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Season 2 Episode 15: EGG goes Live! Plus - Worldwide with Sydney Hunter
75 Plays4 months ago
EGG went live on Instagram this week to hypothesise if 'what ifs' ahead of the final round of the regular season. Lachy breakdown the current and potential standings which includes a possible 3 and 5 way ties in the women and men's competitions respectively!
Plus - an interview with Sydney Hunter from the Maitland Mustangs
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome to a special episode of eScott Game. This week, Locky and I recorded our episode on Instagram Live, and we cover the possible results and possible outcomes ahead of the final placings after round 14, which is just about to tip off.
Technical Tips and Special Guests
00:00:20
Speaker
Big shout out to James Mullen to Two Feet in the Paint for giving me a tip on how to convert an Instagram live reel into an MP3. So now we can deliver this episode on ah regular podcasting platforms. You'll also hear at the end of the episode some very special guests get to jump on and we'll also follow up with an athlete interview at the end. so enjoy
00:00:58
Speaker
thanks to Instagram live hello to those who have already jumped on apologies for the delayed start I was hoping to be able to do this on my computer but then it turns out we need some kind of streaming software and I don't have the cranial capacity to that so here we are um just using my phone ah traditional Instagram Live. But yeah thanks Yves for joining us
MBL One East 2024 Scenarios and Challenges
00:01:23
Speaker
today. ah The idea of the Instagram Live today is to have a chat about the final round of MBL One East 2024 and talk about some of the nitty-gritty that's going to be heading into finals time. We also got a little bit more news etc.
00:01:40
Speaker
to talk about and we'll also be able to have a chat to you about what happened to last week's episode aka the lost tape. I've just got to try and collaborate with my our regular co-host Lucky France.
00:02:01
Speaker
Give him another invitation.
00:02:08
Speaker
But in the meantime, make right there he is. What up? What up? I was just saying to everyone that's jumped on, I was hoping to do this from my computer, but apparently you need a streaming platform. And listen, I don't know what that is. So i just do I'm just doing it on my phone.
00:02:34
Speaker
Can you see who we lock it to?
00:02:41
Speaker
All right, while he's working that off, ah working that out, I'm just going to give you a quick run through of what we're going to be covering in our live Instagram live tonight. We've got some news at the very top that was breaking this afternoon regarding one of the women's teams.
00:03:00
Speaker
Oh, we've got Matt McQuay jumping on. we've got like He's going to take us through the tiebreak rules. We're going to talk about men's and women's team who are locked in and also those other new ones.
Game Reviews and Team Performances
00:03:21
Speaker
What are you two up to? Sorry, I'm coming to dinner. What are you doing? I went to Instagram Live for part of our episode this week just to do something a bit different and because I myself again is a little bit time poor between preparing for conferences and commentating for fever. So we thought let's do an Instagram Live. Very good.
00:03:47
Speaker
How are you? ah So it looks like you went to Newcastle to watch the Inner West Bulls play. Yeah, act but like my usual i idiocy jumping up and down. Yeah, it was that the girls team. Oh my God, what can you say? How can you score 28 points in 40 minutes? it's Wow, Newcastle was awesome. I mean, I love watching that. I mean, God, it's almost unfair. All the Juffamans and Nicole Munnar in the same team. They're just phenomenal. But yeah, but the men's game was great. You know what I mean? Newcastle without Cherry, because he hurt himself not before against Hornsby, rather. And we didn't play great, but managed to pull it out and get that...
00:04:32
Speaker
home playoff game. So it was huge. I enjoyed it, as you saw, with my stupidity. But anyway, come on. Good. Very, very good. Good seeing you guys. Likewise, thanks for joining us and giving us a quick game review of the Newcastle Falcons and In the West Bulls when you were away. Yeah, not a problem. um So we'll obviously continue to record throughout. Locky has done a lot of hard work preparing for this episode, so we're going to get into the nitty gritty and some breaking news as well that's happened in the league. So keep an eye out for the recording later in the next 24 hours, Matt. I will do. Love the show, guys, as always. Thank you. Cheers, mate. Hey, and Locky.
00:05:23
Speaker
We just had Robbie Rice from the assistant coach from the Albury-Wodonga Bandits women's team request to join.
News, Rules, and Team Analysis
00:05:30
Speaker
I'm just going to see if he's still available.
00:05:37
Speaker
Where is he? R-O-P-B-I-E.
00:05:52
Speaker
Oh, he's gone. um Oh well, that's all right.
00:05:58
Speaker
ah he's He's been invited. Hopefully he'll join when he's free. So Locky, like I said, you've done the hard work to prepare us for this episode. I was just going through it at the start and we've got some news off the top and what you can take us through the tiebreak rules that you went and found during the week. Then we're going to go through the men's and the women's ah team by team, essentially looking into the final round and trying to predict some final placings and match ups to look up look forward to. Then we'll finish with some very exciting news.
00:06:31
Speaker
for involving a lot of our former and current NBO1 East athletes. Yeah, so um news off the top. This happened as I was about to walk up to the takeaway shop of work. COE women ah had to pull out of the finals because they have ah more important duties to attend to at our internet international campaign awaits. yeah Yeah, that's right. The COE women haven't had the smoothest of seasons. They've been plagued with injury as well. And I'm not too sure if we were how much we made mention during one of our previous episodes, but that under 18 women's Asia Cup that was on a couple of weeks ago where we won gold.
00:07:22
Speaker
Wasn't actually supposed to be played at this time of the year. It was originally scheduled for September However, the host country decided to bring it forward which kind of put a big spanner in the works for the team So I'm sure that that certainly influenced some of their games um But yeah now they've got some more international duties. It looks like Yeah, ah so that means um They won't be in finals. Their wins and losses will stay by the looks of it, but they'll be relegated out of finals positions, which means, it means Illawarra move up to eight, but it also means that Canberra and Hills are no longer eliminated. Hmm. That's massive. Yeah. So probably ah for Illawarra, Hills and Canberra fans, I'm sure that they would be pretty ecstatic with that.
00:08:18
Speaker
Yeah, especially when you think about Canberra, I think by the time that game against Comets happened, they would have thought they would have been eliminated from finals. So that game, that win in overtime up against Shyla heel dropping 52 ends up mattering, which is crazy because yeah, when it was being played, it looked like it probably wasn't going to matter. Yeah, and you know, fair to the Canberra Nationals as well. They received a new import quite late in the season. It looks like a missing piece. And Lucky Everett has just commented, he'd love to see Canberra you make it to the finals. And I'm sure there'll be a lot of people um feeling the same way, Lucky. But yeah, they'll make a really good run at the end. So it would be great to see if they make it in. Yeah.
00:09:11
Speaker
Yeah, well, there they're in with a chance and I think as i'll yeah as we'll get to later, and I think they have pretty good tiebreakers with everyone as well, with Hills and Illawarra at least. So definitely in with a shot. And I said think just to round out that news about the COE women pulling out of finals. Now, let me just check you haven't added it to the news for the end, but essentially it was also afternoon. that ah three of the the main plays from the COE women being Opal but Bird, Bonnie Diaz and Manik Babongi as well as Saffron Shields have all been selected to attend ah NBA Global Academy Camp and Tournament. So those three big pieces as well. I wonder if that had any impact on the COE women pulling out as well.
00:10:07
Speaker
i I would say so. I think it was Sienna Harvey in there as well?
COE Women's Team Impact and Tiebreaker Rules
00:10:11
Speaker
Oh, and Sienna. And Sienna Harvey as well. Right. Yes. Four. Yeah, four. So yeah, probably probably fair enough. You know, back off the back of the Asia Cup, World Cup not far away for some of them. And now this as well. Yeah. I mean, yeah, just just how the cards fall sometimes, unfortunately. That's right. And throughout the first, ah both of our seasons of eScott game, we've talked about tie breaks on the ladder. So we had the three-way tie in the men's competition last year. Looks like we may potentially have some more um tied positions on both men's and the women's ladder after around 14. And you spoke to me earlier in the week about the tie break rule. So they take us through that.
00:11:02
Speaker
Yeah, so I found the rules of operation and if Locky ever is still on the call and I have this wrong, please john drop something in there. It's said in the rules of operation that the first tiebreak is the head-to-head split, so among the games played between the however many teams. and Well, first I should preface this by saying if at any point in the stage one team can be placed, then it goes back to the start. So you have three teams. If one team can be placed after one go around, then the other two teams are then they do the full the full set of tie breakers for those teams. So it starts with the head to head win loss, then the head to head points difference.
00:11:45
Speaker
And then the head-to-head points scored, which only matters for three or 14 tiebreakers. And then after that, it goes to four and against for the total season and then points scored for the entire season. And then if after all five of those, you just draw it out of a hat. Wow. Okay. Like literally draw it out of a hat. It's a draw, a random draw. I don't know if they draw it out of a hat or it's ping pong balls like a cup drawer in soccer, but yeah, apparently it's random draw, but I don't think we'll get there. We do have in the women's Central Coast and Comets beat each other by five points. So they are head-to-head win-loss, head-to-head points difference and head-to-head points scored are all identical. So if they end up in a tie, it goes to actual season points percentage.
00:12:39
Speaker
Wow. I mean, what's the chances of that happening? That has to be so small.
Men's League Standings and Scenarios
00:12:45
Speaker
So small. So yeah, let's keep an eye on that one in particular. I'm not sure. I'm a coaching staff are aware of that now. So that'd be key. Yeah. Yeah. 73, 78 Central Coast got up and then Comets got up 61, 56.
00:13:06
Speaker
i identical in the head to head. Yeah, and wow. Okay. ah ah All right. So let's get into the men's competition. The team's locked in or near enough, uh, the Canberra at Gunners on 17 and two. The Maitland Mustangs on 16 and 3, Manley, Waringa Seagal's on 14 and 4, COE on 14 and 6, Albury on 13 and 6, and Inner West on 12 and 7. But you've got some additional notes next to those win-loss records. Starting with Canberra, who are up the top with 17 and 2, they're due to play Hornsby. And what will happen if they lose that?
00:13:53
Speaker
If they lose that and Maitland win against Newcastle, then I'm pretty sure Maitland, if Maitland beat Canberra, then Maitland would have the split and get first spot. But those two teams are locked in 1 and 2. So they both get the second chance, they both get the home final, they both get the home semi-final, and then the grand final, which has just been announced is going to be at Penrith, is on neutral court anyway. so
00:14:23
Speaker
It's not a massive difference either way. Yeah, shout out to the Quest Apartments in Penrith for following our e-scot game Instagram page as well. Oh, how good. Yeah, so Lucky, you might have to hit them up if you want to go watch the NBL One East Finals out in Penrith. Oh, I'm glad it's a one day affair. Middle of the Olympics. Oh, yeah. It was the last few days of the Olympics, yeah. You're already going to be quite busy. But I'll be there. You'll be there. I didn't get to go last year, so I'm not missing it this year. Yeah, that's right. I think it'll be a great year at Penrose as well well. And, you know, I can go to Red Rooster on the way, so. Yeah, ah that's always a great incentive.
00:15:15
Speaker
li mean Leaving this side of the rooster line is hard work. Yeah, yeah i can and I was lucky I used to have one 200 metres down the road, at least in on the Central Coast.
00:15:30
Speaker
so but Maitland Mustangs currently in second, win-loss recorders 16 and 3. They play Newcastle, but as you mentioned, they have a split on Canberra, but Canberra play Hornsby. So what's the potential outcomes, win-loss against Newcastle? If they lose their second. um If they lose their second, if they win and Canberra lose their first, but I mean, most likely it's Maitland in second. Very good.
