, yeah, please share as much as you're willing to about what's going on at the moment.

Speaker: Yeah, sure. So I had surgery, I think, three weeks ago this Thursday. um And, you know, the surgeon went in, see we saw all the MRIs and he said to me, look, you might have some meniscus damage, but we won't know until I'm getting there. So he repaired the ACL, um but then he found a tear as well in my meniscus. So that's why um I've had to have, I had, I think, a splint on my knee for two weeks with crutches. I've been bed bound for like,

Speaker: yeah, almost a month, which has been really, really tough. Like I can get up and hobble everywhere, but just, you know, not being able to do things that are so easy, just like going to get a glass of water from the fridge is like being so difficult. So that's been hard for sure.

Speaker: um And the crutches, I'm so over them, but they are definitely like, I need to use them because yeah, the meniscus, if that doesn't heal properly, then, you know, high rates of arthritis when I'm older and, you know,

Speaker: continuous knee pain, which is not fun. So I'm trying to be patient. um Not much else to update on, um which is probably a good thing. But yeah, just kind of, I'd say it's like a dead leg at the moment because I can't really do much with it.

Speaker: But no, it's it's getting better. Yeah. So yeah when exactly did it did it happen? So in the opening game against Inno West Bulls, I drove to the basket. It was like halfway through the first quarter and I slipped absolutely no contact whatsoever and my knee just caved.

Speaker: And yeah, I just knew straight away when it happened that it was my ACL because um yeah, i also did my ACL on that court last time. So it is the whole thing, which is, it's fine. Like it happens.

Speaker: Yeah. Oh, no, because you did your ACL about four, first time about four years ago. Is that right? Seven. Seven. Seven years ago now, jeez. COVID has really done a number on me remembering like dates and timelines.

Speaker: Those three years for one. Wow, seven years and ago on that same court. that's did it Did that kind of cast something in your mind when you were suiting up for that first game and like, oh, we're playing at Sydney Uni. That's interesting. Did that kind of bring up the old...

Speaker: I've gone over this so many times in my head and i'm like, was it doubt? Like, was it just in the back of my head? But no, I was so ready to play that game. I prepared so well mentally and physically. um And if anything else, excited to play on that court. Cause I knew, i know that court, I've trained there, I've played there for many years. So um if anything, i was like happy to play there. Like, yeah, home court advantage, but I've been here, this has been my home, it's all good. So no, I don't really think it played in my mind, but that's definitely something after I'm like, what else could I have done to like prevent this?

Speaker: But you know, yeah, sometimes you just can't control those things, unfortunately.

Speaker: It's just such a, one of those spooky coincidences, hey Yeah. oh that's so devastating. So, and you are normally so active working on your game, any chance you get. And now that you said you've been bed bound for four weeks.

Speaker: Yeah. How are you coping? It's so opposite to you. Lots of reading, lots of gaming. um And I've been keeping my hands busy, hey? Yeah. have created a website, um which is really exciting. I launched it today.

Speaker: um Just like a little hub where I can have everything all in one place that people can access, which is yeah really cool. So that's what's been keeping me busy. I'm like, I need to do something.

Speaker: Sometimes when these happen, you go on that list of like, what are the things I've always thought about doing but never had the time? Exactly. It's just amazing how much space is opened up in my head when it's not consumed by basketball.

Speaker: Interesting. That's really interesting. Yeah. um So, yeah, tell us more while you're talking about it, the project that you launched today. Tell us all about it. Yeah. So I in my Instagram captions, I have this little like Cherise corner where I delve a bit more into like behind the scenes, into things I've experienced and how I reflect on that.

Speaker: um And I i just know I have so much more to share with everyone. And I did a poll the other day of like lighthearted or deep um conversations and people a lot of people click the deep like um conversations. I was like, yeah, you did.

Speaker: I did see. no me And it's something I'm already saying, like um in my caption sometimes, there's too many words and I'm like, well, I want to share this stuff. So on the website, there's a blog. So I'll upload some of the um things that I want to expand more on my Instagram.

Speaker: um But I'm also launching something else I haven't, quite announced yet. So there's other things that will be added up there, but also I have my coaching staff. So if people want to, you know, i'd be coached by um me, then they can go on there and organize that.

Speaker: um If they want to contact me, easy to contact and everything. And it also shows like past um interviews, like the mental health round I put up there where you can like look into it and just see all the past stuff that I've done as well. Just having those resources available for people who are interested um that I can give because um i love sharing my journey.

Speaker: And if anyone can like get anything out of it, then that's just a bonus too.

Speaker: That's just so awesome. I just love it. that's that's all it's That's just it. I just, it's, yeah. Yeah. I think some people were a bit disappointed it wasn't a podcast. So when I uploaded it, like launched it today, I was like, oh, I feel like some people will be like let down. But getting to chat to you guys is awesome. So maybe I'll like link something there where they can view this and help you guys out.

Speaker: Not that I think I have a big following anyway, but, you know. yeah That's right. We appreciate the support. we We love supporting the athletes and if the athletes choose to support us, we're all for for it as well. so But ah is but a podcast something that you could see yourself doing in the future too?

Speaker: I think so, yeah I think that's another thing I have to wrap my head around. so um But, yeah, connecting with people in, like, this way is so awesome and I think, yeah, it's so easy to do but also not, like, I'm sure there's a lot of behind-the-scenes work you guys do and preparing and, like, connecting with others. So we'll see we'll see where that goes.

Speaker: But, yeah, maybe somewhere in the future.

Speaker: Or somewhere where you can still kind of ah tell those stories or connect with people ah that's in the middle of your conversation online corner and podcasting or something. I'm sure you're very, you seem very active and creative. I'm sure you'll think of something. Yeah.

Speaker: Yeah. Well, you're, I think, I think you, you've almost got what's almost going to come. Oh, all right. do Do you have a potential release date that you can share or do we, should we just keep an eye on your Instagram for updates?

Speaker: Oh, I don't know. I was considering launching it this week as well, but maybe I'll save it for next week. What's today? Today's post-day. Maybe a week from now.

