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Season 4 Episode 4: STOP! Miller Time - with Zoey Miller (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
46 Plays9 days ago
NBL1 East representatives in the WNBA Draft!
Game reviewed: Norths Bears vs. Albury-Wodonga Bandits Women
Athletes Interview: Zoey Miller (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Social Media Plug
00:00:56
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome to East Got Game where we give you the X's, the O's and the insights of NBL One East. Thanks for joining us tonight live on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
00:01:11
Speaker
And remember, you can follow us on Instagram and Facebook at EastGothGame or you can continue to find out episodes on your preferred streaming platforms.
00:01:21
Speaker
While you're there, make sure you check out Cut to the Jace, a podcast featuring Bankstown Bruin himself, Jason Caddy, and It's a Coal World, a podcast by WNBL champion, Bec Cole.
00:01:35
Speaker
Both of those podcasts are brought to you by basketball.com.au.
Excitement of NBL One East Round 2
00:01:40
Speaker
Lockie, we have finally knocked off round two of NBL One East. So tell me, how was your weekend?
00:01:48
Speaker
Squin, my weekend could not have been better. The two games I called at Sutherland against the Maitland Mustangs were absolutely off the chain. It was one of the best, like, as far as two games of basketball in one night, one of the best sets of games I've called in my six seasons of commentary. It was just amazing.
00:02:14
Speaker
You must have been pooped after those two. i mean, did it take you a while to wind down as well after all the excitement and finally get to bed? um Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's always big pack up at Sutherland, so that took enough energy out of me. But, ah yeah, it was it was massive. I mean, the Sharks, man, especially, they were down 30 to 10.
00:02:35
Speaker
Rain Smith had 17 points in the first quarter. And Jake and I were saying like 13 points. I think they got it back to 32-19 by the end of the first quarter.
00:02:46
Speaker
We were like, okay, they can chip away at that. And then they were still 15 down at halftime and ended up winning by 14. I think at one point in the the fourth quarter was at one point 26-13. And then, yeah, Sharks just went on with it.
00:02:58
Speaker
Yeah. Ridiculous. And then the women's game, the Maitland women, they were down big and got it back within one before the Sharps women pulled away, even without Lauren Nicholson.
Game Highlights and Stadium Atmosphere
00:03:08
Speaker
So, ah yeah, crazy weekend.
00:03:13
Speaker
Yeah, that sounds really exciting. Looks like the stadium was packed out again, which we love to see. um um i mean, still championing for another big grandstand on that side.
00:03:27
Speaker
Yeah, i don't think we have any room to put it, unfortunately. um with Court 2 pretty hemmed in there. There's no room for pull-out bleachers or anything, unfortunately. So we'll just we'll just keep rolling in the bleachers every week and hope we don't crash into the trophy case while we do it.
00:03:44
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Well, let's hope not. Let's hope everyone stays safe in that precarious environment. ah James, ah al You know, one of the most prolific photographers in the East, James O'Donoghue, says that second half was epic of those um ma the Sutherland Sharks-Maitland games. So it's probably ones to keep on the watch list if you haven't managed to catch it just yet.
00:04:11
Speaker
Definitely, yeah. I mean, yeah. thats but I mean, the first quarter watching Maitland were just on another level. They were crazy good. And then the Sharks coming home coming home with a wet sail.
00:04:23
Speaker
and Yeah. So good. um Really needed it needed the win. The sharks Sharks needed the win after the loss to Commons. I guess you could say Maitland needed the win after the loss to Illawarra, but then they went to Inner West on Sunday and and got the win regardless. So both teams were the first win on the board.
Upcoming Features and Show Highlights
00:04:41
Speaker
Very good. And we've got a huge show ahead for everyone tonight. We, you know, just a reminder that back by popular demand, the All-Star 5 is back for season four and it will primarily be featured on our Instagram page. So if you're always keen to see our All-Star 5s for every NBL1 East round. Make sure you follow us on Instagram. Lockie, we usually start with a discussion point and then we've also got a great game review coming up and a sneaky interview with a very special guest as well. But do you have any discussion points to bring to the episode this week?
00:05:17
Speaker
I ah couldn't really couldn't really think of much. Coming back after Easter, um I think that was my going to be my my main thing when you mentioned that we finally got to round two was the fact that we only had one round. I know it's, yeah you know, they are the Julian calendar, Gregorian calendar are changes are not the fault of NBL1 or BNSW, but it yeah, it's just the one round before the break. It felt like over there and now
Impact of Easter Break and WNBA Draft
00:05:44
Speaker
we're not. Also, it means we've got to go A long time before we get the queen the King's birthday weekend break. So, ah yeah, it felt like a bit of a stalled momentum, but I mean, the teams the teams definitely ah enjoyed the rest, given some of the games we had, including the game we're going to review, which was one for the ages.
00:06:04
Speaker
Certainly was. And I think with the only kind of discussion point to bring up was that the WNBA draft was on today and we had some NBL One East representation in Amelia Hassett.
00:06:19
Speaker
We certainly did. i was watching this at work and the person sitting next to me at work is like, why are you getting so excited? I'm just like, I've been watching this kid since she was like 16. Cut me some slack.
00:06:32
Speaker
Yeah, Wagga Wagga represent from Wagga Wagga to the world
Player Journeys to WNBA
00:06:36
Speaker
stage. But she did also spend some time playing for the Bandits as a senior. She did. And i think originally the Cootamundra Cougars as well. So there we go. I've been all around. And, of course, Newcastle's own Saffron Shields. I don't think she played in the East, but definitely Newcastle.
00:06:54
Speaker
And at least for the COE. Yes. Yes. I think that was before the COE were included in NBL1 East though. yeah But yeah, also a New South Wales country junior. So it's not every day you get two New South Wales country juniors drafted in the WNBA, particularly in the same class.
00:07:13
Speaker
Yeah. Legit. That is. Yeah.
00:07:18
Speaker
Very, very, very happy. um um I mean, Got the Davidson jersey, so I'm extra happy with ah and a non-East representative also who got drafted, Charlize Dunn, a former teammate of Izzy Morgan and Millie Fryer, who are east who are from New South Wales. So there you go. There's a link. There's always a link in basketball.
00:07:42
Speaker
And Emily Bessel, who's also still there at Davidson. Yes. Yes, of course.
Game Reviews and Key Players
00:07:47
Speaker
Yes. Awesome. All right. Well, we better get cracking with this game review given that we have a very special guest a due to join us from 8pm. So stick around for that.
00:07:57
Speaker
And this week we've decided to review, as we do, our own game of the week, so to speak. It's the North Bears and the aunt Aubrey Wodonga Bandits in the Women's Competition. And this was, ah it looks, I mean, on on paper it looks like North kind of got a safe win. But when you watch this game properly, It could have really been anyone's. It was, yeah, a two-point game with two minute two and a half minutes to play. It was it was right there on a knife edge. um
00:08:29
Speaker
And interestingly enough, like you look at the results of the first few games, Aubrey lost to Bankstown in round one and then North went out and towered Bankstown 113-61 the day this game was played.
00:08:42
Speaker
So, i mean, i don't believe in the transitive win property regardless, but just looking at those two results, um it was, ah yeah, I mean, i think we we properly saw, we yeah, we saw a proper the proper Aubrey team, Aubrey Wodonga team coming out in this game, definitely.
00:09:04
Speaker
Yeah, I think so too. And I think as we'll get into it, there was probably some of my highlights were some of the people really stepping up on both teams that maybe weren't expected to be such important pieces to this game. But essentially the game went down at the Bear Cave, 91-82, Norse Bears getting the win at home over Aubrey Wondonga. So ah Aubrey, I think, were one-on-one on the road then?
00:09:31
Speaker
for this weekend. They played Crusaders on the Saturday and lose into the Bears, unfortunately, on the Sunday. Tell me some of your overarching notes or initial thoughts on this game, Lockie.
Scheduling Challenges and Game Analysis
00:09:46
Speaker
um yeah if you can't get someone to stay in front of Jazz Shelley, you are absolutely cooked from start to finish. Yeah.
00:09:59
Speaker
Whether she would drive and kick, she'd drive and get into the paint and turn and throw it back out to the perimeter and defenses are converging on her. There were just open shooters all over the shop anytime Shelley took off. um And even Izzy Morgan a bit too.
00:10:13
Speaker
um Let me just go back to the fact you were talking about that teams have played the day before. Putting a game of this caliber on a Sunday afternoon is straight up malpractice.
00:10:25
Speaker
That should be Saturday primetime. Norse in them this game. Look at who's playing in it. like And I want to say, oh you know, the crowd, you know, Norse didn't turn up.
00:10:38
Speaker
Everyone's in playing junior reps. you can't Sometimes you just can't get to the game. but um So there's my there's my discussion point. It's not even a discussion point. It's just a rant of that I don't like Sunday games because of that, junior reps and people just do other stuff too on Sundays. Yeah.
00:10:57
Speaker
Yeah, so back to the point, yeah. Norse getting into the paint, active, yeah, open shooters, and then I think Aubrey Wadonka didn't help themselves, especially in transition.
00:11:09
Speaker
um A lot of open looks for Norse ah in transition. know Rebecca Donnelly was a big recipient of that, especially in the corner. Yeah.
00:11:22
Speaker
That was probably my my main two things from North on the offensive end um that I noticed was those two points. um Aubrey Wodonga, they definitely got Unique Thompson into the game more and more as time went on. um I think nor Norse did a good job of doubling her when they saw the opportunity without getting too tight and committing too many fouls. For a team that's undersized before Talia Brugler arrives, and...
00:11:53
Speaker
and who Maybe she has arrived. um I think they did a really good job for much of the way on Unite. You know, Peggy Shell and McDonnelly, they're no pushovers. You know, they might not have the height, but they'll definitely are they'll definitely put themselves amongst it. So...
00:12:11
Speaker
But as the game went on, yeah, definitely as they got Unique more involved, she definitely came into her own. I think she had 33 points in the end, was it? That was, yeah, 33 and 20 with eight of those being ah offensive rebounds.
