Big step to go striaght into the league but good luck to them i guess!

Wonder why Geelong just didn't step up from Div 1...is this due to the SEABL affiliation?

Geelong over the past two years have had the opportunity to step up but didnt. Good luck to the Stingrays, it will be a tough first step, but a brave one.

Best of luck to them with the 2 imports as we have seen at other Big V club if you don't get the right imports it can cause more issues than its worth especalliy if they are a start up.

Looking at the press relesae even without the imports they will be a solid mid-table team and as the only "Road Trip" in the SCM div they will have an advantage at home which should ensure a few wins.


Can't wait to see how Jason Reardon will go in SCM

It's good that these clubs are promoting up the divisions, but i have one problem with it all, how is it going to be sustained when it's the junior ranks that are poor, Corio Bay's junior VJBL teams are almost non-existent these days. Warrandyte is building at least, but still relatively low in numbers and coach quality. And Camberwell are lucky to get a metro quality team out there half the time. The junior's have to improve for it to be sustainable.

In respect of the junoirs you'll find a team like Warrandyte will start to feed off Eltham/Knox & Nunawading as they build the program & the same will happen in the senior team as well.

I think long term a couple the smaller clubs support the senior teams alot better in terms of the Big V type model as opposed to a few of the bigger clubs that don't give alot of support to the senior program at big V level (cough cough Eltham & Bulleen)

It wouldn't surprise me if these clubs in fact had to move down a Div or not compete at all if it wasn't for the work of 1 or 2 indivduals.

Also whispers tell me the one G.Lenard might end up at Warrandyte!!

Wow! Way to pluck out Bulleen and eltham! Two clubs who have worked hard for over 40 years producing junior players yet because they don't poor the money made from the kids into senior basketball they are criticises.... Bit rough do you think?

It's easy for a small club to appear to be supporting a senior side more... It doesn't cost much to be in d1 or d2! You will also find both Bulleen and eltham were amongst the most competitive in state champ 2011.

Eltham won the women! Also got second in men! Bulleen competed very well in both comps also just missing playoffs!

Wrong clubs to be targeting my friend. Learn the strucutres and cultures of the clubs you discuss before taking potshots!

Fantastic news for a relatively new club in the region. Only better for the basketballers in the area and an extra pathway to make the NBL.

Great news Geelong Basketball, for too long the Geelong club has had that entire region to themselves.
Good luck to the new club, they already look ready for the ABA level that big V SCM is, will be keeping an eye on the stingrays.

Corio Bay's VJBL program is coming along nicely, with most age groups fielding two teams, the issue is alot of the better players have headed to geelong in the past few years because there was a pathway to senior rep,with the inclusion of the stingrays into big V, there is a high chance that their juniors will stay with them.

If u look back over the last 5 years Eltham only really had 1 good season as they were wooden spooners in 2010 and have traditionally been in the bottom 3 previous to that!

So maybe you need to gave a good look at history!
Until last year it was well known Eltham despite the clubs size they aren't about seniors and more about juniors/domestic ball.

I'm thinking that Bellarine aren't happy, but maybe the players are skipping off due to the better coaching quality down at Geelong, haven't seen much Bellarine teams at all in the VJBL, but the ones i have seen have some poor coaches. All associations can be successful with some good quality coaches, no matter the size.

This is fantastic for Geelong and the Big V!

Hopefully Bellarine Storm can get their stuff togther and enter. Would be good to see them maybe go D2 then every level of Big V gets some sort of representation in the Geelong area. Would be great for the to be able to do so.

They would easily be able to go D2M this year.

Hope the Stingrays do really well!

Bellarine really shold getoff their bums and go into Big V. They could easily run a a Div 2 program this year.

Everyone would love to see them compete.

Who has Bellarine got out there to form a side into Big V? I thought they really died off once Allan McKee left there.

They have a few good juniors and would attract people in the area who would not be up to the standard or commitment of Seabl, Championship or D1. I reckon if they were to have try outs you would be surprisd how good of side they'd be ablle to put together. Obviously at D2 not D1 or above

On good mail, I hear Bellarine are looking to enter Big V D2 next year.

Good Work BPBA.

Good point on the VJBL numbers, however when taking a closer look Bellarine have 10 VJBL team in this year, Corio Bay only have 11.

Looking further in to it the have more VJBL teams than Melbourne Uni, Pakenham, Chelsea, Keysborough and Melton. Other Big V programs like Craigiebuen and Coburg only have a few more teams.

You can not underestermate how much having a Big V program helps an association grow.

Good to hear they are gowing to have a crack!

They ar going for D2 not Championship or D1 so dont compare them to Corio Bay.

http://www.surfcoasttimes.com.au/sport/othersport/2011/12/14/storming-to-success/

Some good foundations for the future

Any news on the storm going into Big V?