Transcript
Speaker: welcome back everyone to another episode of east got game where we give you the x's the o's and the insights of mbl1 east 2026 Thanks for joining us on our live streaming platforms being Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember, you can follow us on those platforms at Eastcott Game or you can find our episodes on your preferred streaming platforms when you're ready if you're unable to make our live show.
Speaker: And while you're there, make sure you check out Cut to the Jace featuring... Jason, Kadhi and Braden Hasselhurst. And it's a cold world.
Speaker: Featuring WNBL champion Beck Cole. All brought to you by basketball .com .au. Lockie, another grand final is upon us in NBL One East.
Speaker: It certainly is, Squint, and... Perhaps not all the teams everybody expected are there. I have to say it was not just in NBL one, but across New South Wales, one of the. Best weekends of finals.
Speaker: In recent memory, obviously the prelims we had. A couple, you know, we had the Elora Sutherland men went to overtime. Um, North Manly. the I don't know if the Seagulls would call it an upset, but knocking off the undefeated Bears with the last second shot.
Speaker: um Newcastle Youth League women knocked off. Top -seeded Bankstown. um Sutherland had two losses by one or two points. They were just...
Speaker: Everywhere you looked. Close games throughout, up and down the leagues, through NBL 1 down to the... r lower divisions of waratah league so it was Great weekend of basketball in New South Wales.
Speaker: And even across the other NBL One conferences, I know that our semifinals in the north. ah The Cairns Marlins men's team, they were undefeated in the regular season too. They got knocked off by Ipswich in the semifinal.
Speaker: and then gold coast rollers went on to win the mbl1 north men's championship And even in the women's competition. The Cairns Dolphins women were minor premiers and ended up getting knocked off by Townsville Flames in the semi -final.
Speaker: ah And then Makai. Meteorites bait. Logan Sunder and now Makai Meteorettes. won in a three -game series against Townsville. So Makai Meteorettes are the...
Speaker: North Championships for the women. And didn't they win? They smoked. uh -huh Smoked him in looked the game three. That was... Monumental!
Speaker: Well, from what I heard, though, unfortunately Courtney Woods had a... concussion protocol because of what happened in game two. And then Bree Stevens was also out with some illness.
Speaker: Which is a really rough 24 hours for her. Um, Yeah, so that was a bit of a bummer. But, yeah, Mackay were a fantastic team all season, really well.
Speaker: recruited and rounded squad. Then are also NBL One Central, they had their grand finals on the weekend just gone. And I know in the women's competition. The West Adelaide Bearcats.
Speaker: were hot favourites and Sturt has just completely suffocated their main scorers and come away with a win. yeah um Yeah, I think West Adelaide only lost once or twice all season as well, wasn't it? There were some teams that have...
Speaker: Put in massive regular seasons. are Coming up short in the... ah when it really matters but that's why we play finals That's right. And we have. The lovely Carrie Waller. tuning in, who also hosts a podcast called Courtside Coffee Catch -Up. She's also one of the great commentators there in NBL One Central. She's tuning in online and said, happy grand final week, team.
Speaker: uh Couldn't be more excited to. finish off NBL one regular season. Well, not regular season, but finals with the East this weekend. Yes!
Speaker: I put Terry Gould. GYG Stadium. Burritos and socks, please. Please, surely, surely, surely, please. um we've I think we've even requested it last episode. so surely they they're going to come through.
Speaker: Yeah. um But yeah, let's quickly touch on the preliminary finals from the weekend that you mentioned earlier. The first was the Norse Bears versus the Manly Warringah Seagulls in the women's preliminary final.
Speaker: Like you said, North Spurs women's undefeated season came to an end. losing 77 to 79 in an absolute like Heartbreaker, courtesy of Brie Delaney.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean... North trailed by, what did they trail? 38 -17 at one point. Put together a 24 -6 third quarter, and then...
Speaker: Bree's just like, oh, we've got no timeouts left. I'll pick a play.
Speaker: and make it work. got the got her own miss and put it back up. just amazing Amazing finish. um I mean...
Speaker: Great team's comeback from a hole, which North's did, but... Great teams also hold on. You know, great teams withstand comebacks. And that's exactly what Manly Warringah did. Two elite teams in a big rivalry.
Speaker: Couldn't have been a better game. But also a really great example. of why you don't stop playing until the siren actually sounds. um And the final whistle is blown. Every second counts. So, yeah. brie delaney with the hand of god uh congratulations to manly for making The grand final again this year that... in contention to go back to back.
Speaker: But that will be meeting their nemesis. their new nemesis in the bankstown bruins which we'll get into a bit later but um Did you have a look at any of the outstanding statistics from this preliminary final between Norse Bears and Manly Warringah?
Speaker: um I had a look at... Actually, i I did watch back the ah the mini -match as well. um Interestingly, we were watching this while we were at um Sutherland watching Waratah men lose in a...
Speaker: one point defeat as well. um the I think the stream actually ended while they were discussing whether the final shot went in, unfortunately. But, um I mean, obviously the the biggest...
Speaker: thing is the is the first half score. 51 to 30 at halftime. I mean, that's just such a hole to put yourself in. As good as the team is. Um,
Speaker: yeah There was foul trouble early. Caitlin Martin had three early fouls. Izzy Morgan. had and he had two pretty quickly and did pick up a third ah That was what I was noticing as the game went on early. cause One thing I think we we talked about at the start of the season was how many teams in this league.
Speaker: Look like they were perhaps one piece short of our... You know. being, you know, a complete roster that could win the whole thing and we sort of said oh well if everyone's one piece short then maybe nobody's a piece short but uh These teams, you know, North got into foul trouble a bit. um which might have been It might have been both teams maybe felt like a piece short almost. We obviously with Josie Redan out.
Speaker: And Rebecca Donnelly leaving. for college but Um. I mean, Both teams shot the three ball pretty well, which was... ah I mean, 35%.