Speaker: Okay, cool, cool. So everyone, you hear it here first. Keep an on Jess's social media accounts and her online blog and corner to see what the next thing is. That's exciting.

Speaker: Yeah, so got a lot of time on my hands and I am trying to look at the positives in this conversation. situation And I think there are heaps.

Speaker: um Just one of them is not playing basketball. That's not a positive. But, you know, like there's still so much to me than just being a basketball player. And I'm really, really excited to, you know, delve more into my passions off the court.

Speaker: Now, look, I realise we've taken opportunities of segues and perhaps have gone off the structure. Where are we up to exactly? I don't think we asked number four yet. We did ask five and seven, but we haven't asked four.

Speaker: You should. If you're ready, you go for it. all alright I mean, while we're talking about you sharing content, um you shared a lot of content about, you know the real life of a women's basketballer in Australia.

Speaker: um You know, getting up, packing up and moving every six months, things like that. um How do you like to spend what little off season you have when you're between seasons?

Speaker: Yeah, definitely. I think I try and prioritise resetting mentally, emotionally and physically. And one of the things I did after this WNBL season was go to New Zealand. So I've done lots of solo travels before.

Speaker: haven't yet been overseas. So i was like, oh, like New Zealand seems like a great place to just have that reset. So I'd say a lot of um time in nature, that's huge, and still keeping my body clean.

Speaker: you know, physically active, going on walks, runs, bike riding, um whitewater rafting, which is really cool I did there, um and just giving me my body that rest oh away from basketball because that's really important too.

Speaker: um um Other than that, I love, i think I mentioned this before, I love reading um and I love creating and like getting my hands dirty and paint and dabbling in some bullet journal spreads and everything to keep my life somewhat organised.

Speaker: um But yeah, that's what I'd say. I do a lot off court in the off season.

Speaker: ah And tell us more about this trip to New Zealand. It looks like a lot of fun. It looks like you got to experience quite a lot of New Zealand as well in a short period of time. Yeah, it was beautiful. i stayed in Queen, I flew into Queensland, Queenstown and stayed there for the first two nights. And then I just hired a car and just drove around the South Island.

Speaker: taking in the scenery and everything and um having the flexibility of not booking in something every day and just seeing where you know that path would take me um so that was really fun just I stayed at Airbnb so I'd get in contact with the hosts and I'd have really lovely chats with them and they'd tell me places where to check out and everything, which was really cool. It felt more like personalized almost than just flicking through a pamphlet and being like, oh, let's go here, here and here, you know? very grounding experience and something I definitely want to do again in the future.

Speaker: I mean, solo traveling is just the best, honestly. It is the best. i mean Expensive. is it does i You don't have to ask someone, oh, do you want to do this today? And if they say no, it's like, oh, you're just going to do it.

Speaker: Yeah, it's just you're on your own time. It's great. It's so good. Yeah, no compromising or anything like that. I mean, it is fun travelling with someone, but it's really hard to find the perfect travel partner, right?

Speaker: Yeah. And you learn so much about people when you travel with them. Like they could be your best friend for years and then you travel with them and you're like, i don't want to see you ever again. Yeah, that's right.

Speaker: Yeah. the Solo travel is perfect for like, hey, I love people, but... I need you to go away now and I need to be by myself. Exactly. Also, I would find it hard to drag people to the college towns I visit on my solo travels.

Speaker: On your very niche solo travels, Lockie. Yeah. thats That's a good example where you really... Can't afford to compromise if you were doing those trips with other people because you've got very specific places that you would want to visit for very specific interests.

Speaker: yeah Yeah, definitely. Love. Where else have you travelled on your own, Chaz? um So when I was living in Mount Gambier, I would travel to, where did I go, Warrnambool, mainly because they had hot springs there.

Speaker: Perfect relaxation. Wow. Yeah. And then i did horse riding there on the beach, which was really cool. And then I went to, do you know the Grampians? They're like huge mountain ranges in like Southwest Victoria.

Speaker: No. I'm not up to date with my mountain ranges. If you ever like go to Victoria and you have time, definitely check them out because I have really cool like hiking spots.

Speaker: um Yeah, it's beautiful there. um But I stayed in like a little like I think it was like a 1980s cottage on someone's property like super secluded, no reception, which was probably a bit scary. I don't know why I did it.

Speaker: But um no, it was really fun. um And just having like, you know, yourself to keep your company is like huge because I don't think people do that enough nowadays.

Speaker: Yeah, I agree. Just being able to turn your brain off or be able to concentrate on one thing or not feel like you have to be mentally occupied all the time has started to become really hard for a lot of people.

Speaker: um Like some of my friends just struggle like, like e you forget the fit feeling of just being able to relax and do nothing and just let your brain rest. Yeah, exactly. And not feel guilty about it because it's so easy to do that.

Speaker: Especially when you're like in season too, like you feel guilty for taking a day off, like, oh, should get some shots up. Oh, I should do some extra things in like the weight room. So, yeah

Speaker: Yes. And what happens when we should ourselves or other people too much? not It's not good. We're not we're not good when we should ourselves into things too much, right? That's right.

Speaker: But, yeah, you you did mention before ah that in your on on your online platform you you did refer to the Mental Health Round article for WNBL that you were a part of.

Speaker: And we did mention in the intro that you are a mental health advocate. Yeah, yeah tell us a bit more about that and um why it's so important for yourself as an individual and why you think it's important for athletes. Yeah.

Speaker: Yeah, um I believe that, you know, there's different aspects of yourself you need to work on physically, mentally, emotionally that I've touched on before, um because if you don't deal with that stuff off the court, it's going to come up on the court.

Speaker: And I found that when I've navigated, I've you know getting better through those i'm a much better person and i'm a much better teammate i'm a much better player for myself and my team on the court so i think it's something that is huge and being able to reflect on that what has worked or what hasn't worked for me is really important in my healing journey but also the ability to share that with others is something i don't take for granted because not everyone doesn't, not all people have this platform to do so. And um I'm trying to build something that hopefully connects people that are like-minded or they can just, you know, get a little bit of advice to either help themselves or other people too, because um everyone struggles in their own way.