00:12:28
Speaker
um And that was where she got a lot of her points early on in the game, was putbacks off O boards. But... Yeah, and as you said, some of the role players were just amazing. I thought like Tamika Coleman went out there, earned owned minutes on the fly, basically. She went out there and really put herself amongst it and really you know said, look, you can play me. I think she played 26 minutes. so You can put me out there for big minutes and I'll deliver for you. um
00:12:59
Speaker
Kajana McCowan in the starting lineup this year. just looks to be going strength to strength. And some of these young players coming through on both sides are just absolutely awesome. I can't wait to see how they develop throughout the year.
00:13:12
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. You know, ah last night I was on an Instagram Live with John Guana talking about NBL One North very briefly. And the idea of that podcast is that the guest, who is someone like who is not John, has to bring a surprise guest. And my surprise guest was Unique.
00:13:29
Speaker
because because summer summer because of some technical issues, unfortunately, she got kicked out of the Instagram Live so we couldn't get to talk to her for very long. But ah during the intro, I was just saying that she's got to be one of the most challenging people to guard. Like she's getting the already crooks treatment where defenders are sending like two or three people just to try and Limit as much as she can do. You know she's going to get a double-double. She had a double-double by halftime this game. It's just a matter of limiting that double-double so we don't have an Annalie Mailey situation where you're getting 65 and whatever like she did in the NBL One West before heading over to WNBA camp. So it must be frustrating, though, for people like Yannick Thompson. Yeah. to know that every game you are going to he have bodies thrown at you, literally.
00:14:22
Speaker
Two defenders, three defenders. you you'd All eyes are on you And having to deal with that level of physicality and attention every game must get exhausting. But also...
00:14:36
Speaker
Sometimes the tomfoolery that comes with guarding someone like Unique Thompson when people are taking a stand and Unique is just naturally stepping through, stepping around, you know, she she shouldn't have to limit her own strength
Basketball Strategies and Team Dynamics
00:14:50
Speaker
sometimes to get around defenders and then people flying off and and getting having charge fouls called and things like that. That must be really, really challenging for someone like you Unique. But also Jazz Shelley, oh, man, she looks like she's been playing for the North Spurs for years.
00:15:06
Speaker
i that is something i wrote down i was like just this north team it's so many of the players are the same and they obviously they've got m simons back so it's not even like having a new player she knows that playbook inside out and then get someone like jazz shelley whose basketball iq is just insane who can just slot in anywhere and
00:15:30
Speaker
Honestly, yeah. She looks so comfortable. Like after watching Shelley come back from college and play in Geelong for the last couple of years, she looks way more comfortable here at North.
00:15:41
Speaker
Yeah. It's like she's been playing with these with this team for so long and under Renee for so long. And, look, side note, it's going to be a bit tricky to pick apart all of these guards with their tall, like, blonde ponytails a la...
00:15:55
Speaker
Townsville fire from two two, three years ago where they all had the tall blonde ponytails because we still got Jasmine Simmons to join the group, right? It's another. Oh, na don I don't know.
00:16:06
Speaker
Oh, we're not sure. ah But anyway, but Jazz Shirley's court vision, elite. I just love the confidence she has when she throws some of those daring passes, but they're always connecting. And Very limited turnover. Well, let's have a look at the turnovers actually. I think both teams consistently throughout the game, there were just, it was 14 to North and 18 to Aubrey. So higher than desired for both teams, I'm sure. But I think it also is just reflective of how ah the level of pace this game was played at. This game,
00:16:44
Speaker
ah sustained such a pace that I felt like I was watching the movie Marty Supreme again. It was just relentless. He kept chopping and changing and end to end there was a deflection. Then there was a like for like, you know, in the fourth quarter, you Unique got that slight touch of a block. You go to the other end and Peggy shell gets nasty and throws the block out of court.
00:17:07
Speaker
It was just this kind of game that had this back and forth about it. The pace was maintained. And I think sometimes when the pace was maintained throughout the whole game, that's when some of those errors came into play a little bit of panic, um you know, all the deflections and things like that. But yeah,
00:17:25
Speaker
It just made for a really exciting game because then when everyone had settled down, the half-court offense from both teams was just like a basketball nerd's dream. Yeah, it really was. mean,
00:17:38
Speaker
i i loved, like, any time Shelley or Morgan got the ball, like, from a miss and they got the ball in their hands early, you could just, like, rev up, get the motor running and get downhill and make something happen. But if it didn't happen...
00:17:54
Speaker
in the like in the initial play more than happy most of the time just pull it out swing the ball around and find something and the the great team the teams that are great especially in this league are the ones that will go looking for something in seven or eight seconds but are more than happy to use 22.
Referee Decisions and Game Flow
00:18:16
Speaker
Yeah, knowing, especially teams like North, knowing that you have or you have five shooters on the floor ready to go when you get to those final five seconds.
00:18:28
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. Yeah, you know that someone's going to be there. Someone's going to get, you're probably going find someone open and you can have faith in faith in them to knock it down.
00:18:42
Speaker
But, yeah, I think initially for this game, for me, it just seemed like one of those games, especially at the start when the North norse started to pull away a little bit, um then Albury always found a way to come back.
00:18:55
Speaker
And it just kind of felt a little bit like... ah At one stage, Norths were just simply making more shots than Aubrey. It wasn't that Aubrey were taking bad shots. It wasn't that one team had more momentum or more turnovers than the other.
00:19:10
Speaker
It was just that they were both though both teams were taking great shots and Norths just happened to make more. Yeah, I did notice like there were there are a couple of plays there where I think Aubrey Wodonga got away with a couple of um like mishandled passes and they'd throw it out and they'd make something happen.
00:19:27
Speaker
um And that that worried me in the early stages. was like, how how long are they going to be able to keep you know surviving, you know scrambling like this? But I got that out of their system pretty early and it it it wasn't too bad in the end. Yeah, I...
00:19:46
Speaker
I mean, you know, the main thing that I found was, um I mean, probably Caitlin Martin getting those three fouls in the first quarter was a bit, um and all pretty innocuous fouls. And, I mean, you can argue the toss as to whether they should have been called.
00:20:04
Speaker
But in each situation, she's probably given the referee a decision to make, which is the worst thing you can do. is that a su gi As soon as you give the referee a decision to make, it can go against you.
00:20:17
Speaker
I also think that I also wonder, you know, we talked about Unique and her situation of being a big in this league and sometimes like having fouls unfairly called against her and also maybe not enough fouls called in her favour.
00:20:33
Speaker
But Caitlin Martin's situation as well. the three fouls very early in the first quarter, as you said, when we have, like this game had a lot of WNBL talent, like how many Flames players and WNBL players past or present or on the floor in this game? It would have been at least six.
00:20:54
Speaker
And I think sometimes then the referee may have to, just referee a little bit differently. Like not necessarily referee how you would a regular NBL one game. you're going to have to allow a little bit more physicality and a little bit more intensity because that's what the these calibre of players are now used to and they shouldn't have to be the ones to play play down.
00:21:19
Speaker
You know what i mean? Yeah, 100%. I hark back to when Keely Froling played a season for Canberra in the old Warratah League. Oh, I remember. She ate me a lot. remember. Yeah.
00:21:32
Speaker
And there was some games where she'd get like three offensive fouls and then other games where she, I think one game she drew 19 fouls. because she was just allowed to play her game.
00:21:45
Speaker
And then other games she'd just get whistled out of it because she was too physical for the league almost. um And, yeah, it's 100% the same story here. I mean, these players are going to play upper level, yeah. Mahadi, Thompson, Morgan, Martin, Shelley,
00:22:08
Speaker
And, I mean, M. Simons was w has been on a WNBL roster before she went to college, I think. And Emma Donnelly as well. she's Yeah, and Emma Donnelly was VP for the Flames. The Flames program.
00:22:23
Speaker
Yeah. She's also had opportunities there. Ella Foto from Aubrey, she may not have played WNBL, but she's just come back from the 3X3 Asia Cup.
00:22:34
Speaker
That's physical basketball. That is the most physical form of basketball you can probably get. yeah Yeah. So I think sometimes they need to just change that and maybe take that into consideration a little bit more because, yeah, then you have people like Caitlin Martin fouled out just for, or not fouled out, but in a tricky situation. Yeah.
00:22:57
Speaker
But she managed to play 25 minutes. Yeah.
00:23:01
Speaker
Yeah, when she came back on in the third, she was um easy as. But yeah, especially when it's so many players who are used to playing that level, it's not like you've just stuck unique Thompson into the middle of, you know, Waratah women's game kind of thing.
00:23:17
Speaker
Yeah. That'd be fun to watch. Maybe not for the rest know for the opposition players, but... No. i've never I've never feared playing someone like I did playing against Keely Froling when it was still Waratah champions and it was I played Crusaders and she played Canberra and I was like, this this challenge is far too great and I feared for myself. Like I just knew it was far too great. I do not wish that on anyone else if you need quit to play Waratah. Yeah.
00:23:50
Speaker
um But, yeah, I would say, again, i think it for me it was a game of like for like. ah um It was interesting, though, that North, given that they had such a convincing win the day before, ah they just took a ah while to kind of really settle in.
00:24:08
Speaker
i think i think I think that's also like it just starting their offences. Once they got going, they were fine, as you would expect. Really quick ball movement. Everyone making very quick decisions as well when they received the pass in their half-court offence, which I think is really important. making that second to 1.5 second decision of am I going to pass, am I going to penetrate, ah that just kind of allows so much more pace as well for the Norse bears to play with, and it makes it very hard to guard.
00:24:41
Speaker
um But everyone, like we said, is a shooter. I think I really liked how because I wasn't too sure in not for Norse in a sense of like they don't have a natural four and five.
00:24:53
Speaker
So how is this actually going to work? But having the personnel that they have, having people like Emma Donnelly and Peggy Schell who are that versatile and smart enough then to defend the fours and fives for Aubrey really worked in their favour and that everyone could shoot.
00:25:08
Speaker
And no egos in this team either, not those kinds of teams where it's like this person has to have 15 shots and this person has to have 12 shots. Like who cares?