00:16:03
Speaker
And then man Manly are completely locked into third spot. They don't have the split on Maitland, they've got the split on teams below them. COE and Aubrey are the only teams that can match their record. Oh, I guess COE already are 14 and six, but if Manly lost twice, they would still have the split on COE. So regardless, Manly with 14 and four as it stands, regardless, they'll stay in at third. yeah See, I don't understand this maths. I'm so glad. I think that the most, the more interesting stuff's going to come after we go through. I mean, if we looked at the last couple of teams, Matt McQuay had already said inner west locked in in the top six, fifth or sixth, Aubrey Woodonga. I think there is a funky kind of way they can get a tiebreaker to get to fourth, but for Aubrey Woodonga.
00:16:55
Speaker
um If it's a three-way tie, I think if Manley lose both games and Aubrey win, then they can get a three-way tie that might get them to fourth. But, yeah, Manley would have to lose to both north and central coast. And then Aubrey would have to beat Comets. And Comets have a lot to play for as well. So a lot has to happen. That's why I said these teeth that's why i said these teams are locked in or near enough because it's it's often three or four results that have to move them And what about, like, COE playing all of their games, currently in force with a win-loss record of 14 and 6. However, similar to what we were speaking about earlier about the women's COE team, it looks like a big chunk of their existing squad from the men's side are also going to be overseas for periods of time. But the men have the Global Academy to draw from as well. They can have a couple of players from NBA Global Academy, so they're not
00:17:55
Speaker
you know, drawing players in for a couple of weeks from all over the country, like the women have had to, they can just dip into, you know, a couple of reserve stocks almost. So I think that, that probably helps them a bit. Yeah. So the likes of Dash Daniels, Nash Walker, um, I think a couple of other guys that were recently in that under 17 world cup King world up team. that just played over in Turkey and now going to the global academy games as well representing global. So yeah, it's a big chunk of them that's our going to be off on international duties as well. So Aubrey in fifth position with 13 and six, no split on EOE, on COE, but have the three potentials three away tie like you said. So who are they playing next round? They play comments. Oh, okay.
00:18:52
Speaker
OK, so that that is one game to really get into. ah Which I've got notes about for a little for a little bit later, but and as Matt McQuaid said, in a West locked in home final in the first round secured. So they are in the split with everyone they need to and can't get really any further ahead. Very good. So the two teams in hunt for the final two spots.
Key Matches and Playoff Predictions
00:19:22
Speaker
um
00:19:23
Speaker
but Four teams. Oh, teams in the hunt for the final two spots. So it's 14, two spots. Yep. You've got Sydney Comets at 11 and eight, North Spares at 10 and eight, Bankstown at 10 and nine and Hills at nine and nine. Take me through it. Okay. So there's probably, I think there's five games that matter. North V Manly, Illawarra V Hills, Hills V Norths, All River versus Comet, and Sutherland versus Bankstown. And Comets sitting 11 and eight, but they're on they've won six of their last nine, and the three losses have been two to Canberra and one to Maitland. So you can't really begrudge them those losses. And then they've been won the back of a Wiley Bales, they've been in ridiculous form. And they need
00:20:19
Speaker
four results to go against them, to miss finals. So they need Banktown to beat Sutherland, they need to lose to Aubrey, and then they need Norse to win both games. Norse would have to beat Manly and Hills. So the the worst thing for Comet is that could all happen, but they still as long as they go if they go down to Aubrey and win, then they're fine. Just win. Just win, baby. Just win. We've said it so many times on the podcast. All you got to do is win. It's just that easy. Yeah. So that all review comments game, that is, I mean, you've got Davo versus Bawali. Yeah. You've got Obi-Chai and Johnny Sinegottat versus Kevin Blalock and Sean Montague. You've got two teams that are pretty deep.
00:21:15
Speaker
um You've got but guys who can just go off scoring wise like Anti-Mundane pain or Christian Akuso who can just pop up with 20 or Locky Cummings for Aubrey Widonga.
00:21:31
Speaker
So much to play for. It already shaked off as a really fun game, but now it's going to be like, you know, it's just going to be next level, I reckon. This one's going to be fun. Yeah. and so Sorry, remind me, is this going to be a game that's played at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre or is it Alexandra? Yes, it will be at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre. So the bandits will have a very healthy crowd on their side to hopefully start trying to get them over the line. Yes, yes. Unfortunately, um it's one I'd really like to tune in for, but I have a suddenly illora game to compensate on that same evening.
00:22:14
Speaker
Judy calls. So that's Comet's last game of the season. So I've just got one. Just win that one and on you go. um
00:22:27
Speaker
Hills, nine and nine, and they were eight and four. They lost four of their last five and one of those was to Newcastle who are better on paper than they have played this season and that's why they annoy people like the way they do but still if you want to make finals and you're sitting eight and four it's not the kind of game you could be dropping and now we we're at the sport where Comets it takes four results for them to miss finals it takes kills four results for them to make finals now they need they need to win both games so they need to beat Manly and North
00:23:09
Speaker
then they also need Sutherland to beat Bankstown and Manly to beat North. So that Manly North game is on the Friday night. So they could know if they're in or out before they even, yeah, before they play. um
00:23:29
Speaker
But I mean, yeah, from where they were, losing four or five I'm sorry, what did I say? Not hills, not hills, manly. Hills, Illawarra. They need to be Illawarra and they need to be no bitit north. Not manly. What am I talking about? it's ah Hills, north, manly things getting in my head. a Spider-Man meme between teams. Yeah. Um, so yeah, but they still need, they've been here to beat Illawarra and Norse. Um, and so Manly played Norse and Hills play Illawarra on the Friday night. And then if all of those three games go their way, they still have to sweat on Sutherland and Bankstown in the absolute final game of the season. Cause that, that game literally tips off last of any game, Sutherland Bankstown.
00:24:19
Speaker
That's, I feel like that's been a theme though, honestly, for the last three seasons. Didn't that happen last year where we were down to like, if one match had gone the other way, it would have been a five way tie last year in the men. Yes. And then I feel like before it came down to a game between inner West Bulls and the central coast where the Sutherland were in or out. Yeah. Yeah. Why are you going to make a mistake this?
00:24:50
Speaker
ah so much like Too many teams that are too, you know, too close together. And I mean, speaking of Bankstown, if, I mean, if they win a game, most results fall their way. I think they're, If you split it like just how many combinations there are, seven of every eight combinations where Bankstown win a game, they make eight finals. So they'd be dead unlucky to miss if they lost. But they'll know by the time they even start warm up, they'll know what has to happen and their apartment on that Sunday afternoon. And um I mean, they can even get in if teams lose every
00:25:42
Speaker
if they lose their game but probably don't want to do that particularly after you know scoring that big win against Manly I mean Hayden blankly mentioned this is the game we want we want the Manly game and they got it reminds me of um the miracle on ice in 1980 Olympic because after the USA beat the Soviet Union in the miracle on ice they still had to go and beat Finland to win the gold and they were trailing at one point to Finland and the coach got up them and said if you lose this you will take it to your grave because you went out and beat the Soviet Union and then you're going to lose to Finland to lose the gold medal. That's what Bankstown are going to be like here you can't go out and beat third place manly and then go in and lose and miss your shot at finals. Well if you're going to use that as an example it sounds like the Bankstown Bruins need to go watch Mighty Ducks 2 to get themselves pumped up for the weekend
00:26:42
Speaker
They can do that. Maybe they can wear a change into a throwback uniform at halftime as well. Yes, exactly. Because I'm pretty ah pretty sure the Mighty Ducks USA team in that movie, their rivals was Finland, right? Anyway, I'm going to say it. I mean, you should be watching Mighty Ducks 2 for inspiration anyway. It's a great movie. Yeah, correct. Correct. You should be. Highly recommend. but um So Sutherland banks down, though. I am to watch Andre Walford again, or commentate Andre Walford again through his. I mean, he loved that Sutherland court. I will tell you that after his performance in the semi-final at Warrata League. Warrata League. Yep, I represented him last year. And Sutherland being out. Angus Berg said it to me before the North's game.
00:27:42
Speaker
He said that even if Sutherland are out, the Sutherland-Bagetown game is going to be great because guys like Adrian Cabrera and Waki Hutchison, they're just going to want to come out and stuff up Bagetown season. So the kind of guys would just be like, if we can't make finals, we're going to ruin it for you as well. Yeah. and Yeah. Gets to the point of that season for a couple of teams, doesn't it? We will be. and so
00:28:12
Speaker
ah But no, I mean, I'm psyched for that game. I think it's, I mean, it's another one who's just been ravaged with injuries all season. It's just been, it's been tough, but I think they're going to want to come out absolutely swinging. They've got Illawarra and Banktown on the final weekend. Two rivals. And they're just going to want to win both and, you know, have a good, have a good end to the sea, at least end on a positive. Yeah, that's right. But the North's Bears, 10-8, two wins on the trot, but if you hark your mind back to the opening night of the season, they lost to Bankstown, 71-70. And they didn't have a return fixture, so they didn't have a chance to get the head-to-head on Bankstown. So, is that going to haunt them?
00:29:10
Speaker
Are they going to... If they win both games, they're in. If they beat Hill and beat Manly, they're in. That's it. If they win one game, they almost just about need Sutherland to beat Banks out unless everything goes crazy. But they looked so good. They looked so good against Sutherland. They looked real good. That was that was a really ah good Sutherland performance and Sutherland did so well to bring it back so many times, and if Norths just prevent to, if they can prevent their opponents this week from getting on runs, like they let Sutherland do a couple of times. I mean, it was that close last time against Manly. It was Mason Bragg, free throw for three free throws at the end, and Hills, life members, car
00:30:08
Speaker
always a big game. Must be tough. Two rivalry games like that to end the season. Manly and Hills. So very interesting. But I think what what everyone wants to know is what results are required for us to have a four-way tie for seventh.
00:30:29
Speaker
So if North beat Manly, Illawarra beat Hills, Hills beat North, Albury beat Comets, and Bankstown beat Sutherland,
Team Dynamics and Player Changes
00:30:38
Speaker
we will have a four-way tie for seventh. That's worse than the three-way tie for fifth last season. Well, ah all but and those things can happen. These aren't like, you know, Aubrey women have to lose to, you know, Penrith or Inner West kind of thing. These are all
00:31:03
Speaker
teams ranked. They're all teams apart from Illawarra who have now got Locky Dent to go with Riley Abercrombie and Matt Fryerson. And then recently teams are all ranked from third to tenth at the moment. These results can all happen. And I think That's great. I just pitched a comment quickly from our Love of the Game podcast who I'm sure lots of people that follow us on Instagram or follow our podcast know of Love of the Game and the very high quality consistent content that they produce but they just wrote a comment here saying nbl1 script writers take a bow because how you cannot write this any better is this
00:31:47
Speaker
You know, succession season six, the NBA one is ridiculous. It's so good. I mean, it's, it's so good. I mean, why um, like I was going through the tab and I was like, Oh, when I started saying like, Oh, these five teams are in all these six teams are in. And then I looked at the next four and I was like, Oh my goodness. Uh, but yeah. And I mean, And the way the games are shaken out as well, like Hills v. North is on the Saturday after they both play on the Friday. So they've both got the game under their belt. They both know it's their last game. They know exactly what they both need. You know, and Hills will either be playing for this season or out to wreck things for North. So it's not like they're going to be coming in if they lose on Friday night going, oh, our season's over. No, they're going to be like Sutherland against Bankstia and just
00:32:45
Speaker
want to ruin North's season as well.