Speaker: um if you have an injury or not, if you play basketball, if you play sport or not, like it's I think that's one thing that everyone should be able to empathise with is that we all struggle at some point in our life um and just making that not as taboo, like being able to have these open and honest conversations is huge and if people can be more compassionate and show more love and happiness within themselves and like, you know, share that with others, I think, um you know, and the world will be such a better place because of it. And if I can have like a little, you know, a snippet of that um by sharing my own journey with others, i just hope, you know,

Speaker: I can build a community that is helpful that if they do struggle, they can come up to me or they don't have to. They can look and for resources on professional help because I think there's a time and place for that too as well.

Speaker: Yeah, definitely. i think I think you're right. Definitely a time and place for that. I think if people are struggling and are considering engaging in some kind of therapy, um just being able to check in to see if they are ready for that because it's okay also not to be ready for it but you have to then start to tell you, well, yeah how much is this going to start to is this going to continue to be a barrier for me getting to where I want to be versus am I ready to kind of face that in a in a therapy session? Yeah.

Speaker: Exactly. Yeah, that's right.

Speaker: And what would you say, like if you were to have a teammate or a young person say to you, oh, look, I really resonate a lot with your story. I'm thinking about engaging in some kind of therapy, psychology, sports psychology. what What would your advice be or what would you say?

Speaker: I'd say not to be deterred if the first go doesn't suit you. So if you you're paired with a psychologist and you don't really um resonate with them, it's okay to not continue down that path because, you know, you're not going to force yourself to be friends with someone if you don't like like to hang out with them. And that's similar to like any therapist, you know, you want to make sure you you can be yourself and you can have that safe space to bring up the stuff that you are struggling with.

Speaker: So you can be honest and, you know, get down into the roots and like discover like what's really going on.

Speaker: Where are we up to now, Lockie? know we've got kind of gone off track again. I think we're up to Lucky 8. ah all right. we Unless you have any other follow-up questions for Shez and her mental health journey, you're welcome to fire away with question 8, if you like.

Speaker: Oh, I think we've got a little bit of a ah an insight, but I'd like to hear more about ah Our final question, as always, because basketballers are not just players. They are also people.

Speaker: Who is Shez off the court?

Speaker: I think i I hate talking about myself like this. But no, I think i'm i'm I'm a fun person to be around and i just love creating and being creative and allowing um myself to express myself in that way.

Speaker: um I'm adventurous. ah I think I'm very empathetic. Like I'll give you the time and space to, you know, have deep chats, deep, meaningful chats, but I can also be very lighthearted and fun. Like if that's what, you know, that's what's needed.

Speaker: um But yeah, I think that's me off the court. And you are, you mentioned that whilst you've been bed bound for a month, you've been gaming. Yeah.

Speaker: lot. Yeah. I mean, I love the cozy, like warm vibes of Animal Crossing. And then I love like the high adrenaline of Fortnite.

Speaker: So I've been switching between them like every other day, which has been really fun. Yeah. We've had few Fortnite players on the ah um the podcast over the years. You should have like a little stream of like Fortnite one time.

Speaker: and definitely could. I think Shez might be the first female athlete we've spoken to, though, that has said that they're a gamer in the East. Yeah. We've had a couple of... We've had some FIFA players, some Fortnite players. Yeah.

Speaker: i got into the mitzqua I got into Fortnite because of Zatina Akuso. I um okay i lived with them in Mount Gambier. I think it was too two or three years ago. And like we'd have like it'd be a game day ritual. We'd have like a Fortnite game and try and get a win together. So that was definitely something. Yeah, that's why I started.

Speaker: That's pretty cool. And like, I think um gaming as well is pretty underrated in a thing in a sense of like there's so many different cognitive skills that you've got to use and try and develop to be really, really good at gaming and a lot of obviously hand-eye and fine motor skill coordination.

Speaker: So you can keep your mind sharp with some gaming. Yes. No, for real. No, I think so. Definitely. Got a little strategies here and there.

Speaker: And what books are you reading at the moment? What's your prefer preferred genre? love... i love fiction and nonfiction. I love fantasy, um but a book I'm reading now, which I think resonates with me a lot, is called The Obstacles the Way. I actually have right here. That's why I'm looking at it. That's really like heaps of insight into why I might be feeling a certain way or how I can act and react to, you know, what is my injury right now. So I think that's really helping me. um

Speaker: Yeah, it's so interesting, but I love self-help books like that. I think they're huge as well.

Speaker: ah kind of do What kind of other non-fiction do you read? to you Biographies kind of?

Speaker: Or something else? I've read a few. I've read Ash Barty's book.

Speaker: Biographies? No, don't really read much of those. What is a biography? I feel really silly. Or a book about, well, I guess if you read Ash Barty's book, that's an autobiography. so Autobiography, yeah. when i Yeah, I don't know I feel so silly right now.

Speaker: I like, ah yeah, because, you know, the biographies obviously about a person but written by someone else. Oh, that's right. Yes, yes. Yeah, and then autobiography is about a person and their life but written by the person.

Speaker: Oh, I thought that was a memoir. Is that what called? Oh, yeah. No? Yeah, I think it's also going to be called a memoir. Yeah, so I think I prefer reading something from their point of view because I feel like you get that connection, I think, a bit better. But then I haven't read many biographies, i don't think.

Speaker: yeah uh biographies they say are a good like gateway into reading like if someone wants to isn't much of a reader but wants to start reading or feels like they need to be reading more biographies are a good way to start okay cool i didn't know that there you go hot tip hot tip we all circle back on that uh do you have any aspirations to work like in healthcare care or in mental health or something when the time comes?

Speaker: Yes, I'd say yes. um

Speaker: Definitely it's been such a big part of my journey now and I can't see it leaving anytime soon um because I feel my ah feel like I am most myself when I am able to work in that space. So yeah, for sure. I haven't really planned anything like that anytime soon. But, yeah, definitely. Of course, she's still got lots of playing days ahead of you. Yeah, I hope so.