00:25:19
Speaker
And for Aubrey, though, ah have to say i was so impressed with Kajana McCowan. Oh, straight away. Played with so much confidence, shooting from the arc. I mean, she was only one from six, but the fact that she was confident to take the right shots, which, to be fair, have to give that compliment to a lot of the Aubrey bench as well, like Tameka
Young Players' Development
00:25:42
Speaker
Coleman as well. She was three from six from the three-point line this game. um And I think... ah Oh, yeah, and Emma Mahadi was three for five, but that's standard for her. She's always so shot a pretty good clip from there.
00:25:56
Speaker
i think Didn't she have a better shooting percentage than Lupfer last year?
00:26:01
Speaker
Who, Mahadi? Yeah, I think she had a better three-point percentage than Riley, actually. Yeah, possibly, possibly, but I guess that's the risk of when you're going and put up so many shots, isn't it? Yeah, true.
00:26:13
Speaker
But I have to say have to say too with Aubrey, they still played a really similar half-court game to norse Like they also adopted some excellent team principles of lots of pick and rolls to try and get Thompson on the roll or on the secondary action, really quick ball movement, very confident in their abilities and their shooters and their trust in each other. it was it was a really close game in that sense where both teams had a lot of similarities to despite those little differences in personnel.
00:26:43
Speaker
Yeah, I love that you mentioned McCowan's confidence, appear particularly in shooting, because um last year, ah Manly Waringa versus Aubrey, the game I commentated up in Manly, she was parked in the corner and was taking off baseline, even when she was wide open. And by the end of the game, we were just like, okay, can you, like, just shoot it. We know you can do it.
00:27:08
Speaker
And to see her come out and actually fire away from deep this year is um is great to see.
00:27:17
Speaker
And I think i think and ah other than, um you know, Unique getting 33 and 20 in the full 40 minutes of play, she shot 56% overall, which is pretty impressive, and five from six from the free throw line. So it's surprising she only got to the free throw line, you know, on three occasions.
00:27:36
Speaker
But I think also, again, reflective of how well the Norse Bears were able to limit her and defend her, Like we mentioned before, Peggy Schell and Emma Donnelly having to do some of that heavy lifting, but also the help coming from elsewhere. And I think that was really important. They mentioned it on the commentary, despite how hard it was to hear the colour commentator during that broadcast, unfortunately. They did mention it was really important where that extra help comes from because you don't want to
00:28:07
Speaker
open up ah too many gaps or have a shooter way too wide open or secondary action open. So Norse did a great job adjusting around that. I think ah the one point I'd like to make about guarding someone like Thompson when you're more traditional, like like when you're a player like a Shell, Donnelly or even a Shelley is that They did a great job playing with their feet. You're never going to be able to out-muscle someone like Unique Thompson. You're not going to be able to out-muscle. She's always going to have the the size are advantage over you. So you have to play smart and play with your feet.
00:28:46
Speaker
um And I think that's why ja Shelley got those five steals when someone like Emma, um emma lightitel try Emily Lytle had this conversation with Sammy before we started, ah tried to post up someone like Shelly, but she couldn't get a clean seal because Shelly kept moving her feet. And when the post defender keeps moving their feet and the post player can't get a clear seal or be stable, like do not pass the ball in there because someone like Shelly is just going to release from that position, fight around and get the steal. And I reckon that's where a lot of Jazz Shelly steals came from.
00:29:25
Speaker
I reckon there would be two or three. There was one that was egregious in that Lytle just couldn't set herself. And the part she ended up going towards the sideline and the pass went back to middle. but she just And that's where she probably wanted to be, but she just couldn't get position and the ball just went away.
Team Depth and Experienced Players
00:29:45
Speaker
Yeah, and I remember, but you know, the season or two before technically NBL won, Alicia Poto was still playing for Hornsby and she used to do the same thing. a lot of bigs used to try and post up against Poto, but she would just be able to read the pass so well that she would basically pull the chair from under someone, fight around and and get a steal. So ain't no way the ball needs to be going in there if your post player does not have a as solid steel so um i thought that was really really smart by north bears but lytle in the post when lytle was in the post against someone that she had a clear seal she was i felt like she was at best
00:30:25
Speaker
Yeah, there were a couple of times done. I think she got a matchup with Martin on a couple of occasions and looked looked really good and looked um look dangerous in a variety of ways. Like she was, you know, she wasn't sticking to one thing. you know is Obviously, great pass. She finished with eight assists, but yeah, whether she wants to pass it, turn around and hit the midi or just, you know, take it to the rack.
00:30:47
Speaker
She did a little bit of everything in this one. Yeah, she was really versatile, very versatile. um It was probably a good test for both teams as well because they were pretty well matched up and ah some of the Aubrey personnel, you know, I mean, Norse have got so many great defenders, um but for Aubrey,
00:31:10
Speaker
to get so close to Norsen only lose by the nine points, which really the nine points is not reflective. It was only really nine points in the last 24 seconds. yeah Exactly. Yeah. It was nine points because they started failing down five with 40 seconds to play. I mean, that happens. Yeah.
00:31:30
Speaker
And you have people like Caitlin Martin and Izzy Morgan stepping up from that 45 in front of the Albury bench to nail some threes in the stretch. That also hurts. That hurts. That hurts. And I mean, yeah.
00:31:45
Speaker
Yeah. But Albury, Wodonga at times only had themselves to blame for those. Just the where where the defenders were going, just not tracking one player or anything.
00:31:58
Speaker
being too attracted to guarding somewhere else and just leaving someone wide open. It happened happened on a couple of occasions, probably more than a couple, if we're being entirely honest.
00:32:11
Speaker
um But I mean, it's early doors and I'm sure Sammy Mack will look at those and say, know, they'll figure out exactly what they want to do um because, yeah, its it wasn't it wasn't always exactly a great look for all of Wodonga, some of those open threes in transition.
00:32:30
Speaker
Yeah, but they certainly hurt, I think, certainly hurt. um Do you have any other highlights or points that you've got for us? um
00:32:43
Speaker
I mean, it's it's an easy one to point out, but just the fact that they've got Emily Simons coming off the bench north is just... It's a luxury in so many ways. It's more than the fact she's been around there forever. It's more than the fact she's just one of the better players in the league.
00:33:01
Speaker
It's more than just a versatility. It's all three of those things. and And she's a player who will recognize, okay, I had a season off. They want me to come off the bench.
00:33:14
Speaker
I got to come off the bench. You can't just walk back in and go, hey guys, I'm back. Check me back in the starting lineup because it doesn't work that way. And, but she's, you know, she's experienced player and she's got a good head on her shoulders.
00:33:29
Speaker
So just having a player like that come off the bench is such a luxury. And now they're going to get even deeper with Talia Brugler as well. But, um, I did like you mentioning Tameka Coleman. I think, yeah, um just mentioning these young players as well.
00:33:46
Speaker
ah 26 minutes, you mentioned she hit shots really well. She, you know, brought the ball up, made good passes, controlled the offense at times. I just thought she, ah yeah, she really stepped up, stepped up when the team needed it. she I mean, she finished with five assists, which was second only to Lytle and the team and third only to Lytle and Martin for the game.
00:34:09
Speaker
So, I mean, she's been around, she's been in the team for a while, she's been around for a while, but just each year these players just get a little bit better, a little bit better, and then they just break through. And long may it continue, because, I mean, Aubrey Wodonga, they've got a long history of, you know, having these big names and filling it out with local products and local players who could go from local products to local stars.
00:34:37
Speaker
Yeah, we love a sustainable program, especially one in a regional area.
00:34:45
Speaker
But wait we also got to talk about Rebecca Donnelly. I will talk about Rebecca Donnelly for as long as you want me to talk about Rebecca Donnelly. Oh, my gosh. talk Talk about, like, how we mentioned at the start of this game review just some of the people off the bench who, you know, played limited, not limited minutes, but didn't play huge minutes, but still their minutes made a massive impact. So Rebecca Donnelly, just under 18 minutes of play, had 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, and ah was five from eight overall, which included the four from six from the three-point line. Like,
00:35:24
Speaker
That girl can shoot. ah she can shoot. She had five threes. think it was five threes in the first quarter or the first half of the ah Youth League semifinal I commentated up at Central Coast last year.
00:35:37
Speaker
um i think she had two where she was just there in transition and they found her in the corner and another couple where someone... helped helped off when shelly was shelly or morgan was going to the rack and it was just like all right well rebecca donnelly's there and i mean she i mean last year she was playing youth league and 18s so i think nbl1 might have been a stretch um but she's i mean new south wales australia representative um at youth level i mean she is just she is lights out she is okay
00:36:18
Speaker
I went to Comets like four hours early for a Sunday NBL 1 game so I could watch Comets versus Norse in 18s last year. And she was one of the reasons why.
00:36:30
Speaker
i didn't realise she was still 18s last year. Yeah. Jeez Louise. Yeah. So, I mean, she is just a ridiculously good shooter. And then I think that 5 of 8, the 1 of 2 from the field, the was...
00:36:47
Speaker
Was it on an offensive rebound? I think she might have got an offensive rebound right under the basket. i don't know if that's where the bucket came from, but she definitely got one. She did. She got a put back on the left-hand of the first half. Yeah, it was a massive, massive offensive rebound. Yeah.
00:37:04
Speaker
So, Wax's lyrical about her shooting all day, but it's not the only thing she does. You know, she'll have her role in this team, and evidently that is a large part of it, but... um Yeah, I mean, yeah, 14 points in 18 minutes. I mean, yeah, some of these young players stepping up.
00:37:23
Speaker
I mean, even harking back to Sutherland Maitland, Charlotte Coogle for Maitland, she played 40 minutes all season for Newcastle last year. She played 29 in Maitland's round one game. She would have had 20 plus minutes. and yeah She's already vastly outstripped her season minutes from last year, just in three games.
00:37:44
Speaker
So... i Yeah, keep an eye on the youngsters. um I mean, if you if you watch Youth League, um you keep your ah you know keep your ear to the ground. you You know who the players coming through are. you yeah And then you see them and go, this is what I've been, rather than going, oh my God, look at this player. You go, this is what I've been waiting for.