Speaker: Norris 12 -15 at the line and... Manly 10 of six in the line. So neither team really able to get to the line all that often, which I found. find very uh just with some of the players on both of these lineups and how much scoring some of them actually did that the teams weren't actually getting to the line all that often. Because, I mean, as you would expect in a 77 -79 game, it was pretty close across the board.
Speaker: yeah no you're totally right i think one thing that stood out for me perhaps is you know One of North's criticisms sometimes is that they don't have a true big or any inside presence.
Speaker: And 48 of Manly's 79 points were inside the paint. But I don't think that's always truly representative of not having rim protection because we know that Manly have very good guards who also like to get two feet inside. So I don't think that's... really a reflection of them exploiting that.
Speaker: But interestingly, it was the rebound count for me that stood out. 32 rebounds, only 32 rebounds for North. and 45 for manly so really dominating a little bit more of possession perhaps limiting North to one shot per possession and making it really hard for them to get going. I mean, Izzy Morgan still had 27 points.
Speaker: ah Talia Brugla. Had 16 and 5. Jazz Shelley was limited to 14 points, but she also had 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals. So she was still on track for a triple -double.
Speaker: um i mean that's nicole among the numbers right there And for Manly, if... ah ja ah Jada Jansen had 14 points for assists. Zoe Miller had 17, five and five.
Speaker: Alex Delaney had 12, 9 and 4. And Lily. Is it Fandray? Hmm. She had 14 points and four. So she's really stepping up. This is part of the final stuff that I love.
Speaker: It's when bench players get their opportunity and they take with both hands. i I mean, i I wrote down that 14 points by Lily as being absolutely massive, especially with no Josie Redan in the lineup. Because I think that might be only her second double -figure scoring performance of the season. And before this, she'd had...
Speaker: A zero, a three and a one, I think, in alongside. the other double figure scoring efforts so to come out like that six of seven from the field as well so not just scoring 14 points but doing it really efficiently as well So massive help, especially when you think. going forward.
Speaker: They're going to come up against, like, Margot De Freitas, where you'd think the Redan -De Freitas battle would have been, you know. must watch television. to have Fandre stepping up at this time is going to be... and Absolute luxury.
Speaker: or a bonus. for Mayor Little Ringer because I don't think there's going to be any luxuries in that grand final.
Speaker: No, absolutely not. So. With the Manly Warringah Seagulls winning their preliminary final, they are now back into the championship game get for the second year in a row. and they're going to be playing against the bankstown bruins which we'll talk about a bit later But, yeah, let's quickly talk about this prelim between Illawarra Hawks and Sutherland Sharks in the men's competition. Again, looked like another absolute barn burner on the weekend.
Speaker: These teams just don't know how to play a game that isn't close. During the regular season? Seven points one way. four points the other And this one went to overtime. I mean... um And.
Speaker: you know all the big names came to play um sharkies didn't quite get their famous you know five starters in double figures But they did have their three big guys. Tyler Robertson, Jason Spurgeon, Luke Jamison, all...
Speaker: Big double -doubles. like We're not talking 10 and 10 here. we're talking they went Over and beyond. And then. Playoff haunch. he's He's a different beast, different animal, playoff heart, Lachlan Hutchison.
Speaker: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block. And night. Nine of ten at the line. I mean, but... I think we have to talk about.
Speaker: Not the discrepancy in fouls, because that wasn't actually that much different, but the discrepancy in free throws in this game. the Oh, my gosh. It has to be a record.
Speaker: Sorry. ill aura So the foul count was Sharks committed 20 fouls. Illawarra committed 25.
Speaker: But the... free throws. 41 to 14. 27 free throw attempt disparity on a five foul disparity.
Speaker: I don't know if I've I don't know if I've seen a game with 41 free throw attempts. Sometimes it's felt like I've commentated a game with that many attempts because it's gone for two and a half hours.
Speaker: But 41 free throw attempts is... Crazy. Black. But you know what impresses me just as much, if not more? um The free throw percentage when you're taking 41 free throws. Oh, 85 .37 % from the line, 35 from 41.
Speaker: That's what I expect from this from both of these teams of this calibre is that high free throw percentage. If you're going to get to the line that many times, you better be making it count. Bye.
Speaker: Sorry. having said Yeah. There you go. I was gonna say. They needed to make the free throws because the three -point shooting was not there. For the Sharks.
Speaker: Tyler Robertson, 1 of 10. Jason Spurgeon, 1 of 7. Ryan Abbott, 0 of 3. i mean
Speaker: yeah They had to be putting their free throws away. because The throwing ball wasn't helping them at all. No, eight from 36 overall, 22 .22%. I was going to say like.
Speaker: 35 of Sutherland's total 85 points was earned from the free throw line. So credit to Hawkeyes as well for still forcing this game to go into overtime, still consistently shooting.
Speaker: Uh... Well, I mean, they didn't have their best shooting day either, to be fair, but still being able to go toe to toe scoring wise. when your opposition is having that many freebies.
Speaker: Yeah. I need. Yeah, when you'll get – I mean, they were 11 of 14 at the line. um And they had five players in double figures. i mean Kone, Mims, Blanchfield.
Speaker: Pete Lee had a bit of foul trouble. He fouled out in just 24 minutes played, which is... unfortunate but i mean and then ethan moss Well... Can't say enough good things about him. The way he moved down from Hills. Took his chance, had 11, 8, and 4.
Speaker: in a finals game he's really developed into a sixth man for them Um, Don't worry. Hawkeyes, you've got a good one. I mean... the old the hornets might be trying to lure him home if you don't watch out so i hope they can uh I hope he stays down there.
Speaker: You know, he bet on himself they back they backed him and it's working out very well for them Yeah, fuck give him a reason to stick around, I think. Yeah.
Speaker: But, yeah, you mentioned Kone, 17 .7 rebounds. he Yeah, he was only three from 11 from the – from the three -point line himself so that was surprising i mean yeah hawks didn't shoot that well from the three -point line either they were 12 from 46.
Speaker: overall But, again, 46 attempts is a lot. uh 26 .09 from the arc um Yeah, Blanchfield had 16 and 21 playing the full 45 minutes. ah But, yeah.