Speaker: Yeah. Well, Lachie, do you have any final questions for Shez before we say goodbye? um no just best wishes on the recovery.

Speaker: Thank you. Can't wait to see you out there next season. Mm-hmm.

Speaker: Yes, and we'll keep an eye on Cherie's Corner next Tuesday for an announcement of and of the next project. boy It's set in stone now. i have to write it down, so don't let you guys down.

Speaker: Yeah, we're doing it. out there You put it out there now. You've got to do it. You've got to follow through. No, that's good. All right. Well, thanks for having me. Yeah, thank you much. Yeah, thanks heaps for being a great guest on East Got Game. And, yeah, even though you are temporarily sidelined, we're very happy to see you back in Enby or One East and hopefully the Hornets will have an even better season.

Speaker: And, yes, and enjoy it as much as you can. And obviously you still got lots to offer despite not being able to be on the court. Yes, thank you so much. All right. Thanks, guys. i appreciate it. Thank No worries.

Speaker: See you later. Bye.

Speaker: All right, out of order today. It's a bit of a topsy-turvy day today, Lachie, but I did like how Shez was giving us a through a few seeds are for segues during her conversation there. So I think we did well picking them up.

Speaker: and think so. think so but now we gotta we flip the script normally we end the episode with the interview but we still have our escot game round four game of the week to discuss and who did we pick this week locky we picked thanks to me texting you about subasa nisbet sutherland versus illawarra women Yes, and I wasn't sure if you were texting me about Nisbet or if you were texting me about the other import. Is it Kiara Bell?

Speaker: Yes, it is. Which is good too, but I saw her last week already. Of course, of course, yes. So, yes, like you said, Sharkies versus the Hawkeys in the women's competition.

Speaker: You were right there at the scene. Talk me through it. I was right there at the scene, but I still had to go back and watch the game again because I get so – locked in when I'm actually commentating, but there are things I said during the game that I don't, not only do I not remember saying them, I don't remember the play happening.

Speaker: There were two quotes that I wrote down that you said during your comment ah your commentary of this game that I loved. The first being sold better than our friend Callum Norris sells houses.

Speaker: Brilliant. The other one was reads the rebound like a cheap novel. Ah, thank you. That's ah that's an old chestnut. I think actually got a text from Caleb today saying that he loved my use of the word serendipitously.

Speaker: That's... I mean... On Eliza Favreau's one of the plays of the week, but... It's not about me. It's about the game that actually transpired. And that is a word I have to use less of.

Speaker: the game that happened. And it was the Hawks, as we mentioned earlier, picking up an win, their first of the campaign, ah which they really broke it open in the start of the fourth quarter when they could not miss from outside.

Speaker: It was a thirty one to six day fourth quarter. And the Hawkeys actually shot 11 of 14 on left wing threes. I went counted the shot shots.

Speaker: Actually, though, I remember you met you mentioned it during your commentary as well, where you're just like, well, Hawks are really good from this one spot. And, yeah, you've got the shot chart to confirm that because I think even Ella Dent, who had, what, seven from nine for the game, ah she had three threes in the first half from the exact same spot.

Speaker: Yes. So she was 7 of 9. team was 11 of 14 from that area. 12 of 24 overall. And that one was Elident straight up from top of the arc in the fourth quarter. I remember it because I wrote it down.

Speaker: Yes. So everywhere except the left wing, they couldn't hit one. Left wing, absolutely perfect. Or just about perfect.

Speaker: but um yeah that is an and That is a very specific initiative. It would be interesting to see if that continues or if it was just one of those games. it Yeah, it would be.

Speaker: um But I think it was it was close all the way, but for much of the time it felt like Sutherland had to do more to earn their points.

Speaker: ah my co-commentator Jake mentioned it at one point, there was a time where Illawarra, every matchup, they had the height advantage. And it was, it was not a rare occurrence.

Speaker: If they didn't have the advantage in every matchup, they probably had it in four. And then if it's not height, it's length. Like Ruben McDonald, you know, length for days. You know,

Speaker: Nisbet just looks... Nisbet is a great signing. But, yeah, it always looked like Sutherland had to do more to get their shots. And Illawarra did a very good job but of not letting Vanessa Panousis get hot from three-point range.

Speaker: Because she only had one three-pointer attempt through two and a half quarters of action. in the latter stages of the game, she got a few more looks. Some of them were on a low percentage, even by her standards. Some of them, you know, pretty contested. But yeah, just absolutely not letting Ness get hot.

Speaker: It meant that Fabro had more opportunities and she hit her first four from deep. But um if you're shutting Panusis down, it goes a long way to beating this Sutherland team.

Speaker: And it meant that the game remained close through those first three quarters before Illawarra were just able to break it open.

Speaker: I wonder, speaking of shot selection between Panusis and Fabro, ah you're right. Like, you know, Ness really had to work for a lot of her shots. Like a lot didn't come easy.

Speaker: And then, I wonder if after a period of time as well that started to maybe mentally eat away at her where she just needed to see one go through the net to kind of make her feel a bit steady. But and so I think at times she was also forcing a lot of shots up as well just to kind of like kind of get her flow going.

Speaker: um And Fabro as well, sometimes I felt like perhaps shot selection wasn't it wasn't their best day for shot selection. Yeah, I mean, Fabro was... Like, she was hitting from deep. She would hit her first four of four from deep and five of eight overall.

Speaker: um Yeah, there were a couple of times where feel like it wasn't always the best shot season, but I mean, I can't fault Fabro for going seven of 13 from the field.

Speaker: um Even if it wasn't, know, there were...

Speaker: I mean, I think that was probably a problem... for a lot Sutherland players. Sometimes, yeah, taking the shot when they shouldn't, other times not taking the shot when they they should have.

Speaker: know there was one exact moment escaping now, but one where a player just should obviously have gone up. and i don't think it wasn't one off. couple of players just obviously should have gone up and just tried to dish it off.

Speaker: um But again, that's you get someone like Emerson McRae in the paint. There was numerous occasions where she got beaten for foot speed and was able to recover and just get a block in just because she's got the height.

