10-17th April

SA country on their website
SA Metro announced this weekend

Doesn't matter really..... no one will be able to beat Vics!!

If SAC can't they need to be dropped from the U17 worlds and the AIS because all their team are supposed stars.

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So your little princess missed out did she? A very bitter parent one would guess

one player very lucky to go breached many codes of conducts with her behaviour, SAC pretty gutless

word is SAC girls playing a couple of trial matches this weekend against Woodville and Southern women i think.

While anon's comment above is a touch strong it does highlight the fact that the SAC girls have performed below expectations given their status. I believe that they need to perform to justify the faith placed in them as they have been together for quite some time and if they are the talent they are thought to be it's time to show it.
The S A u20's, admittedly in a weaker competition,have flown under the radar at these current Nationals but illustrate how well a team can perform even though they have significantly less recognized talent than the 18's country team.
Anon's criticism was harsh but he/she is not an orphan in wondering why a team that has been heralded as world beaters for some time doesn't actually win.

Any truth in SAC coaches supplying sun glasses to the metro 18's so that metro are not dazzled by SAC's brilliance?

SAC may have issues, but you couldn't possibly say that Trudy Ireland has no idea!! She is a brilliant coach and no I'm not from the mid north. Why is there so much competition between the parents of metro and country, and I say parents, because the kids certainly don't say the things that are posted here. Shouldn't we be barracking for SA no matter whether it be metro or country. Come on get behind our state and our kids and be supportive no matter what side you're on.

474: Your credibility has fallen through the floor 'Ireland a brilliant coach'.

I agree, get behind the kids and coaches (SAC or SAM) the common thing is they are both SA teams.

anon, be serious, 'a talented Woodville aba side'. If SAC are the elite group you say they are what the hell are they doing playing woodville?

They played woodville because they were kind enough and care enough about the development of juniors to put their hand up and help out with a training weekend of trial games to assist the SAC girls prepare for nationals. Get a life and stop bitching.

apparently just head cold, feeling lousy the girls said.

Yes agreed, Norwood are a long way out of their depth and your comment is as wrong as your reported score line

Corporate be real! did you really expect an U18 team to threaten a supposed ABL finalist team? Did Norwood play their new 9 ft centre,?

Just some thoughts - particularly now that the draw is out.

Of the 20 players in the AUS U17 squad which played the Japanese U24's over the weekend:

Vic Metro - 6
SA Country - 4
Qld South - 3
Vic Country - 2
NSW Metro - 1
Tasmania - 1
ACT - 1 (injured)
Qld North - 1 (injured)
WA - 1

Vic Metro, SA Country and Qld Sth are all in the same pool so only two of those teams can possibly make the semi's - did somebody say pool of death?

Vics would have to be the clear favourites with strength and depth all over the floor but they can only play five at a time and SA Country have a fifth player who was in the 25 so isn't far off the money.

Qld Sth will cause some match-up headaches with their length and mobility, as well as a very smart floor leader.

Hard to see who will emerge from the other pool with three of the teams (ACT, Tas, Qld North) having a dominant tall with no real track record of achievement previously (in this particular age group) while NSW Metro finished third two years ago on the back of a dominant guard. Whoever does come out of Pool B will struggle to match up against the much bigger Pool A teams (Vic M with two at 6'4, SA Country with a genuine 6'4 and plenty of athletic height on the wings and Qld Sth with two, maybe three players at 6'2, 6'3).

As Schultz would - 'veeerrry interesting!'.

anon, if only things were as simple as the tables you have drawn. All that height in all those teams they must be great. Pity that all that talent was just on paper because the Japs dismantled them fairly easily. In the cases above too much is made of height and neglects the peas that reside in their chests.

552 - again with the attacks on these girls. Did you notice that the series result was 2-1 to the Aussies. That the scoring was led throughout the tournament by these 'pea-hearted talls' as you would have us believe.

Regarding the anti-height agenda you seem to be waging.

Most of us understand basketball is a team game, requiring a spread of talent and athleticism, and this will include players of various physiques. We also understand the truth of the old adage that you can't teach height and a team without anybody over 6' will struggle to rebound against a team with 3 players over 6'3. Just as a team with 5 players over 6'3 will struggle to get the ball out of the backcourt against a team with shorter, more athletic guards.

I can only assume that you are the parent of a kid that missed out on the State team (your agenda seems to be very anti-SA Country in this age group), or perhaps you've been left out of team before yourself? Why all the hating on these girls?