00:38:08
Speaker
And so some going through some of the statistics, team statistics, I should say, ah the Norse Bears shot 50% overall.
Defensive Plays and Game Transitions
00:38:17
Speaker
um which is pretty impressive, ah including nearly, four say, round up 43.5% from the three-point line, 54% from the two-point range. It certainly didn't feel like that, though, at times.
00:38:36
Speaker
um And having a look at Aubrey, they were 44.74 overall. They suffered a bit more from the three-point line, only 29.17%.
00:38:48
Speaker
But the threes that they did make were all came at a group at a good time. Yeah, when they needed a shot, they went they went and got one. um They just put themselves in that position ah one too many times almost.
00:39:02
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, not not ideal. You don't really want to keep having to play catch-up. No.
00:39:10
Speaker
um And so say and so it yeah, it didn't really feel like both teams, at times it didn't really feel like both teams were shooting at such a pretty decent percentage because we'd have these play phases where each team would go up and back.
00:39:26
Speaker
There'd be a deflection, there'd be a block, there'd be a turnover, there'd be a missed shot and then we'd go through a spell of just like score, score, score, score. Yeah. Yeah, 100%. Yeah. i hope I think I even wrote down exactly. i can't remember. I literally have 2,500 words of notes on this game.
00:39:46
Speaker
um Yeah, there was just one. Yeah, there was one passage where there was turnover, turnover. It was all defensive, inflicted turnovers, like defenses doing a good job. And I was just like, where's all the good offense I've been watching for the last hour?
00:40:04
Speaker
And then it was just like a 45 second to a minute and a half or so of not good stuff. And then they were right back into it. And even the best games have things happen like that. And like you, you picked a really good game for us to watch. Oh, well, yeah, the and and game we were initially going to watch, was like, oh, I'm not too sure about that score line. I think this score line is going to tell us a different story. Yeah. um But what was going to say? tell me Talk me through some more of those notes that you've got there. Oh, okay. Let me let my go to the... Let me go to the... See if I can find my... See if I can find my actual summaries. mean...
00:40:57
Speaker
i mean probably gone through i mean i've mentioned albury and then probably defensive miscommunications in transition um i mentioned that unique came you know they got more going through unique aubrey wadonga as the game went on but it was also in different ways it wasn't all just drop it in um and let her just bully people in the paint uh they were working in the pick and roll she was hitting the odd mid-ranger and knocking them and not They were barely even mid-rangers. They were short little jumpers that she was knocking down. I think if I look at the shot chart, it would probably bear out exactly
00:41:34
Speaker
what she was making. um So, yeah, there's there's three ah there's four that are probably about, you know, another – if you had a a second three-point line half the way in, almost a direct arc around the basket. I mean, she was – seven call it seven from eight right under the basket but then she was four of seven just on that little little area beyond that and funnily enough but going back to unique i think she was she was oh of three from three point range but on two of them someone got an offensive rebound for aubrey wadonga at least two of them and then
00:42:17
Speaker
dished it to a Unique trailing in after shooting her own three and she got the basket in the end. So ah that will probably annoy Coach Garlop that Unique Thompson is, she's not even boxing people out because she's 23 feet from the basket and you're still giving up a no board to Aubrey Wodonga and then letting Unique get back in with the ball.
00:42:36
Speaker
um So that that was ah not something that Norse would have been too happy about. But, um Yeah, really good to see Unique scoring in a variety of ways. Of course, she's going to eat down low, but yeah, but she could she can step out a little bit and hit. um Always very good to see. And I think at least one of those threes was just broken play and just putting up a shot. Not not like a shot clock beater, but just, you know, not a lot going on. Yeah.
00:43:07
Speaker
yeah And I really thought, I thought Norse did a really good job getting matchups they wanted, especially for Izzy Morgan and Jazz Shelley. um Just getting them, getting defenders that they knew they could beat or get a step on ah and just get to the basket or kick. ah and But when you've got multiple players who are so dangerous going to the rack and such good passers,
00:43:36
Speaker
You're almost, as a as a defensive team, unless you've got, oh, defenders of the calibre of Izzy Morgan, you are, know, can be a little difficult.
00:43:50
Speaker
I mean, and they took advantage, you know, they didn't just go, oh they didn't just get a step. They actually, and they made the right read and the right decision. And I mean, you've got Caitlin Martin, Izzy Morgan and Jazz Shelley in the starting line-up. Your ball handling and your decision-making in the backcourt is set for life.
00:44:08
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. And looking at some of the other outstanding statistics, team statistics this time, the Norse Bears got to the free throw line 21 times and Aubrey Wodonga only got to the free throw line eight times and six of those eight times was Unique. I thought that is a pretty surprising statistic.
00:44:31
Speaker
I think it is are mainly in that Unique only got there six times. um
00:44:41
Speaker
I mean, we're 24 three-point attempts to 23. So it's not like Aubrey Wodonga were living on the perimeter like as much as they were last year. So, um I mean, Lytle was ah getting amongst it down low.
00:44:57
Speaker
Yeah, it is it is quite interesting. I mean, it is we we have praised North's defence so far tonight and, you know, their ability to make the right read, especially on the double. But um it was 20 fouls to 14. I mean, if you take out maybe, what, four free-throw attempts late in the game,
00:45:17
Speaker
you know, when Aubrey Wodonga are stopping the clock. um But both teams were in the bonus with five minutes to play in the fourth quarter. And in in a close game, it seems like like to be in the bonus for five minutes and the team and your opposition still only finish with eight free throws for the game.
00:45:38
Speaker
Yeah, I i mean, i didn't i didn't think anything was too egregiously missed by the referees during this one. um As you said, no um I mean, as you said, refereeing unique is you is unique.
00:45:54
Speaker
um And, you after mentioning that Caitlin Martin got called for those fouled in pretty innocuous situations for a team to only end up with eight free throws is, yeah, kind of odd, but
00:46:07
Speaker
falls that way yeah occasionally. Yeah. Yeah, I don't think it's reflective of the refereeing at all. I think it's more reflective of the types of shots of that each team were taking and maybe the way it was defended. So Norse doing a very good job of containing people and making those shots difficult without fouling.
00:46:28
Speaker
And I think Albury sometimes is just getting a little bit caught up in that miscommunication that you mentioned earlier, but also just on the pace and the assertiveness of some of the attacks to the basket by Norse, especially when they were playing a little bit of dribble drive or some a lot of handoffs as well between like Izzy Morgan, Shell and Jazz Shelley getting it on that third rotation of a handoff kind of play at the top of the key. She just slices through the key like a knife.
00:46:59
Speaker
So then after that, because they're so quick and so assertive going to the basket, um The defense has to make a decision of i either have to play my play out of my skin, foul, someone's going to overcommit and and leave a shooter open. and I think Aubrey was sometimes just getting a little bit caught up on that. There was even a time where I think it was in transition where it was a two-on-two situation and Aubrey just – Two defenders just ran to Shelley and the C just parted open, I think, for someone like Izzy Morgan just for an open layup. So even little things like that those kinds of defensive lapses, I think, probably led to a few more fouls. there was well I don't think this one ended in a foul because it was even one where Mahadi and Thompson both went corner.
00:47:48
Speaker
Yeah, it was that one. No one could commit a foul because there was nobody within Kui for that one. No, but yeah. Yeah. think it was just those those reads on defense as well. But I think as well there were probably a lot of fouls called. There were lot of the fouls called just from like collisions or deflections or steal attempts too and not necessarily fouls i on the score on the play. Yeah. And then they just kind of racked up into bonus.
00:48:18
Speaker
Yeah, and there there were definitely a couple of times that Unique drew a foul on the floor and then went back up, but the foul was committed before she was in a shooting motion. There were definitely a couple of times there. Yeah, there were a couple where Izzy Morgan, i think, got in a bit of a tangle with a couple of players and was called for a couple.
00:48:35
Speaker
So just, yeah, a lot of fouls on the floor, I guess. And then some illegal screens as well, and that added to the foul count as well. So then, you know, putting the team over the limit adds up to some more free throws as well.
00:48:48
Speaker
Um, but yeah, I really, in terms of assists, North had 19 assists and Aubrey also had 19 assists for, you know, a piece for their teams. Um, again, just reflective of that great ball movement that we saw from both teams. I mean, when you've got Martin on six, Shelley on four, Simons on three, uh, Lytle on eight, Coleman on five, as you mentioned earlier, um,
00:49:17
Speaker
Yeah, just great team play from both of them. I wonder, I would love to see the second assist column.
00:49:26
Speaker
Like, if we had hockey assist in basketball, what kind of numbers um players like Shelley, whos Izzy Morgan had zero assist, but i I remember a couple of times where she's kicked and the player's immediately thrown it to the corner and it's just been buried.
00:49:42
Speaker
Yeah. So, yeah. When I was looking at the numbers, was like, Shelley and Morgan combined for four assists? But then you look at other players like Simons has three, Shell has two, Emma Donnelly has one. That is from them getting it kicked out and then flinging it to a shooter in the corner.
00:50:02
Speaker
Oh, yeah, there was – I'm just having a look now at the North shot chart and it is very – you know, there's definitely some mid-rangers around, you know, the couple from the elbow or just inside the key. But a lot of it is just either right under the basket or taken from the arc.
00:50:19
Speaker
Yeah. Very much that well-executed brand of basketball. um And the rebound count. ah Probably proof ah one of the rare occasions. Well, not rare occasions, but they say that, you know, dominate the rebound count, you're more likely to get the win because you're dominating possession. But North lost the rebound count 33 to 44 but still won the game. So good example of how that rule isn't always very true. And then just having a look at some of the analysis stats, you know,
00:50:53
Speaker
I think Aubrey didn't hit a three in the first quarter and only shot at 20% from the three-point line in the fourth, whereas the North Bears shot at 57.1% in the fourth quarter from the three-point line. Do you feel like that has come comes down more to decision-making at those particular play phases in the fourth quarter or just better shooters on the day?