Speaker: and She's not slow. We know she can know she's got a leap on her. She touched the rim at Blitz, and I'll keep talking about that as long as anyone wants to listen.

Speaker: Well, I mean, we did kind of get the scoop from Herbie a few weeks ago about these young up-and-coming female athletes who were getting ready at to dunk. I was going to say, the kids have got hops.

Speaker: The kids have got hops, and we're not talking about the ones you find in a can or a bottle.

Speaker: um But I think looking at the stats too, you did mention height and length advantage, which is a great pickup from Jake because that's something that's hard to pick up on a replay or maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention. But the rebound count was 34 to 49, respectively, Sharkies, Hawkeys.

Speaker: And just having, I want to see the total blocks as well, like you mentioned. ah It was one for the shaft. and Yeah, it wasn't so much the blocks, it was the...

Speaker: It was disrupted shots. The Sharks were aware that the Hawks were going to bring the blocks, but it was fourth thing you know a really wide-angle way up rather than just being able to go straight to the rack.

Speaker: Or occasionally it was just a foul, but really making them earn them at the line. yeah kind of This ball is not going in the hoop. If I have to chop you on the arm, so be it kind of thing.

Speaker: I did really like how much lane pressure the Hawkeys were giving in half-court defense. ah I think there was a period there where they got quite a few easy steals.

Speaker: Even though the Sharks won the steal count 11 to 9, I feel like, you know, Elident had four of those nine steals. That was purely from effort and lane pressure.

Speaker: yeah Obviously, she's got great vision and anticipation, and you can see that when she's playing offense, you know, when she's in the point guard role. But that lane pressure, like, that those steals are purely just from lane pressure and effort.

Speaker: And I think a lot of the steals as well, like Vanessa Panusis had three of Sutherland's 11 steals overall. um In a similar way was lane pressure, anticipation, experience.

Speaker: But I think on the other side, Hawkeye's, There were times where they just needed a mental break because they were just making so many mistakes and just kept turning the ball over, which brought up ah more more steals for the Sharks, whereas the steals that Illawarra were getting, I think, was just from great defense. And I really, really liked that about their game. I hope that that's something that they continue to focus on and take a lot of and almost shape their identity around because then that's going to make them a lot more competitive this season compared to last.

Speaker: And there were times where I could feel like feel it in my head, just my brain ticking over because the game was getting kind of... was like, i want to what I want a reason to stop calling the play, but there's nothing happening. They're turning it over and then they're turning it over at the other end. And then, you know, there's a couple of missed shots and then another turnover. And you look back and forth and you just realise you've just been basically calling a horse race for the last 60 seconds.

Speaker: Yeah. sixty six Oh, that's right. but it just The commentators need to call a timeout on behalf of the teams. Exactly. It did feel like that a bit. But um and another thing with Illawarra's defence, I mean, deflections isn't a stat, but the amount of times they were getting back on the break and ah even Kiara Bell getting back a few times, just knocking balls away and just, you know, forcing Sutherland to go at it in the half court when...

Speaker: Yeah, it looked for all certainty that they were going to get a long outlet and an easy fast break basket. They're not just bringing in the Harcourt on defense. They're making sure they're getting back as well at Illawarra. And, I mean, they're a team that only scored 56 points in each of the first three games.

Speaker: So, you know, you come in, even though they had Nisbet as a new ah player this week, i mean, if you know you've only scored 56 three games in a row, you know you've got to, you know, ratchet it up on defense because that scoring is not guaranteed to get better.

Speaker: no and unfortunately it hasn't gotten better in the last two seasons i'm going to be honest this has been the achilles heel of this illawarra women's hawks side is that they can like just score just put the ball in the hole and so many times even in this game they'd be able to get scraps from an offensive rebound a deflection or something and they'll have three two three four attempts under the basket and just pop pop pop pop Just put the ball in the hole, ladies, please. Yeah, there was one. There was a four.

Speaker: There was a yeah, three offensive rebounds in one position, and they were all close to the rack because I remember McRae put one up that bounced. That was the final one that bounced away. And I was just like, well, yeah, you got 17 offensive rebounds, but how many times did you get two or three offensive rebounds in one possession?

Speaker: And really, you've only come up court once. and had four opportunities to put the ball in the hoop. So, yeah, it's not 17 times you're getting one offensive rebound.

Speaker: It's probably nine or ten times you've actually got an O board, but you've got two or three in the and the one possession and still not being able to make anything out of it. And they only had eight second chance points for the game.

Speaker: Yeah. On 17 O boards. Yeah. Definitely one of the more frustrating parts of Illawarra's game in this particular instance was was that just being able to finish, being capitalising on those opportunities for more second-chance points because, yeah, both teams gave up way too many offensive rebounds. ah Illawarra, I think Illawarra here grabbed...

Speaker: 17 offensive rebounds, and I think Sutherland had pretty a similar number. They had 13 offensive rebounds. so And Panusa's had five of them. Yeah, just so way too many offensive rebounds for both teams. But, yeah, needing really needing to capitalise on those opportunities as easy buckets. I think that being one of the frustrating parts of Illawarra's game.

Speaker: And for Sutherland, like you did talk before about how much their half-court offense or even full-court, their offense was really disruptive. They couldn't really get into a bit of a flow.

Speaker: Then I got a bit of a sense that because of that they just started to panic a little bit in some time at some stages where they'd be like almost relieved that they got the ball over half-court And then they're kind of like, okay, well, we better do something with it now. And then one person will just kind of take it upon themselves to go all the way. Or there were times where it was very much a two-man game for all possession or one-on-one all possession.

Speaker: or but or then And then everyone was just waiting to see what that one person was doing. So there was no movement. It was a very... Very disjointed offensive game for the Sharks.

Speaker: Well, I think I mentioned it during the call. is There was one possession where Panusa's got a basket because she was literally the only person on the court moving. There was someone standing with at the top of the key with the ball, backing down a defender, and Panusa was the only other person on the court actually doing anything, and she ended up getting the basket.

Speaker: o um But I don't know if you noticed it, but there were times where Sutherland, even when Illawarra were providing a lot of pressure up court, were really slow and methodical in bringing it up.