Speaker: Lachlan Hutchinson, Tyler Robertson, Jason Spurgeon, Luke Jamison. You know, the all the names on each team you would expect to step up. stepped up this game. so Um,
Speaker: that was That was really, really entertaining as well. The kind of the show that people wanted was was given. Yeah. Yeah, and um there were a few times, yeah, I saw Ryan Abbott there taking on Blanche like he did against Slezinski on defense, which was a...
Speaker: always good to see i guess i mean even adrian cabrera oh of eight from the field which is uh Not what you expect to see, after his recent form especially. But even he got to the line for five of six of his free throws. so uh even anyone who wasn't contributing well from the field which To be fair, in this game, the ah shooting percentages were not good on either side.
Speaker: Um, They're at least chipping in from the line Tyler Robson 12 of 13 That is. Very, very nice work. Oh, yeah. yeah love to see that um rebound count sutherland winning the rebound count 71 to 60.
Speaker: Hmm. So obviously with the lower shooting percentages, there's going to be more rebounds to go around. Not much there really in the assist count either. I couldn't see much standing out in the.
Speaker: analysis for um like the analysis page on the statistically either But, yeah, just seemed like a really hard -fought battle. One alongside the free throw line.
Speaker: One thing that did stick out for me, or two things, firstly, that Sutherland didn't hit a three in... the fourth quarter or overtime. So they weren't hitting them what many, but they really felt, I mean, they were.
Speaker: three of seven in the first quarter um but also in overtime Looking at the shot chart. One made field goal. 11 free throws. And I don't think they had a free throw until about three minutes left in overtime as well.
Speaker: So, yeah. Rocking them up light. Yeah, because the Sharks won that overtime period 7 -13 and, yeah, surprisingly one field goal.
Speaker: Hmm. Yeah. So, but one of four. So, yeah, they were getting to the line instead. And that happens that happens in overtime, you know, because the fouls don't reset for the extra period. so you know, if you're in the bonus already, you just Keep going to the line, keep going to the line, keep going to the line.
Speaker: Absolutely. So yeah, well, congratulations to the Sutherland Sharks men. Booking their ticket to the grand final against the North Spurs. Anything you want to add about the preliminary finals before we move on to the preview of the championship games?
Speaker: We've still got the rest of the prelims to do, Squid. The rest of the prelims. We've only we really done one of each.
Speaker: We didn't do Bankstown COE or... No, we didn't. Oh, my gosh. How rude. How rude. We haven't. Yeah, let's do Bankstown Bruins women versus COE women.
Speaker: Let's. So Bankstown winning this one 74 to 63 at home. Hmm. um Pretty consistent game back and forth.
Speaker: 18 apiece in the first quarter. And then banks down. Bankstown started to... tear away from the second quarter winning 21 -16 and going on to win the next three quarters. We had Talia Tupaya with 24 points, five rebounds, two assists, four steals.
Speaker: Shooting at 56 .25 % overall. for the Bankstown Bruins. Sharla Hill on 19 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals. And Margot De Freitas on. 17 .5 rebounds.
Speaker: Um, And for COE, Olivia Alechniewicz. 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals. Isabel s Smith, 13 .6 assists.
Speaker: and jemima manioc with 12 points and lily mack with 12 points so Kind of an even spread. Again, the people that you would expect to score. Scoring.
Speaker: ah It's good to see you, Jemima. Man, you're getting into the double digits. What did you see, Lockie? What were your takeaways? Um... So, I mean... Love seeing, man, York.
Speaker: um Especially on offense, six of eight, that's... That's probably the biggest biggest standout is she got the 12 points. She got six of eight. The fact that Manioc and Map between them went 10 of the they're basically the two bigs for coe um the fact that they went 10 of 13 is great but the fact that they only had 13 shot attempts between them when they were shooting both so efficiently is something you know i would have liked to see them get a few more looks because uh manual
Speaker: Manuel was looking good, particularly at the offensive end. um not just the fact she put the ball in the hoop so well but just her play In general. So I would have liked to have seen that.
Speaker: Yeah, those two bigs get a little bit more of a ah little bit more of a go. But, I mean. You've got Aleknevich out there playing the full 40 minutes. Isabelle Smith playing 35. And we know that this team runs.
Speaker: pretty much through them so I'm not going to. you know say too many bad things you know elect novich was five of eight from two -point range so you know she was doing pretty well three ball wasn't there but they were four of 18 as a team so the three ball really wasn't there for anyone the COE, which is kind of unfortunate, but...
Speaker: um Watching this game, you know, in fits and starts. was just COE just kept letting Bankstown get out a little bit too far. You know, they let him get out to nine or 10 point leads and reel it back in a bit. I think Bankstown went on a 12 point run at one stage.
Speaker: and Against the... team with this many experienced high -level players like bankstown you can't just let them keep extending their lead if you're going to bring back a lead against them you've got to bring it back all the way first time every time or they'll break you and that's what they did I just.
Speaker: Kept pushing ahead. See, we got back a little bit and eventually Bankstown's class prevailed.
Speaker: Yeah, it wasn't a great shooting night from the arc for either team, but I think the... Low percentages from the three -point line for COE has been a consistent. theme of the season surprisingly given how many shots They get up awake.
Speaker: They were four from 18. ah which is... Yeah, not ideal. um But 18 shot attempts as well. from the three point line isn't huge for them. And then but Bankstown was six from 23, which is 26 .09 % overall. So also not their best but Um...
Speaker: I'm interested to see Yeah, 42 of Bankstown's. 74 points were in the paint. Um, About 44 of... COE 63 was also in the paint so it was certainly a a battle of who could get two feet in and You could.
Speaker: couldja Perhaps either if they're not making their initial shots getting to the free throw line. Yeah, I mean, it is kind of, a you know... Manioc is scoring pretty much all her points in the paint map.
