Anon
Years ago
I think it's cya later Sandy
Team is all sorts of wrong and not because of cambage
Team lacks more than can age I think heal and Nicholson should have been in the side.
Cambage would have helped a lot also.
Everyone coaching member and staff should be shafted.
Anon
Years ago
Apologies for my spelling errors ... I've had a few tins tonight
Red84
Years ago
We had no right to get as close as we did. Dreadful offence. Dreadful defence, always out of position, with bigs chasing down driving guards. 2pts and one. Hopeless.
She'll get the job next year because ba is a disgrace.
Red84
Years ago
Belgium played well and we lost. China was organized but otherwise unremarkable. Yet we still lost. How many heroball drives by ezbery, taking on a 6ft8 centre, that missed?
TEAM FOR NEXT YEAR...
Seebohm
A
A
P
P
P
P
P
Talbot
P
Allen
Magbegor
P
P
P
Anon
Years ago
Plenty said it when she was appointed, how can you have a head coach of a national team who doesn't live in the same country, sent her husband who wasn’t part of the appointed staff to coach in her place for worlds and you can see he still has way too much to say in this now
She’s one of Sterlings BFFs wasn’t appointed on merit and right now makes Joyce look like he was an ok coach lol
Time for huge change at BA and no more overseas coaching appointments
15 and 10 record as the number #2 team in the world.
Worse than anyone in 30years.
Red84
Years ago
I think Australians are overly enamoured with WNBA, thinking that game style there suits Fiba. I don't think so. Aust plays most of its off between the 45s and struggles to penetrate the 3pt line, let alone the zone. And when we do, the drive is too often heavily defended and the shot look is crap. Not enough high low action. Our off screening is of poor quality (and we don't set enough).
That last play from China was so fucking obvious- size advantage with 2 bigs on the low block....painful to see it all unfold.
The team does look in disarray. But it would be very hard to have planned for your team around someone like Liz Cambage only to have her pull out at the literal 11th hour.
If it were up to me, I would never want to see the likes of Cambage and Simmons in the green and gold again.
They obviously hold no value whatsoever for the national team, in particular the team mates.
Good shooting by Ohea in the end, but I wished Ezy and Ebzery would not miss so many layups. And the team free throws and rebounding.
Giacontigers
Years ago
Really hard game to watch. Was awful from both sides. So many turnovers and easy misses. Fiba tournaments always seem to disappoint.
Surprised the referees didn't replay the last call. Is it just me or don’t they do replays in World tournaments.
All calls at the end need to be checked. Could be make or break for the Opals. Opals did deserve to lose though. Sloppy on the defensive end. They better learn from this game, because they’ll need to smack Puerto Rico.
Red84
Years ago
Completely agree. I don't want to see "transactional Ben" and Cambage in the national team. In Cambage's case she has major drama queen syndrome - turns every game into a group therapy session for her "issues". You have to love your country to play, it is that simple. Huge man love here for Patty.
Woody
Years ago
Hate cambage all you want but we stink without her.
With her we are #2 in the world
Without her it remains to be seen what the number is but it is increasing by the day
SPECTATOR
Years ago
talking about Cambage? I heard in radio about Cambage a..licking Nigerian team and bad wishing Opals in her online comments (probably to make all aussies sick). I would be not surprised if she as half Nigerian start to play for Nigeria. I really have feeling that it soon happen to punish "whitened Australia"...
I have no comments about last match, another sad chapter. New coach needed.
Spain World Cup 2018 - silver
PS5 - Ebzery, Talbot, Aullen, George, Cambage
Nigeria win
Argentina win
Turkey win
China win
Spain win
USA loss
Home Friendlies 2019
PS5 - Mitchell, Ohea, Allen, Magbegor, George
China win
China loss
China loss (behind closed doors)
Asia cup 2019 - bronze
PS5 - Mitchell, Ohea, Allen, Magbegor, George
Phillipines win
New Zealand win
China loss
Chinese Taipei win
Japan loss
South Korea win
Asia Olympic qualifiers 2019
PS5 - Mitchell, Talbot, Allen, George, Cambage
Chinese Taipei win
India win
Japan loss
World Olympic qualifiers 2020
PS5 - Mitchell, Talbot, Allen, George, Cambage
France loss
Puerto Rico win
Brazil win
Las Vegas exhibition 2021
PS5 - Mitchell, Talbot, Allen, Magbegor, George
USA win
Nigeria win (behind closed doors)
Tokyo Olympics 2021
PS5 - Mitchell, Talbot, Allen, Magbegor, George
Belgium loss
China loss
Puerto Rico ?