00:32:51
Speaker
So just to recap, we've got North versus Manly on Friday the 12th at 6pm aka the spit bridge stouch, a phrase that you coined They're all phrases that I coined. Correct. You've got to start. The manly definitely favourites, but strange things have happened in rivalry games, correct? Especially if this rivalry game is the last of the season and so much is re riding on it. yeah And then we've got Illawarra versus Hills on Friday the 12th as well at 7.30pm. And that's going to be in Illawarra, in the snake pit.
00:33:33
Speaker
Yes, the hawks in the snake pit. Yeah, so do you think Frierson, Danton, Abercrombie, the new big three, like you're right, are going to be the banana skin for hills? That's the big question. up And then it's... I think good enough. I think that they can each bring enough, I've seen them each bring enough, or three of them, they get a little bit of support around the traps, you know. They crowd up there in the bar at the snake pit and get a bit rowdy. Can we put a special request to our big sweaty boy, Phil, to push down there to try and get rally his trips for a big game on Friday? That would be great, thanks.
00:34:18
Speaker
And then and the first game on Saturday is going to be Hills versus North at 5 p.m. um Both teams played on Friday, as you mentioned. So they're going to be coming in with a few weary legs or perhaps a more focused mind because going Friday, Saturday night, that's got to be pretty tough way to end the season.
00:34:42
Speaker
And then we have Aubrey versus Comet, 7.30 on the Saturday night, the big one to watch. Lots of match ups, as you mentioned before, Davo versus Bawali, OB Che and Sinogorak versus Blalock and Montague. and like you wrote in your notes, both teams showing plenty of depth as well. It might be one of those games where both teams are understanding the scouts so well that the stars are gonna be on lockdown and it's gonna be those extra points from the bench, second chance points, points from fast breaks, those things that might make a big difference in this game. Well, um Matt Kowalcik said that, you know, Mitchell Dance was MVP of the team the other day. I just saw on, um well a few years ago,
00:35:28
Speaker
And he's come back in. He's playing off the bench and doing doing real well. Yeah. So, you know, you have a player like that who's just happy to come back in and play a role. Brilliant. And then captain of the weekend in the men's competition is Sutherland versus Bankstown at 3 30 p.m. at Sunday. Beware the nuisance value of Sutherland looking to ruin Bankstown season. Yes. yeah We did have Lachlan Hutchison watching, but I think he's logged off now. He's going to say, if you're still there, Lachie, would you like to jump on to confirm or deny this claim made by your faithful commentator? But I don't think he's there anymore, but that's okay.
00:36:16
Speaker
ah Just before we get into the women's competition, we put out a post on Instagram in the last 24 hours asking people what questions I would like us to cover in this episode. And just going back to love of the game, very good question, something that did actually stump me. The question being, what has been our highlight of the NBA 1A season?
00:36:43
Speaker
Stumped your screen. Yeah. Is that because you're up in Brisbane? Is that because you're up in Brisbane and you're not immersed in the Easter stuff anymore? Yeah, I think so. It's probably one of those things like when people ask you what your favourite TV show is, and even though you've got a running list in your head, you all of a sudden can't find the words. So I'm pretty sure I'm having one of those. But what's your favourite, what's your highlight of MBL1E's 2024?
00:37:15
Speaker
When I commentated on an LJ 50 piece the other day. yeah that was That was an easy one for me. That was yeah me that's that's definitely a highlight. Watching a player like LJ go out and just ball like that. that's That's just next level to watch. um
00:37:40
Speaker
Probably just... commentating in general just getting to be at Sutherland or Comets and just around good people hanging out saying people ah it's just fun although um I think apart from the LJ 50 piece watching watching comets breakout stars in the games where they've had for a while he's been out or Obie's been out um guys like Christian Akuso Anthony Mundine have stepped up um
00:38:12
Speaker
Even Johnny Sinegora, he's been around a while and everyone knows what he can do, but he'll step up. And then a couple of games ago, Comets Rock got big, but they subbed on Ed Finlayson,
Community Highlights and Achievements
00:38:27
Speaker
Tricky Nicky Jackson, and Nali Marley-Grace. these guys get limited minutes is an overstatement. And they dropped 15 points between them in the space of about three minutes. It was just so good to see them get yeah that opportunity and take it with both hands. It was so cool. I loved it. That was probably one of my favourite moments. it's And it's certainly going back to what you said about being around great people, just being in that um community environment. I think that's definitely the one thing that brings people back to community sport is that community. The sense of community, the relationships, the friendships that you make. um Yeah, I think that's the one thing that brings everyone back
00:39:15
Speaker
ah and But my highlight, and I'm sure I'm going to regret my answer later, I reckon I'll probably wake up in the middle of the night and think of a better answer. um But I have really genuinely enjoyed seeing how many of our junior athletes in NBA One East, usually if they're emerging talent in the league or they're just on the bench with their teams, but they've gone on to represent um at the fever level. I mean COE athletes aside we've had young representative representatives from Bankstown and the inner west and it looks like Sutherland as well as we'll mention in news at the end of the of the women when we go through the room women's rounds and results. It's been really really cool that so many athletes from MBO1 East which is typically regarded as ah
00:40:11
Speaker
on the bottom rung of the MBL1 league, but we have athletes that are playing international basketball. And I think that's really cool. That is, it is so cool to see. Yeah. I mean, I see it in in soccer as well. We see like players from in New South Wales state legal. Some have gone over and represented like European countries like Armenia, Macedonia, just getting call ups. ah getting Just getting to play international football or sport in general is just such an experience. Definitely. I'm sure, because I had no idea what it was like. Yeah.
00:40:54
Speaker
me And we did have a few more great questions that were submitted through Instagram, especially courtesy of James Mullen, who's one half of two feet in the paint, and we can get to them more towards the end. But now we're going to go into the women's competition and the team's locked in all near enough. Uh, Aubrey Wajonga with 19 and zero. Pretty confident they're going to stay in the number one spot. Uh, well, they can't lose the split to anyone. Nope.
00:41:31
Speaker
the Which also means they're locked in first. That means that North are definitely. Locked in second because they're 17-1 and you know, three games clear of Newcastle and
Rivalries and Standings Impact
00:41:45
Speaker
Manly. So, top two, Albury fans, north fans, get ready for your home qualifying final. And ah Newcastle as well, they're, like you said, they're in third. They're at 15-4 and they play in Mainland and a win will be, we'll see them locked into third.
00:42:03
Speaker
Yes, so because they've got the split on Manly after to that overtime win and that other narrow win. So, it was one winter to overtime and one was a one point game. So, yes. So, which means, and Manly, the top four teams have been known for a couple of weeks. It's just who finishes where. So, and Manly, if they can, ah
00:42:32
Speaker
That's 15 and fourth. They're 14 and four because they've got two games left So they play yeah, they play North and Central Coast if they win both and Newcastle lose then they'll finish third So ah we said before Newcastle we said rivalry games weird things happened. No What could happen in Newcastle, Maitland? So the top four is pretty much set and then Central Coast sitting at 11 and 7 um
00:43:04
Speaker
Guaranteed top six. I can still finish fifth, even if they lose both games as long as Sutherland also lose both games, but regardless, they're getting a home elimination final against someone. So top five is the top five themes are pretty much that they're all qualified for finals and so are Sutherland and Comets. Now go to see if today's news about the COE. o that and why a little more comfortable for Sutherland and Comets. It's Sutherland. They're 10 eight, so they've reached the finals. They've got some splits with some teams. They were fortunate to have one of the more fortunate teams have COE dropout because just the run of results meant they actually lost some three-way tie breaks, which was kind of weird. They could have finished fifth, sixth, eighth or ninth, but not seventh.
00:44:04
Speaker
just because of the tie breaks. So they would need to miss out even on a home final. They'd have to lose both games and then have Comet speed, Aubrey, Wodonga as well. So from Sutherland's point of view, they would definitely be hoping that they could be at least Bankstown who are sitting towards the bottom of the table. um if not also Illawarra even. My Sutherland have been quite the men's team. Ravage with injuries this season and play has been in and out as well. But you can only play with and against who is there on the date. And just is that an indication that you can't confirm whether Loz Nicholson will be playing? Would not have the foggiest. All right. and but i say that I say that quite the choice. I do not know. I mean.
00:44:59
Speaker
Right, we've got to ask the question. Another situation where if Coach Marge was watching, we'll try and invite him on to confirm on to watch this later and let us know. um So comments are pretty much in the in the opposite boat. Whatever results miss subtle and getting a home final means comments get it instead. That's basically just what it is. So those three games, I mean, it's It's really down to Illawarra, Canberra and Hills for the eighth spot.
00:45:32
Speaker
slide And I mean, yeah, four hours ago or five hours ago, it wasn't. It was everybody for three spots. Now it's three teams for one spot. Who's going? Who's going to take the last spot between those three teams?
00:45:57
Speaker
I, I think it might be Canberra.
00:46:04
Speaker
Yeah. Well, Illawarra, if Illawarra, if Illawarra wins both games they're in regardless, but if they only win one game against Hills or Sutherland, then they're relying on Hornsby to beat Canberra, I'm pretty sure. And I think Canberra will beat Hornsby Corringo.
00:46:29
Speaker
So that's why I'm feeling Canberra over Illawarra and then if Canberra win then hills are out because they can't get to nine wins which is what Canberra would be on. The only way hills can make it is if Illawarra and Canberra lose everything and hills win both of their games because then they do have the straightway split on Canberra and Illawarra. This quickly with Hornsby, um, you know, all someone we've talked about a lot this season, uh, and the under 17 sapphires have just gone to Mexico for the world cup. And she was named in that team, but she has decided to pull out. So she won't be competing at the world cup and she will be likely at home playing, uh, the rest of the NBA 1E season. So I would still pick camp over Hornsby Korean guy, but maybe not quite as comp.
00:47:26
Speaker
Although with Lizzie Tonks in a 39 point game scoring form, maybe I should be more confident. Yeah. but hopefully she's got Let's hope she's got another one in her. Yeah. Let's say from a Canberra point of view, yes, from an Illawarra Hills point of view, they probably would hope she goes none for 20. Yeah, that's right. But I think, yeah, that's why I think Canberra, I think Canberra, the games that have to be played, it just falls better for Canberra at this stage.
00:48:02
Speaker
And I mean, I mean, if the games fell this way, it would still mean Canberra finished ahead of Bill O'Rourke just before today, it wouldn't have been a final spot for either of them. Well, for, yeah, for Canberra, but it is what it is. ah So yeah. But, and of course, if you want to, as I mentioned, a three-way tie for A's would be Hills winning both their games and Hornsby defeating Canberra. So that's what we all really want. The three-way tie for A, and the four-way ties for 7th in the men's competition. And there can still technically be a three-way tie for 5th. If Hornsby, if Central Coast lose both games, Comets beat Aubrey and Sutherland lose one game. So win one, lose one.
00:48:54
Speaker
All right still plenty to unravel but by the time Friday night happens a lot will already be have shaken out just with Hills playing your war
00:49:09
Speaker
All right, well, game of the round 14. So, Illawarra played hills on the Friday night of the 12th at 5.30pm. Last chance saloon ah for hills and versus the Illawarra a chance to steal. A full strength hills is better than their record suggests, but is that good enough to beat Illawarra? and That's the thing. like Like, Hills, we know if they had their full strength team on the court every game, they'd probably have a win or two more if they had it in the right games. But if that's still enough to get over the line, you know, in the last game of the season, or the last weekend of the season.
