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Season 3 Episode 1: Believe the Hype
38 Plays4 days ago
Lachy and Squin are back for the 2025 NBl1 East season - same format, new platforms.
This episode briefly covers the biggest signings in the NBL1 East so far.
Stay tuned for roster analysis and hypotheses in upcoming episodes.
You can now find East Got Game on Facebook, Instgram and Youtube.
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Transcript
Introduction and New Season Format
00:00:03
Speaker
All right, let's give this a crack, hey? Let's put on our music to introduce us.
00:00:15
Speaker
Show of the logo there before we show our faces again. We're back with East Scott Game for NBL 1 East 2025. Lachlan France, you are with me, getting a very formal introduction. How are you?
00:00:30
Speaker
I'm... Confused as to why you refer to me as Lachlan, but it's great to be back. It is great to be back. um A little bit of a surprise, ah not reveal, but a surprise kind of um to some of our loyal East Scott game
New Video Streaming Format Announcement
00:00:48
Speaker
fans. We've been receiving some lovely messages in the last couple of weeks asking if we were returning and here we are. We are back to preview NBL 1 East 2025. It looks like we...
00:00:59
Speaker
ah looks like we We've got a new format happening. We are video streaming and we are going live, but rest assured that the episodes will still be available on all of our regular streaming platforms in an audio version as well. So for our loyal fans that used to listen on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and the other one called escapes me, but I'm sure that our listeners will know who who it is.
00:01:27
Speaker
um You can still find us there. But now you can also find us on Facebook. Obviously, our Instagram will continue and also YouTube. um For the time being, we can't stream live to Facebook. We have to have our new account for 60 days.
Streaming on Facebook: Age Restrictions?
00:01:42
Speaker
And Lockie, you're probably going to know this better off the top of your head than me. How long is the NBL 1A season? Are we going to make that 60 days or are we just going to have to stick to YouTube? No, the MBL1 season is, MBL1, well, East starts at the same, East is the first to start along with one of the others.
00:02:01
Speaker
um It's 30 days away. 30 days. Okay. So we we will have time to go onto Facebook. Yeah, so we've got lots of time. How how has your off-season
Off-Season Highlights: Weddings and Olympics
00:02:13
Speaker
been, Lockie? What have you been up to?
00:02:16
Speaker
What have I been up to in the off-season? Yeah.
00:02:20
Speaker
My sister got married, ah got my wisdom teeth out, and I got tickets to the Winter Olympics. Everything else is just details. That sounds like some pretty great milestones. Hopefully you're recovering well from your wisdom tooth surgery.
00:02:34
Speaker
ah Yes, I am. Just about getting there.
Showcasing NBL One East Jersey Collection
00:02:40
Speaker
And now that we are are starting to stream online as well, so you've got the video and the audio, I see that you have taken the time to redecorate and you've got some classic NBL One East jerseys in the background. Would you like to introduce them now or a bit later?
00:02:57
Speaker
I can introduce them now because it is my entire NBL One East collection. So I have ah Eliza Fabro, Shahi's, Alex Delaney, Manly Indigenous from last season.
00:03:11
Speaker
Lauren Calvert, Sharkies, Anzac Day Round from two seasons ago. And then Jersey 23, Illawarra, Amelia Garcia Leon from last season.
00:03:22
Speaker
Very nice. a Very nice variety. I like that it's um a lot of your favourite players, a lot of your favourite clubs, a mixture of country and metro, of course. so it's the name It's not the name on the front the that matters. It's the name on the back.
00:03:36
Speaker
That's correct. That's correct. That's correct. You've inspired me. Maybe I can try and hang up some of my jerseys in the background. I did try and do something in the background. You know, i've put up a shirt thinking that people are going to be able to see it, but they can't because my mug's in the way. So but right intention, bad execution.
Short Season Preview and Big Signings
00:03:56
Speaker
So ah for those listening or watching online, welcome. ah Tonight's episode is going to be a short and sweet episode just to get us started for the 2025 season and the truth be told to help us get used to this new streaming platform.
00:04:13
Speaker
ah Tonight we're going to have a brief discussion about the biggest signings that have been announced in the NBL One East so far. Emphasis on the so far.
00:04:24
Speaker
because we know that a lot of NBL 1 clubs like to announce their rosters very late or just leading up to the tip-off of the new season. And I'm sure we can expect a lot more big signings to come.
00:04:37
Speaker
Are you as positive as I am, Lachie? I am. i i have faith that clubs are just slow on the media uptake and they've got something brewing.
00:04:48
Speaker
you know, pre-season in full swing. They've got the players. They're just slowly, slowly pushing them out. You know, but if we if we learn about some players when we fire up the live stats in round one, so be it.
00:05:02
Speaker
No surprise. Very nice surprise. Like it keeps us, um it it keeps the mystery of the league that keeps us anticipating um what's going to happen next.
00:05:12
Speaker
And hence why the episode, first episode for season three is called Believe the Hype, which is also a homage to an iconic podcast from a few years ago, also called Believe the Hype.
00:05:25
Speaker
That was co-hosted by Benyam Kadane, who is now the editor of and NBA Australia, and Tom Reid, who now works for Spork in the US. little bit of a history lesson there for you to kick off the new episode.
00:05:37
Speaker
Two absolute legendary humans. Correct. um So, yeah, tonight's episode, we're just going to have a brief recap over the big signing so far, as I mentioned.
Team Roster Analysis and Predictions
00:05:49
Speaker
But then over our next four episodes, we'll be analysing and hypothesising each team roster before the NBL One East season some tips off on March 29th. As you said, Lockie, 30 days until tip-off.
00:06:05
Speaker
And then that will be a good opportunity for us to slice and dice and get into the nitty-gritty of things a little bit more compared to what we plan to tonight. And it's probably a good opportunity as well to um redirect people to our the website, escottgame.com, because that's where you're going to find a regularly updated roster tracker. And that's the roster tracker and rosters that we'll be referring to during tonight's episode.
00:06:32
Speaker
Lockie, that was all of your hard work. So big thank you for putting that website together. I got you. it It basically just is the roster tracker, the website at the moment. But it is there with links to every signing announcement.
00:06:46
Speaker
That's right. That's what I like about it. When you you can go to... Actually, you know what? Now we're on this new flat platform. Let me bring up the screen for the audience.
00:07:04
Speaker
Oh, is it working? Yep, here we go. So here we go. This is what our ESCOT game official website looks like featuring the roster tracker. And as you can see,
00:07:16
Speaker
Lockheed's put up the key at the top there. Underline players have a link to an official social media post about their new club. Loving that it goes in alphabetical order and it also compares this year's announced squads to last year's squads. So it's an easy way to track the ins and the outs.
00:07:33
Speaker
And I do like as well how you've referenced where some previous players have gone. So you can see on screen Lachlan Cummings who was a standout for the Aubrey Wodonga Bandits men's team last season.
00:07:46
Speaker
He's going west for 2025, so good luck to him. But that is a good look of the roster tracker on our website. You can also see on the right-hand side that it also has links to our Instagram posts as well.
00:08:00
Speaker
Very nicely done, my friend. Thank you. It you out of trouble in the off-season. It keeps you out of trouble. I can't imagine you get into much trouble nonetheless.