Speaker: very much the same, whereas Then you've got Shiloh Hill getting downhill and finishing. with Pretty, you know. I mean, she was 6 of 12 from two -point range. Margot De Freitas, if she's scoring, most likely she's going to be pretty close to the basket as well. so And Talia Tupai, you know, she'll barrel her way through anyone to get to the paint so and get in close to the basket. So, you know, two teams who score it in in different ways. uh or a lot of players who score any different ways you know you get to freighters in there who
Speaker: be in the pain, especially in the pick and roll with Shiloh. really loving that when it happens. they They run it so well. Hmm. You know what's really interesting about Talia Tupai's shot chart is that it looks like she's got two makes from behind the basket.
Speaker: As in corner makes or like directly behind the basket? directly behind the basket so if you have a look at the shot chart how it's got you know the outline of the key the charge circle the backboard and the basket is it's like she's taking two shots from behind the backboard Like he's doing more, I was just trying to flick it over. and And drop it in.
Speaker: yeah yeah yeah so uh that's interesting placement there i thought it was a little bit funny But you're right about that pick and roll between. DeFritis and heal life. Yeah, that's been.
Speaker: So important for them and teams are really. Not struggling, but like it's it's been consistently successful throughout the season for them as well. regardless of their opposition. Hmm.
Speaker: I mean, it it really is it it really is pick your poison. I mean, that's all you can really say about it. and I mean, Shiloh was 19 points, eight rebounds. and Seven assists. One style I love is...
Speaker: Who assisted whose points? I'd love to just see a matrix of. This player assisted eight points for this player and this player assisted X for this player.
Speaker: Can we have synergy, please? The coaches get synergy. Can we have it? We have access, well, we're supposed to have access to Synergy up here, but the login hasn't worked for me the last two years, so. It's that it's just in arms reach. It's in arms reach for me.
Speaker: ah But yeah, you're right. We've got one more preliminary final to talk about. And, of course, that is the in the men's competition, the Norse Bears and the Central Coast Crusaders. How could I forget?
Speaker: to talk about the beloved Central Coast Crusaders. um yeah what we so this one uh 94 to 80 in favor of north bears crusaders obviously putting in putting on a valiant effort in this one what were your main takeaways Main takeaways is...
Speaker: I feel like... North knew that Crewe's second half would be their strong suit. So you've got to come out, you've got to punch first and you've got to punch hard. And that's what North did.
Speaker: they won the first half fifty well They won the first quarter by 10. They won the second quarter by 10. It was 54 -31 at halftime. and they had 13 fast break points.
Speaker: In the first half as well, which is actually more than crew got for the entire game. Switch. is Look, don't have the numbers, but strikes me as ah something that wouldn't happen too often that teams yeah outscore.
Speaker: crew um on the break by that much. but Um, Interesting. That are you know You were talking about the size. you know the width, the bulk.
Speaker: Of the ah Norse bigs, Krislovich and Hunter Goodrick, they combined for 41 points. 41 points and 23 rebounds. and Neither of them have even played over 29 minutes. so Uh...
Speaker: They were all. They were having quite a night out with the big men from the... ah from the Bears. But interestingly... ah Krislovich didn't want to be scoring from beyond the arc.
Speaker: which we've seen him do in a lot of our... a lot of games did get to the free throw line a fair bit but uh yeah it did a lot of scoring from beyond the arc whereas goodrick it was uh two pointers or nothing 7 of 15 two pointers, 7 of 15 from the field.
Speaker: he's It's the Miles Cherry method. Know your strength and stick to it and do it well. Yeah.
Speaker: I do like that Goodrick added four assists as well to go with his 18 points and 13 rebounds. Yeah, Chris Livich had 23 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists.
Speaker: um Yeah, five from nine from the arc. Um. Also, Wani Swakala Bullock had 12 points. ah Two rebounds, not his best shooting night, four from 17 overall.
Speaker: um Iggy Mitchell was quiet. Five points, three rebounds, three assists. But he didn't. He only had five field goal attempts, so I think... Given he had five points from five attempts, we can live with that.
Speaker: Bit of foul trouble for Iggy, though. 4 ,000, he's 20 minutes. but I mean... Then you've got Lockie Boffinger. Sorry, it's... He's so difficult to match up on, I think. Every time I watch him... i Kind of wonder who the opposition is going to are.
Speaker: he's gonna put on it regardless of uh regardless of opposition and he had 23 points of his own with eight rebounds and three assists
Speaker: And another team that got to the free throw line a lot, a decent amount, 28 times, but 24 from 28. at 85 .71%. That's what we expect.
Speaker: That is exactly what we expect. Yeah, that's Malaston. But give Crewe their due. They were 18 of 23. at the line, but I do think they just gave themselves too much to do in the second half, especially like...
Speaker: Look at the foul counts, Young, Maker, Tee and Gunderson. All four or more. And especially like... Garrick Young playing only 25 minutes. I mean...
Speaker: As I... But. I think I said last week that it... you know about it might even be about garrick himself you know that'd be closer to 35. without the foul shot, or maybe even the full 40 like Luke Cassidy played. Yeah, Luke Cassidy, he can play.
Speaker: full 40 minutes. Day in, day out, not look like you're slowing down.
Speaker: Um, But yeah, you're right. And it's interesting, even though it sounded like Crusaders fouled. more when you read it out in a list. The foul count was actually only 19. to 21.
Speaker: Norse Crusaders respectively. It just so happened. that those from the crusaders in foul trouble were you know, key players. in Youngmaker Tea and Gundersen. And then I even looked down the list. Saw Aaron Redhead only played 12 minutes and 27 seconds because we know that he can contribute.
Speaker: on a big night as well. So I thought, oh, perhaps he was in foul trouble. because Look. Call a spider spade. redhead historically has gotten himself in foul trouble before.
Speaker: To his credit, has improved heaps in that respect. this season. ah But, yeah. He only had one foul, so surprised that he saw. Little court time. No. Still had his four points though in that 12 minutes.
Speaker: Yeah, so I think. 51 to 33 was the rebound count. That's that's Pretty massive from North. make yes 16 o boards to seven as well so
Speaker: Like that's, I mean, Goodrick had 13 rebounds, six of his 13 rebounds were offensive. Like he's just. He's just gone beast mode. Yeah, it'd be interesting to get the count of, you know, he was 7 of 15 from the field, but how many me -bounds did he have that are...