00:49:53
Speaker
And then the next day we've got hills back at home versus north. So that's going to be a pretty tough game to go back to back when your season's on the line. That's going to be 3 p.m. at the Hornet's Nest. And the same day we've got Sutherland versus Illawarra. um and And who will actually line up for Sutherland? That is the big question. That is, big question. Maybe ah the Menai Mamba, Callum Norris, who's ah watching the video, can tell us how the Sutherland so one So we'll line up for looking. Yes, I'm not too sure. Hopefully Callum's still there, but he may have jumped off just before we gave him a shout out. um
00:50:33
Speaker
over ah The Aubrey Comets game is at 5.30 on Saturday, July 13. Shyla fresh of two 50-point games versus all defensive Michaela Pivot and look Michaela Pivot hashtag just so give her a WMBL contract already, but we'll get into that after. Please, what's hook what's going on? it's it's It's been like two weeks of free agency. It's just been so ideal. What's going on? Glacial pace, moving at a glacial pace. Oh yeah, that's up as well between Unique Thompson and Janine Camp in that same game and Ash Cannon and Alexandria Oliver.
00:51:10
Speaker
Very nice match-ups. And then Pivoc meets five assists in this game to average a triple double, which is outrageous. It is ridiculous. i shot She had 14 and she got taken off for like the last five minutes. I was like, just let her get a couple more just like so she doesn't have to like even have a slight chance of not getting it. Because I think five is actually her low mark for any one game this season. yeah wow that's that there you go um and then topping off the round is Sutherland versus Bankstown 1 30 pm on Sunday the 14th and again question marks over um question actually in the comments has there been a 20 and 0 season before i'm going to go ahead and say its the nbo one since since nbl1 east started at no no
00:52:05
Speaker
not in east no obviously those bended those bendigo team in south in the women yeah um the 2013 hornsby women in waratar league went 20 and 0 but lost the grand final bit illawarra and then came back in 2014 came back in 2014 and won the championship but didn't go undefeated in the regular season yeah so i would say that all If Albury go 20-0, that will be the first time in that's happened since we've been NBA One East. Yes. Yes. Yes. But that Bendigo Braves team you mentioned last year in the women's competition went all the way to win the national championship undefeated. That is um ah amazing. Amazing. What a time to be alive. like They were exceptional. They really were. Up there next to Moon and Pi. What a time to be alive.
00:53:04
Speaker
That showed up in my my Facebook memories today. I took a picture of a moon pie and posted it with the capture of a lot of times of your life. It was like 12 years ago. 12 years ago today. That's hilarious. All right. Let's get some news very quickly before we answer some Instagram questions and see if we can get someone to jump in. for a little bit of a collaboration just to wrap everything up to make it a little bit more fun. Shout out to our Ang Savage, who I think has just joined. I'm going to guess that's Kai's mum. And if it's Kai's mum, that is very cool. Very cool. um I saw that Kai's actually checked into Brisbane Bullets training this week, looking pretty good. I think the likes of Brock is a cast. And Brock Modem, Will McDowall-White were there. Yeah, looking like a pretty good pre-season squad.
00:53:56
Speaker
Rock Motum, has there been a more underrated player? Oh, ah right. Like, come on. um but So top of the news, the Opal Squad was officially, and Boomer Squad was officially announced, and in the Opals, we've got Lauren Jackson. ah over but I mean, does she need an introduction? Including in the Boomer Squad as well. And also, Christy Wallace, who very few people may not know, is originally from Coffs Harbour. Yeah, BNSW loves to remind us that I think she will shout her out, but I think we should probably let Queensland claim her lest we are get rained with comments.
00:54:39
Speaker
but yeah Happy to shout her out. We'll shout her out. We'll take what we can get. um And the Boomer Squad. Josh Green, who was a Hills slash Penrith Junior. Nick Kay from Tamworth. Patty Mills from Canberra. And Jack McVey, born in Cabarita Beach, but played for North Gold Coast. Is that true?
Basketball Journeys and Player Features
00:55:00
Speaker
It is. So Cabarita Beach is right up on the north, on the very North Coast, up near the Willambar. so Not surprising that he played his junior basketball in Queensland. He supported at the Southport School, which I imagine a lot of kids who had the opportunity to probably go up that way rather than further south. Yeah, wow. But also ah causing a little bit of controversy with some of the inclusions and exclusions. Yes, yes.
00:55:39
Speaker
I mean, yes, controversy is correct, yeah. I'm not sure I'm well versed enough in the machinations of the Boomer Squad to know what's the right pick or not, but I was definitely surprised to see the squad fell off all the way it did. Yeah. And do you want to take us, you've got some news here regarding the Roller Squad and the Gecko Squad. Do you want to take us through them, Locky? Yeah, so a few couple of ah New South Wales or New South Wales original players from ah in the roller squad for the Paralympics. So Bill Latham played a bit but up in Queensland, but he's originally from Coffs Harbour. um Luke Poffall is from the Southern Highlands and assistant coach and rollers legend, Brett Stivner is from Wollongong. So a bit of New South Wales representation in the Paralympics.
00:56:33
Speaker
And then the get-go is the women's deaf basketball national team. And Sally Fairman from Hills has been selected to that team. So that, she'll be playing in the Asia Pacific Deaf Basketball Championships there on September 21st to 29th down in Melbourne at the State Basketball Centre. And then if they get through that, they qualify for the Deaflympics next year, which will be in Tokyo. Wow. Very cool. Very, very cool. um And yes, this was the news that um I remember you mentioned this in an earlier episode of EGG about people a bit from Sutherland was in the Serbian squad for the under twenties. And now.
00:57:27
Speaker
What's happened so many months later?
00:57:31
Speaker
Uh, so tournaments kicked off. Uh, the group stage has just finished. Uh, she played a bit. She didn't play very much at all in the second game against Israel. Uh, but then again, it's hungry overnight. She went four of six from the field, two of two from deep. I mean, 10 points in 16 minutes, but, uh, they've got Owen three in the group stage. but like most FIBA youth tournaments, all 16 teams make the knockout round. So they'll play Italy in the round of 16. So hopefully, turn around in form coming for Serbia and we can see a bit more of Mani the Mammoth.
00:58:10
Speaker
Yeah, so really cool news that Manuela managed to make the final roster for Serbia for that new 20 euro basket tournament. um they have quite Based on some of my research when I was getting prepared for the U17 World Cup. It looks like this U17 and 19 or 20 euro basket, even at a club level, as well for some of the juniors, which is pretty good cool. So it just means they get to play a higher level of basketball a little bit more often. And just a side note about the round of 16. It's four pools of four teams. You play everyone in your pool,
00:58:51
Speaker
you're ranked one to four and then you cross over with the other pools because I've seen a lot of chat online about how the under 17 crocs finished 3-0 in their pool and they ended up coming 15th out of 16th place. It's because after they made, when they made the round of 16, they kept losing. And if you keep losing after the round of 16, that's when you find yourself in the bottom.
00:59:17
Speaker
so and seem much out there like
00:59:23
Speaker
Classify everyone you play and play and play until you're classified in the spot. They do it in handball as well a lot Yeah, so yeah if you can it's not like the soccer world cup where if you finish top of your group and get knocked out They just ranked you on your group results. No, no, no They're gonna they're gonna make you feel as bad as possible yeah, cuz I think sometimes the rankings I can't remember if the rankings influence future comps or not, but um Yeah, they they play to everyone's ranked yeah And then finally, as we mentioned briefly, the WMBL free agency has been open for two to three weeks and it is moving, but it's moving probably at a glacial pace or a lot slower than I would like because I love free agency period. ah And two signings in the WMBL for season 24-25 come from NBL1 East.
01:00:17
Speaker
They certainly do. So the first one, the first of the two to be announced was ah Newcastle's Alyssa Brett is joining Geelong United, the new team. <unk>s so So originally from South Australia, played at Bowling Green and then College of Michigan before coming to Newcastle for this season. She's got her first WMBL gig. And Ash Hannon is on the move from Perth to Bendigo, which It's actually not too far from Aubrey Wodonga, I guess, compared to Perth, everywhere close to Aubrey Wodonga. Yes, so I'm really, really happy to see both of them. You know, Alyssa Brett just finished, I think, at least four years at college. Her last season with Michigan and Ash Shannon, I mean, we had her in season one of eScott game and she talked about her WMBL dreams, which came true.
01:01:12
Speaker
with Perth and now I'm glad that they'll keep going that she's joined Vangigo. Yeah, I'm real happy to say. Yeah. Yeah. um All right. So that's the end of the news, essentially. But we did have some questions from Instagram and if you're up for it, Locky, I might invite someone and I can ask you both the questions. ah Yeah. Let's invite Love of the Game and see if they're willing to jump on. All right. They've always done a lot of great content and collaborated with us in a couple of posts. So I'll see if they're going to be with able to jump on. If not, it's okay as well. Um, but yeah, James has done a really great job with hello. so Hey guys. How are you guys? How are you? Not too bad. Not too bad. I'm enjoying the show, man. Just chilling here with my daughter, just watching you guys talk. So that's been good. Oh, thanks.
01:02:10
Speaker
for watching. We noticed that you've watched for most of the live. So while we're finishing up, if you're free and willing, and hopefully we don't keep your daughter up. James Mullen from Too Fit in the Pate has asked us a few questions through our Instagram posts. So I was going to throw them both to you and see what you have to say.
01:02:31
Speaker
sounds good yeah all right first First question was, but um who from NBL One East would you like to see signed to the WNBL or the NBL? And Lucky, I already know one of your answers. Everyone knows one of my answers. Oh, let Lucky you go first. Well, my one my obvious one is Michaela Pibby, because I mean, triple double threat every night, um probably at least at the level of other imports we've had in the WMBL over the years, even in recent years as the levels got better of imports. I think if, you know, teams have had six months to watch her or over the last two seasons, probably close to six months, I mean, you know what you're going to get. I think i need anything that takes a chance on her would be, you know,
01:03:32
Speaker
It'd be stupid not to. And what about NBL? NBL... Will Cranston-Lown. Someone give him a shot. Please. I and know so like ah know hes but he's wanted... I mean everyone in NBL wants to get a shot at the NBL, but the MVP of the league is... you can't really show out a lot more. You know, at least needs to be given a chance to, you know, at least show what he can do at the next level. Even if it's a DSP spot, just give him me a chance to get in there, get around some players, at least show if he's capable at the next level. It was interesting you mentioned William Cranston-Lown because I did talk to him and he said, I need a bit more highlights in my game and he had to, Ali, you've done so. He's definitely on the on the way there.
01:04:31
Speaker
Yeah, so I think Will Curranston's definitely someone on the top of the list. ah I would also wonder how someone like a Glenn Morrison or Will Mayfield would go in at least a train on squad just to see where they're at. um And then obviously, you know, CB, are we going to have to start a campaign to get our boys sick residency so he can count as a local player and he can get a spot in an MBL squad?
01:05:01
Speaker
but definitely ah sorry back yeah chris brown will be nice but You know who kind of caught my eye also? um Mason Bragg. um If he could get a role at Tasmania, Jack Jumper, he's a local there. That would be great for their region also, and especially Tasmania, um the way they're going in Beall. That could be great for you. Yeah, I think he said in our interview, well, Lockie had a chat with him for one of our episodes and he said he wouldn't say no to another opportunity in the NBL, so we'd love to see it. We might have to try that because it's the first.
01:05:37
Speaker
And for Doug and Biel, certainly Michaela Pivock for me, someone please sign her. um I wonder if I'm going to have to start posting and tweeting it every day until someone tells me to stop that it's a because it's a done deal. I'd definitely like to see her um hurry up and get signed somewhere.