Team Signings: Aubrey Wodonga Bandits
00:08:11
Speaker
Thanks.
00:08:12
Speaker
So with that being said, let's get into it. And our first team that we're going to talk about is the Aubrey Wodonga Bandits. I'll leave it up to you, Lockie. Would you like to talk about the women signing or the men signing first?
00:08:27
Speaker
um Well, I've done my notes in the order you gave the players to me, so I think we'll start with the men. Yeah, that sounds great. So I think um one of the biggest surprises...
00:08:39
Speaker
ah for this season in signings was Matt Gray, who's moving from the Maitland Mustangs, where he's had a few great seasons with them, down to the border. What do you think of this one?
00:08:51
Speaker
Well, it's I like it it for two reasons. A, now Aubrey Wodonga have Matt Gray, but also a team that they're going chase, the leaders of the pack that they're chasing now also have to replace Matt Gray.
00:09:08
Speaker
So if you can lure and you know ah signing from within the league from a top team, it's double the effect. you're getting ah You're getting a starter from a championship team, a really good player, and now they've got to go and replace him as well.
00:09:25
Speaker
Yes. So Coach Luke Boyle has ah a big job on his hands, but as we'll get into later, it sounds like he's already doing doing some good work up there in ah in Maitland.
00:09:37
Speaker
And another is a name that some in the East may not be familiar with is Jean-Luc Morel. um He was most recently playing with the Logan Thunder up here in NBL 1 North.
00:09:48
Speaker
Do you know much about Jean-Luc Lachlan? I don't know a lot about Jean-Luc Morel. You'd think someone with the surname France would know a lot about someone named Jean-Luc, but I do not. But as our resident North expert, you i think you have you seen much of him?
00:10:07
Speaker
Yes, I do remember seeing a couple of games for the Logan Thunder men. They were quite competitive. I think they were one of the teams that only just missed out on finals last season. um He is a centre.
00:10:18
Speaker
The times where I saw him, on he didn't get a lot of minutes last season, but he was playing behind Callum Dalton. So that's going to be big shoes to fill. The times when he got on the court, he had some really good touches. I think he's going to be really handy for um the Bandits. And I think it's going to be, well, based on the limited signing announcements so far, it's going to be one of the textbook centres that we can see in NBL 1A. So it'll be interesting to see um who's going to be able to match up against him and what he can do when he gets more minutes.
00:10:51
Speaker
Yeah, because I'm just looking at his shot chart, 65% from the field last season and only one shot all year outside 10 feet. Yeah, okay, so he's very bread and butter under the basket.
00:11:04
Speaker
Yeah, whereas you look at Matt Gray, who's, you know, considered a frontcourt player as well, completely even split between around the paint and then mid-ranges or threes. 104 shots around the basket, two very different players to add to their frontcourt.
00:11:27
Speaker
Yeah, so looking forward to talking a little bit more about their potential dynamic for the Bandits in one of our future episodes. And then rounding off one of the be another big signing for the Aubrey Wodonga men is Jasper Rentoy.
Sydney Kings Signings and Potential Impacts
00:11:42
Speaker
So local fans may know Jasper as a recent Sydney Kings signing. So, yeah, the Bandits are coming up with three good signings to start off their campaign, Lockie.
00:11:54
Speaker
Yeah, Jasper obviously has a lot of experience. A few years played for Penrith and the Inner West in NBL 1. Was meant to play NZNBL last year until he did his knee, which was unfortunate. So definitely a player in demand.
00:12:10
Speaker
and ah i Obviously, any anyone who gets gets a run with the Kings definite definitely ah has the pedigree to um make it in NBL 1 East.
00:12:22
Speaker
Yeah, and he's got a wikipedia full Wikipedia page, so you know you've made it when you've got a full Wikipedia page too.
00:12:30
Speaker
Moving right along now to the women's team for Aubrey Wodonga, we have Riley Lutfer announced as one of their first imports. Now, have you come across Riley before, perhaps when she's played college?
00:12:45
Speaker
Yeah, I thought sleepless nights about what she did to Utah State one year. Tell me about it. Back in the days when um they had Rachel Brewster and Liv West and Eliza West and Shannon Duffercy and Steph Gorman. So it was like five Aussies playing for Utah State. coming up So Riley Lutfeld, she played Boise State in college and she won the conference tournament all four years she was in college.
00:13:11
Speaker
So, Utah State had to go through her and, judging by the fact she won the conference tournament all four years, they didn't. She was all Mountain West three times, Mountain West tournament, most outstanding player in 2018. Loves to shoot the three ball.
00:13:30
Speaker
Absolutely loves it. I know that was something Sammy Mack said he wanted to improve on, was their three-point shooting. Well... 83% of her shot attempts for Launceston in 2023 were three-pointers.
00:13:46
Speaker
Wow. 237 shots from beyond the arc, 50 from inside. Wow. Okay. So we at least we know what we're getting.
00:13:56
Speaker
And hit them at 39.7% as well. So in a league where no team shot over 34% from three-point land last year, I think Aubrey Wodonga definitely going to up the percentage and the amount of threes they're going to be shooting, which they need to.
00:14:15
Speaker
I mean, Liz Murphy was one of their proper shooters in a team that didn't shoot a lot of three-pointers and now she's gone to college. So definitely making up the for her loss.
00:14:27
Speaker
Yeah, they certainly sound like they've got a legit point guard. And, I mean, Boise State is it's no joke of a school either. That's an elite basketball school. um So yeah, really excited for her to join the NBL One East.
00:14:42
Speaker
And then another exciting signing for the women's team that you and I were very excited for was Kate Jones, who's most recently played for Lakeside Lightning over an NBL One West.
00:14:55
Speaker
Yeah, don't know a lot about. No, I'm just kidding. I was going to don't sell it. I've known Katie Jones since she was playing for WA Under 20. That's a story for another day. ah She had one season of college in Idaho, but, yeah, she just tried it for Lakeside last year.
00:15:13
Speaker
um Averaged 20-odd points a game, just absolutely four, nearly five assists, nearly five rebounds and three assists, 22.7 points.
00:15:27
Speaker
Scores, you know, barely even match between where she shoots it from, three-pointers, or getting to the rack. She's over in Germany playing in their top division at the moment alongside Mia Heider. She's averaging 13.5 points a game over there as well. So ah definitely ah definitely showing out. So very excited for her to be in the east with Aubrey Wodonga.
00:15:53
Speaker
Wow, good. Big shout-out to coaches Sammy Mack and Matt, who is the men's coach. They have been working really hard in the off-season to recruit some great players for their teams.
00:16:07
Speaker
All right, rolling right along now. Next on the list in alphabetical order is the Bankstown Bruins.
Bruins and Bankstown: Player Returns and Enhancements
00:16:13
Speaker
ah This one may be short and sweet. I mean, let's just start at the top with Jason Caddy. He's coming home, Lockie.
00:16:20
Speaker
He's coming home. How good. Yo. 15 years in the ah NBL, Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Asia Cup gold medalist. I think everybody who listens to this is going to if they don't have specific memories of what they like about Jason Cadee, they're going to at least know what he's about.
00:16:39
Speaker
um so I mean, we don't have to look at his you know NBL stats for this year. Just look back at what he's done throughout his career and he dropped 20 a game. in North last year and eight and a half assists. So in a team that's basically like they've announced 13 players and they've brought back just about everyone.