Shows you sandy has done nothing to combat quicker teams.
What 12 ?
Opals 2022 SYDNEY - 2024 PARIS
95(27-29) 5'6 T.Mangakahia PG
98(24-26) 5’6 M.Rocci PG
01(21-23) 5’6 S.Heal PG
93(29-31) 5’8 T.Lavey PG
88(34-36) 5’10 S.Whitcomb CG - new captain / vet leader
90(32-34) 5’10 K.Ebzery CG
92(30-32) 5’10 R.Cole SG
02(20-21) 5’10 J.Melbourne CG
90(32-34) 5’11 T.Madgen CG
94(28-30) 5’11 A.Wilson SG
96(26-28) 5'11 K.Wallace CG
93(29-31) 5’11 L.Nicholson G/F
97(25-27) 6’1 A.Sharp SF
92(30-32) 6’2 A.Kunek SF
92(30-32) 6'2 R.Allen CF
93(29-30) 6’2 S.Blicavs CF
94(28-30) 6'2 S.Talbot G/F
94(28-30) 6’2 D.Garbin PF
96(26-28) 6’2 K.Froling CF
98(24-26) 6’2 A.Maley CF
96(26-28) 6'4 A.Smith PF/C
97(25-27) 6’4 M.Mckay C
98(24-26) 6'4 Z.Aokuso PF/C
99(23-25) 6'4 E.Magbegor PF/C
94(28-30) 6’5 C.Ernst PF/C
96(26-28) 6’5 L.Scherf C
If you choose tough players that give 100% most of the time...
Can shoot, handle, defend, pass, move, direct
2022 will be close to…
Heal
Rocci
Whitcomb (c)
Wallace
Nicholson
Talbot
Kunek or Blicavs
Allen
Maley
Magbegor
Aokuso
Scherf
Cambage obviously ended due to her attitude.
koberulz
Years ago
Surprised the referees didn't replay the last call.Replay it for what?
It was a foul, george had a hook on her ffs.
It should have been Ezi on li,
George can't leap over a pencil.
Hoopie
Years ago
https://www.hoops.com.au/forum/41202-brondello-announced-as-new-opals-coach/
At the time, she seemed like a good choice. The experiment didn't work well enough, now to try someone new.
f cambage was white the opals would embrace her
What a load of bollocks...… her attitude and bad behaviour has nothing to do with her colour( by the way she has as much "Anglo Saxon “ blood in her veins as she does Nigerian
She's toxic to everyone around her
Hoopie
Years ago
Sandy's head was too full of WNBA thinking, which needs a few stars like Cambage to succeed.
I don’t feel she was able to make the transition to FIBA ball well enough. Having said that, that’s where she should have leaned heavily on her assistants - I don’t know how much she did that.
As much as people are sick of Cambage, to be honest I'm sick of people going on about her. Her priorities are not playing for Australia, get over it people. Vast majority of nation would want to play in Olympics, she's not one of them.
What if one of the Opals slipped in change rooms and were out for rest of games, would say it's a shame, move on with it and expect someone to step up.
Only tuned into second half against China, and they were obviously the more desperate. If it wasn't for Magbegor with some big plays in last quarter and some tough threes, China wins by 10 or more. Good thing is have a target winning margin against Puerto Rico, just have to win each quarter by 10 plus.
Instead of whinging who isn't there, other players need to step up and hopefully a better game plan is put together. If not, have another review at the end and find someone else to take over, hopefully out of left field that will make basketball decisions based on merit, not reputation.
Hoopie
Years ago
" that will make basketball decisions based on merit, not reputation."
I'd go further - based on being appropriate, not just on merit.