01:05:56
Speaker
um Now James did send three really good questions, but for some reason I can't find them on uh instagram home page but the other one he did mention was as a fun question which venue has the best canteen which i think is tricky i think that's tricky that is tricky
01:06:20
Speaker
Now me personally, I have a guilty pleasure ah slash toxic trait of loving.
Venue Experiences and Challenges
01:06:28
Speaker
I always try the chicken nuggets and chips with chicken salt from a basketball's a new basketball stadium or location. That's kind of like my measure of a good stadium canteen. I will say up here in Brisbane, the Northside Wizards home court goes hard for the old chicken nuggets and chips. oh But for Easter venues, that's pretty tough, I think. I would actually probably tip Hills Hornets have a pretty decent canteen. Yeah, I rate Hills. I rate Hills. I like like a canteen that throws you something different. I like being able to go to North and get the ham and cheese toasty.
01:07:17
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. Yeah. There's only so many times you can eat chips at a basketball game. Oh, lies. Lies. Every basketball game. Chips at every game. the See, I'm just the one where I'll just get a power raid. I'll just get a drink from those canteen. I don't really purchase. I've got to ask you guys, but is there any venues where you hate trying to find parking? Oh, that's a great question. That's a great question. Comets. Comets? Comets, definitely comets.
01:07:48
Speaker
um ah Funnels weekend at Hills can be really tricky. You sometimes i have to park all the way down the road over by the tennis courts and then kind of snake yourself in. um But I think Comets isn't a touristly one with the most difficult parking. Yeah. What about you? Um, only beats about three or four of them. Um, but yeah, I found the Hills Hornets one and also North bears. Um, I got lucky. I got lucky with the North bears. I kind of just parked right there in front of the ground. Um, and kind of took my chances with the parking ticket and got away with so but love it. But of those four venues you visited, which of those four you reckon had the, like from, from what you saw had a good canteen.
01:08:38
Speaker
ah Um, I'd say Hills, um, Hills facilities were really nice. Um, they had kind of open gyms everywhere, but yeah, I'll definitely have to say Hills hornets. Um, definitely compared to the other the few clubs that I went to. Yeah, it's like, I also say what like any club that's got the Barbie going, especially on the Sunday days when there's junior reps on as well, the Barbies guys, and there's lots of people. So there's always like fresh sauce to just get made. Perfect. I've got to ask you, I've got a question for you, if you don't mind. What's been your favorite call of the season so far? Oh, my favorite call.
01:09:27
Speaker
Jeez. I had to get you a big background because I thought you said to Quinn before, um what do you mean? You don't know. so ah Really tough. ah Like Freddie and I on Johnny Cinnabay.
01:09:46
Speaker
um
01:09:49
Speaker
But, oh geez. There's so many moments that happen. Yeah, wow.
01:10:06
Speaker
stop Yeah, I'm stuck. I'm just, don it's funny because I don't want to go recency bias, but last week's men's game, the North Sutherland game, I thought I had some real good moments in there, uh, when Sutherland kept pulling it back. But, uh, Oh no, what am I talking about? The, um, Tony Tolivi's back Hudson off the backboard dunk. Oh yeah. That that whole last couple of minutes of inner West comets men.
01:10:37
Speaker
Um, because there was that, there was Kalen Bay is still, and there was Ramon cow's corner deep too. And just going bang, bang, bang, bang, Freddie and I on the call on that. That was so much fun. I love that bit. There's that passage of play. Yeah, that was, that was a huge game. We reviewed that for an episode. That was massive. Yeah, I think, ah yeah, that was probably my favorite, favorite little passage to call of the season. Well, I didn't realize, I watched a lot of the highlights of the games and the commentary makes a massive, massive difference to, I guess, the feel of the game. So, I just wanted to tap my heart off the air because I did try the commentary once and it is nerve-wracking, so, nah, I respect.
01:11:18
Speaker
ah j It is very nerve-wracking and I don't think people realise how hard it actually is and um how much you have to multitask sometimes too because obviously you've got the play-by-play, you've got to know obviously all the names and whatever else and have this kind of running dialogue which is you know commentary but then if you're doing the colour commentary like how deep do you want to go or how deep do you need to go and having that finesse of being able to um use quality over quantity. So it's not just throw on a bunch of stats unless the stats have purpose and context to what you're seeing. So yeah, I think people um think people don't realise how hard it actually is. And commentators can get pretty roasted on online by a couple of people who haven't tried it themselves. So where did you culture have a ton of commentary?
01:12:11
Speaker
Manly Seagal was up against Aubrey with Dunga Bandits not that long ago. Oh yeah, I saw there was a post. Someone posted that yeah you were doing it. Yeah. And it was good fun. I appreciate that. Manly Crew um giving me that chance too. It was really good. And Mason Bragg is the one that teed it up too. So you've got to show us some love to him. Oh no, he's a good guy. We've also got a Hello Friends from CB who we just mentioned before. what up sam so Hello CB. I'm just checking who else is online. and I think if you want to Mason and CB are still watching. You should definitely get CB on and he can replace me if you have three spots. Yeah, i'm gonna get I've requested the CB and Mason to see if they want to jump on.
01:13:05
Speaker
um ah note He's always up for a chat.
01:13:13
Speaker
um Mason declined, that's okay.
01:13:18
Speaker
We probably caught him maybe at a bad time, but that's all right. But CB, here he is, the man. the myth, the legend. What's up, guys? Hey, you swiped up for your weekend, about a big weekend ahead. Yeah, big weekend. care ah Got Illawarra on Friday, really big win, really big game coming up. oh down there, try to get things back on track. I think we got a real opportunity to you know get back on the right side of things and um no go still a big win down there in Illinois that's been playing massively, you know brought the import.
01:14:00
Speaker
worse They've been having a lot of close games with a lot of people. And um and then but the next game, Norse, rematch with Norse. We didn't play well against Norse. Second game of the season. But I think it's a team that we can ah definitely run on and get up and down and um and know make them turn the ball over. And then ah and hopefully give ourselves a chance give ourselves the chance to and fight to get in the playoffs. Very good. Nice, yeah. yeah two Two wins in your end? Two wins and and we would need ah Sutherland to be Bankstown again. yeah So I might hit up some friends. We will try to do you a favor.
01:14:44
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, please. the You know, let's make it interesting. yeah like Sorry, guys. I'm going to leave you guys to do for your show. You've got CB on. But before you do, CB, um I know we've talked about our daughters a lot of time. um She's actually here. She just wants to say hi. Oh, man. Yeah, good. About our daughters a lot, so I just wanted to... but yeah Oh, yeah. but You guys know. Keep back and enjoy the show. ah yeah Don't wake up. <unk> na na lee white
01:15:17
Speaker
ah What's with you guys? I haven't seen you guys in a while. I know. It's been a long time. It's been a long time. at some point isn but We being able to catch up with you. Well, I don't even live in the state anymore. So yeah. Right. You just up and left the East like this. Yeah. And here comes Mason. Mason jumped on. Oh, there you go, Mason. Mr. Brad. What's going on, guys? I'm just in a supermarket, so he got me a good time. Oh, man. Mr. President.
01:15:52
Speaker
if Glad we could have you on while you're getting some food, lad. Oh, yeah. get some washing detergent. I've got to wash all my clothes from the weekend still so I can't get some washing detergent. us this host no
01:16:10
Speaker
but
01:16:13
Speaker
It's a CB show now. Mason are you getting more big and prep for the week big weekend ahead as well aside from buying washing liquids? Yeah, well, to be honest, I think our weekend's probably bigger for some other teams than it is actually us. I think a lot of teams are probably watching the results of our game on Friday with North Bears um by the sounds of it. I think Bank's down and I'm not sure about heels, Chris. I'm not sure um what situation you guys guys are in, but I know there's a couple of teams that are waiting to see the result of our game on Friday. Yeah. Go, go manly for sure. I can, um I can, I can send you guys my bank details as well too. Um, Chris, if if you want to, uh, send me some money to, to play a bit harder. on so Yeah. Yeah. You'll get more than watch the toes. Yeah. Nice. Good. Uh, well, yeah, look, he's got the manly jersey ready to go in the back. there Yeah. Mm-hmm.
01:17:12
Speaker
It's not a manly jersey, it's an Alex Delaney jersey. I've said that.
01:17:20
Speaker
No, it should be. ah It's a big weekend for all of us, to be honest. um A lot of people is in a tight race, so definitely looking at manly, definitely looking at something. And I think a lot of people will be looking at us to see what we what we end up doing. So it was just a really, really big weekend, but it's a fun weekend too to get that opportunity to, you know, watch to see how things kind of unfold out.
01:17:45
Speaker
Yeah, and how's the team feeling for you, Mason, going into this final regular season round? Yeah, well but um we're just pretty stoked that we were able to put our solution where it kind of fates in our own hands here. So we kind of locked in third spot, which um everyone's super pumped about. I think my last three or four years, we've kind of been coming into finals and waiting on other results. So it's kind of nice knowing that we've locked in that third spot and kind of starting to put one eye one eye towards Maitland. which I think we'll play Maitland. I'm not sure if we'll play Maitland or Canberra, but I'm pretty sure we'll play Maitland, I think. Well, you know, Canberra would have to lose to Hornsby for that to even be a chance, a possibility, so. Okay. Okay, that's true. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, I think you can focus on Maitland. No disrespect to the Hornsby, Corringo Spiders, but it is a pertsby last matchup.
01:18:41
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, definitely. no we're um we We're pretty stoked with the season and we're pretty happy that we finished off 10 and 0 at home as well too. So having our undefeated home records, pretty nice knowing that we're going to get a home final at some point as well too. So we're pretty stoked. Lucky Everett's just asked in the chat as well, Mason, would you prefer to play Maitland or Canberra? We've actually been talking about this for the last couple of weeks. Obviously the right answer is to say it doesn't matter who we play. ah We should be pretty kind kind confident to play either. But um I mean, we both we lost to both of them. So to be honest, I'm pretty keen to play either of them again. I think um
01:19:21
Speaker
I'd like to play Canberra again, just because we played them so early on in the season. And we hadn't really hit our stride as a team yet. And we probably didn't really have our um identity as our team offensively and defensively. So I think being able to play Canberra with a few more games under our belt would be awesome. But um I mean, both of them are going to be super tough. I know when we played Mayland and Canberra, it was pretty pretty tough for me offensively to get get any sort of rhythms. So they're both going to be tough games. I'm looking forward to playing either of them. and i You've got to go through both of them probably to win the championship anyway. Of course, of course, of course. Yeah, Rich just start did a follow up comment. It's like asking if you prefer to get punched or kicked.
01:20:05
Speaker
i Exactly, 100%. I was um saying to someone the other day, it's kind of, I know Will Cranston, probably the main guy for Maitland, but I've got a bunch of other role players who are ah really, really solid as well too, and Canberra's kind of more by committee with Mayfield and Morrison and Tui. So, you know, it's picking your poison, I guess, really, there's no really right way to go about it.
01:20:29
Speaker
Yeah, totally a agree. Totally a agree. So yeah, we're very excited for this final round and we thought some prayers and we see both that multiple in your favour. Yeah, for sure. I did have one other question to follow up with before we left, but now I can't quite remember, but one of the questions that James Mullins from Two Feet in the Paint said in was a fun question. He asked us who we think, where we think has the best canteen in NBL1E. What do you guys reckon? CB, I'm going to go to you first. The best canteen? Yeah. No, I'm going to keep it at home. I like our canteen.