00:17:00
Speaker
i think the only big names they haven't brought announced is back yet a Jack Lopez and Sharif Saipaia, but they've added Jason Caddy. So I think we have to say for a team that just snuck into eighth in overtime last year, definitely on the way up.
00:17:18
Speaker
Oh, yeah, absolutely. Jason Caddy, I feel like he's been playing forever, but he's been playing consistently well for a very long time. Like he doesn't have very many off games.
00:17:30
Speaker
He's always such a great anchor for whatever team he plays in in that point guard position. And he showed the same still up here in NBL 1 North for the last few seasons with the Gold Coast Rollers. So, yeah, that's going to be super exciting to see him back in his home colours.
00:17:45
Speaker
Certainly will. Everyone get down to ah the Bruins' lair catch Jason Caddy alongside, know, Ney Hightower, Andre Walford and Hayden Blankley.
00:17:56
Speaker
Yeah, I wonder actually, because ah for those that don't know, i'm I'm sure a lot of people who follow East Scott game will already know this, but the main court they use at Bankstown obviously has the in the installed grandstand.
00:18:09
Speaker
and then the team benches on the other side of the court just on portable benches. I wonder if they're going to install some portable grandstands near the team benches now just to fill the fill the stadium.
00:18:22
Speaker
It has that potential. um Surely people are going to get down to watch, you know, watch Jason Koday. Yeah, roll the portable bleachers out. 100%. Yeah, yeah, book your tickets early. Get your membership now. 100%.
00:18:37
Speaker
iset And now I've got something here for you for the women's team. Are you ready?
00:18:53
Speaker
Crickets. Yes, like and yes, I did log in early to have that prepared just for that gag, but worth it. Bangstown Bruins women. I mean, they've got Lauren Curtin now as a coach, correct?
00:19:05
Speaker
Yeah, that's yeah that's been that's about all the announcements I've had. But hopefully now that, I mean, they've announced they announced a few more men's players today. So they're up to 13 men's players announced. So maybe they're about to ah roll over and start announcing their women's team.
00:19:21
Speaker
I hope so. And for those who don't know, Lauren Curtin has coached at a high level herself for a long time, including a lot of successful New South Wales metros team Metro So I'm really excited for her to be stepping up in the head coach's role in NBL One East.
00:19:36
Speaker
Very excited for her.
Central Coast Crusaders Signings
00:19:38
Speaker
um I guess with that said, we may as well roll on down south of the border into Canberra. um where a couple of big signings have been announced in both the men and women's team. But two, I just want to highlight probably just for this particular episode, the first being Brooklyn Bruton.
00:19:57
Speaker
We commentated on him at Nationals in 2022. Yeah, we did, actually. We did. And I didn't realise how young he was then. And so, you know, he's still quite a young gun now, correct?
00:20:09
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. And he's been a backup at Hobart. bro for a while. So maybe Canberra will be the spot for him to fully break out and show us exactly exactly what he can produce.
00:20:25
Speaker
Yeah, expecting maybe maybe a bigger role in a few more minutes perhaps. He's going to have a great coach. Peter Herrick is he's back as head coach for the Gunners. Yeah. But, yeah, very excited to see him in the NBL One East and see what he can do.
00:20:40
Speaker
And for the women's team, um another signing we were both surprised and happy about is Carly McAllister, who many may know as Carly Smith but now are happily married to her long-term partner, Eric McAllister. Congratulations to them.
00:20:55
Speaker
Carly McAllister, back where it all started. She is back. ah 3X3 star, so you know she's going to ah take care of her own business at both ends of the floor because when you play 3X3, you don't get a lot of help.
00:21:09
Speaker
um Averaged a double-double in North last year, so... Yeah, just just a great, great addition for a Canberra side that, got to remember, i only made playoffs because COE had to drop out last year, so...
00:21:27
Speaker
Yeah, big, big in. Very, very happy to see that. See that for the Nationals who are turning lot of players, which is good to see. But, yeah, i definitely happy to see Carly back in the blue and gold.
00:21:40
Speaker
Yeah, me too. I think she's a missing piece to that already pretty strong existing Canberra Nationals roster. Like you mentioned, she did average a double-double in the NBL 1 North for the Sunshine Coast Phoenix, who unfortunately were I think near the bottom of the ladder.
00:21:57
Speaker
They were a team who had a pretty good roster, really great coach, just couldn't get the synchronicity quite right, couldn't really get it together. But Carly was always quite consistent, doing a great job on the pick and roll with Hayley Andrews, so I imagine she'll be used a similar way for the Nationals.
00:22:14
Speaker
um But, yeah, I think she'll be a great addition to Nationals just to make sure they've got a bit more strength in the frontcourt for this next season. And then we're rolling on we're going coastal with the Central Coast Crusaders, and they have also announced some really big signings for both of their men's and women's teams so far.
00:22:36
Speaker
um With the men's team, Elijah Washington going from Sydney Comets and over to the Central Coast Crusaders, something I wasn't expecting but pleased to see. Yeah, it's good to see you back. I didn't play last year.
00:22:50
Speaker
um was solid for Comets in 2023. Was surprised not to see him on a roster in 2024 because I know he's been around town because I know he's been playing. I think he was playing UBL out in Parramatta.
00:23:04
Speaker
I hope that's not a dirty word in NBL on East Chat, but through a lot of the boys play in the offseason. Yeah, so, you know, crew...
00:23:16
Speaker
Definitely, know, I think most people would agree if they had their whole team, especially Ben Stevens, together for the entire campaign last year, they would have finished higher than they did and probably a fair bit higher. But, know, you've got to have you gotta to have players there from the start because every game counts the same. And, you know, if they can get ah got Elijah and the next player we're about to talk about in there from the start, it looks promising.
00:23:44
Speaker
Yeah, so straight over to another big signing for them is Claris Amir. You would have had a lot more ah contact or at least a few ah more opportunities to see Amir play in the flesh last season given he suited up for Sutherland Sharks. What can we expect from him in the Crusaders colours?
00:24:04
Speaker
Yeah. Well, Clareth last year, when he was on court for the Sharks, really good. um had a couple of i mean He had that ankle that when it happened, I thought, this is season gone.
00:24:18
Speaker
and ah But it did get you know he was in and out a bit with injuries. Still managed to put up 11 points game and five nearly five rebounds. gets the rack really well or throw down a monster down. He's really athletic. I mean, the guy was a four-star prospect in the States and had high major college offers before.
00:24:39
Speaker
And the Kings were happy to give him a three-year deal as a development player. That's how much stock they have in him. So I think he's he'll be a great signing for but Central Coast. I mean, I...
00:24:55
Speaker
the i I don't know if it all, I mean, the Sharks had injuries all over the shop last year, but I didn't fully mesh at all times for the Sharks. And I think if the crew can, if they've got the right pieces around him to get him to be his best, to, you know, play his role and unleash his athleticism,
00:25:20
Speaker
ah It could be a really good year for him. If he stays on the court for the entire 20 games as well, because that was one thing he definitely didn't get to play every game last year.
00:25:33
Speaker
I think he had a three-game stint right in the middle of the year. So that really disrupted his momentum. But I love him. I love watching him play. I love commentating on him.