Being good in the WNBA doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll fit into a FIBA team. And being rejected by the WNBA might mean you’re better suited to a FIBA team. (So I’d bring in Shyla Heal early because of her potential, even though she has only a limited track record at top levels to date.)
Anon
Years ago
Please give it a test on Shyla Heal, she was NOT and is NOT ready for this level YET, same as she wasn't ready for WNBA
Can she play - hell yes for her age
Does she have potential - hell yes ( but so do lots out there given the right opportunities)
Is she Opals material - most likely but not right now
She has a long way to go before she can lead a team, Mitchell regardless of what you say about being too old too slow etc, has a leaders head on her shoulders , and is still the best we had for these games
Sadly Australian basketball has this penchant for bringing in imports in PG spots instead of developing what we have here and that’s led to this short fall
Isaac
Years ago
If cambage was white the opals would embrace herI don't buy this at all.
Shyla is way better than Lavey. She should of been selected for Tokyo.
Heading into 2021
The team with Cambage should have always been
Heal
Ebzery
Whitcomb
Nicholson
Ohea(c)
Talbot
Allen
Blicavs
Smith
Magbegor
George
Cambage - without the drama before Tokyo - Tolo the reserve
S5
Whitcomb
Talbot
Allen
Magbegor
Cambage
Ebzery
Nicholson
Ohea
Blicavs
George
Heal
Smith
Curren team...
6 players were innaus and 6 in the USA.
Sandy decided to go with the previous team irrespective of form due to chemistry. She's says this in press conference against the u.s
What a moronic decision that turned out to be…. After already losing almost half your games since 2019 with that side.
Sandy has got to go immediately,msomyoo goriss, cha,bees, Olaf and all associated.
Mitchell was woeful, certainly didn't lead the team against China, came off the bench. That’s exactly what Heal should have done, she can hit threes. Nicholson should of been there ahead of at least a few players, she plays defence, passes the ball and can score, all things sorely missed by the current team. Mitchell’s defence was so bad, I’m still in shock. The squad just was not right, again to many mates act.
Lol Woody, what a ridiculous comment. I don't think we could have tried to embrace her more. A narcissist will never be happy, and that's exactly what she is. Do you really think we wouldn't ideally want a 6ft 9 very good player on our side? Give me a break. People really need to stop enabling her.
Agree we should stop talking about her though. She doesn't deserve the air time.
As for Sandy and the lineup, it would be very hard with Cambage pulling out at the last minute. Their whole system would've been set up around her. I do think there needs to be some leniency there. She may have selected a slightly different lineup had she had a crystal ball.
As for Heal, agree with the person who said she isn't ready yet. Disagree with Nicholson too. I think she's a great WNBL player but not international. The one we needed was Whitcomb since we struggle to score so much without Cambage.
Sandy is done, enough of the bs. Her record is 10-25% worse than Joyce, maher, Stirling and Graf.
The defensive positioning was inadequate on the last play. We should have players leaning towards the paint to avoid that situation.
Players are old, slow and most have no ticka, no desire.
Brondello -cut
Lange -cut
Chambers -cut
Goriss -cut
Mitchell -cut
Lavey -cut
Ebzery -backup
Madgen -cut
Ohea -backup
Talbot -starter
Allen -starter
Blicavs -backup
Smith -cut
Magbegor -starter
George -cut
Tolo -cut
Sandy picks smith in the draft over ezi, after 1 season stops playing her almost completely in opals and Phoenix. Now is 12th women and Ezi is a starter and by far the better talent, Phoenix must be pissed.
I love reading all the comments from the expert coaches on here. I'm so happy to be around such knowledge
To the ill informed person who thinks hating on Cambage is a race issue, think again. Last I checked Macbegor is darker skinned than Cambage and she is highly well received. Plus I do think she will form the core of the Opals in the not too distant future.
It's not about race. It's how you treat your peers and your uniform.
Even the day she pulled out, O'Shea and Coach came out and said they wanted to give her a big send off.
#967 #968 you're probably like the vast majority of keyboard warriors who are F clueless. But hey, good for you.
#972 At least it is not rude English. Do you really have to drop the f bomb. Surely if you don't understand "well received" you need to go back to school.