Speaker: you know Seven of 15 shots, but how many seven of how many possessions that he finished kind of thing. Yeah. Yeah that's true, that is very true. ah Looking at the analysis. Interestingly,
Speaker: Crusaders had more points in the paint than good ah than North, though. having said that. Half of the Crusaders points were inside the paint, 40 from 80. um Norse 32 from their 94 were from Inside the Paint.
Speaker: um Shooting percentages wise, Pretty close actually. I mean. Between Norths and Crusaders from the two -point range, there was only...
Speaker: Zero point. one nine between them. Hmm. In three -point range, North shot at 38 .71%. Crew shot at 37 .5%, so pretty decent.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean... Just the fact that North put up, they almost doubled. the attempts and the makes. of crew 12 and 31 to 6 of 16 it was The volume of three balls in the... volume of free throws that are i think really put them over the top.
Speaker: Mm hmm. it looks like it was really just a game of one team. actually just scoring more than the other. but just they just got more buckets than the other and everything else was pretty even and that was it Healthy 800 attendants as well there at the ah at the Bear Cave.
Speaker: I wonder where they put them all. Oh, I saw some absolute scenes. On social media, like we had a... Regular EGG listener, Scott Deeks. Deeksy?
Speaker: Hey. put like a thing on his social on his uh instagram story about the with the crowd the crusaders uh social media out like you know instagram i can also put some stuff there in the crowd because I'm not too sure why, but the Norths fans were encouraged to wear all white.
Speaker: Hmm. and so the crusaders fans were like right we're bringing a bus and we're wearing all red so it was this kind of cool clash in the crowd um i think it's something that The East needs to do more of, like that kind of stuff in terms of fan engagement and crowd engagement. to make even just particular regular season games a little bit special of yeah making it an event of ah an an event of it.
Speaker: Yeah, um the wideout is a big thing in college football. Um, especially for a night game, Penn State. you know a hundred thousand seat of stadium there in uh in a State College, Pennsylvania. And they just, they white out. And it's for a regular season game. You know, it'll be like an early non -conference game at night. Massive stadium, 100 ,000 people in white.
Speaker: And it's just a really intimidating atmosphere for the opposition. Especially against the Knight background, you know, a rural... In a rural college town, it just looks so cool.
Speaker: Yeah, so it's very different to an all -white party. Yeah. Might have to be careful where you kind of do the all white thing. as well. You can see some negative connotations there, but we won't get into that. Uh...
Speaker: nonetheless north bears getting up so the men's grand final is going to be The North Bears versus the Sutherland Sharks. Indeed it will. A chip for the chip.
Speaker: Meeting for the... Fourth time this season.
Speaker: The fourth time this season. I must have. Oh, of course. we the First week of finals. Both these grand finals are rematches of the 2 -3 matchup. in the ah Oh, my God, it is true.
Speaker: It sure is. Two versus three and two versus three. So, i yeah, I only looked at the regular season games forgetting that each team had played each other already.
Speaker: in the final series. so it's kind of weirdly in the stars that it should this should be. but This should be the grand final matchups. Yeah, I mean...
Speaker: ah Like, especially... Well, do we want to start with the North? We'll start with North Sutherland because, I mean. Mm -hmm. Bye bye. Three pretty close matchups. I mean...
Speaker: probably The qualifying final was probably close like the score that made it look closer than it was. But in the regular season, Norse got up by 10 and then Sutherland looked... The one point game.
Speaker: Um. In a low scoring affair, a really low scoring affair. we we talked about that game, that it was... um You know, North couldn't. Neither team could hit a three, but North kept trying more.
Speaker: And Sutherland kept giving North the ball to let them try more. and It ended up being 63 -62 in Sutherland's favour. um But North. North are a different animal in that. um in that qualifying final to what they were.
Speaker: you know. in the last round of the regular season they led by 26 at one point They just. And they... More to the point, they just started hitting threes. Sutherland reigned in the turnovers, but Norse found their shooting form on that occasion. and uh
Speaker: i mean that was I mean, that was basically the the difference the first when they met in the ah last round of the regular season. Norse Rail would turn it around on their home patch. so But. A fourth meeting?
Speaker: And. The third time in five weeks? that's You know. so It reminds me of a few years i think a few years ago in the NBL, the Breakers and Melbourne United played a... double header against each other in the final round of the regular season, then played an entire final series.
Speaker: And then... i think that And then whichever team got knocked out. I think the breakers, look whichever team was, they then played the same opponent in round one of the following season. They played like six games against the same opponent across two seasons in a row.
Speaker: but um Back to the... r game at hand i mean so Aside from that North loss in the qualifying final, Sutherland have just been in unstoppable form.
Speaker: And I think beating Illawarra and Illawarra will... pretty much erase any memory they have of this qualifying final defeat where You know, they lit. Five players have double digits for Norths, plus nine and nine for Krislovich. Oh, sorry, six players in double digits, plus nine and nine for Krislovich with Bailey Hanson 17 off the bench.
Speaker: That's a... that yeah i It's going to be one hell of a – we've seen it three times. It's going to be a hell of a game.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. what And what are you the some of the main things you think Sutherland need to do to secure a win given? The. wrestle they've had with North all season. Gotta limit the turnovers.
Speaker: Um. I don't think they can survive. They can't keep going these up and down three -point shooting that they have had.
Speaker: Where they... hit them then they don't you know Maybe they come out and... you know blaze away in the grand final but Um, I've only got to do it once, but there's only so much you can. um There's only so much you can...
Speaker: So long you can... go up and down in one facet of the game. um What I noticed when I looked at the stats is Sutherland have lost games off their own back more than anything.
Speaker: Mm hmm. The team, when you look at their wins and losses, the opponent's stats don't change a lot. whether they win, whether Sutherland win or lose. It's Sutherland. Who create them.
Speaker: which is The opposite to North, especially in their shooting. North shooting craters when they lose. And he's excellent when they win. for Sutherland. So...