00:25:43
Speaker
Just a pity we don't get crew down at the Shark Tank this year. oh yeah, that is a real shame. You might have to make the journey to see a home game at the Central Coast Crusaders venue in Terrigal.
00:25:55
Speaker
I'd love to, but any week I'm not commentating Sutherland on the comments. wo Yeah, you have a busy season ahead, my friend, busy season ahead.
00:26:06
Speaker
But, yeah, speaking of absolute athletes that we love to see on the court, this signing now, you you've clipped something from our live rehearsal yesterday which i love and we bet we may share it we may share it we'll see how we feel but this signing came out of nowhere uh we love being surprised especially when it's one of our favorite players and especially when it's one of our favorite clubs bit by us there jasmine simmons that's
00:26:37
Speaker
christ aegon state Oregon State represent, ah, hence why the inspiration for your shirt today. No, it's just hot today and this is a size large.
00:26:49
Speaker
ah
00:26:52
Speaker
But it all works out at the end. Yes, Jasmine Simmons, Under-17 World Cup All-Star, absolute athlete, AFLW player, played NBL 1 Central.
00:27:07
Speaker
and First thing I can say is, Crew, get out and run. Because we had Michaela Pivik on the show, i remember, and we talked about Jazz because were teammates at Oregon State.
00:27:23
Speaker
And Michaela Pivik said that you've got to get Jazz in a system where you run. And crew were dead last for fast breaking points in NBL 1 East Women last year.
00:27:35
Speaker
So that has to change. Jazz... Didn't take a three last year, 69.4% field goal percentage, 49 of 67 from inside eight feet.
00:27:49
Speaker
She gets to the rack and she lays it up over people because her her vertical is just ridiculous. Her vertical, her length, her athleticism, like she would be scary to guard on a fast break especially. especially And, yeah, now that she's, like you know, an AFLW player,
00:28:09
Speaker
where everything is sprinting, reaching, grabbing, like elevating or just get a turnover, turn and just throw it. Just say, go fetch.
00:28:21
Speaker
She'll grab it. She'll dunk it like game over. um And then one more signing that hasn't been officially announced, but Central Coast Crusaders had their season launch recently and posted some photos on their social media pages.
00:28:36
Speaker
It looks like NBL One North reigning champion from Rockhampton, Muffy Loda, is going to be suiting up for the Central Coast Crusaders and was announced as the vice captain and Jazz Falkadilla was announced as captain. But how how good is that for a little bit of a secret secret unannounced player signing?
00:28:57
Speaker
That's pretty good. i mean, I'm not one to, you know, call out, like, if a team puts up a preseason post and you go looking through the photos to see who's there, I'm not going to call that out. If you're going to put your season launch photo up and in size 144 point font put Muffy Loder, Vice Captain, we've got to talk about it.
00:29:16
Speaker
We're going to, especially because, you know, we we love the gossip. We love hearing the news of the signings. But also, we're just happy that matt Muffy is back. So we're going to tell everyone. Exactly. So happy Muffy is back.
00:29:30
Speaker
Yeah, and I'm sure the Crusaders are too. So between Jazz for Padilla and Muffy Loda at the point guard, I mean, how many assists can they both rack up with Jasmine Simmons just dunking on the fast break? Yeah.
00:29:43
Speaker
It'll be a arrest to ten race to 10, race to each game. Love it.
COE Scholarship Holders Introduction
00:29:48
Speaker
All right. Now COE, Centre of Excellence, but definitely not the rosters this season that we were used to in the last couple of seasons. Now, truth be told, there are a lot of names on the current rosters for COE that are familiar.
00:30:04
Speaker
but a lot of them are brand-new scholarship holders. one include The two that I've highlighted here in preparation for our episode today ah kind of purposely highlighted for their so surnames. So the first being Shea Brogan, who does have a great reputation already as a skilled player, and me, in my naivety, not making the connection between Brogan as the last name, Michelle Brogan's son.
00:30:34
Speaker
Yes. Michelle Brogan was like one of the best WNBL players of her time and she made the Opal squad and now to see that next generation in her son Shea, super exciting.
00:30:48
Speaker
Oh, yeah. I mean, Michelle won two Olympic medals and two World Championship medals. So, yeah, she real good. And, I mean, his dad, Dean Brogan, is an AFL legend.
00:31:04
Speaker
Ah, apologies. I did not know that. I'm not not quite up to date with my AFL history. ah So he's obviously coming from a very good sporting pedigree. Sorry, not not that. Uncle.
00:31:16
Speaker
Uncle. is ni Okay. Still the family. Yeah. still still in the family yeah yeah And another I've highlighted on from the women's roster is Andy Smith. Now, Smith is obviously one of the most common names you can get out there, even if it is in basketball, but Andy Smith is of the ah Alana Smith family. So um perhaps another future Opal as well in Andy Smith.
00:31:43
Speaker
Have you caught Andy Smith, much footage of Andy's game at all? um I haven't seen a lot, I'll be honest. it um I do know... that where Alana allaana is a, you know, inside, outside, shoot it, shoot the three, or do it just as easily, go into the rack. Andy is all about putting the ball in the basket from close range.
00:32:09
Speaker
So at U20, AJC, is it U20 or U18 this year, did not shoot a three, did not attempt one.
00:32:20
Speaker
So I think, yeah, 51 shot attempts all from in or around the paint. Cool. We love a textbook post player getting under the basket. That sounds good.
00:32:35
Speaker
All right. Now moving back into New South Wales, we are heading to the Hills Hornets.
Hills Hornets and Illawarra Hawks Signings
00:32:41
Speaker
who have, you know what, I will say again, Hills Hornets, great on social media. They started to do their player announcements, especially on Facebook, with a little bit of a video of each player. Looks pretty fun, pretty casual.
00:32:55
Speaker
um But the one that I've highlighted is the signing of Zach Hudson for the men's team. Yeah, doing exactly what they did last year, going and getting Inner West's former import.
00:33:06
Speaker
They got Chris Bryant from Inner West in 2024 and now In the West, I think they've signed two new imports and Zachary Hudson's making the trip up the M2 to Hills, which means he'll have to find someone other than Tony Tollevay to throw backboard dunk assists from, which are they did against Comets last year Alexandria. But, I mean, 13 and 6 last year.
00:33:36
Speaker
i mean, we've but we've all watched Zach for years. for Interwest last year, very much around the basket player. from Great, aged shot.
00:33:49
Speaker
nearly 50%, probably closer to 60% in and around, actually over 60% close to the basket. So we know what he can do in the paint. He grabs a good set of rebounds.
00:34:02
Speaker
And Lachman Hudson on NextGen Hoops has been posting a lot of videos of Zach in his pre-season training, and he's ah he's looking pretty good. Interesting you mention NextGen Hoops and some of the athletes that have been trained.
00:34:17
Speaker
I've noticed that um our very our favourite Shez Kalia has also been training down there. question and and we know that she's not returning to Mount Gambier for NBL1.
00:34:28
Speaker
Question mark, is she also coming home? hope so. but be That'd be real nice. It's starting to look like the season 2025 of NBL One East is has a theme of the the homecoming.
00:34:46
Speaker
Yeah. Wouldn't mind that in the slightest. Everyone coming. No, not at all. Not at all. And so now as we move on to Hornsby Keringai Spiders, I also have a similar present for you as I had before.