00:51:17
Speaker
i I think North's, for much of the contest, their shooters were more open. But I'm i'm not going to say that every Aubrey Wodonga three-pointer had a hand in the face. They definitely had their opportunity. They had good looks. They created good looks for themselves.
Game Conclusions and Future Expectations
00:51:33
Speaker
And sometimes they just don't fall. And, I mean... and these some of these north shooters are very very good i mean and some of them it's what they've built the built you know their careers on and what they will build their careers on in rebecca donnelly's case so i yeah look um on another day we would longer could go three or four or from five in that um fourth quarter instead of one of five so um
00:52:05
Speaker
Yeah, what I found interesting in this was the the points in the paint, 42 to 40, North's getting up, um just shows you've got, as ah as I love today, there's more than one way to get points in the paint.
00:52:19
Speaker
course, Unique going, but I think it was actually like nine or 10 or something altogether in the paint is one way to get there. And the fact that she was like so... um successful right under the basket is probably but i know like those numbers are great even by unique standards what she was doing it's probably also a little bit maybe norse deciding to engage but don't get overzealous and that is why she only got to the free throw line six times is that norse well well we're a bit undersized if we try to take her on
00:52:58
Speaker
Chances are I might end up in an add-on opportunity anyway because she's so hard to stop against an undersized defense. So, you know, do what you can, but don't, you know, don't be too overcommitted because you're probably not going affect her shot too much anyway.
00:53:17
Speaker
Absolutely. And do you have any final notes that you'd like to share on this game before we wrap up? um I think...
00:53:28
Speaker
Like, obviously, po positive signs for Norse all over the court. are You know, 14 turnovers, probably want to get that down. sure Rene will want higher than 71% from the free throw line as will you, Squinn. Yep.
00:53:45
Speaker
But I think, I think all Rodonga got plenty of positives to take you out of this game as well. 91, 82 in a game where they had, they'll they'll know they had some problems in their D trans, but that's something that they can just, it's something that's very obvious to look at on the, on the film. And you can really point that out what went wrong. And,
00:54:07
Speaker
you know After falling to Bankstown in that opener, I think they'll be um they'll be, despite the result, they'll be buoyed by what they did. And like you said, it was a nine-point game, but it was 84-82 or eighty five eighty two with um like a minute and a bit to play. so Is that a minute 30 or just under a minute 30 to play? Yeah.
00:54:30
Speaker
So a minute 12 was when Izzy Morgan put North 85-80 and then Aubrey got the next basket. So it was, yeah the only yeah, they only got to 91 because they were being sent to the free throw line.
00:54:46
Speaker
um So yeah, Aubrey Wodonga, plenty to look forward to for them and they'll be there or thereabouts again as they host the Hills Hornets this coming Saturday.
00:54:59
Speaker
Yeah, they do back at home, which I'm sure is a relief after that big road trip. um So you're back at home against Hills and then the North Bears are back at home again.
00:55:12
Speaker
Against Sutherland. yeah Yeah. Will you be making the trip to the Bear Cave for that one? I will not because i will be commentating Comets versus Penrith and debuting a new co-commentator.
00:55:25
Speaker
That's very exciting. Very exciting indeed. I look forward to hearing more about that next week. I can't wait for you all to meet her. Yes, we're adding another woman to the commentary team in the east, which I'm very happy
Speculations on Team Performances
00:55:38
Speaker
about. We we had a new a new guy, Will, commentator with another new guy last week at Comets as well. So building a nice little stable of commentators there at Comets.
00:55:51
Speaker
And look, there's a question on Instagram Live just to you, Lachie, not to both of us, just to you. What's the chances Manly and Norse are both 19 and 0 before the last game? 19 and 0. Is that their only matchup for the season is in the last round? I haven't even looked at the... They don't play each other in the last round, so they like can't both be 19 and 0 going into the last round.
00:56:22
Speaker
guess that's why the question was directed to you and not to me. Because Manly's... They play each other in round 14. Ah. Norse Manly at the Bear Cave in round 14. Second last round. So they could 18 or and and going into
00:56:44
Speaker
ah
00:56:48
Speaker
So, yeah, so they play each other 14. The Norse play inner West Bulls the next day. the Norse play Sutherland to finish the regular season. Like, don't know, there's just – I mean, now, Norse have already knocked off Bankstown and Aubrey-Wodonga.
00:57:09
Speaker
Still get through Newcastle. Still get through Sutherland this week. There's a lot to unfold. Like, I wouldn't ah wouldn't bank on it happening. But it' it's not an impossibility.
00:57:22
Speaker
Oh, I don't think it's an impossibility either that both teams would be undefeated until they meet each other. I mean, they've had similar storylines since NBL1 Aces started. Yeah.
00:57:34
Speaker
And then when they add Newcastle to the mix, I think the three of those teams are usually on a winning streak up until they meet each other. Exactly. Like last year at round eight, all everyone was talking about was who's going to beat Newcastle it was who's going to beat Norris and who's going to beat Manly. And in the end, it was nobody was beating Manly. And then there's COE.
00:57:55
Speaker
and And sometimes you just like in this league, like sometimes you just have players are away for a weekend or something happens, you know, and you just down a player at the absolute worst time.
Challenges of Game Scheduling
00:58:08
Speaker
Like we had it um to switch sports for a second. Arpia Leichhardt, okay, they played a team they could absolutely smoke and did so. But their starting goalkeeper's wedding was the same weekend that their reserve goalkeeper was at Emerging Matilda's Championships.
00:58:25
Speaker
So they were starting their third choice goalkeeper. And sometimes that might just happen here as well. Someone might have a wedding. Someone might have a family gathering, a couple of players. Who knows what might happen? so i mean We should know to get the wedding, organise your weddings outside the season.
00:58:42
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. so Like Josie did. Yeah, like all the NBL1 players do. if you're So if you're friends with an NBL1 player, you have to do the same thing and have your wedding outside. Yeah, that's right. Committing to the friendship means that you are booking your wedding around that one friend that plays NBL1.
00:58:59
Speaker
Exactly. So, look, it would be cool, but It'd be cool in a way, but it would also mean that every other team is not in the running for top two at that stage, which would kind of be, but yeah. I'd like to see, like, none of the, I'd like to see none of the final spots decided when we get to the last weekend of the season.
00:59:27
Speaker
Oh, yeah. we love We love the sprint to the finish line. We love the thrill of the chase. Yeah. Very good. So as mentioned, Aubrey back home in round three against the Hills Hornets and North still at home against, who did I say?
00:59:45
Speaker
North against Sutherland. Sutherland. I was Sutherland. I was like, i surely i didn't confuse myself. ah Very good. Very exciting indeed. a Good to finally get the season underway. NBL 1 North only tips off this weekend as well. So it it feels like we are weeks behind East, but We are not.
01:00:04
Speaker
wait big quick Do you need us to set our clocks back even further after daylight saving so you can catch up? Absolutely not. I don't need any more confusion around that stuff in my life. it's i've I've lived here two years and I still can't get it
Special Guest Zoe Miller's Introduction
01:00:17
Speaker
right. so To be honest, when you when you turned up to the stage at like 6.57pm, was like, does Squint think it's like 7pm? Does Squint think...
01:00:28
Speaker
No, it was just me being late, trying to do too many things at once. But we digress. We digress. We should probably start getting on with our very special guests this week. I can see them getting ready in the green room.
01:00:45
Speaker
Now, this this particular guest was organised only the other day without consultation of Lockie, so hopefully I didn't cause any cardiac arrest because I knew he'd be so excited for this person.
01:01:00
Speaker
Oh, you got me. Yeah, so I was just like, oh, Lockie's going to get a nice surprise when he reads these DMs on Instagram. To a Google Drive notification with questions for this player, i was like, uh-oh. Yeah. So this particular player has continued to demonstrate their leadership skills and elite point guard skills in the youth league competition, NBL One East, and more recently in the WNBL as a development player.
01:01:31
Speaker
She's known in the league for her elite passing, sniper shooting from the arc, And she is certainly cementing herself as a leader in the Manly Warringah Women's Program. Now, this person's not to be confused with Zoe Miller from some random American rom-com that I found online called The Other Zoe about a highly intelligent computer major. Now, our Zoe is also here and highly intelligent, but I can't say that she's a computer major. But we will welcome her nonetheless. Hello, Zoe.
Zoe's Basketball Journey
01:02:02
Speaker
Hey, guys. How are
01:02:05
Speaker
Very good. How are you? Very good. Thank you. Yeah, good. Thank you. Thanks for jumping in as our guest this week, a little bit last minute, but we appreciate you being ready and available.
01:02:16
Speaker
Of course. Thank you guys for having me. As the good player you are, you should know if you stay ready, you don't have to get ready. Am I right? Yeah.
01:02:29
Speaker
So as you know Zoe, I mean you're also a yeah a loyal devotee to ESCOT game which we also appreciate and as you know we like to bookend our questions with the same starting in question and the same and finishing question. so we're going to start you off by asking you to tell us more about how and where your basketball journey began.
01:02:51
Speaker
Yeah, so I actually remember, i think when Josie was on, she told a similar story. It's pretty much the same. It started at Manly, local comp. Paula picked me up.
01:03:03
Speaker
She always watches like those local comps on a Saturday. um So she found me, asked me to try for reps and then, yeah, the rest is history, I guess. Been at Manly from under 12s all the way through to now. So...
01:03:19
Speaker
So how how long had you been playing like local comp as a kid before Paula found you? Oh, not long. I think I started when I was maybe eight, eight or nine.
01:03:30
Speaker
played for about one season of like local comp or semester and then, yeah, got asked to try out, kind of lined up pretty well. So, yeah.
01:03:41
Speaker
So Paula's the real MVP of the Manly Warringah Seagulls. Has she been um scouting all of the women's talent that we've seen through Manly Warringah over the last, what, decade?
01:03:55
Speaker
I would say definitely most of them. I mean, we all kind of start at just like the local comp, fun thing to do on a Saturday, I guess, like any other sport. And then when yeah you get asked to trial, it's like, oh okay, like maybe I'm kind of good at this, go give it a go. Yeah.