Speaker: I mean, so yeah, it's... Both teams, really. um they they No, sorry. Yeah. But not for Sutherland. they lose off their own back. Benoist.
Speaker: When they win, they lock down the opposition. more and it's the opposition stats that change so Yes, Sutherland. they have to make sure they come and play their own game.
Speaker: more than anything because they haven't really, what the opposition done hasn't really changed. Sutherland have just been better when they've won games.
Speaker: And North. They just got to keep doing what they're doing. I mean... Those. They... They strangle the opposition when they win. So... That's what they have to do.
Speaker: North, their three -point percentage and their free throw percentage especially. Barely changed regardless of the result of the game across the season. Um, But... They lock down opponents.
Speaker: They force opponents into bad shots. opponents shoot poorly against them. Sorry. And. No, I The Hunter Goodrick factor is just so massive.
Speaker: as well. Um. But I think North need to pivot when the three ball isn't hitting for them. They kept trying and trying and trying against Sunderland in that game a few weeks ago. They were...
Speaker: Seven of 37. Shots were one of 16, but... they only shot 16 where the doors were and they started one of 23 or something as well So you've got Hunter Goodrick coming off the bench. I know Krislovich likes to stretch the floor, but you can throw it into Goodrick. you can't get too you can't abandon the three because then defenses can just predict what you're doing But.
Speaker: They need to make sure they know when to pivot. And with the Sutherland shooting, Kind of poorly from the three -point line. And it is, to be fair, a lot lower attempts than you would expect, especially from a men's team with that pace and that style of play.
Speaker: do you How many of those misses do you think is just... you know, bad luck, poor form, whatever, you know, the regular reasons why someone misses versus poor like rush shots and poor decisions.
Speaker: I mean... Like, I mean, we are talking about the level below the NBL. So you do get the occasional. you know rush shot there are some decisions Definitely. where so either they do or don't shoot it sometimes it's they don't shoot it when they should um you know they think about it too much. um there There have been occasions where they get a bit rushed, you know.
Speaker: Get a bit, you know ah heat One make and then a heat check is probably not what you're looking for sometimes. but Um, When they're on, they're on.
Speaker: Um.
Speaker: The Sharks, they do shoot the three ball. raisez it's It's dropped? It's down to 30 .7%, which is seventh in the league for the season. It was up around fourth. just a few weeks ago, so it's fallen away a bit.
Speaker: Um, So... They come into the game, they need cool heads. make the right decisions because they've got guys who can Absolutely shoot the lights out. Harrison Rayner, 51 % from the... three point line Spurgeon 37.
Speaker: Bailey MacArthur's not there anymore. um unfortunately because he's 36 % and oh. 11 of 30 as well so it's not a tiny sample size um Tyler Robertson shooting only 29%. I think we expected him to have a higher. three point percentage but then we see he was one of ten from the free throw three point line but 12 or 13 get increased free throws so Sometimes you have a bit of a trade -off.
Speaker: But. I mean, Unless he's guarded. by chris levitch spurgeon can probably shoot about just about everyone who's going to be on the court for North. Sorry. um They get that.
Speaker: Get him open in the pop. Uh... He shoots. uh, i think he's third for the most three -point attempts in the team harrison rain is not far behind him in a lot fewer minutes um Yeah, sorry.
Speaker: Cheers. make the right decision i think the sharks can can get this three -point percentage back up.
Speaker: Very good. ah So yeah, that's going to be a cracker. Then the winner of the championship game obviously backing up the next weekend to go to NBL One Nationals, which will be in Adelaide. Perhaps we can remind our listeners a little bit more about the Nationals.
Speaker: at the end of the show um But in terms of a grand final preview between Norse Bears and Sutherland Sharks men, is there anything else you've got for us, Lockie, that you want to discuss?
Speaker: Um...
Speaker: No, I mean... I mentioned Bailey MacArthur. I think that's... he was He was one of the bright spots for the Sharks in that loss in the qualifying final. and he he was He shot at a really high percentage. It was getting to the rack.
Speaker: that kept his percentage high he was finishing from very close to the basket getting downhill really well he'll be Sorely missed and that's already been shown but they didn't have Harrison Rainer. They will have him in this game um Also, I think it's probably fair to say that Matty Waitcher probably had the upper hand.
Speaker: In the backcourt battle defensively. um in that qualifying final he went 17 -3 -3 with a block and no blocks but two steals. Whereas Lachlan Hutchison, eight points, a rebound, four assists.
Speaker: Three steals in a block. so um Hutch has been on a tear in these last two games. Can Waitcher come out and lock him down again? with Hutch. with a full head of steam.
Speaker: Uh... because I mean. Matthew Wager is not a Defensive Player of the Year candidate for nothing. Yeah, correct. Correct.
Speaker: Sometimes it's the stuff that isn't on the stat sheet that makes the. Biggest impact? Definitely, especially defensively. Yes. yeah ah bring I think I've said it before, but bring back the defensive assist statistic.
Speaker: Thanks. oop ah Right, shall we get into the preview of the Women's Championship game? Yes, let's, uh... let's take a look manly v bankstown as uh james milan kindly found well very well found because uh bankstown posted some stuff way back in may on their instagram account about the history of their nine championships in 15 years and um Banks down to the last team to go back to back.
Speaker: And. It's also a rematch of the 2012 Grand Final, which... I'm not sure any players are left on either team, but... Nonetheless, it is still the suit two same. associations and i have sorry north and sutherland i own only one um one clothes hanger that I can fit two jerseys on. So I chose Manly and Bankstown on this occasion.
Speaker: And when do you mentioned that twenty last battle in 2012 and obviously not, you know. they won't have any of the same roster. ah Tell us some of the people that were on those rosters though in 2012.
Speaker: Jeez, I can't think back. I wasn't even watching Waratah League back then, Sween. I was barely living in Sydney in 2012. um I'm not sure, yeah. I'm not sure the... ah Stats are even still on game day for 2012, unfortunately. I found some old ones. when Not sure how far back we go. I can slide over to my R.
Speaker: collection of programs and at least find the MVPs.