00:35:03
Speaker
That was for men and women.
00:35:07
Speaker
That's why I played it twice. Yeah. That's why I played it twice. Men and women. It's ah under lock and key at this stage. I know that last season they were literally announcing players the day before the first game of the season. Are we going to see the same?
00:35:24
Speaker
I will say i have seen some preseason posts of their women's team, not official ones. A lot of the players look the same, but um it's not everyone.
00:35:36
Speaker
And I can't speak to any of the players who weren't in those photos. So i don't know. Yeah, yeah, it still remains a mystery. I hope they can fit some crumbs at least at some stage.
00:35:51
Speaker
It would be nice. I should have gone to Bunnings. ah had a bun They had a Bunnings fundraiser, I think, on the weekend. or Maybe it's this weekend. But I don't think I'll trek all the way to Hornsby just to get player gossip from Bunnings somehow.
00:36:06
Speaker
Well, it sounds like if that's what it takes for us to anticipate what the roster is going to look like, we have to go to Bunnings? Jeez. Yeah. All right, so Hornsby, TBC, let's just say that.
00:36:20
Speaker
Now, going down south to Illawarra where the Illawarra Hawks have announced two of their, ah two big signings for their men's team. The first that was announced is Kobe McDowell-White.
00:36:32
Speaker
Yes, from that exact McDowell-White family of ballers. um Also coming from great sporting pedigree with their his parents were also outstanding their athletes in their own right.
00:36:45
Speaker
Will McDowell-White, as we know, NBL career, now playing in Europe, put on the green and gold in the last couple of years. Jess McDowell-White, DP with the Townsville Fire, who are just heading into the WNBL final again.
00:36:59
Speaker
And now Kobe stepping up and he's just had his first NBL season as a DP for Illawarra and he's decided to stay. Yeah, well, I mean, Illawarra, both Illawarra and the Hawks, I think are definitely trying to connect beyond just sharing an office at the snake pit, you know, actually trying to, you know, we talk like to Phil DePuj last year and he said, you know, he was in there working out with the Hawks a lot, even if he wasn't in an official capacity and forget, you know, Kobe McDowell-White and another player we're about to mention who are not originally from Wurngong, stick around, is ah is really good to see and bodes well for,
00:37:43
Speaker
ah sticking around longer and maybe, you know, in the community even longer, which is really good to see. um I mean, Kobe only played six NBL games this year, but, you know, he was lighting it up the Sunshine Coast in North.
00:38:01
Speaker
Yeah, he was. He had a great season for sunny coast in North. I agree. Also classic point guard position as a lot of them ah ah the other his other siblings also play point guard.
00:38:13
Speaker
um Also really good on the pick and roll, controlling the tempo for his team. And he's pretty young. So... He's got a like showing great signs of maturity already. But, yeah, not a local to Illawarra, so was great that they could get him to stay.
00:38:27
Speaker
If this were any other kind of workplace context, we'd call that recruitment and retention. Am I right? I think so.
00:38:36
Speaker
um yes and the other big signing that you... alluded to earlier is Todd Blanchfield. He is also staying in the Illawarra. Also someone that's not original originally from Wollongong is from Mackay, and he played for Mackay last season up here in the north in that absolutely stacked team that they had.
00:38:55
Speaker
Also coached by Joel, who is one of the assistant coaches for Illawarra Hawks in the NBL. Shout out to Joel. Yeah, Todd Blanchfield, what a surprise. That's so good. That's like to keep him around. You can have him around Illawarra all winter. yeah he be You be, probably working out some kids or working with, you know, the young guy, you know, the young guys in NBA, the NBL one team. They'll just, just be a sponge kids.
00:39:26
Speaker
You got Todd Blanchfield hanging around for the next six months. Probably longer. If he's, if he's staying in Illawarra for NBL one, doesn't seem to, You know, it doesn't seem like it'd be moving very far.
00:39:38
Speaker
um And the the funny thing is, when I heard that Todd Langefield was staying in Illawarra, I was thinking, well, up in Mackay, he had like Emmett Nair, you know, beating him and guys like that.
00:39:53
Speaker
Like, who's, how are they going to utilise him if they don't have like a really, you know, and point guard name? And then they go and get Codem Bigdale-White the very next day.
00:40:06
Speaker
Yeah, and at least now they they've obviously got some knowledge of each other from playing against each other up in North for a couple of years, but now even more so being training buddies with the and in the NBL. So, ah yeah, I'm hoping that that chemistry can continue between the two of them.
00:40:22
Speaker
just They just need a really good centre as well to round out a big three. Well, they just today, i think like an hour before we went on online, announced Brad Ballinger's back as well. So that's the third piece. He averaged 11 or so points last year.
00:40:36
Speaker
But it's a good start. Three is a great start, but we're playing 5v5 basketball. So need to fill out that roster.
00:40:47
Speaker
Sure do. and I'm sure that they've got a lot up their sleeve as well.
Inner West Bulls and Manly Warringah Strategies
00:40:52
Speaker
ah But a team that is showing their full hand, so far for the men's competition is the Inner West Bulls.
00:40:59
Speaker
They're not mucking around. They've announced their full roster. they And they had them announced early. Like it's been a good two, three weeks since they announced their final player, Josh Morgan, which was their 12th or 11th player. So think they're they're pretty much set...
00:41:18
Speaker
Yeah, and I think they are, yeah, pretty much set. Love how well organised they are and obviously worked very hard in recruiting quickly in the off-season, including Mirko. Derek is coming back.
00:41:30
Speaker
Yeah, huge. He was in Central last year and then playing over in Sweden. think he's a Bankstown boy originally. He's definitely played for them. Obviously, and m b one pedigree, just a really, really good signing player.
00:41:47
Speaker
You know, they've yeah i lost Hudson, lost Billy Fichetti, Kalen Bayes, we still know what's going on with Alex Higgins' teacher, but a couple of new imports and then adding Mirko on top as well.
00:41:59
Speaker
In a West, they don't rebuild, they reload on the men's side. Oh, very nicely said, very nicely said. Whereas for the women's, I'm going to give you the same sound effect one more time.
00:42:14
Speaker
absolute crickets for the women. I'm not too sure if they've even officially announced a coach. For $1, name a woman. Yeah. ah Good, lovely reference to Billy on the Street, if anyone needs to know. Billy on the Street, please look up that clip. It's hilarious.
00:42:34
Speaker
ah Yeah, name a woman in the West Bulls because you don't even have a coach yet. So... Well, I'm sure they have a coach. They haven't announced a coach yet. So, wow. yeah Yeah. It's not looking great, but we have faith that the roster will be filled.
00:42:50
Speaker
Yeah. oh that so Five players to take the court at least. Yes. just just Just give us something so we don't have to speculate so much. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. Just again, like we said with Hornsby, at least give us some crumbs.
00:43:05
Speaker
Yeah. Something. Something to nibble on. um But listen, this next club, Manly Warringah Seagulls, they're also not mucking around. I think they were focused already on the 2025 season as soon as the last season ended.
00:43:22
Speaker
It looks like they've got a lot of major pieces um for both their men's and women's team. ah If you like, I can put up, I won't put up the full roster because we'll put it up in a future episode when we analyse each roster a little bit more in depth.
