Jack Toft
Years ago
R1 ABL Action
And here we go. Local basketball is back with a vengence and I'll get this ship cast off and out to sea to face giant squid, mines, pirates and icebergs. I trust everyone’s basketball labido is raging and ready for BSA to unshackle the chastity belt of the off season. I’ll get R1 off to a start then see how we go because I can't guarantee a weekly windup.
South v North @ the Southern Tin Shed
Women: North have been strong for a while now and South’s star is on the rise. The Rockettes would have pencilled this one in for an easy W last year, but the Pantheresses will be in the hunt early with only faith in themselves holding them back. Not quite enough though tonight as Rockettes hold back a team that will get deadlier as the season goes on.
Men: Why do these teams have to be so clean cut? It’s so hard to stir them up when both teams look like members of boy bands. Norf to win this arm wrestle.
Norwood v Southern @ MARS
Women: Massive player drain at Southern between seasons will test them tonight against one of the League’s power teams. Norwood Lightning could get out of second gear if they want to, but it’s only round 1.
Men: Brad’s boys look set to double the pain for the Tigers. You would think they would offer them a panadol if they were nice guys. Norwood to give a lot of teams headaches, starting from tonight.
Sturt v Centrals @ Pasadena Manor
Women: This game looked a lot more interesting a month ago. Sturt with a young team and Centrals with more pre-season worries than Rolf Harris at a Jamboree. But AJ knows how to make silk purses and so this will still be a close game. Sturt will not disappoint their mummies at home and will celebrate with a shopping trip to Burnside Village.
Men: Sturt are always hard to beat at home, as Centrals would know. Even with Kyle on fire, it’s hard to tip against Sturt. I see Sturt have picked up a St Marks boy - it’s rare to see them outside their natural habitat of the Oxford. Sturt to start the season off with a win.
Woodville v Eastern @ St Clair Nissan Hut
Women: Woodville have recruited well and look considerably stronger this year. I am particularly impressed and that’s just looking at their head shots. The Eastern Madgens are always strong. Will Woodville be able to work as a team and shut down Tess, or will Tess chalk up some early MVP points. I am leaning towards the Mavs stealing an early one.
Men: Great to see a Woodville legend in Darren Ng back in the green and gold. All they need to do now is get Ricey back on the pine. Can someone lend the Mavs a camera though? Their headshots are awkward to say the least.... Woodville by plenty at home.
West v Forestville @ Port Adelaide
Women: A month ago, the only interest in this game was whether Carla would be put on the teamsheet. Sheesh. This is the GOTR with the recent additions to the Bearcats. This will be a tough, tough game and princesses best not take court. Sorry Eagles fans, don’t expect milk in your skinny decaf-macchiato with a twist of lemon coffee tonight. West to scratch out a hard fought surprise win.
Men: There are some things Paul Bell does well and recruiting Sixers players is one of those things. I don’t think they are playing yet, but West are always hard to smack around on the pine (or the replica pine) at the Port. The Eagles have a real fight on their hands tonight and only their long range bombs to be the difference tonight. Eagles to be like North Korea and rain fire from outside the arc to get the win.