Speaker: Oh no, that's okay. We can save that for... I'm sure we'll find another occasion in the next week when we can probably dig that up in preparation. Yes, yeah Yeah.
Speaker: um But yeah, this is you know is this the new kind of rivalry between these two clubs, especially how well they've competed against each other and against the rest of the league all season?
Speaker: this is again Second V. like second versus third. Mm -hmm. and yeah like you said the fourth time they're going to play against each other another arm wrestle that we've seen, another great narrative we've seen this season. um uh but yeah i think in between the times they've played each other Now, Josie Redan wasn't there for the.
Speaker: Grants for the... First finals match. No. No. No. So at least. Like obviously we don't want to see anyone injured, but at least Manly have played against Bankstown without her. So it's not going to be.
Speaker: such a ah ah shock or so unfamiliar. at least they've got that once under their belt. Hmm. Yeah, I mean, it was so good to see that their qualifying final was close because the two regular season matchups really were.
Speaker: Blowouts. the ah The first one finished with a 17 -point margin, but it was 31 at one point before Manley somewhat reeled it in. and then Manly just obliterated Bankstown in the early stages of that second game. and just cruised to victory. I think it was a game no Bankstown player finished in double digits in that game, which sounds... absolutely wild giving the scoring punch they have in
Speaker: especially Hill and Tupaya. defrayed us as well and even someone like davis white or shalom dunlop on their day can put up you know a good 10 or 12. So.
Speaker: Um. I think. what What strikes me here and the... The rotations have shrunk as the season, as the finals have worn on, but...
Speaker: I just – du There is a noticeable difference in the... depth that Bankstown can go to in their roster compared to what Manly Warringah. have gone to. um I don't think Maya Jolena or Cassidy Thompson. and have seen the court in finals if they have it's been sparingly uh jane dunlop didn't play in the prelim final but they still got Shalom Dunlop, Lily Austin and Kayla Proctor.
Speaker: playing reasonable minutes and we've seen jane dunlop play um decent minutes throughout the season. so um
Speaker: That could. a It's weird to say in a game featuring what? three, four. five players with WNBL experience.
Speaker: a couple of college standouts and new players who have played in Europe. um But... the bench could have a big impact but if Manly get into foul trouble compared to if Bankstown get into foul trouble, it could make. a big difference to things.
Speaker: yeah and like i keep saying you know this is finals time basketball this is the time when Miracles happen or ah You know, ah bench players are going to have and a breakout game. Somehow some of the star players are going to get, you um you know, unprecedented. early foul trouble, all those things you got to be. prepared for that you can't prepare for i was going to ask you actually about Yes.
Speaker: So Manly is obviously a team that... As we've said lots of times on the podcast. um A great teammate on and off the court. they now have you know They've been through the struggles of the last few seasons of...
Speaker: Getting so close to a championship. Finally winning one. last year so they have that character building history, that winning history. Is that going to be enough of an X factor?
Speaker: to... Take on this Bankstown team that are. like consistently playing at a high level. Their roles are very defined. Their bench is arguably.
Speaker: Deeper in a sense that... Everyone has experienced good playing time throughout the year, so they're prepped. Hmm. um their role Like I said, their roles are very defined.
Speaker: Okay. um Like in terms of just numbers, they've got more numbers. on the bench. And... Bankstown had that. Incredible.
Speaker: Almost. pack defense that locked down manly in their first encounter early in the season so yeah it's like This team with incredible history and this winning history versus...
Speaker: this team that is just like got this near perfectly built Ross star. um They've got a pure one to five. And they've got that pacty like it's.
Speaker: like how Like how do you even pick that? Yeah. it yeah and I mean... Not to go intangibles, but... The hunger of players like... Shaila Hill and Talia Tupai.
Speaker: in a grand final trying to get a team a championship that hasn't won one for a while and there's a lot of history Um, They are going to be hungry once. i Harking back to my talk about all the youth league talk is...
Speaker: Bankstown Youth League women lost. on the weekend. They're out of Youth League. They would have had Lily Austin and Kayla Proctor playing 25, 30 minutes on the Saturday in a youth league game. If.
Speaker: they so chose to. but they lost. So I don't even have to make that decision anymore, let alone have the 30 minutes in. in the legs for the Sunday. So Proctor and Austin will be fresher if they're required. i mean Proctor definitely will be. I think she's she's played really big minutes. Austin's been there when required.
Speaker: She knocked down him. She knocked down a big three in that prelim. And then, of course... Shalom Dunlop. i mean was starting before everyone turned up so Yeah, I mean of the of the players coming off the bench. Manly have the best one in Bree Delaney.
Speaker: They may even have the best two in Brie Delaney and Lily Fandre. But basically, I've got... plenty of depth. They've got more. i got They've just got more that they have been willing to use of of late. and Bye everyone. Well, I mean...
Speaker: We're talking about the players who actually get on the court. basically suited 12 for the prelim. Mainly only suited dogs.
Speaker: Yeah, it's going to be super exciting. um I think for me. Obviously, each team has... their respective offensive powerhouses and we know what they can do. But I think for me, this game is won and lost defensively.
Speaker: It's going to be a real physical grind. Both teams are going to have to. work really hard to make every shot. for their opposition as difficult as possible without committing fouls.
Speaker: Because I know on that first occasion between Bankstown and Manly that we reviewed for an episode. um Manly's. The game was really destabilised when they kept picking up really early fouls. Obviously your players like Zoe Miller got in early foul trouble and I think Sari did. So they had to sub a lot.
Speaker: um So that was very destabilising as individuals and then having the end for rotations. I think that's going to be important for both teams. I think also just rebound count.
Speaker: just that's another way you've got to try and stop your opposition from any other kind of scoring opportunities. ah But, yeah, getting to the line is going to be relatively important. but I'd be interested to see if Manley doesn't come out with some kind of different defense to help.
Speaker: limit the effectiveness of the pick and roll between heel and defratus um Also... Having to just play really smart with Tali Tapaya.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah, I mean, she. She is physical and can draw fouls and is very, very good at it. But. She doesn't have to either.