01:04:10
Speaker
yeah did Did you feel like you were good before Paula asked you? Did you, like, realise, you know, i'm I'm doing pretty well in local comp here? Oh, look, like, I don't really remember. All I remember is I loved running.
01:04:23
Speaker
So i was just, like, I was the smallest one by far. i was like, I don't know if I'm actually really good at this, but I was really good at just running around with the ball. So, i mean, hey.
01:04:36
Speaker
And what how did you get introduced to basketball as, you know, a sport or like as as something to do? Because, you know, lots of people will play sports because their older siblings do.
Manly Women's Program Uniqueness
01:04:46
Speaker
Or for me, I remember we had the local import for what used to be CBA way, way, way back in the day come and do some skill sessions with us at primary school. And that was like a community engagement thing. and That's how I got hooked onto it. So how did you, what was your first intro?
01:05:06
Speaker
Yeah. um I mean, my dad used to play um for like Morata League. He played for Penrith like way back in the day. So, I mean, he was always, you know, telling me stories from his his days playing.
01:05:20
Speaker
So I guess that kind of sparked a slight interest. But other than that, I didn't really know. was just like, you want to try? i was like, yeah, okay, why not? I don't usually just throw myself into those situations, but I did. So, yeah.
01:05:32
Speaker
I mean, probably one of the best decisions I made. And yeah, I mean, we had like those guys coming to school, like primary school as well, doing like little skills things.
01:05:42
Speaker
So I guess it all kind of sparked and I kept hearing, you know, manly basketball, manly basketball. So I was like, okay, like I'll go give it a try.
01:05:52
Speaker
And, Lachie, I'll let you take question too because I know that you have a lot more knowledge about ah the history of of Manly and the Youth League Women's Programme. Me? Ah, yeah, I know a bit about Manly Youth League. Because, I mean, Youth League to NBL won over the last, probably since there was a downturn after the Boratah Championship, but since then it's come back with a vengeance and it produced a high level of talent for just about the last decade. So what makes this Manly Women's Program so special?
01:06:27
Speaker
Yeah, I think that a lot of it is like a testament to people like Paula, like recruiting from a young age. And then throughout our junior careers, I feel like most of us have had the same consistent coaching, like really good coaching and every year, like different age groups. But you'd always have the same sort of under 12s coach, under 14s coach, like all the way through.
01:06:49
Speaker
So I think that consistency definitely helped and the systems they were building there just made it really easy to kind of continue on to the next age group and then into youth league, same thing, NBL one.
01:07:01
Speaker
And I mean, like you look at our team now, a lot of the girls are youth league girls. Like they get to train, they get to play. I remember I used to like train and play like you know, however many years ago now, five years ago or something. And it just kind of set me up getting to play with those girls early and then understanding the way things run. And the transition was quite smooth.
01:07:22
Speaker
And what I notice at Manly is that your best coaches are the ones who are happy to coach anything. Like, it's not like Rad or Tim or Nate. They've coached everything. Like, you look at those banners up on the wall it's like, Rad's like, yeah, I was part of that men's one and that women's one and that youth league one. And it's like, you hear at other clubs, coaches like, no, I coached the youth league men or I coached the 18 girls.
01:07:47
Speaker
But at Manly, everyone will chip in anywhere and get experience to become a better coach. Yeah, literally. You just summed it all up there. My bad. But, i mean how I mean, you've played under a good few coaches. I mean, what is there a specific trait that the best coaches at Manly all have?
01:08:09
Speaker
Oh, that's a good question. Yeah. I don't know. I feel like they all do a really good job at just getting the best out of each player and kind of understanding everyone's different and like how to you know, get the best out of them in their own ways and just making it like super comfortable. Like I've always felt super comfortable and had like great relationships with all of my coaches at Manly. So I don't know. They just made it easy.
01:08:39
Speaker
And what's like, ah i I think what I really am impressed by with the Manly Women's Program as a whole, since I've kind of paid attention to it in the last, say, five, seven years, is the retention.
01:08:51
Speaker
It just seems like you have a really high level of retention from 18s to Youth League to NBL1. That's how it seems to me. I don't know statistically if that's true. But yeah. what What do you think adds to that? Because I think there's generally a lot of trouble retaining a lot of teenage girls, particularly they start to drop out around under 16s. Then some of them will play under 18s just because it's fun or they want to stay fit and not a lot of people, not a lot of young what girls want to stay in 18s and beyond to play competitively. it just seems manly he just has great retention. Like what do you think is it contributing to that?
01:09:27
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, who really knows for sure, I guess. But I think a big part of it is like the people and relationships. Cause like I know in 18s and stuff, if I didn't have, you know, Sari and Fliss and all my friends in my age group, like I probably wouldn't find it as enjoyable.
01:09:44
Speaker
So I think that the friendships that, I mean, not only me, but like, I feel like most people could say that they've built from the club has kind of made it like, oh yeah, like they're still playing, I'm still playing. Like you always kind of want to do what your friends are doing. And it's kind of easy when they all keep playing and it's like you're doing it together.
01:10:01
Speaker
but I mean, we just entered a youth league two women's team as well, which I think is like super exciting. And like those girls all like they
Youth League Opportunities at Manly
01:10:10
Speaker
love to play. Right. Like and they're all still going. So I think, yeah, I don't if the relationships is probably a big part of that as well.
01:10:18
Speaker
So I did want to actually ask about the Youth League Women's 2 team. Is there a particular strategy behind entering a second team? Is it ah like the club saying this is the pathway to Youth League 1 and you're only going to, you know, look towards players who actually can make it to the next level?
01:10:37
Speaker
I think it is. It's like that nice middle ground for people that also might not want to jump into youth league one and take it like super seriously, but finding a place to play. Like I know a lot of clubs do like Waratah league. Like we don't do that, but that's, I guess, a kind of stepping stone in that way to bridge that gap a little bit of like after under 18s, if you're not sure if you want to, you know, take it super seriously or make it like a career or anything like that, like there's still a place for you to play and just enjoy playing.
01:11:08
Speaker
Yeah, because I yeah feel like ah just because you've got Manly and then you've got Canberra and Hills and Hornsby and then Mossvale and you all have different goals for Youth League 2 team, I think.
01:11:22
Speaker
Yeah, that's probably fair. Yeah.
01:11:26
Speaker
And Lucky, you've done a great job with these next two specific questions. So i I do not want to do a disservice and take them from you. So you're welcome to fire away. Okay, well, is, yeah, I want to hark back to when Miller Time really announced itself.
01:11:42
Speaker
The qualifying final against Newcastle in 2022, where in the last three minutes, you just enter the phone booth and out you came in the Superwoman costume.
01:11:53
Speaker
And then you've just kept producing in big moments since then, including, like, there were people saying, you know, if... Like if grand final MVP was a 3-2-1 vote, you would have been the two vote for most people.
01:12:05
Speaker
um Has you know that always come naturally to you, performing in the big moments like that? I wouldn't say so, no. I think, I mean, back in 2022 with that team, like my role looked a lot different, obviously, to what it does now. And I was kind of just happy to be playing and happy to
Zoe's Memorable Game Moments
01:12:25
Speaker
go on. And I think I was a lot more calm then because I kind of didn't put any pressure on myself and I was just out there to, you know, try my best. And those shots kind of just found me and I mean it's nice that you know my teammates had trust in me especially then to take those shots um so I wouldn't say it comes naturally not at all uh but it's just the trust that I have not only myself and like the work I've put in I guess but also like my teammates have trust in me I have trust in them so whoever it is stepping up and taking those shots you know doesn't matter
01:13:00
Speaker
And I guess does that, i mean, you talk about trusting your teammates, I guess, does that come back to the manly group, the manly family? For sure. You've all been there forever? Yeah. I mean, you're not going to trust someone as much on the court if you don't have that relationship and trust off the court as well. So I think it all kind of flows into each other. There you go, Swim. Roster continuity, your favourite thing.
01:13:24
Speaker
My favourite thing, sustainability of programs and roster continuity. I love that, especially when it's filled with local talent and you can bring in some other talent and imports to complement what you have. But like we have seen even on social media, you know, following a lot of players online like yourself that you genuinely have this like love for each other and it obviously does transfer to when you play together.
01:13:50
Speaker
did When you were a junior at Manly, was that kind of part of the having a good culture amongst your team kind of implemented as a club? Like did you do lots of... ah community engagement stuff off the court to kind of set that as a standard at the club or is it just that everyone's a really nice person and you're just lucky to have each other i genuinely think it's the second option just everyone is so lovely and i think that Like when I kind of entered, you know late in my junior career, early into like Youth League and NBL1, Waratah League, the older girls were really welcoming and made it seem like, you know, they were always asking us to hang out and never made us feel like we were like the young ones or like, you know, we couldn't be doing the same things. um
01:14:39
Speaker
So I think it's really all credit to them and all the senior players that I've played with before me that have really just been welcoming and inviting. And then I guess that kind of gets passed down because you're like, oh, well, when I was in your position, these older girls were like this. Then I'm like, okay well, let me be that for someone else. And it kind of just is like a trickling effect. And yeah.
01:15:01
Speaker
Well, certainly in that kind of position now and reflecting on that moment in 2022 that Lachlan just spoke about. was like, whoa, getting formal. That Lachlan just spoke about.
01:15:16
Speaker
You've come so far since then. You've just finished your first season as a WNBL DP, which we'll get into a bit more in a sec. But do you reflect back on 2022, which really wasn't that long ago, and just kind of think, oh, you just such a baby then and you've come so far?
01:15:32
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. I feel like completely different person. Like you said, it really wasn't that long ago, but it really does feel like a lifetime ago. um but yeah, I feel like each year I continue to grow on and off the court, which is you know a testament to the people around me as well. So yeah.
01:15:50
Speaker
And now you can be ah that like there's going to be other baby Zoe Millers ready to step up for those moments and you can be like the the the elder in the situation this time. For sure. I mean, you've already seen it. Like look on the weekend. People like Liv, Freya, like they're playing big minutes and they're going to get like a real opportunity. Niamh, Cass, like their time will come and they're getting those opportunities, which is really, really cool to see.