00:43:38
Speaker
But the one ah the one signing that has stood out for me so far is Isaiah Lee. Again, he's coming home. Another homecoming from the north.
00:43:52
Speaker
Yeah, and we've got to find out what is going up what is going on up there in the north for people to be coming home. Surely it's not that bad, but um it's probably purely just a coincidence. But it's going to be great to see him as an addition to the likes of Mason Bragg and Matthew Eldridge returning too.
00:44:10
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. mean, that's just the first four, and the women they dropped, their last seven players in a group. So I assume that sometime in the next couple of weeks we'll probably get another big drop of ah Manly players as well to see how they are fill out the roster.
00:44:29
Speaker
I think they've still got a second import spot to fill as well, which was Jonas Harper last year. So at Isaiah Lee, if they get another solid import, a couple of extra pieces, things are looking good.
00:44:42
Speaker
Yeah, really going for that chip this season. Hmm. They'd be burning from the last season, so I imagine they're going to be super determined to get to that grand final.
Maitland Mustangs and Newcastle Falcons Roster Updates
00:44:53
Speaker
Definitely.
00:44:54
Speaker
Speaking of grand final, the champ reigning champions of the men's competition, the Maitland Mustangs, as we mentioned earlier, they ah they don't no longer have Matt Graves. He's gone to Aubrey.
00:45:06
Speaker
And they've also lost Will Cranston-Lown, who has gone to Tasmania to play in NBL1 South. They have, however, retained Christian Little, And big signing.
00:45:19
Speaker
i mean We love moving pieces. We love it when an import re-signs, whether it's for the same club or a different club in the east. But Mandrell Worthy, he's getting out the city and he's going country.
00:45:31
Speaker
Such, I mean, such a good signing. It's like that's an understatement. The man is just... elite and you've got it.
00:45:44
Speaker
It's like you think about how do you replace the two-time MVP? Well, Mandrell worthy. I mean, you can't do much better if I'm being entirely honest with you.
00:45:56
Speaker
No, that's exactly my trainer thought as well. Like how you mentioned before, great for Aubrey to get Matt Gray. Maitland now have the problem of replacing someone like Matt Gray, but look how successful they've been replacing Will Cranston Lowne with Mandrell.
00:46:10
Speaker
So um I'm guessing Coach Boyle has got a another big signing up his sleeve perhaps. I mean, they they've announced a few.
00:46:21
Speaker
ah ah I mean, Coach Boyle, yeah he's pretty crafty. They've still got six or so players from last year's squad nott not ah announced yet.
00:46:37
Speaker
and We'll see what transpires. And for the women, it sounds like it's the Maitland Mustangs are becoming the sister city or the sister team for San Diego because Casey Newbert, who's also played in San Diego in the NCAA women's competition, has signed as an import for the Maitland Mustangs this season, who um a lot of other former and also still current Maitland Mustangs women's players have played in San Diego as well.
00:47:13
Speaker
Yes. Well, Casey Newbert and Mila Voskovich were teammates last year in college. And I think Sid Hunter and Casey's careers might have overlapped for a year. I'll have to check on that. But definitely last year Casey was but she average averaged 10 points per game and 9.6 rebounds, standing 6'1". So maybe a bit like Sid Hunter, not not the tallest player on on the court, but definitely goes and gets rebounds.
00:47:49
Speaker
Yeah, and that's not that ain't bad. But speaking of Mila, just continuing with the ongoing theme of homecoming, she's also coming home. She certainly is. After after a season at San Diego, she's ah decided to come back home to play.
00:48:04
Speaker
ah Didn't get the biggest run at San Diego. and And some players transfer, some players stick it out, and some players come home and decide that yeah playing at home is the best best option.
00:48:18
Speaker
um it's She did get to play against Juju Watkins, though, so that has to be a pretty memorable moment. that's That is pretty cool. Yeah. Yeah.
00:48:29
Speaker
We've got some comments here in on Instagram. Yes, unfortunately, we are going live at the same time as the second WNBL semifinal between the Sydney Flames and the Bendigo Spirit.
00:48:41
Speaker
um But, alas, here we are. Yeah. All right, so Maitland, we're going hunting to the Newcastle Falcons.
00:48:54
Speaker
You kind of see what I tried to do there. ah Yes, yes. Newcastle Falcons, oh, look, they're no stranger to signing some great players. I mean, their women's team last season, obviously reigning champions with the likes of Munger and Alyssa Brett.
00:49:11
Speaker
Alyssa Brett going on to play WNBL for Geelong United and winning the team's defensive player of the year award in her first season. um But, yeah, also just great with signings because they've got Meg Jefferson who's just coming off the back of her debut WNBL season with the UC Camber Capitals.
00:49:31
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, obviously it be big space to fill in the front court with Ola Jufferman's being over in college and you go and grab Meg Jefferson who's, you know,
00:49:44
Speaker
WNBL player, she's, um I mean, we've known since even before she went to Virginia and Hawaii for college just how good Meg Jefferson is. You know, averaged 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds last season. Not the same style of player as Isla, obviously, but um definitely a great, great pickup.
00:50:10
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. We're excited for Meg. to see how she can flourish there in Newcastle. And back towards the city we go, over the bridge to north of Bears.
00:50:22
Speaker
They have also been loading up both their men's and women's squad.
North Bears and Penrith Panthers Key Signings
00:50:27
Speaker
um Notably in the men's squad, Hunter Goodrick is back after his college career, it looks like. He's a great pickup for the North Bears.
00:50:36
Speaker
And also Iggy Mitchell is back on the scene. Yeah. So that's just, I mean... I'm just happy to see Iggy Mitchell able to commit to a team again and actually look like he's going to get back on the court.
00:50:51
Speaker
I mean, he was committed to Comets a couple of years ago. He went to college and redshirted. know, he's back. He's at Norths. Hopefully we see out there because he is going to be a game changer. And so is Hunter.
00:51:05
Speaker
i mean, Hunter was great in college. Yeah. You know, he was a ah chance at a double-double literally every night. um Yeah, remember, he was in Australia under-18s at Albert Schweitzer with Isaiah Lee from Manly, but also Sam Froehling, Kelly Laupefe, and Alex Dukas, who's now playing in the NBA.
00:51:28
Speaker
So I think Callum Dalton was in that team as well. and I think just about everyone who wanted to went to a D1 college in that team. So... know, he's been earmarked a talent from way back, and he's
00:51:45
Speaker
certainly a great addition for North. He also once dropped 68 in a GPS high school game. Wow, that's ridiculous. 68 out of how many team points? I don't know. it's ah It's on his college profile.
00:51:58
Speaker
um is's college park yeah I wouldn't be surprised if he, you know, MBL1 East is a great chance to play, you know, back at home without the nees you know without a lot of the similar pressures that I imagine people are experience in college. But it's I wonder if it's just a little bit of a stepping stone or a little bit of a pit stop before an MBL club is pretty quick to snap him up.
00:52:23
Speaker
I would hope so. I'd have to think he'd be sniffing around, If not at least the two New South Wales clubs, then anyone else wants to pick up the phone. Yeah. Yeah, and another big signing for North is Jolene Anderson is coming back, which I'm very pleased about, who absolutely balled out a couple of years ago in the NBL1 East Women's Final against Manly.