Speaker: Mm. she And I feel like she's performing really well this season because she doesn't have to. Because like the last couple of seasons, we've seen her in teams where she is.
Speaker: She and one other or she and two others are the whole team. So she has to like... seriously do the heavy lifting and now that she's able to share it around and have less of that pressure.
Speaker: she's playing great like sometimes you have eight points sometimes you have 28 and Either way, it's fine. Yeah. which is My next point is...
Speaker: In Bakedown's two wins, they had four players in double figures both times. The first time was no one scored more than 18. Shiloh Topps scored with 18. But then in the second time, still four players in double digits.
Speaker: But Shaila had 34 and Talia had 29.
Speaker: Sorry. They can put numbers up and still share the ball. um they What I found interesting also about based out they only get They're only in the league for free throw attempts.
Speaker: Mmm. which seems surprisingly low. Yeah. Just check that. was that No, I think you'd be right because even I'm looking at the...
Speaker: Second in time, you know, when Manly won 93 to 56 in round 12. um Bankstown only got to the free throw line 12. 13 times that game, which you you would which is low for them.
Speaker: Like for a team like that, which is low. Yeah, 16 or 15 .9 attempts per game. The league average is 16 .9. So, yeah. that That tracks that they're just shy. Yeah, 12th, Joe, just behind.
Speaker: middle of the league. Spot. they shoot them at the second best percentage in the league. So once they're there, they make full full use of them. 77 .4%.
Speaker: Well, yeah, both so both games this weekend are going to be. Ah. I mean, we will we be spoiled. for entertainment uh i don't think anything. Either game will be, like both games I should say are going to be.
Speaker: Close. Very competitive. I'm expecting the women's game in particular to be quite physical. I'm expecting the men's game to be really fast -paced. um for the whole four quarters as well.
Speaker: I think exactly like you said in... We were talking about the North Bears Crusaders men's prelim, about how North just... well Full acceleration. from the tip off i'm expecting something similar as well just really putting pressure on the Sutherland Sharks to have to keep up.
Speaker: So just a reminder for everyone. The NBL One East Grand Finals or Championship Games. I don't know what terminology we're using anymore. ah It's this Sunday, the 16th of August at GYG Stadium, well, Guzmaz and Gomez Stadium in Terrigal.
Speaker: Manly Warringah Seagulls and Bankstown Bruins women are first. They're going to be tipping off at 12 p .m. And then the men's game, the Sharkies versus the Bears.
Speaker: We'll be at 3 .30pm. um Now, did you mention last episode as well, Lockie, about the changes in the ticketing for this? Grand final weekend compared to previous.
Speaker: I did but I can certainly mention it again. so Yeah, good idea. So you can get a ticket that covers both games this year. So in previous years, you bought your men's ticket or your women's ticket.
Speaker: Um, separate it was all separate this year twenty dollars for a ticket. to a single game men's or women's 35 get you in the door for both games. So, and I think it's... $12 for concession and $20 for the double header ticket for concession. so That's pretty sweet. Like I said last week, there's There's teams that charge almost that much for regular season games.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, so not not too bad at all. And then obviously the following weekend from the 21st to the 23rd of August. We have the NBL One 2026 National Finals. So the winners of this weekend from NBL One East. We'll go through to play Nationals like we saw.
Speaker: Manly Warringah Seagulls and the Canberra Gunners. Last year? I need a little room. And it'll are Hawks. And.
Speaker: But how come they went as well? Because Knox men pulled out. That's right. They did too. I forgot about that. um So. Canberra Gunners are automatic entry to the Nationals.
Speaker: because they won last year. Yep. And Manly. No, so they're the only automatic entry. That's right. So them.
Speaker: and the Knox women are the two automatic entries. But now that it knocks women, I think. Already qualify. Wait. Something like Waverly Falcons are going as well.
Speaker: Yeah, so yeah, Waverly... lost the South Grand Final, did they? Or the best regular season team. There's a rule. There is a rule. It's either... best yeah Either the...
Speaker: grand final lo yeah so Yeah, so... Yeah, it's Knox and Waverley in the South Grand Final, which means Waverley qualified because Knox are automatically.
Speaker: qualified as defending national champions. Yeah. yeah ah So, yeah, it's going to be great if you can get down to Adelaide. um Otherwise, I'm pretty sure.
Speaker: Most of the games will be on KO. Yeah. um It's going to be at Adelaide State Basketball Centre. The first game will actually be on the Friday.
Speaker: Let me just read that out for y 'all Oh. The screen's got the schedule, got the hookup. I'm not sure. If this is common knowledge.
Speaker: But... From Friday the 21st of August, the first game of the national finals will be held at 4 p .m. And then. I think the last game is going to be on Sunday at.
Speaker: uh it says oh no that can't be right oh there the championship games will be held at 11 a .m for the women's and 1 30 p .m for the men's subject to change depending on court event you know the courts and all that kind of stuff its So that's that's where we'll be heading in the week after.
Speaker: That's where you'll be heading. It's not where I'll be heading. Because I've got Waratah League Grand Finals on the Saturday, August 22nd. Oh, I mean, yeah, you've got Laura Tully finals. That's right. But I.
Speaker: ah We don't know who will be commentating the NBL One Nationals. Are you not going regardless? No, I'm trying to save for my trip to Europe. So ah what if I wasn't selected. to commentate then um I wasn't going to go to Adelaide because the flights from Adelaide to Brisbane. can be X -y. So I got to save my pennies to go to the Women's World Cup in Berlin the weekend, nearly the weekend after that.
Speaker: I think that is a very very good reason. To save some pennies, I totally agree. Yes. All right. So remember.
Speaker: The NBL One East season for 2026 will come to an end this weekend. um I mean, let us know if you're still online, who you're tipping for both games or send us a DM. Maybe we'll do some kind of a poll as well on socials.
Speaker: ah But, Lockie, have you got anything? else that the listeners should know before we wrap up. I think they all know it already. But if you're new here. I'll let you know and you're right now.
Speaker: Don't sleep on the East.