Speaker: And I don't know if it, when I looked at back, Illawarra were pretty physical. And I just don't know if it was a matter of like allowing everyone time to get to their spots. And they were just really struggling with that, with how much physicality Illawarra were bringing.

Speaker: m There was just times where looked like players were just like having to fight any time they stepped in the paint, on ball, off ball, cutting through, yeah trying to seal. It didn't matter what they did. as if though If a Sullivan player was getting into the paint, they were getting bumped defensive screen. something An Illawarra player was doing something to disrupt them.

Speaker: Yeah, I agree. That's, that added to already what we spoke about before about the Sutherland's main guards having a tough time getting any kind of, of their favorite shots.

Speaker: But yeah, once it did kind of go into the paint, it didn't go into the paint that often either for the Sharks, but they ended up with 30 points, 30 of their 75 points inside the paint, which is okay.

Speaker: um Yeah, it was seldom would go in and there were times that I felt like I could have gone in more often, not necessarily to be a scoring option because I think in the second half there was a couple of times when Maddie Norris found herself with a mismatch right under the basket.

Speaker: um But just for another point of ball movement and to shift the defence, just to get it in, you know, the old inside-outside change sides saying. Well, yeah.

Speaker: That's exactly what um they pulled off in... Must have been late in the game. Might have been third quarter, maybe even early in the fourth, where Liv Douglas ah got the ball just off the block and immediately fired a pass back across to the opposite wing. And Panousas buried one of her two threes from it.

Speaker: And that was one of the few times where they were able to draw a defender away from Panousas. was when they got the ball in there. And I think Matty Norris had a similar pass out of the paint to ah someone not long after.

Speaker: but it it did work at times.

Speaker: Oh, I think lot of the times when Sutherland very clearly ran offence and they ran well, where people were in the right spots, there was plenty of movement and they let the ball do the work, they got a score out of it.

Speaker: The times where they... You couldn't tell what they were running and they relied too much of doing something off the dribble or one-on-one opportunities. yeah I mean, it's the one this one person and four others not on the same page. Then they made their lives a lot more difficult. But when they went back to that textbook team style basketball, they looked great. Yeah. um yeah They i just seemed a little bit disjointed or so Some players look like they're ready for one thing and other players look like they were running something else. So, um yeah, that was quite surprising for me from the Sharkies this game.

Speaker: And, i mean, i I think what best encompasses that um kind of disjoginess is the two times in the second quarter.

Speaker: um there was only one time in the second quarter. When Matty, where... No one came back to – guard wasn't back to receive the inbound pass.

Speaker: Matty Norris was first yeah reacting, came back, and then the passing to Fabro immediately got tipped away by Dent. Yes. And yeah ended up in a turnover. Fabro tried to save it, and it went out of bounds.

Speaker: Yeah. Yeah, and I thought that was even – because thought that was really odd for them. Yeah. I was like, that's that's not what I see from the Sharks very often.

Speaker: Especially yeah when you've got players like Faber and Panousas who are so switched on as your guards. Yeah, the calibre of playing experience as ah as a group and the calibre of talent and IQ they have as a group.

Speaker: It was a very surprising game. It just looked like it came down a lot of misunderstandings and miscommunications. And I'm hoping it's just one of those games where Sutherland can go through the tape and go, oh, yeah, wow, we can be a lot better than this.

Speaker: These are the things we really need to focus on. And it's not big changes they need to make. It's it's all very small changes that can have a big difference. So I'm hoping this is just a temporary blip yeah early in their season then they can reset themselves and start getting in sync a little bit more.

Speaker: And the thing with that is, like, if other times Norris does bring the ball up, but it's always ah handoff. Like, she's never going up and passing it in. She'll go up, get the handoff, you know, hand it off to a guard, and that's where the play will start.

Speaker: never Never throwing it to a – yeah, never throwing it in like that. Yeah, it was very odd, very odd. ah But, yeah. Hopefully just one of those temporary blips.

Speaker: I did notice though that, yeah, sometimes it was a little bit slower coming up the core. And I think there was a time in the second half where the Sharkies were at risk of getting an eight second violation.

Speaker: ah was Just made it in time. Hey, that's what I said on the call. Yeah. you I'm sure you did. That's probably where I've directly plagiarized that from.

Speaker: um But we need to spend more time talking about the Hawkeys, celebrating their first win of the season. um I didn't anticipate the really great matchup between Bell and Lacey Hawthorne.

Speaker: Really liked that matchup. um Kiara Bell... And Nisbet, like you said, are great additions to this squad because I think they do provide a lot more length and a lot more versatility now that they've got two players that can confidently play on the inside and hopefully a little bit more guaranteed scoring because that really has been their biggest issue the last two seasons, just relying on Elident so much to provide the heavy lifting on the scoring end. um

Speaker: But I really liked... The Hawkeyes seemed a lot more a lot more cohesive probably for longer periods of time in this game. Like we already mentioned, they won the rebound count.

Speaker: ah little bit A little bit inconsistent. Like sometimes when, and this could probably be be saying said for both teams in this game, when they were bad, they were really bad. yeah there was a patch where the Hawkeyes were like,

Speaker: I think I texted you and i was like, what's this player's background? And then they came good in the end. And then I take you to your back. Everyone for Illawarra came good in the end. everyone came good in the end and they certainly did uh but there were just these patches where i was like again do you need to call a time out just to reset everyone's brain and focus because there was a ah lot happening that perhaps either could have been avoided or maybe someone on the court needs to take that leadership and initiative and hold the ball up and be like everyone just wait take a breath and now off we go like something just needed to

Speaker: to stop all of that. Well, their starts to each half looked like they were late getting out of the locker room. I mean, they were down 9-2 to start. And then they were trailed again by six or eight after it was really close at halftime. They trailed by six or eight at the start of the third quarter.

Speaker: o And then just really brought it on home, hey? Didn't they just? Yeah. Yeah, 19-4 run to start that fourth quarter.