00:52:50
Speaker
Oh, gosh, it's going to be a dream seeing her play again. Certainly is. I mentioned, I mean, we talked about Riley at Aubrey earlier in the league not having the greatest three-point shooting numbers. Well, no team in the league shot better than 34% from three in the women last year.
00:53:06
Speaker
Jolene Anderson, her last season with Norts, 47.6% from three-point range, according to the great Duncanburg HoopsDB.net. 105 of her shots were three-pointers, 44 were not. So...
00:53:21
Speaker
so Not quite the same disparity as Riley, but still, she's going to shoot it. We know she's going to shoot it and they're going to go in. Yeah, so, you know, when your coach tells you to carry a hand, that's just not going to be enough for joel to stop Jolene. I'm sorry, you're going to have to do more.
00:53:41
Speaker
You certainly are.
00:53:44
Speaker
And then it looks like another club who is very focused on improving on from their result from last season in 2025 is the Penrith Panthers, very quick also to announce their men and women's roster.
00:53:59
Speaker
I think the men's roster is looking pretty good. they've You've got a lot of the great players and the chemistry from last season. But the women's roster have included two big signings, one being Zoe Jackson and the other, Sarika Shillingsworth. I'm just glad she's playing ball again.
00:54:15
Speaker
Me too. That was my first thought when Sherry had signed was, you know, it didn't really work out going back to her home club with Comets. Obviously, you know, if willing to commit to Penrith, must like what she sees out there.
00:54:31
Speaker
we We all know she can ball. She's just a pure athlete and she's skilled. But when I say she's a pure athlete, you know, she's gone to the States to play American football, like tackle American football.
00:54:42
Speaker
She filled in as goalkeeper for Sydney Uni's soccer team, like they're not their NPL team, their actual uni team and kept clean sheets as far as I know.
00:54:54
Speaker
we know what she can do on a basketball court. She's just, do you want to try handball? like yeah We need players in the handball women's league, but I think she's ah going to be a bit busy.
00:55:09
Speaker
Yeah, it sounds like she can have her pick of any sport on any any given day. So I'm grateful that it's basketball. um I think she's going to add a lot of firepower and experience and a lot more offensive threat to the Penrith Panthers women this season.
00:55:25
Speaker
which, um you know, they're obviously a lot of their offence was hinged on Talia Tupiah, and she's still yet to be announced, so we're still holding hope that she's going to return as well, ah which will be huge if Shillingsworth and Tupiah are playing together.
00:55:42
Speaker
um Because they've also got Mia Heidi back too, and she was and also nearly averaging, if not averaging, a double-double last season. she was She was really good for them and she was kind of doing it one out a little bit in the front court. But now they've got Zoe Jackson, who I think has four centimetres on Mia even for height, and then they've got Jordan Vasquez, who's around six foot tall. The play is as far as I've ever seen much of any. don't I've ever watched her play, but she plays the four spot, so kind of undersized four. But,
00:56:16
Speaker
You know, if they've actually got three proper players to go to in the frontcourt all season, that's all yeah that's a just a great, great situation for them to be in. And the only thing I'm thinking is this roster, it's better off one through 14.
00:56:37
Speaker
They've announced 14. It's better one through whatever than last year. But Talia's just so hard to replace. It's the only thing. Yeah, I mean, with with or without Talia, this isn't a team that anyone can take lightly in this next season. so really interested to see if Penrose can make that top eight. That would be fantastic.
00:56:58
Speaker
All right, we're heading into shark territory, Sutherland Sharks.
Sutherland Sharks and Sydney Comets New Additions
00:57:03
Speaker
Now, the one that I've highlighted to talk about just for today's episode was the recent signing for the men's team, Jason Spergen.
00:57:11
Speaker
Now, you are ah part of the shark tank, Lockie, if not the integral part of the shark tank. Have you heard any other whispers or rumours that you're able to share with us? No, i actually haven't. I did go down to, um well, i I actually went down to local comp for a couple of weeks before I got my wisdom teeth out, so a few weeks ago now.
00:57:30
Speaker
And I did hear that, you know, with Sean Roger as head coach, they would try to get the Kings player in and evidently it turned out to be Jason Spurgeon. But, no, I haven't heard a lot of other news. It sounds a little bit like the status quo.
00:57:46
Speaker
um Callum Norris won't be playing for the men. He'll be playing Waratah League. The old boys brigade is getting back together. Bailey Muglin, Jake Carey, Brendan Wynne-Stanley, Jake Wilson, Calum Norris.
00:58:00
Speaker
It's basically going to look like some of your rotational players from Waratah League a few years ago playing Waratah for the Dublin Men this year. But, i no, I haven't heard a lot. But have heard a bit about Jason Spurgeon.
00:58:13
Speaker
um Started at Southern Utah and then played his last season at college for Bowling Green, which is the same college that Alyssa Brett was at before she went to Michigan.
00:58:24
Speaker
So kind of, you know, something to a kind of a reference point. ah Loves to shoot a three, just Jason Spurgeon. Yeah.
00:58:36
Speaker
Got 34% from three-point range in college and around maybe just over 30% of his field goal attempts were three-pointers.
00:58:50
Speaker
10 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, one block per game. But I feel like as a seven-footer in college, people probably just are more... scared of you so you're probably disrupting offense more than actually blocking shots kind of thing especially like a seven footer in a non-power conference probably he's probably towering over a lot of people so they're probably just not have a watch but if i had to make an assumption or a guess i'd say most of the time people just are going into the paint to get their shots blocked
00:59:24
Speaker
Yeah, like it's a pretty powerful feeling when your presence is enough to put someone off from making a play. you don't You just need to be there. You don't need to do too much but just be there, a presence and intimidate.
00:59:37
Speaker
That's pretty cool. That's a pretty cool power to have. it is cool and very interesting is we've got a few legit seven footers obviously we've got the big man johnny's been a gorant's at comets and uh leno at central coast is seven foot jason's seven foot so we're gonna have some uh ding dong battles in the paint this year yeah ding dong battles i love that that's great clip that All right, lucky last is the Sydney Comets, as you just mentioned when you name-dropped the legendary Johnny Syngorak. But the two signings that are standing out to me so far for the Sydney Comets are both on the women's team.
01:00:16
Speaker
Firstly, Abby Curtin was announced quite early that she's playing for the Comets. Now, she played last season with the Darwin Salties in the NBL1 North. um But it is nice to have her back on home soil.
01:00:30
Speaker
Yeah, it is. um so she's played. She's obviously Hornsby way back in the day and then played with Newcastle. Now at Comet, also spent the some time with Norts. And yeah, at Comets.
01:00:44
Speaker
So a little bit of a front court bolster for Comets. And mean, she was over and she'd obviously been keeping her skills up because she went over to Malaysia and played.
01:01:00
Speaker
ah for a little bit. Won a trophy over there. Looks like she had the time of her life. Perhaps ah something we should learn more about if we get to interview Abby this season on ESCOT Game. What do you think?
01:01:15
Speaker
don't know. It might be a good idea. Yeah, definitely. And, again, another surprising signing for NBL 1 East that we are welcoming with open arms is Michaela Perini, who was signed with the Sydney Comets. Now, she's been like she's ah she's been playing a long time. She has WNBL experience, most recently played in NBL 1 West, but even more recently than that, she actually played at Hoops Fest, which was the WNBL preseason tournament. She suited up for Townsville and just balled out.