01:21:13
Speaker
A lot of fish nuggets, a lot of chicken nuggets, a lot of free tips. So I really kept on playing. Yep, he's had my vote for the chicken nuggets and chickpeas as well, CB. Mason, what do you reckon? I actually um i coached at Heels a few months ago and I got to test out the canteen. So um I'd probably have to go with Heels as well too. The total sandwich is pretty el late. so yeah he was definitely
01:21:45
Speaker
they toasty the yeah We like Brad. We like Brad. And actually, before you both jumped on, we were discussing to start two petitions in the next couple of months ahead of next year's season, one being to get Mason Brad back into the NBL and the other to naturalize CB to get him eligible as a local for the NBL. Now we've got you both on air. Can we get your consent for both of these petitions?
01:22:18
Speaker
ah Yes, I would for sure love it. Make me a local. Tell me how. but
01:22:28
Speaker
Whatever you do, just don't do what Bryce Cotton did because he still hasn't been naturalized. would Yeah. the poor guy how what do we do All right guys thank you so much for jumping on last minute it's been really really fun to chat with you both again and yeah like we said best of luck for the final round let the odds be forever in your favour and we look forward to seeing how it turns out. che thank you thank you good luck seeing from final i hopefully well see you in there Yes, mate. Hopefully the cards deal in our favor. Good luck to ah to you as well. yeah Appreciate you guys for having us on. Cheers. Thanks mate. See you guys. Bye. Well that was fun. Yeah. What a lovely way to end the episode. Did James have one other question?
01:23:24
Speaker
He did, but I can't find it and it was a really good question. I think he was ah asking which would be the next club to join MBL1E. Yes, that's a great question. Did a 6'8 super athlete just make a Hunger Games reference? Yes, off the back of my Hunger Games reference he did. um Yeah, that's a great question. Really great question. um
01:23:52
Speaker
That's a bit tricky to answer. I mean, I guess having assumed under the assumption that the club will have the financial backing, the personnel, the roster ready to go. That's a really good question. Did anyone come to mind when you saw that one? My first thought was I feel like we're tapped out Metro.
League Expansion and Future Prospects
01:24:15
Speaker
I don't feel like there's room for another Metro club to join NBL1. There's not really any clubs big enough in areas that aren't currently served and I wouldn't want to throw a club into an area that's currently served because we're already seeing the talent pool is getting stretched a bit thin. When he they when is to the hideout?
01:24:52
Speaker
Well, I think for season two, it's going to be a little bit of a stretch. So maybe we might have to include something for season three of EGG at the hideout. If that's an official invitation, Sammy Mac, we'll take it. Yeah. Um, so I was thinking, like thinking regional teams and. Like when I think of regional teams like Coss Harbor always have a great women's team in quata But they haven't had, a men they've had youth league men but never had a, or as far as I can remember, haven't had a men's warata men's senior team. They give a place with the population like Wagga Wagga, haven't had a women's team in ages and their men's team is currently bottom of the table in warata men. Tamworth usually ends up both but the men are really good this year but I think the men are undefeated at the moment and the women are down the bottom of the table.
01:25:51
Speaker
table.
01:25:55
Speaker
So it's tough to come up with one. You think like maybe in the future an association like Port Macquarie they seem to be building but they've got a long way to build because they only just started having Waratah teams and they look to really be doing it right and it's definitely a place of population growth but that's a long way to go. Maybe, I know so I just said maybe not Metro, but if somewhere like St. George ever got their own dedicated facility and could actually all the teams they need to build the pathway in a central facility and have Youth League Man and Youth League Women and build it up through one corridor, maybe there's potential there. But I mean, yeah, St. George needs its own facility, really.
01:26:46
Speaker
yeah The talent is being stretched out because Aubrey signed everyone. like floy I Phil's hornets have just jumped on as well just after we were singing their praises for their excellent nuggets and shippies that they provided the canteen so ah keep it up Phil's hornets. I see what you're saying with um saturation of metro teams, but I think a club that I would really like to see elevate to the next level one way or another is the Blacktown Storm. I know that they've had youth league teams in and out in the past, but if they're able to build their club to a point that they can support an MBL1 men's and women's team and then start building that up and filtering their juniors and giving them a pathway,
01:27:35
Speaker
I think that would be really, really cool because, you know, the population of Western Sydney is so big. Basketball is accessed in a lot of different ways compared to the east and the west of the city. I mean, we've talked to so many athletes on here that are from Western Sydney. Yeah, ah the big Western Sydney club. at be that but
01:28:02
Speaker
And I mean, when you do think about it, when I say the talents being stretched, I mean, there's such a heavy saturation of clubs on the north shore and the northern beaches and even what would be considered the northwest for hills that, yeah, I think Blacktown's a really good shout.
01:28:22
Speaker
We'd love that for them. Uh, you know, yeah, just growing population basketball is really popular. Um, you know, played not always as organized basketball, like, um, you know, rep programs and youth league and NBA one clubs, but, um, perhaps cause there wasn't pathways before, but yeah, put one in and see what happens. That's right. Yeah. Cause I think they've now got. They've got Kevin Betts, obviously, at Mount Drew, but I think they've also got Stanhope Gardens, Leisure Central, Stanhope Gardens, Indoor Sports Centre, whatever its official name is. So, yeah whilst, yeah, Kevin Betts is a small venue, they do have ah another one to work out of as well.
01:29:10
Speaker
All right, well, let's call it a night. We've been up for 90 minutes now, which is a lot longer than I anticipated, but I feel it feel like it rolled pretty well.
Episode Wrap-Up and Athlete Interview
01:29:18
Speaker
I think the only thing I'll mention for the end of the episode is that we will still have an athlete interview ah to be made available in the next coming days on your regular streaming channels. And I'm hoping to find a way that I can convert this instagram live post into an mp3 so i can put that on our streaming channels as well so locky if you've got any pro tips let me know because i'd love to make that happen pro tips me instagram live what are you talking about the technology of of converting one to the other there has to be a way yeah all right but otherwise let's wrap it up there and uh we'll pick it up again next week for what's
01:30:01
Speaker
going to be ah like one way or another is going to be a massive episode. Certainly will. Final themes will be known and but before then we've got a hell of a lot of great games to watch. Yes we do yes we do so keep an eye out on the draw and best of luck to everyone and we'll see you on the other side of it. Our special guest this week has basketball running through the family so much so that it inspired her to be a college athlete and a professional basketball player.
01:30:32
Speaker
They are a graduate of the University of San Diego and have since seen their career take them to the UK and back to back seasons with the Maitland Mustangs. This week's guest is none other than Sydney Hunter. Hello, Sydney. Hello. Thanks for having me. No, thank you for being a guest. It was a long time coming and it's probably someone we should have had on our show earlier. um But it was your biggest fan, Isla, who actually requested to have you on the show. ah She came up to me and told me that and it just made me laugh because I'm not surprised at all that she would be the one to do it.
01:31:11
Speaker
We thought it was very cute, hey Lockie? Yeah, as soon as we saw the message, we were like, oh my goodness. And she told us, ah please interview Sydney Hunter. She's my idol. So how could we say no? Oh my goodness. She is cute. Yeah. um So yeah, thank you so much for being a guest on East Got Game, especially because now it's your second consecutive season in NBL One East, as we just mentioned. um And you're certainly putting NBL One East on the mat being a consistently great performer in the league. But as we like to do with our athlete interviews, we'd like to start by winding it all the way back
01:31:51
Speaker
and asking one of our favourite questions. How did your basketball journey begin?
Sydney Hunter's Basketball Journey
01:31:57
Speaker
Yes, um I definitely started playing basketball at a really young age. My sister, who's five years older than me, she always played basketball. So I kind of always had her as a role model. And so it was just really nice. like I got to she was going to practices and I would just kind of follow her around. So I think it was kind of just like engraved in me, like basketball. um But she obviously played basketball in college. So I wanted to play basketball in college.
01:32:24
Speaker
Um, she played pro, so I wanted to play pro. So I think it definitely just started with having like a good role model as a sister for sure. Look, did you want to ask about, but use the segue to ask about. Yeah. So you you mentioned your sister played in, in college and pro. So, um, so where, where, where did your sister play that was so, you know, do you want to want to play in college? My sister played at Oregon state. So I mean, that that's a bit like we had Michaela Pippin gone last week. So we all a couple of weeks ago. So we all know that that's a pretty high level school. So when you watch a ah sibling do something like that, just that just gives you more more drive.
01:33:03
Speaker
Oh yes, 100%. Like we're both very competitive and it was always trying to like up each other and everything we do. So if she was going to college, I was definitely going to go to college as well for basketball. Did she get to travel the world as well with her basketball? Yes, she did. So she actually played professionally in Puerto Rico and then also Finland. ah We were just saying off air before we started that I discovered your sister is also now a college coach. um found that out through Instagram. Is she coaching with Oregon State or is she with another school? Yeah, so she's actually coaching at Oregon State. I think this is might be her third or fourth year. So she's always wanted to be in coaching. So it's really cool to see that she's accomplished that as well. So she would have circled Maddie Washington as well, right?
01:33:51
Speaker
Yeah. So Maddie Washington came in right when my sister graduated and Maddie Washington actually was also my grad assistant at USD too. So it's like very, like lots of circling going on with our relationships, which is funny. Wow. Small but large basketball world. Yeah. Um, and what age were you when you started to play and, um, like, did you play, do the regular call it, uh, kind of. ah pathway over there through playing Varsity and all that kind of stuff.
01:34:24
Speaker
Yeah, so I started basketball probably maybe like first grade year one, um but I also grew up playing like a lot of different sports. Like I didn't just play basketball. um I grew up playing softball, volleyball, and then I did track and field as well. So growing up, my parents also always just kind of told me to just to play other sports because it definitely, and I would say definitely helped me um in basketball, just being a little more versatile and um different things. So basketball wasn't just my main sport until I decided um to just go to college for basketball. Keep a pretty low key with, oh, I played other sports because was a second team Allstate selection in volleyball and made state as a freshman in track. So were there any real decisions to make as to which sport? Did you have the chance to be a two-sport athlete if you wanted to?
01:35:18
Speaker
Um, I definitely considered doing volleyball. Like that was something I thought about till the end. Um, but I just knew it would be really, really hard to do. I definitely missed volleyball at times. Like there's times where I'll still play beach volleyball and all that, but I think it, it was smart to just do basketball, but it definitely was on my mind, um, to do volleyball as well. And what events did you run in track? um I did the 400 high jump and then the four by four and four by one. um My first ever track meet actually, I tripped over my foot to do high high jump and I tripped and ran right into the bar and it was so embarrassing. And that was my first ever high school track meet. So it definitely got better, but that's how it started for me. Well, literally and metaphorically though, anyways up from that point, right? yeah Exactly, exactly.
01:36:14
Speaker
While you were in college, you had a ah fairly decorated career. really You really grew as ah as a player throughout and ended up all WCC first team with San Diego, as well as picking up some academic
Skills, Defense, and College Experience
01:36:27
Speaker
honors. But you played alongside Steph Gorman, but you also played against a lot of Aussies. Was there something about the Aussie style of basketball that made you think Australia is somewhere you might want to come one day? Yeah, definitely. I've always loved like all the Aussies we've got or we've had in our team or played against. like I've always loved their style. um It's definitely different, I would say, than Americans. like you guys i mean The shooting, I would say, is amazing. I think you guys can always like shoot the ball really well. um So I always admired that. But my grad assistant, my freshman year, Amy, she actually played WMBL and MBL.