Speaker: ah Do you think it was a matter of the right pieces falling in the right place at the right time in that fourth quarter? Or do you think maybe luck was just on their side and everything was rolling in their favour?

Speaker: ah I got a lot of notes about the Southern defensive breakdowns. Oy, yeah. Also, the two short rebounds on the free throws that Illawarra were able to get offensive boards from.

Speaker: the The two free throws that fell basically off the rim. They didn't bounce away. They literally just fell. And so Illawarra got the rebound and the putback. They turned two missed free throws into a two-point basket.

Speaker: ah Oh, yeah. Sorry. While you're on that, free throws. Honestly, you know this is always going to be my biggest bugbear in any game.

Speaker: But seriously. i mean, we even said Even Pernusis didn't hit them all. Favreau was 3 of 7. Pernusis ended up 3 of 4. She missed the first.

Speaker: But Favreau, 3 of 7. Nisbet, 3 of 10. Bell, 2 of 4. bell to a four

Speaker: Like the Sutherland Sharks were 9 from 16, which was 56.25% overall as a team. Illawarra Hawks were 14 from 25, which was 56%.

Speaker: and Ladies, get in the gym. Yeah. um it was It was sub 50% at one point in the late third, early fourth for the Hawks as well.

Speaker: They ah hit late. Because Ella Jant finished with five free throws. She didn't shoot her first until that tech foul on Fabbro late in the fourth. o Yeah, wow.

Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. There was something weird in the air in the Shark Tank. People missing free throws they wouldn't normally miss. Missed communications. Bad reads on passes. Yeah.

Speaker: ah Illawarra making most of their three-pointers from the exact same spot. Like, this racking up to be one unorthodox game from both of these teams in those weird, weird ways.

Speaker: Really weird ways. um It was interesting, though, like you mentioned Sutherland's defensive lapses, just so much. Illawarra just had a lot more freedom in terms of their catches and opportunity scoring opportunities deep in the paint the whole game.

Speaker: ah think there was a little bit of miscommunication so on some pick and rolls and switching and things like that, which gave the Hawkeys some easier... shots down the stretch. ah But, yeah, even going back to the point you made where the Hawkeys made four points off two offensive rebounds from free throws, I mean, they're those putbacks we talked about in the first half. Imagine if they'd just put a put away a couple of more of them in the first half. They would have had a much healthier score line going into the fourth.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean, offensive rebounds when it's long off a free throw is one thing, but when you've literally got to go around an opposition player, You grab it and you get there.

Speaker: But yeah, I just, this, just like the the run that um

Speaker: Illawarra went on, ah just a few defensive miscommunications or bad decisions by the Sharks. I think there were three, two or three baskets in a row where both defenders jumped.

Speaker: to the ball handler, but not in time. ah boat They were just able to get an easy path away. There was one where... um and There was one where Nisbet set a screen top of the arc and um both defenders jumped to Ella Dent and she was just able to loop it straight into Nisbet. And she she went to the line for that.

Speaker: um Yeah, there was... ah Oh, there was a Sophie Johnston Porn of Three where Pillar Tidy just overcommitted on Dent and Dent just went back the other way. Forced Geordie Dewhurst to help and just went bang.

Speaker: Sophie Johnston had an acre of space and... Yeah. um And that straight up three from Dent. I actually really liked that play from um the Hawks.

Speaker: Nisbet just rolled to the basket right as the defenders were arriving and sort of just... It wasn't a moving screen. It was definitely roll, but the defenders sort of had to catch themselves and it just gave Dent an extra second to knock down the three.

Speaker: i I mean, it was good work from the Hawks, but the Sharks definitely had some things to ah to look at in the film with that. It was...

Speaker: I will admit I went back and were all of those three-pointers I went back and watched three or four times and broke it down, and usually I do not do it for that many plays in a row. Yeah, I found myself...

Speaker: Having to rewind a lot of this game as well because there was something would happen. I'm like, how did that happen? And go back and go back and go back and still trying to figure out how did this actually break down? It broke down so quickly and it wasn't as clearly as when we've reviewed other games with a breakdown. was like, oh, it's right there. There you see it.

Speaker: It just would happen very, very quickly and easily for both teams in this game. I also found myself having to rewind certain bits. ah But another thing I'll add is Jordi Dewhurst, understandably, probably getting ah less court time given that Panousis is back and Fabro is still back. he's back But when she came on, she really sparked some good energy, like especially on defense. She was bringing something a little bit different, trying to make you a little bit of a shift from the funk that the Sharkies were in at the time. I really, really liked that. And then I was kind of hoping that they'd just keep her out a bit longer to help maintain it.

Speaker: She always does. She brings such energy. She's just absolute um just –

Speaker: just, I don't know what the exact word I'm looking for is here, but just like, it's more than just energy and hustle. yeah It's real, like there's real, there's real grit about her as well. Yeah.

Speaker: She obviously has a lot of responsibility in youth league, which helps similarly to Emily Garland, you know, they've been the leaders of the youth league team for so long that it's really, it really gives them a lot of confidence in whatever game they play. And I mean, Jordy's been part of this team now for, don't have my notebook on me, but yeah,

Speaker: She's got – no, and it has – I wrote down the number of appearances she has in NBL1 by now. But, you know, she's been around this team since the start of NBL1. So she's voluntarily entrenched. She's a bona fide member of the team.

Speaker: And, yeah, I'd love to see her again get more playing time and really start things. Well, see, she's been playing in the NBL1 so long that I forgot that she's still eligible for Youth League.

Speaker: Well, you know what I Let's let's not you're gonna get me started on the age limit for Youth League again. oh Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. That that that can be in our special secret venting episode. um That is not a thing. I'm just being silly, by the way. I'm not planting any seeds here, guys. No.

Speaker: Yes, that that is something we will naturally refer back to because it always becomes a bit of ah a point when we're referencing players like Jordan Dewhurst.

Speaker: And actually, my last note of the game is the double team on Lauren Gatwood by Jordan Dewhurst and Emily Garland that forced the tie up late.

Speaker: When, for all intents and purposes, the game was probably gone. But just graphics to the last.