01:16:17
Speaker
but While we're on the topic of 2022, and finals for that matter, people may not know that you actually had some impromptu dental work done during the Youth League semi-final.
01:16:30
Speaker
Do you want to tell us the story of that game and how you played through it? And what exactly happened? It was actually NBL semifinal. Oh, sorry. was the NBL one semifinal. Sutherland. Yeah. Yes. We're going up against Sutherland. They had like Loz at the time and ah Vanessa Panusis as well.
01:16:49
Speaker
um They had some really strong players. Yeah. But yeah, i actually don't really know. It was kind of later into the game. it was just playing hard, bumped into someone, fell to the ground, mouth felt a little weird, kind of like playing around, realized I'd chipped a little bit in my tooth.
01:17:07
Speaker
At the time, it felt like my whole tooth had fallen out, but it wasn't really. i mean, i I thought it had because I was standing because, Squin, you were calling that game? Yeah, think was actually. wasn't because I was standing behind the bench and my heart rate hit 150 when you guys almost came back and beat Sutherland.
01:17:25
Speaker
I thought your tooth was gone, honestly. Yeah. I think it was partly the shock. I was probably just being a little bit dramatic, but it ended up okay. I did have to get a little filling, but nothing too crazy.
01:17:40
Speaker
and Well, but then you had to come and play Youth League Grand Final the next day as well. yeah Yeah. It was non-stop. Yeah. It's finals basketball. You're going to you've got do. That's what I was going to say. Well, I think it's fair to say we could describe you as you don't mind putting yourself amongst it. So just another day at the office for you?
01:18:00
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. was a... Not something i want to say again, to be honest. No, me either. i should i did mention it I mentioned it a few times on the Youth League Grand Final commentary, I tell you. I mentioned it a lot, to be honest. honest and This is a great time to announce that Lachlan is starting his own mouth guard and dental business on the side to sponsor players like Zoe to help prevent this from happening again. oh But SJ from Love of the Game, he's um watching on Instagram Live and he said he's got his daughter 100% watching Zoe Miller highlights on
WNBL Development Journey
01:18:37
Speaker
lock.
01:18:37
Speaker
I think SJ is already starting the process of training his daughter to become an elite PG. So maybe not going to show her the clips of you hurting your tooth in that semifinal game.
01:18:52
Speaker
But certainly... Certainly yeah some of your other highlights is going to have a positive impact on his daughter. So there you go. You can see, perhaps see her suit up in another however many years time, 18, 20 years time in Embryo 1 East.
01:19:07
Speaker
sure we'll still be going by then. ah But I also wanted to ask, ah now that you have had the season as a DP in the WNBL with the Sydney Flames and following that future Flames pathway that Coach Gallup set up a few years ago, ah what were some of the initial differences that you found jumping from NBL 1 to WNBL? Because on paper, it's just like a natural progression in the pathway. But in reality, it can be quite a big jump.
01:19:39
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. I think um the biggest difference I noticed was definitely the physicality. I mean, I've never been the strongest on my team, that's for sure. um so I think I got a big wake up call, even doing future flames, to be honest, like the intensity and the physicality of it is really good. So that definitely helped.
01:20:00
Speaker
before going into that DP season, just to kind of get a little bit of a taste of like, okay, this is what a professional environment will look like. um But I think it's also just like how important every possession is. Like you have to be really mentally switched on all the time. You can't really afford to have any lapses. um So I think that was probably a big like thing for me as well was just kind of getting over that initial barrier and like,
01:20:30
Speaker
trying to stay locked in the whole time and, you know, mistakes and things like that. You can't think about them like at all. And it's a lot different to NBL one in that sense of like, you know, you might still be thinking about it for a couple of plays, but then you get over It's like, you really don't have time to do that. Like it's straight back on defense. It's full intensity. You got to be on top of, you know, absolutely everything. So yeah, that was probably the biggest thing that I noticed.
01:20:58
Speaker
The emotion taken completely out of it. Like you said, there's no time to waste on stressing, stewing. You just have to get on with it because time spent on that stuff is time wasted.
01:21:11
Speaker
Exactly. Sorry, not not an elite athlete, can't relate. And I say that kind of hypocritically because I still get hung up on the most dumb stuff when I just play social comp. So it's easy for me to say it, but I don't particularly do it. But anyway.
01:21:29
Speaker
um But the physicality is really interesting. So ah was that something in terms of adjusting to that? Is that just a matter of getting into the gym? Is it a mental thing? What was it for you to help kind of cope with that big change? Because physicality as well can take it out of you.
01:21:47
Speaker
like ah Like when you get when you play with more physicality, that's a whole different kind of conditioning as well. Yeah, for sure. I mean, obviously, the main thing with that was actually getting in the gym and being consistent with that and um being like with that DP season. It was the first time that I'd properly been in the gym consistently. so I was kind of like, all right. this is definitely like what I need to be doing. And I did notice such a difference like straight away of just, you know, those sessions every single day.
01:22:20
Speaker
um But I think it's also just like the whole routine and like work ethic of like, okay, it's more than just, you know, going down for the game and playing. Like there's so many things that really go into it. And it's not even a thing of like, oh, I need to get stronger for this. It's like, no, like these things help you become stronger.
01:22:39
Speaker
you know, a professional athlete as long as like, sorry, as well as recovery and just all those small little things that you probably wouldn't think about otherwise. I think, you know, I definitely was like, okay, wow, like I need to be doing a lot more and looking after myself a lot more, whether that's in the gym, whether that's recovery, whether that's getting extra shots up, whatever it is. Like it was just kind of like wow, like this is really like a big step up.
01:23:06
Speaker
you Don't let Josie hear that you weren't in the gym until last season. Well, I started her program, so it's okay. She i actually, a few of the girls on the team do as well, but we follow her program, so she's getting us right, that's for sure.
01:23:19
Speaker
but I mean, what? I mean, ah for i mean, looking from the outside, you just assume that every player's in the weight room and, you know, doing this, doing that, doing the other. What what what is the balance? Like, du how many players do you think are really, like, taking all that kind of thing seriously at this level?
Importance of Gym Work and Routine
01:23:37
Speaker
I mean, i think a lot of them definitely would be. I think I was a little bit behind in that sense of kind of being like, oh, oh I have this like somewhat natural ability, like I'm quick, like ah that'll get me by, like I'll be okay.
01:23:51
Speaker
But I think it was kind of like, no, like everyone's been doing this for a really long time. Like I should probably, She'll probably get in the gym and actually like, you know, I've noticed the difference in other people. Josie, for an example, like over the last few years, she's gotten so much stronger and you can really notice how that translates onto the court. So i was like kind of, you know, looking at everyone else being like, yeah, OK, this is this is something I need to be doing.
01:24:19
Speaker
And you get so used to being the quick person in your team until you do step up and go to like a future flames with all the other quick people. And you're like, oh, I'm still quick, but I'm definitely not the quickest anymore.
01:24:30
Speaker
Exactly. Exactly. Was there anyone in the flat, either future flames program or your time with the flames in the WNBL season that car you felt like kind of took you under your wing or that you tried to like look up to the most?
01:24:46
Speaker
Yeah, I think that, I mean, they all like were such great role models. um I think they all kind of took all of us younger girls under their wing. um I definitely looked up a lot to Loz, of course, because, you know, she's kind of come through a similar pathway. And, you know I've seen her on the NBL One stage and she's incredible. And then getting to WNBL and seeing like, oh, she's still like, you know,
01:25:12
Speaker
one of the best ones, if not the best, like in terms of her fitness and everything like that. So it was kind of like, wow, like this is a really yeah good role model to follow. And I think it was kind of like looking again, like what I said about routine, like her whole routine, like it's not just showing up, like there's so many things that go into it. And I think that was a really good thing for me to kind of like learn off and be around.
01:25:39
Speaker
Yeah, it's so nice that you could have someone, like you said, that was so local and had already walked a similar path to what you're walking now to be like right there now to kind of guide you through the next bit. What was some of the things that you learned most about yourself in the WNBL season?
01:25:56
Speaker
Yeah, a lot. um I think the main thing, it probably goes back for me, like the mental toughness, the resilience that you need to have.
01:26:06
Speaker
I feel like, you know, the physical side is one thing, but I personally like, I know I struggle sometimes with the mental side of it. So I think that was probably... the biggest thing I've learned, like I'm actually a lot stronger than I think. And, you know, I can do it and I can have the confidence. And I think actually doing that season gave me a lot of confidence that I might not have had before, might not have seemed like that maybe from the outside, but I definitely internally felt a lot more confident and ready, especially like going into this season.
01:26:39
Speaker
Oh, yeah, there was that highlight from your game against Hills where speaking about playing with more physicality and confidence and strength, you just ran through someone to make a layup on the right-hand side. i was like, damn, she's back. She's back from the WNBL.
01:26:56
Speaker
yeah that's Yeah, I mean, I didn't feel like I was being that strong at that moment. Watching it back, i was like, okay, that kind of looked looks like I was being pretty physical, I guess. But when once you get so used to that level and even our manly training is like a super physical and tough. So I think that, yeah, translating that into the game didn't really seem like much, but it's just what I'm used to now.
01:27:20
Speaker
Yeah, we were kind of talking about that earlier when we were reviewing the game between Norse Bears and Aubrey Wodonga, bandits in the women's competition, about how much WNBL talent there was, you know, past or present on that in that game. And people like Caitlin Martin, who are also so used now to playing with that level of physicality and intensity, just picking up three fouls in the first quarter where I kind of felt like the referees need to adjust to who they're actually refereeing. Like if you're going to,
01:27:50
Speaker
referee that kind of caliber of talent I think it's unfair for then the players to have to like adjust and lesser themselves just to kind of play with less physicality if that makes sense Yeah, for sure. I didn't actually watch that game at the start. I caught the end of it. But yeah, like you said, I mean, people like Caitlin, like she's so strong and that's just how she plays. And I think that's good. Like we need to lift that standard almost of, you it's good for the whole league. Like let's make it more physical. Let's get stronger.
01:28:22
Speaker
It's better way to play it.