01:37:10
Speaker
And so I remember freshman year, she would always talk about like her experiences in Australia and me and a couple of the other freshmen were like, Oh my gosh, we'd love to play, um, in Australia one day. So that was, I mean, I heard about that my freshman year of college. So I always admired that. So I am Amy who, who was, who was Amy came. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yes. And other than, um, Aussie's being. really great shooters. Your words, not ours. um um What were some of the other differences or attributes you noticed in Aussie players while you were playing that you felt like were something to admire?
01:37:53
Speaker
um I would just say kind of just like all around like I think I noticed like well Steph Gorman um just talking about her like she was really good at defense as well and so she was kind of just like a complete player so that's definitely something that um I just remember when she first came in we first saw her I was like okay she's really good shooter really good at defense and so I would just say and definitely being here I think a lot of the Aussies are very um versatile where you know they're good on defense good shooters And so, yeah. Does that mean like, um so when you were growing up playing, you know, playing at school and varsity and things like that, were you kind of molded from a young age to be a particular type of player or position or, or kind of um just to stick to particular skills? Yeah, um, yeah, I definitely would say I grew up probably
01:38:48
Speaker
very engraved defense. like I think every team I've been on has been very defensive minded. Even the college I went to, we were solely defensive minded team. um I think one year we were ranked like number one for defensive stops, and so that was just something that I always appreciated even going in high school and stuff. I was like, offensive was kind of like my second nature. And then I remember like my junior and senior year of college, my coaches like, okay, you have to become a scorer too. So that was like kind of foreign to me a bit because I obviously loved being on the defensive end, but the offensive end kind of came a little bit like second to me.
01:39:28
Speaker
Like you said, being more defensive minded naturally, is that why you're a monster on the boards? I would definitely say that. Going back to my sister, she was always a great rebounder in college, like that was her main thing. And so I think watching her do that, and you don't really see, like again, rebounding kind of go second or third when, you know, everyone wants to be a good scorer, but not everyone makes an emphasis on rebounding. And so that was just always something in my household that was like, it's not the hardest thing to do. You just have to put in a lot of effort to do it. And so watching my sister do that, I think I just kind of grew up on kind of putting rebounding first, honestly. And then when it was time at college to become more of a scorer,
01:40:13
Speaker
Where was your starting point with your coaches? Did you start working on post moves or outside or your outside game? Um, I would say definitely like outside and like mid range game coming off screens and all that. Um, probably also transition. I think transition points was really big for me in college, just obviously coming off steals. Like we pressed a lot in college. So, um, being in the front of a press, I would get a couple of steals and that would kind of get my offensive flow going. um just on the offensive end. So I definitely would say defense honestly helped me with offense. And then did that help you pick going to San Diego if they are a school big on defense and that suits your existing skills? So was that an easy choice to make?
01:40:57
Speaker
Yeah, that was like one of the biggest things. I knew going in that defense was their number one selling point. And I was like, you don't have to tell me twice. That is what I'm looking for. So it was pretty easy to pick. I mean, I just read your your list of the schools that offered you. um which Which other schools did you really look at that had that same kind of emphasis that you were yeah know really interested in? Um, let's see, I talked to Kansas a bit and I knew they were really big on, um, defensive end. It was just pretty far away from my house. And so I kind of put that into
01:41:32
Speaker
Um, consideration UC Davis was a really good school and like a really good overall, like offense and defense, but I took my first visit to San Diego and right away, I just knew it would have been like the perfect fit for me. And it was so not a bad part of the world to be in for all your college experience. Oh, not at all. If you have a bad day, just go to the beach. So it was really nice. Oh yeah, so San Diego, defensive emphasis. You've got the background in being a track star. Stops and runs suits you very well. It's perfect. And now, between seasons with the Maitland Mustangs, you played in the WBBL in the UK.
Playing in the UK and WBBL Growth
01:42:13
Speaker
So tell us a little bit more about that experience and how you found yourself playing there. I really love the UK. That was my first time ever going there.
01:42:22
Speaker
But it was really cool. I honestly never thought I would end up over there. But my um college teammate, Maya Pace, she signed there before I did and they actually needed an extra person and so she reached out to me and so I got contacts with her coach and we talked a bit and we kind of got it all figured out and so I ended up signing too. Being reunited with my college teammate it was definitely like the biggest selling point um because our last, I took an extra year in college and she was hurt that year so we didn't really get to finish um our last year in college together. So it was kind of like um unfinished business a little bit. So it was really nice to be reunited with her and play. So she definitely was the main reason why I decided to go out to Manchester.
01:43:08
Speaker
I mean, what is the style of basketball? Like Britain's not known for having a basketball culture, but I'm sure they're developing one of their own kind of thing. Yeah, I would definitely say like even talking to the girls that are from there, like the UK, they definitely said it's growing really fast. And like, especially like they're getting a lot more in imports. um But I would say it's very like aggressive. Like you're not going to get a lot of house calls. You'll get smacked in the face and they'll just let you play. So that's definitely something I,
01:43:42
Speaker
um I noticed like the first game I was just getting thrown around and for everyone else it was normal but for me it wasn't that normal so I would say it's definitely a lot more intense over there. Sounds a little bit like what um Andre was saying about playing in Ireland. yeah the they are the rugby The rugby intensity finds its way onto the court. Yeah, it's like the rest don't see it at all. And I'm like, okay, well, that means I can kind of fail too. So I'm not complaining. But the Manchester Giants, so the WBBL being the professional league in the UK, a lot of our listeners might not know much about it. I am becoming more acquainted with it through a commentator named Kaz.
01:44:28
Speaker
And she used to do all the Manchester Mystics games. So I'm not sure if she did the Manchester Giants games too, or if there's a difference. I'm not sure. So the Mystics, I know, I still was like learning while I was there, like their whole like setup for like WBBL. But I know the Mystics used to be the Manchester Giants before, so they kind of rebranded. um And so I know they still had like the younger teams are still called the Mystics. But the level WBBL used to be called the Mystics, but then someone bought them over and ended up being Manchester ah Giants. Yeah, it's, not but yeah, it's really cool because through CAS I've been, like I said, been able to try and keep a little bit of an eye on the competition over there. So it was really cool to see your name pop up. Maddie Washington again went to play.
01:45:21
Speaker
And then a bunch of Australians have played over there like Georgia Smith, who is currently playing for Jundalup, I think. um Grace George, who and had that really unfortunate injury when she was playing for Ipswich last season, she played for Oakland with Georgia and Cassidy Gould as well from Australia played for Oakland. So a lot of ah familiar names popping up over there, which is really cool. I would definitely say it's growing. And again, all the girls have said like it's growing really rapidly too. Georgia Ordorf, who plays for Illawarra. She was in the WBBL playing for Newcastle a couple of years ago. So yeah, so she went straight out of college to play over there for Newcastle. Yeah.
01:46:06
Speaker
And like something that is really cool about the WBBL is like a lot of the teams offer, they'll pay for your master's. So I know there's about two girls on my team that decided to do it. And so they have you come over here, but then they also pay for your master's. So a lot of people do school while being over in the UK as well. I didn't do that because I got my master's in college because of taking the extra COVID year. But I was like, maybe I'll get my second master's one day. Cool that that's now an opportunity because that's certainly going to incentivize people spending a UK winter playing basketball. Yeah, exactly. And how did the WBBL in terms of competition compared to the NBL one?
01:46:49
Speaker
Um, I definitely got that question a lot being over there. I would say it was pretty similar. I would say, obviously, the WBBL was probably more physical, but, like, the competition was, um, pretty much the same. Like, obviously, we were playing against the London Lions. They actually just won the, I get confused, World Cup. I think it was, or Euro Cup. And so playing against them was, it was a really cool experience. Like we were playing against Megan um and then a few others that are in the WNBA right now. So it was a really fun experience to play against those girls, um but they were just amazing. Yeah, that's his like top tier. They're like the Aubrey Wodonga Bandits equivalent. They had Shea Petty who's played WNBA before, but ah had Carly Samuelson who some people will know.
01:47:43
Speaker
Cause she played for the Townsville when they won the championship two seasons ago. Um, and Holly Winterburn, born and bred UK superstar. We call it uncommon, but it's happening a little bit more, but it generally has been uncommon to see import signed for two consecutive seasons in MBL one level.
Return to Maitland and Future Plans
01:48:02
Speaker
So what brought you back to Maitland after the first season? Um, I would definitely say the community, like I've honestly loved the Maitland community and like the fan base. Uh, they're so supportive and honestly really loyal. Like those tambias, whether we're winning a bunch of games, whether we go on, you know, a losing streak, like they're always going to stand behind us.
01:48:25
Speaker
Um, you'll see them in the grocery store after a loss and they'll come up to you and be like, Oh, I was at your game. Like get the next one. So it's like, it's really reassuring and definitely good mentally to have people like that around you. So that was like one of my main things last year. I noticed that, that the community side of it all was just huge. um And then also, I was very lucky enough to have a host family here last year. And they're my host family again this year. And so that's, I mean, playing a couple seasons overseas, it's very uncommon to have, you know, stay with the family and it be a really good experience.
01:49:03
Speaker
And so this family that I'm with, they've become like my second family when my mom was just here. She stayed with us. And so it's definitely made basketball kind of seem like a bonus, which is really cool to think about. But I've honestly just loved the community and my host family and just honestly the girls as well. And do you like to pick your next destination based on where you'd like to visit in the world? Or do you kind of let the author offers pop up and let the universe guide you of where you're going to be next?
01:49:36
Speaker
i don't plans yet there's a few places i'm looking at right now so kind of just depends on the timeline because obviously right when we end europe starts right away so it's kind of just figuring out that obviously i've played back to back to back season so it's kind of right now just listening to my body a bit and kind of seeing does my body need a bit of a break? Can I play another back to back season? So that's kind of where I'm at right now. Just kind of just listening to my body and seeing if I can, you know, go another season or if I should just take, you know, a couple weeks, couple months off and just see where that goes.
01:50:17
Speaker
I mean, how, how hard is that to juggle? Because if, you know, if you turn an offer down now, you could be without a team for, you know, six months, then you've got to fill those six months actually, you know, I guess working, but then you can only really work for six months and then you might find another time. Exactly. So it's definitely difficult. I definitely have, I mean, even I have support here in Australia or even back home that where I have like trainers that um I could just spend the time training and, you know, working on things that I need to work on for basketball. So those are definitely things that I'm thinking about, but it definitely is really challenging committing to basketball, like as your full time job, because, you know, you could be off for a couple months and then something comes up and you kind of just have to leave everything and go.
01:51:01
Speaker
So that's definitely on my mind and I'm trying to decide what to do with all that. Because where have you been so far? Turkey, yeah UK, Australia. where what Where else is on the list that you want to go to? um I would say like a little bit of both. Like I think going places I've always wanted to visit is probably the most important thing for me just because I think the bonus out of all of like playing professional basketball is, you know, traveling the world because not a lot of people get to do that. And so obviously if a cool place pops up, I definitely look into that a little bit more because I think
01:51:38
Speaker
the experiences are honestly the most important thing. You know, Europe, like Italy would be really cool. I had one of my best friends, um Patty, she's um from Germany, but she actually just played in Italy for two seasons and she loved it. So I don't know, I just feel like I have a lot of friends that have played everywhere. And so I just, I don't know. I'm like, honestly, I think I need to go somewhere where the sun is out all the time, especially being in the UK where, It rained 90% of the time and it was cloudy. It definitely made me want to go to sunny places. Our last question and arguably one of our favorite questions.