Speaker: Oh, and I thought you were going to make ah maybe a some kind of meaningful metaphor around the fact that someone like Lauren Gatwood was such a ah shot a shining light and had such a great career in her own right and then she's being defended by two future stars of the league or something. I went way too deep on that reference.

Speaker: No, no. i got I got my laen Lauren Gatwood legacy mentioned out at the start of the game when I talked about how myself and Liv Douglas were on the Sutherland 2015 Waratah League grand final team together.

Speaker: There you go. I did really like, I love how well Lauren Gatwood can still defend like She's still playing WNBL back in the day. Like she she did a really great job on the likes of Eliza Fabbro when Ella Dent was either guarding someone else or taking a rest.

Speaker: She's still got it. I love to see it. Lauren Gatwood's still young. Oh, yeah. She's also someone that's been around so long that you feel like they should be older than what they are.

Speaker: She's 12 days younger than me and I remind her of it every time she complains about it. You're like, hey, don't talk talk to me about age. I'm older than you. Pretty much.

Speaker: Love it. ah Yeah, any other final thoughts before we wrap up tonight's episode? um Like you said, hopefully it's just a temporary blip for the sharks and they can, ah you know, get slightly more... ah ah cohesive in the next game because I ah don't see like a team that's yeah got a lot of players that have played together.

Speaker: I mean, no Taya Webb anymore this season. Obviously no Lauren Nicholson at the moment, but you know a lot of players that have played together and know each other pretty well.

Speaker: Yeah, probably go through the tape, implement some things in training, head up to Sydney Uni on a Saturday and take on Inner West and hopefully put in something better.

Speaker: And they're obviously capable of it. Yeah, definitely. I think what kind of added to my surprise and a little bit of disappointment in this game is that I know the calibre of players they have, like I said before, in terms of experience, skill and talent and IQ. And that's why I was really surprised with how,

Speaker: like what I was seeing and and and ah their performance. But, yeah, it's it will. it's They don't have to move heaven and earth to make these changes. They all all are very small changes. It's just creases that needed ironing out.

Speaker: And then hopefully they can do it sooner rather than later and they'll be unstoppable. And certainly still not a team that any opposition is going to take lightly and all. Well, Norwich didn't take them lightly on...

Speaker: The second game of the weekend, that's for sure. wait Yes, that was yeah impressive. Very impressive. Yes. I mean, you know for both teams, you know it was ah it was a very tough second game of the weekend, taking on North, and then the Illawarra had to face up against Newcastle.

Speaker: m Yeah. and that's a But there that's not the teams you're fighting of for a spot in the eight. They'll probably beat everyone, most those two teams. The teams you're fighting to get into the eight, if a team fighting to get into the eight can pull off a win against Norse or Newcastle, a team like that, it is going to be absolute gold dust.

Speaker: We say that every year. There's always three or four teams where if you steal a win against them, you could almost bank it that you're going to have one over those teams you're fighting for and fighting within the mid-pack.

Speaker: Yeah. Yeah, definitely. All right. Well, we've just ticked over the two-hour mark. We sure do like to yap.

Speaker: That's what we're here for. We love a yap. um So thanks again for to everyone joining us for this week's episode of East Got Game, especially to those who have tuned in live on YouTube.

Speaker: Absolute, the the loyalty is strong. Remember that you can subscribe to our YouTube channel. We still do have that ah very optimistic hope and belief that we can get to 1,000 subscribers. I think we're up to about 17 though, so that's good.

Speaker: Very nice. And you haven't even pointed out. What have you got there in the background? You're right. I've totally brushed over it. That is my Tasman Haynes Bank Sound Bruins jersey.

Speaker: Yeah, you put up a really nice photo on our Instagram stories of the three jerseys that you got. They look really, really great. They are. Are you happy with how they turned out?

Speaker: Yeah, yeah. Yeah? Real happy. So when are you going to debut one of these new jerseys in the flesh? Have you decided what game you're going to wear it to next? A game where I'm not commentating or a Bankstown game I am commentating? I don't know.

Speaker: That's the problem. I can't ah got roll up to ah Comets Penrith on the weekend engine in a Bankstown jersey. Yeah, that's correct. That is true. You're either going to have to be like,

Speaker: Off duty or actually watching a Bankstown game, yeah. Yeah, i'm not sure. I don't know. I don't even know when I'm commentating a Bankstown game next.

Speaker: um Don't even know if I have an another Bankstown game this year. We'll see. ah you might have to, if you if you ever have a weekend off, you might actually have to go to a home game. A weekend off? What's that?

Speaker: I'm not sure a thing I've heard about. you say you you're about to You've got North starting. So you're about to be white chat as well. No, thankfully ah we do have North starting this Friday another, on another, another, another long weekend. This will be our third long weekend in a row.

Speaker: Thank you, Queensland. Um, we Because our Labor Day is in May, whereas New South Wales Labor Day is in October. ah And our your King's birthday weekend is June and ours is October. Anyway, um yes, NBL One North does start this Friday.

Speaker: ah i'm only due, I was due to do the game of the week on Friday the 9th, but instead I'll be at the Sunshine Coast watching the Opals and the Boomers Trans-Tasman Clash.

Speaker: ah So I'm only rostered to do a game of the week in June, which is fine by me. And the Brisbane Caps, I think, have the first four or five games away.

Speaker: well, yeah, okay. So you've got a bit of time to prepare. I've got time, yeah. I've got lots of time. But will I cram on the last minute? Yes, I will. Nice.

Speaker: ah Comets Bankstown, 31st of May. Ooh. thirty first to may o At Comets, though, if you're commentating for Comets, are you allowed to wear a Bankstown jersey?

Speaker: It's not a Bankstown jersey. It's an Andre Walford jersey. Yeah.

Speaker: That's true. That's true. I like um i like that spin. and ah Good luck with getting that through the front doors at Alexandria.

Speaker: Anyway, a reminder again, yes, subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on Instagram and Facebook at East Got Game, or you can find all of our episodes on your preferred streaming platforms.

Speaker: But for now, what should we tell the viewers before we go, Lockie? Don't sleep on the east.