01:28:28
Speaker
And then you can do the next one if you want, Locke.
Deciding Against College Basketball
01:28:31
Speaker
Oh, um I actually, I want to slot slot something else in because you mentioned Loz being someone you looked up to and that you traveled a similar pathway, but you didn't go to college, or she did. no Did you ever consider it?
01:28:50
Speaker
I did, yeah. There was a time where I, like everyone was, you know, looking at it. We went on like a USA tour and I feel like everyone did those in the moment. um But yeah, there was definitely a time where it was an option. But I think it just came down to i wasn't 100% sure. And I didn't really want to throw myself into that not being 100% sure just because it was such a big, like, commitment, I guess. um Especially, like, I think, you know, you have to decide when you're like 16 or 15 or something. And I just definitely was not ready for that at that stage of my life. That's for sure.
01:29:32
Speaker
Yeah, it is interesting when you say 15 16 because you have to pick your classes at school to even become eligible. So... Yeah, exactly. Kids out there, if you're ah if you're thinking about it, get on it early.
01:29:50
Speaker
And ah did you get go on any go-sees or have any offers coming in that you were considering? um Not too much, mainly because I wasn't really super interested in doing it. um I had a couple like phone calls and things like that.
01:30:06
Speaker
um And I think I kind of just also saw other people that had stayed and saw that pathway and thought, well, Is there really like a point like there's still a way for me to play here? And especially now, like that gap has gotten so much like shorter. Like the pathway is a lot clearer now if you want to stay. i mean, i mean, going there obviously is amazing, but there is the whole pathway, you know, UBL has grown heaps and there's definitely ways that, you know, you can still play at that high level here.
01:30:42
Speaker
And I mean, you've reached WNBL as a development player and played. what ah What are your long-term goals? yeah know Full-time playing player overseas? What's what's what's next for Zoe?
01:30:57
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I would definitely love to make a WNBL roster for sure. That's probably the next goal on the list and, you know kind of cementing a position in the WNBL and becoming a consistent playing player.
01:31:13
Speaker
But a long term goal would also definitely be going overseas. I do have my ah like a European passport. So ah from Italy. So I think going over there to play would be kind of cool.
01:31:26
Speaker
So I'm definitely open to that. But yeah, right now I'm just focused on, yeah, WNBL and trying to kind of step up there a little bit more.
International Basketball Aspirations
01:31:38
Speaker
Your ah Flames coach Renee Gallup, I think, played ah at least half a season in Italy a long time ago. yeah we actually talked about that once.
01:31:49
Speaker
And I only remember that because I mostly remember how she just told me that but outside of training and game time, she just enjoyed eating all the gelato that she could. Yeah. And why not? And why not?
01:32:03
Speaker
She was sounding like she was doing it right. And then there's been players like ah and ah another Aussie player, Nicole Romeo, has played the majority of her professional career over there.
01:32:16
Speaker
And played for the Italian national team. Yeah, that's right. That's right. There you go. There you go. You got the passport. yeah it Oh, and I mean, you've got like Kitty Henderson. She's gone and played for Team GB.
01:32:32
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, that's been really cool to see actually. And I think that's definitely helped spark that a little bit too, being like, oh okay, like this actually could be something, you know, really interesting.
01:32:44
Speaker
Yeah, and then obviously CJ Moran, who played for the men's team in Illawarra Hawks last year, he played for Syria. I think we've had someone in the East play for Tonga at a FIBA event. Yeah, Billy Fiketti's played for Tonga. Yeah, and Sharif playing for Lebanon and I think is eligible for Samoa. So your options are open, Zoe.
01:33:06
Speaker
Yeah. anyone from If anyone from Basketball Italy watches. Yeah, let me know.
01:33:17
Speaker
Someone is always going to know someone that knows someone that knows someone, you know what I mean, to get you there. That is true. That is very true.
Life Off the Court
01:33:26
Speaker
And as you know, we like to end our interviews with this same question, but tell us more about who Zoe Miller is off the court.
01:33:37
Speaker
Yeah, I was thinking about this one. Don't have much for you, but I mean, love to be outdoors, love going on walks. Definitely helps like very lucky to live by the beach. So love going to the beach whenever I can.
01:33:53
Speaker
um Spending time with friends and family. You know, I also do a lot of basketball coaching, not really off the court, I guess, but love working with kids. I used to work in a daycare and so I like being around kids as well.
01:34:06
Speaker
But, yeah, I don't know. this is There's not much to it. I feel like a lot of it is, you know, something active.
01:34:13
Speaker
ah Do you study or anything at the moment as well? Not at the moment. I have completed two, like, diploma courses short, like, one year. So I have a diploma in sport management and then I have my early childcare education, Cert 3, as well.
01:34:30
Speaker
But at the moment, nothing. Yeah.
01:34:34
Speaker
That sounds good. Just dedicating your time to the the Sea Eagles and obviously, you know, helping shaping some future Sea Eagles with your coaching.
Coaching and Role Modeling
01:34:43
Speaker
Yeah, hopefully.
01:34:45
Speaker
what what What level are you coaching at the moment or levels are you coaching at the moment? ah Mostly what age group are they? They're like under 14s girls, like rep girls, some under 16s and I think couple under 12s as well.
01:35:04
Speaker
And are they aware of your, like, have they come to see you play? Are they aware that you are, you know, now pro with your WNBL under your belt? Yeah. A couple of them actually came to one of the WNBL games.
01:35:18
Speaker
um And I think they did like a little interview with SJ. I can't remember exactly, but there was a few of them there and they're very cute. so
01:35:29
Speaker
Oh, that's good. You're already making a lifelong impression on them on it at an early age. Trying to. And was it because and I also wrote in our notes how your first w you scored your first WNBL points on a three and the from an assist from unique Thompson as well. So keeping it in the NBL One East family. Was that at a home game or a away game? I couldn't tell from the highlight.
01:35:55
Speaker
That was away. That was actually up in Townsville. So that was very scary because I'd heard so much about how hard it is playing there and how that atmosphere is like no other. And jumping straight into it, I was a little bit a little bit nervous. But, I mean, it's kind of cool that it ended up being there. so That's right. was against Townsville. Do you remember what went through your mind when you saw your three ball at the end of the net?
01:36:25
Speaker
Yep. It was, where is my player? Let me get up on defense and not even think about it and just move on to the next thing. Hey, that's what you said. You can't you can't think about things.
01:36:37
Speaker
You said that earlier. You can celebrate about it later. Exactly. Definitely after the game celebration, for sure.
WNBL Future Prospects and Gratitude
01:36:48
Speaker
Squin actually are replicated her own WNBL first basket down in Canberra this year, so she still celebrates it.
01:36:58
Speaker
Yeah. One and only. you You'll have you have a lot more WNBL points than me. I was one and done. ah But when we were there for Nationals, I hadn't been back to Tuggerdong Stadium since I moved from Canberra in, like, 2007. Yeah.
01:37:15
Speaker
seven ah So, yeah, we were back at Tuggeranong for the first time in a very long time, found that spot, straightaway hit a three from the same spot just to replicate just one from one again. I'm two from two from that spot at Tuggeranong Stadium now. So there we go. Just trying to art remake history. And I asked someone to take a video and they took a photo.
01:37:39
Speaker
so I've only got a photo of me shooting, but I have no video evidence that I actually did make that shot again. I was there. I saw it. We know. We know now. Yeah, we know now. There will many there'll be many, many more WNBL baskets for you, Zoe Miller.
01:37:57
Speaker
I'm sure of that. I hope so. Well, you obviously already learnt so many valuable lessons from your time as a DP and I'm sure Coach Gallup loves to see things like that, being able to transfer those things so quickly as well. So I'm sure she'll be giving you a call up again for next season.
01:38:17
Speaker
um And i think for this current NBL1 season, you have the Inner West Bulls next round. How's the preparations going for that so far?
01:38:29
Speaker
Yeah, good. I mean, we have, I think a double header. Yeah, we got Penrith as well. So I think it's just, you know, staying consistent, staying on top of our stuff, making sure that each training every single week is the same and we continue to build no matter who we're going up against. And yeah, just really focusing on us and growing each each session.
01:38:56
Speaker
Everyone should know what to expect from Coach Nate by now. he
01:39:02
Speaker
Lockie, have you got anything else for Zoe before we wrap up? um No, I'll just say see you May 16th at Comet Stadium. It's the first time in like three years I actually get to commentate a Manly game without having to go to Manly to do it. So...
01:39:19
Speaker
That's fair. I didn't even know that game was May 16th, but I'll i'll put it in card. hope it's written down. It's also the weekend after my birthday, so I sort of, you know. Oh, there you go. Happy birthday, Lockie. There we go. So someone at BNSW must like me. I'm sure you have lots of friends in that office looking out for these particular things in your commentary and social calendar.
01:39:48
Speaker
ah But Zoe, thank you so much for being a guest on ESCOT Game and for being such a loyal listener and follower of the podcast in our, you know, from the start, really. From the start, I think you were engaged with us. So we really appreciate it. probably overdue that we've had you as a guest as well on EGG. But um the stars aligned and you are thankfully available for today to be our guest. And obviously we are big fans of yours and looking forward to watching you and the Manly Waringer Seagulls again this season. Hoping to go back to back, I'm sure, and take it back to NBL1 Nationals as well.
01:40:24
Speaker
ah But yeah, otherwise good luck for round three and maybe we'll circle back and catch up with you again towards the end of the season. Yeah, for sure. Thank you guys for having me. Love the podcast. Thanks for having me on it.
01:40:38
Speaker
Of course. And remember, everyone, thanks to everyone again for joining us this week. Remember, you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook. And we do have a YouTube channel, but I don't think I've really maintained it. So just go Instagram and Facebook for now. Remember, keep an eye out for the All Star Five as well for round two on our Instagram page. But Zoe, how do we like to sign off our episodes?
01:41:02
Speaker
We'll take we'll give leave it to you. oh no, please. ah Pressure. It's five words. No, you got it, you got it. ah Don't sleep on the east.
01:41:16
Speaker
it's Very good, Lucky.