Off-Court Life and Personal Interests
01:52:17
Speaker
um Who is Sydney Hunter off the court? Um, I would definitely say off the court. I would say I'm a lot calmer. Like I think if you watch me on the basketball court, I'm
01:52:29
Speaker
very intense and very competitive, but I would say off the court. I enjoy doing a lot of things like journaling, um writing mini blogs, you know going to cute coffee shops. like I really like doing things that kind of zen me out a bit. um and I think I learned that in college that you kind of have to find things outside of basketball to kind of find like a good balance. And I think that's something that I've definitely learned and i I've taken to the professional level is, um you know, when you step off the basketball court, what are you going to do besides dribble a basketball? That's going to, you know, kind of just help you mentally um thrive. And so, yeah, I would just say I'm more of like a Zen. Like, I just love to journal and do different things like that.
01:53:13
Speaker
Yeah, there's more and more. Well, I mean, it it should have been an unspoken thing, but it's becoming more of a spoken thing about how athletes, semi professional or any level really need to start to have that mindset of who they are on the court and their performance on the court isn't reflective. of them as a person. So just because they had a bad game doesn't mean that they're a failure of a person. So having that separate identity of who you are as an athlete and who you are in regular life is really important. What do you study at college?
01:53:48
Speaker
So I did liberal studies, so i elementary education, and then I also got my master's in elementary education, so a teacher. So I actually do some teaching here in Australia, which is really cool to be in like your guys' education system. here. So that's honestly something I've loved to just work with the kids and they always like laugh at my accent and I'll say different things and they're like, that's not how you say it. So, but I've honestly loved it. And so it's pretty cool that I've brought um my education over here. It's another good skillset to have that can help you travel. Yeah. So, um, do you have any recommendations for cute coffee shops in the Maitland area?
01:54:34
Speaker
Ooh. e I'm not the best with names. I would say Merriweather Beach, like along that, like there's always so many. I'm very big with like acai bowls. Me and my host sisters, I feel like we get one once a week. And so that's been like our thing right now. If you haven't tried a Merriweather acai bowl, you should because they're honestly amazing. So that's been like my big addiction lately is acai bowls.
01:55:05
Speaker
and What do you get on top? Are you a granola and fruit person? A peanut butter person? So I do Nutella. That's like my main thing. Yeah. So if you haven't tried it, try it. um And then I love granola. Unfortunately, I'm gluten-free. So I always have to ask if they have gluten-free granola, which most places do, which is really convenient. um But yeah, so lots of fruit, Nutella and granola. And off the court, we've also, I think one of the other common things with athletes we've interviewed for this season is that there are a lot of the fit male athletes are gamers. And we've also talked about people who have got a side interest in music as well. Do you fit in any of those categories? I definitely like music. Like I would definitely say if I'm in a car with my friends, like I would like to be on Hawks. So I would say I do like music and I enjoy it.
01:55:58
Speaker
Did you help curate the Maitland Mustangs pregame playlist? I did add a few songs, except I didn't know that's where they were going. And so some of my songs were like funny songs. And during warmups when they were playing them, I was like, oh, that's the one I put in. So that was definitely really funny when it happened. Did they know it was you? Did you did you take the shame? I don't know. I thought it was anonymous, but I never found out. But my teammates definitely knew which songs were mine. Well, Sydney, thank you for jumping on and being our guest this week for East Got Game. You've only got a couple games left and a couple rounds left with the Maitland Mustangs. Have you got any, any kind of forecast for us for the last couple of rounds?
01:56:43
Speaker
um I'm really excited. We have Newcastle um this weekend, and that's obviously Maitland and Newcastle are rivals, so I'm really excited for that. I think the community is really, really excited and hyped, and so we know it's going to be a big game, so I think all the girls, I'm really excited, and I just know it's going to be a really good environment to play in. Do you want to give anyone a shout-out? Let me see. Honestly, I'll give Isla a shout-out. I know she'll appreciate that. That's very sweet. And yeah, I'm sure she will definitely appreciate it. All right, Sydney, thank you so much for being a guest and best of luck for the remaining part of the NBA One East season. We look forward to see where you land next. I appreciate you guys having me on. It was really fun.
02:08:41
Speaker
Exactly, exactly.
02:09:14
Speaker
Yeah. a Yeah, definitely. I've always loved like all the Aussies we've got or we've had in our team or played against. like I've always loved their style. um It's definitely different, I would say, than Americans. like you guys i mean The shooting, I would say, is amazing. I think you guys can always like shoot the ball really well. um So I always admired that. But my grad assistant, my freshman year, Amy, she actually played WMBL and MBL.
02:09:52
Speaker
And so I remember freshman year, she would always talk about like her experiences in Australia and me and a couple of the other freshmen were like, oh my gosh, we'd love to play in Australia one day. So that was, I mean, I heard about that my freshman year of college. So I always admired that.
02:10:15
Speaker
Amy came. Yeah. e
02:10:35
Speaker
She was at USD, so yeah, so she was she was before me.
02:10:47
Speaker
No worries.
02:10:54
Speaker
and
02:11:18
Speaker
like
02:11:30
Speaker
Yeah, so she always said she loved it, so.
02:11:40
Speaker
yeah
02:11:52
Speaker
um I would just say kind of just like all around like I think I noticed like well Steph Gorman um just talking about her like she was really good at defense as well and so she was kind of just like a complete player so that's definitely something that um I just remember when she first came in we first saw her I was like okay she's really good shooter really good at defense and so I would just say and definitely being here I think a lot of the Aussies are very um versatile where you know they're good on defense good shooters And so yeah.
02:12:42
Speaker
Yeah, um, yeah, I definitely would say I grew up probably very engraved defense. like I think every team I've been on has been very defensive minded. Even the college I went to, we were solely defensive minded team. um I think one year we were ranked like number one for defensive stops, and so that was just something that I always appreciated even going in high school and stuff. I was like, offensive was kind of like my second nature. And then I remember like my junior and senior year of college, my coaches like, okay, you have to become a scorer too. So that was like kind of foreign to me a bit because I obviously loved being on the defensive end, but the offensive end kind of came a little bit like second to me.
02:13:58
Speaker
I would definitely say that. Going back to my sister, she was always a great rebounder in college. like That was her main thing. And so I think watching her do that, and you don't really see, like again, rebounding kind of goes second or third when you know everyone wants to be a good scorer, but not everyone makes an emphasis on rebounding. And so that was just always something in my household that was like, It's not the hardest thing to do. You just have to put in a lot of effort to do it. And so watching my sister do that, I think I just kind of grew up on kind of putting rebounding first, honestly.
02:14:44
Speaker
Um, I would say definitely like outside and like mid range game coming off screens and all that. Um, probably also transition. I think transition points was really big for me in college, just obviously coming off steals. Like we pressed a lot in college. So, um, being in the front of a press, I would get a couple of steals and that would kind of get my offensive flow going, um, just on the offensive end. So I definitely would say defense honestly helped me with offense.
02:15:22
Speaker
Yeah, that was like one of the biggest things. I knew going in that defense was their number one selling point. And I was like, you don't have to tell me twice. That is what I'm looking for. So it was pretty easy to pick.
02:15:45
Speaker
um Let's see, I talked to Kansas a bit and I knew they were really big on defense event. It was just pretty far away from my house and so I kind of put that into um consideration. UC Davis was a really good school and like a really good overall like offense and defense, but I took my first visit to San Diego and right away I just knew it would have been like the perfect fit for me and it was so.
02:16:18
Speaker
Oh, not at all. If you have a bad day, just go to the beach. So it was really nice.
02:16:34
Speaker
ah It's perfect.
02:16:44
Speaker
and
02:17:00
Speaker
Yeah, I really love the UK. That was my first time ever going there. But it was really cool. I honestly never thought I would end up over there. But my um college teammate, Maya Pace, she signed there before I did. And they actually needed an extra person. And so she reached out to me. And so I got contacts with her coach and we talked a bit and we kind of got it all figured out and so I ended up signing too so being reunited with my college teammate it was definitely like the biggest selling point um because our last I took an extra year in college and she was hurt that year so we didn't really get a finish
02:17:37
Speaker
um our last year in college together. So it was kind of like um unfinished business a little bit. So it was really nice to be reunited with her and play. So she definitely was the main reason why I decided to go out to Manchester.
02:18:06
Speaker
Yeah, I would definitely say like even talking to the girls that are from there, like the UK, they definitely said it's growing really fast. And like, especially like they're getting a lot more in imports. um But I would say it's very like aggressive. Like you're not going to get a lot of house calls. You'll get smacked in the face and they'll just let you play. So that's definitely something I, um I noticed like the first game I was just getting thrown around and for everyone else it was normal but for me it wasn't that normal so I would say it's definitely a lot more intense over there.
02:18:53
Speaker
Yeah, it's like the rest don't see it at all and I'm like, okay, well that means I can kind of fail too, so I'm not complaining Yeah
02:19:27
Speaker
a
02:19:42
Speaker
Um, I'm not sure. So the mystics, I know I still was like learning while I was there, like their whole like set up for like WBBL, but I know the mystics used to be the Manchester Giants before. So they kind of rebranded. Um, and so I know they still had like the younger teams are still called the mystics, but the level WBBL used to be called the mystics, but then someone bought them over and ended up being Manchester. ah Giants. So.
02:20:28
Speaker
Yeah. Okay.
02:20:43
Speaker
Oh, yeah.
02:20:55
Speaker
Yeah, I I would definitely say it's growing. And again, all the girls have said like it's growing really rapidly, too. Oh, really? I didn't know that.
02:21:18
Speaker
Okay, and like something that is really cool about the WBBL is like a lot of the teams offer um they'll pay for your master's. So I know there's about two girls on my team that decided to do it. And so they have you come over here, but then they also pay for your master's. So a lot of people do school while being over in the UK as well. I didn't do that because I got my master's in college because of taking the extra COVID year. But I was like, maybe I'll get my second master's one day, but yeah.
02:22:04
Speaker
Yeah. Really?
02:22:13
Speaker
yeah
02:22:16
Speaker
yeah
02:22:25
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, exactly.
02:22:38
Speaker
Um, I definitely got that question a lot being over there. I would say it was pretty similar. I would say, obviously, the WBBL was probably more physical, but, like, the competition was, um, pretty much the same. Like, obviously, we were playing against the London Lions. They actually just won the, I get confused, World Cup. I think it was, or Euro Cup. And so playing against them was, it was a really cool experience. Like we were playing against Megan um and then a few others that are in the WNBA right now. So it was a really fun experience to play against those girls, um but they were just amazing.
02:23:27
Speaker
Yeah, ah exactly. Yep.
02:23:33
Speaker
andmen
02:23:37
Speaker
Yeah.
02:23:50
Speaker
Yeah, she was it was really fun to play against all of them.
02:24:22
Speaker
um I would definitely say the community. Like I've honestly loved the Maitland community and like the fan base. ah They're so supportive and honestly really loyal. Like those Tampaias, whether we're winning a bunch of games, whether we go on, you know, a losing streak, like they're always going to stand behind us. Um, you'll see them in the grocery store after a loss and they'll come up to you and be like, Oh, I was at your game. Like get the next one. So it's like, it's really reassuring and definitely good mentally to have people like that around you. Um, so that was like one of my main things last year. I noticed that, that the community side of it all was just huge.
02:25:01
Speaker
um And then also I was very lucky enough to have a host family here last year. And they're my host family again this year. And so that's, I mean, playing a couple of seasons overseas, it's very uncommon to have, you know, stay with the family and it be a really good experience. And so this family that I'm with, they've become like my second family when my mom was just here, she stayed with us.