For me it was the defensive concept against China. The on-ball defense was shocking, the match-ups were all at see, not sure who was the coach on defense?
Offense had not flow to it, all iso actions. Ball movement was not there.
The team just didnt have a flat out guard scorer, where was the scorer?
Did we hang on to the previous group to long and not make some hard calls and push out some 30/32+ age players? My thinking is yes....
I know that Cole was focusing on 3x3, but she is a scorer, Nicholson is a scorer, Heal is a scorer, Whitcomb is a scorer.
Mitchell had a shocking WNBL season, and it has continued in the WNBA season, shouldnt have been picked.
Selecting players in form would have been a better then picking on reputation!!!
Maybe this problem comes from our COE and development programmes... In the past great periods most athletes stayed in Australia and never when to college, is this process hindering our national team????
COE is a joke. Move to Melbourne ASAP.
Opals/Boomers coaches need to be hands on involved going forward. Give our best juniors a reason to stay, an advantage into the Senior Oz teams. They have to play in a tough competition. Big wins aren't helpful. Girls to WNBL, Boys to NBL1 South. Pathway from COE to WNBL/NBL.
State HP are generally horrible. Short term selections.
Current BA staff have failed. Maley, Stirling, Narcis, Haynes need to go. Lonergan and Menso's roles need serious review. Fill the numerous empty positions (plus the added ones) with the best people. Go head hunt. Don't play politics.
Won't happen but would certainly improve things.
966/974 please stop drinking. Seriously, calm down and get help.
966 why does someone need to be an expert coach to have an opinion?
So by your logic I'm assuming you have no opinion about Scott Morrison because you've never been the prime minister yourself?
Asia cup is on at the end of September.
Perfect time to change the coach and squad before next years WC.
WC qualifiers start in january too which we auto qualify as hosts.
That gives us 5-7 games asia cup and 5-7 games WC qualifiers + friendlies to make adjustments before sydenynwc.
Looks like Opals need to win by 25 to qualify.
Korea would need to beat Serbia by a few to upend this.
USA beating France could see the margin down to 20.
Hoopie
Years ago
We're so lucky that we are the last game and so will know what we need to win by
Puerto Rico are going to try spoil the tourney for us.
It's 1 of Canada, France or australia that are out of 1/4s
3rd place
France +21 vs USA 1-1
Canada +7 completed pool play at 1-2
Australia -17 vs Puerto Rico 0-2
A win by 25 gets us past Canada, France will lose pd against usa but how much?, hopefully 25+
300 grams of sliced Hungarian beach volleyballer please, and don't stuff it up this time.
Unfortuntaly Sth Korea didnt take their chances late in the game v Serbia.
Nigeria could still beat Japan which would likely mean Australia just has to win. It would make the final 8 teams a bit tougher as France or Canada would stay in.
Anyway if Australia sneaks into 3rd place, then they will likely cross over against Spain or the USA in the quarter finals.
If Nigeria can knock Japan out, then Australia would still have to play USA or Spain, since Belgium and China would be the other 2 teams from Australia's pool.
The only other way to avoid the Spain/USA option is if France (+25) beats the USA and Belgium beats China (+44). Then the options would be France/Spain/USA.
If the USA beats France by 15 and the Opals beat Puerto Rico by 25 then France would be out.
So still quite a few options in play, but the Opals have a very tough draw in the quarter finals.
Basically, just win by 25 ...
Who were the best scorers in the wnbl and wnba?
Oh wait, Nicholson, Cambage and heal top 5 in league. Plus Whitcomb killin it in Europe and wnba.
None of them are on the team. Talbot injured too.
Let's just get behind the team we have now. 25 is a gettable margin today with the team we have
Agreed. It is what it is. Now is not the time to hold a review of the team. Lets support them like every other Olympic team has been supported.
France keeping it tight with the usa means we now have to win by 25pts. Maybe a tad too much rae though other teams beat them by a bit more.
JB
Years ago
Anyone watch the end of the France vs USA game? How thick was the commentator? France does not take a shot at the end and the players look well happy with the result, but apparently they'll have to wait for Australia’s result to see if they go through and it "doesn’t look good". Learn to count mate, or at least go by players reactions!