01:01:48
Speaker
very very good to see Comets go and get um go and get someone of Perini's calibre to uh both for the backcourt because um know you think they had David Dale and Shiloh Hill in their backcourt last year that's uh that's tough to replace if you don't get one of them back so getting Perini is a very good start um Still lot of young players need to ah build up. But Perini, sixth woman of the year in NBL One West. So looking to, I guess, take over as the ah leader of a team.
01:02:30
Speaker
Yeah, she'd be she'd provide really great leadership. That's a great point. She'll be a great leader for that Sydney Comets key team who were typically quite young, I think, last season and expecting Piper Anderson to have a bigger role and also a little bit of leadership next season, even though she's still quite a young player. But she's had a fantastic season with the Sydney Flames as a DP.
01:02:52
Speaker
um Dreams come true. Got some court time during the year, which we love to see. so Exciting to see Piper go strength to strength as well. But that essentially wraps up ah some of the highlights of the of the current NBL1 East signings.
01:03:10
Speaker
As we mentioned throughout the episode, some teams are essentially like there's a lot of what we call homecomings. ah signings in the likes of Jason Caddy and a lot of other people across all of the teams.
01:03:25
Speaker
But also a few clubs just giving us nothing but cricket. Absolute cricket. So keeping us in suspense, hopefully they've got something exciting for us in preparation for season 2025.
01:03:40
Speaker
Just before we wrap up, we will remind everyone the next few episodes we will be taking a closer look at the team rosters that are made available to us so far um and taking a bit more of a deeper dive and hypothesising on what that might look like and where that team may fall in the NBL 1A season, understanding that it's going to be difficult to predict given that not all the rosters are out.
01:04:07
Speaker
And also I would like to remind everyone that you can now find ESCOT Game on Facebook, Instagram, Instagram, And we have a YouTube channel where all of our episodes will be streamed live on, ah will be Tuesday nights, um but stay, keep an eye on our socials for further announcements about our episodes.
01:04:27
Speaker
And also visit our website, escottgame.com, and you can find the 2025 MBL One East roster tracker, A lot of hard work has gone into that by Lockie himself. So, um yeah, you can find us in most places now.
01:04:47
Speaker
We're everywhere, Lockie. We are. We're everywhere. And it's easy for me to be up here, but so hopefully you'll be able to spruik it a little bit more down there.
01:05:00
Speaker
Fingers crossed. Should we ah get to our final topic of discussion that we were alerted to in the Insta DMs? Yeah, I think we
Penrith Basketball's Potential Merge
01:05:10
Speaker
should actually. yeah so one of our loyal listeners did alert us to a little bit of an issue happening with Penrith Basketball.
01:05:19
Speaker
Basically, there's a situation with Penrith Basketball as an association and the venue where they are, you know, out in Penrith. I'm What did you make of the of the information that's provided online, Lachie?
01:05:33
Speaker
So i what is going on as far as I can read is Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre, which is a separate entity from the Basketball Association, is
01:05:51
Speaker
they... um want to merge the Basketball Association into the Sports Centre as an entity. And the current proposal, this is directly from Penrith Basketball, Penrith District Basketball Association website at a town hall.
01:06:08
Speaker
The current proposal put forward by the PVRSC, which is the the Sports Centre, two board positions for the association on the new PVRSC board of seven, ring fencing of all basketball funds including $80,000 loan that has already previously been that was mentioned earlier in the in the document to only be used for basketball purposes the association would be dissolved because it would then be part of PBRSC there would be a process in which the association would be able to demerge and reform if at any stage it was determined that it was no longer in the best interest of basketball to remain merged
01:06:47
Speaker
say council take her over the facility instead of the sports centre being its own thing. All staff would move over to PVRSC on the same conditions and pay. However, the PDBA, Basketball Association, would have to pay out leave liabilities for before they joined the merged entity.
01:07:04
Speaker
um The concern is that once the association was dissolved, they would no longer assist us and could not ensure anything was protected moving into the future. you know, essentially, yes, the current board could say we're going to protect everything, but the thing about boards is the members change, and if you can't get the support of the new members, then things could change.
01:07:26
Speaker
ah so
01:07:33
Speaker
They requested a non-binding agreement. um If they'd signed the agreement, it would have become legally binding the next day. So they informed PVRC that they could not proceed with signing the current version.
01:07:52
Speaker
So essentially...
01:07:59
Speaker
There was one more thing, i guess. So essentially they it's come to a head and there were various issues that you can read about in the PDF. Actually, I think it is that document.
01:08:12
Speaker
There's also a PDF version. um So we could not reach any compromise on these issues, which has led us to this point where the PBRSC has made the decision to provide the Basketball Association with notice that they will be removing our competitions from the facility and would no longer do business with the PDBA.
01:08:31
Speaker
Basketball in New South Wales have stated that they are in support of the association and will not be providing another organisation with a licence to play BNSW-affiliated competitions within the Penrith local government area.
01:08:44
Speaker
So...
01:08:46
Speaker
Penrith, for Penrith to still have reps, Penrith would have to find new locations to play, whether that be schools, smaller venues, a number of venues, which is also an issue.
01:09:00
Speaker
um So of course, and you have to play local comp for a registered association to play reps. So they would have to find a way to make that work.
01:09:13
Speaker
ah
01:09:18
Speaker
So basically yeah that's it. um They're looking to, yeah, PVRSC wants the PDBA to merge.
01:09:33
Speaker
If they don't, well, PVRSC says it's just going to run its own basketball comps and PDBA will not be able able to hire the facility and they'll have to find somewhere else to play.
01:09:43
Speaker
ah Important to note that representative competition is secured for the 2025 season at the venue that's mentioned in the town hall notes. So at least for this season, they are they do have somewhere to play, but ah certainly lot to unfold here.
01:10:08
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. So... ah Thank you to our listener who has alerted us to this piece of news via our Instagram at ESCOT Game. Remember, if you have any news you'd like to share or guests that you'd like to um have featured on ESCOT Game this season, you're welcome to send us a DM on Instagram.
01:10:30
Speaker
um But, yeah, we'd love to see how if how this story unfolds over the season and if there's any updates, please let us know. Correct. And look if you're from Penrith Association or you just have more of an understanding this than I do, I am not a lawyer. I have never been on a board of anything. I'm just reading what's here and trying to take something away from Please DM us.
01:10:53
Speaker
Give us more information because it's obviously something that's, you the PVRC hold all the cards here. So, yeah.
01:11:04
Speaker
If you've got more information, please let us know. Yeah, please, please keep us across it. But, yeah, hopefully there can be a resolution, um or you know, sooner rather than later.
01:11:17
Speaker
But in the meantime, great to know that all representative basketball through Penrith is secure for 2025, including the NBL1 rosters that we briefly touched on in this episode.
01:11:29
Speaker
Again, just a reminder, head to our website, escottgame.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. And remember, well what i was to say, do you want to say it? Remember?
01:11:42
Speaker
Don't sleep on the ice. Woohoo. That's right. Still got to use our intro and outro music and we'll be back. Peace. We'll see you.