Yeah budget comentators. Should have known Canada are the team on +7 and France +10
I don't think we will get through Imo.
Would have to defend ly very good on oneill and shoot well.
We ain't making it and even if we do, whoever is up next is a level above.
Hoopie
Years ago
I haven't watched the game so this is a genuine question - did Belgium try their hardest to win?
They were sooo good against the Opals, so what happened?
China beat pr by 42
Belgium beat them by 35
I think 25 maybe too much given who we don't have and how poor we have been on d
Stirling will only appoint female coaches. Chambers must be next in line unfortunately.
If not Chambers, Hibbert.
Seebohm is too male for the role.
Stirling will only appoint female coaches. Chambers must be next in line unfortunately.
What a load of shite! The only other female HC of an Aus team (male or female) is Tracy York. Seebolm most recent Uni games, Herbert just boarded a plane to Hungary as HC of U19's (with 1 female AC & 1 male), and of course every single one of the coaches on the men’s/boys side (all HC’s & AC’s) are men. Stirling is in charge of all of it. If that’s her favouring women then women are in big trouble
Women coaches for Women's teams. Didn't think I needed to clarify.
No women coaching on the boys/men's side & a whole bunch of men coaching on the girls/women’s side. Not sure what you’d be clarifying there champ
Big Ads
Years ago
Perhaps the Opals might get through to the quarters.
Hoopie
Years ago
Anyone know what will happen now with regard to the Opals and Brondello? Will there be a BA review?
Luuuc
Years ago
Good question. I'd like to know this as well.
Logical tenures for coaching staff would be based on olympiads.
After losing a year to Covid and therefore only having 1 year until the Women's World Cup I could understand them deciding that this is not great timing for a change, but I'd like to hear something from someone after our Tokyo fail.
Sandys team for the WC in 22
Mitchell 37
Lavey 29
Ebzery 32
Madgen 32
Ohea 35
Talbot 28
Allen 30
Smith 26
Magbegor 23
George 33
Tolo 33
Cambage 31
Anon
Years ago
BA review will be Jackson who is close to Bro having a coffee with Stirling who is close to Bro. Anyone under them will just do as they say. Jackson said on twitter that the girls deserved a BRAVO
Bravo @aus_opals tournament hard fought. Bit of work to do before our #FWWC2022 That may well be the platform we need to take it to the next level. Love you all and so proud of you, you represented us well xxx
Then when someone pointed out the obvious said it was subjective. they will do what they want to do and no one will mess with LJ or Jan
With all the respect in the world Lauren, we were a rabble throughout the tournament. 1 wins from 4 matches totally unacceptable.
Lauren Jackson AO OLY
@laurenej15
·
Aug 4
Replying to
@SMadden56
and
@aus_opals
Subjective
Luuuc
Years ago
I'm torn on that one.
I have nothing negative to say about any of the players who represented the Opals with pride in Tokyo. We will always debate who should have been there, but once they hit the court it's nothing but support from me.
But IMO they were not put in a position to achieve success in Tokyo. So "Bravo" sounds a bit hollow coming from one of the administrators who let them down.
Hoopie
Years ago
Agree, Luuuc
Sounds too much like "it's not a race"
How did the women's program get so bad so quickly?
Anon
Years ago
Jan Sterling is what's wrong with BA women’s program, that and the fact they give green lights to anyone who has connections with her in the past ( or their kids) .... BA needs a huge clean out , starting with Sterling and Maley ( WNBL is a joke and that’s his area )
Jackson whilst she had pushed for better conditions fir women’s basketball, she’s still very much a "jobs for the boys" selector … not what you know but who you know , the best will never be represented while they continue to operate like that sadly
Bro deli should never have been appointed coach, an Australian coach needs to be IN Australia, and the players need to come here for training camps not cater for the coaches location at huge expense
Anon
Years ago
#088 Stirling and Maley get to travel the world whilst they keep an overseas coach, if this was Aus Post the PM would be screaming in question time, RIP Christine Holgate. It is a pigs in the trough situation, and I am sure LK loves it as the price goes down every year they stay in charge. They are certainly loyal to their own but they are like an 80's AFL club with jobs for the boys and girls
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