Another Men's game and yet another loss. Either get rid of this disaster of an appointment Wolves Board or don't expect much support when you each come up for Re-election, starting with you President Hunter. We are an absolute shambles on and off the court in both NBL1 and WABL. We once branded ourselves the Destination of Choice for Basketballers. What a crock that is. Both Warwick and Perry Lakes are significantly ahead of us in almost all areas yet we shove our heads in the sand like nothing is wrong. Not to mention the severe lack of junior development in the Women's program, but then what do our aspiring juniors have to aim for when our NBL1 Women's coach keeps recruiting anyone who can dribble a ball from outside our own club and giving them court time before our own kids. Either stop the bleeding now or step aside so those who do want the club to succeed in the future can show you what you've been doing wrong!

Who won the Wolves-Tigers women's game? NBL1 social media is posting 73-73 as the final score.

Anyone know why Travers hasn't played for Mandurah yet?

That's exactly my point anon. We have from Joondalup up to Two Rocks as our catchment area. To put that into some perspective we have an area which if it were south of the river, would encompass Willetton, Lakeside, Cockburn down to Rockingham. Tell me those four clubs aren't producing some serious local talent. We have six full time staff in an office who do what exactly. Nobody said anything about anyone being entitled, but seeing you're clearly one of the members who thinks there isn't a problem, just compare our Women's program to our Southern neighbour in Warwick in terms of home grown development. I mean Jesus we can't even claim Seb, Trian or Rob as Wolves juniors seeing as we poached them from Senators many years ago with the same cheque book policy our women's team now endorses. Do we have to wait until they choke in four grand finals as well like the men did before the club finally sees where it's going wrong.

Wolves sold their soul to the devil
and now the chickens are well and truly coming home to roost

Should have asked WPFC how that worked out

Joondalup have made a rod for their own back. No genuine due diligence done before they appointed the new CEO and Men's head coach (if they had, the feedback was out there, everything that's happened is a case of history repeating).
Problem is, if the board acts now they have to admit they "got it wrong', and no one on that board currently is prepared to damage their own ego to do so. They are very much stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The points raised here though, lack of genuine junior development that translates to NBL1/NBL/College players for both men and women, very clear to see. Lack of WABL success for many years now despite the large catchment area, size of domestic comp and "development" by paid employees...laughable. Very, very evident to anyone in the basketball community.
Time for a broom across the "board" up in the land of plenty it seems.

I find it laughable that anyone feels Perry Lakes is the "shining light" of junior development. Outside of the juniors Nixy and John Gardiner developed, there's none Parson's has brought on despite the success of their juniors since he's been there. Leary, Ferguson, Thomas, DT, BC, Cummings, Steindl, Redhage all names he's brought in to essentially coach on court with Purser, Smith and Cassir. Same as he did back in Cockburn. He wins in spite of himself, not because of him. Just lucky he's had guys like Field, Pursur, Cassir, Adekponyu to manage the culture, coach when required to cover his obvious shortfalls.

Another Cockburn cockhead trying to turn the thread into a Parson bash. Who has said Hawks are a "shining light"? And please don't put Nix and developing juniors in the same sentence.
And, WTF does this mean? "He wins in spite of himself, not because of him."

With the new format it makes it much harder to cause an upset

I meant upset in the sense of a lower seed making it through to the GF, not just an upset in a 1 game final.

It's certainly wide open. Hawks continued winning without Purser against lowly sides so not sure too much could be read into that? They should have won all those games with the talent they have.

Finals a different beast though. Senators will certainly be there abouts, as WCC showed last year, they are certainly in their "window". Core group been together a while and when the going gets "finals tough" no doubt they'll cause headaches. Lakeside suffering some big injury blows at the wrong time but as #866834 pointed out, still plenty of talent to get the job done. Dave Daniels has proven time and again he can out coach the majority of coaches in this league.

Flames an anomaly, and certainly not one the top 2-3 teams would be itching to play. On a good night they can beat anyone, Petrik knows how to coach them through tight games and while maybe not what they once were, Hire Jervis and even Godfrey can think their way through a close game and do what's needed.

Hawks probably most susceptible, on paper the best squad but Parsons in 0-4 in tight games, and it's the top coaches who have shown him up, in Ellis, Daniels, Petrik and co (Summerville out coached a full strength PLH team only recently). If it's a tight finals game, I'd have serious concerns if I was a Hawks supporter.

And don't forget the prodigal son in Nener. Despite injury concerns they are still top 4 and he's got that group bought in. Again, like Flames, on any given night they could rock a Lakeside or Hawks unit and cause an upset.

Is there anyone in the bottom half capable of causing an upset? What has Summerville and the Wolfpack got left (very little IMHO), but can you discount them totally? And what about the young guns from Cockburn, a solid 6 weeks to close the season out, could throw a late spanner in the works.

Whatever your thoughts, will be a fascinating finals series throughout.

what a weekend of games

wolfpack totally shat the bed and miss out on the playoffs. so good to see etteridges legacy of the good old choke has remained even after his departure. great bounceback win from the buccaneers today after losing by 60 on friday night. how much was that win even paying on sportsbet?

lightning hung tough today against the tiges in the real game of the round to secure 2nd spot on the ladder after failing to show up in mandurah last night. no prue, no shervill for the playoffs and bowie only playing every second game it seems. lakeside could well go out in straight sets and coach dave could head home for the holidays a bit earlier.

cougars men have hit a bit of form late in the season with two big wins and could cause another upset yet. wouldn't that upset a few of the salty ex-cougars who migrated to Mandurah. magic sold the farm to get machado and Travers and neither will be available for playoffs. already got their eyes on Cotton Travers and Machado teaming up next year for the magic and wildcats.

who knows what could happen when redbacks and senators play each other next weekend. both teams look like they want to fight their teammates more than the other team. reds desperately need their injured starters back to be a chance they looked very average against the cougars on friday night and had no answer for the human highlight reel Nick Pozoglou (get this man an NBL gig please!).

hawks and flames are looking good for the GF in a few weeks you would say but tigers could give them a fair shake if they can remain healthy.

how pi55ed off is TT going to be when he finds out his team finished 8th not 7th. when will he learn to slow down on announcing things on social media before they are confirmed

So Wolfpack are eliminated? If so that is totally unacceptable, sack the board.

Not sure about sack the board but Summerville has to be gone in a coaching capacity at the very least. At no time this season despite much hype on his signing, did the players look like they has bought into his game plan. You'd have to say that both Trian and Seb may have played their final games. Great careers but injuries to both this year have proven father time has definitely caught up with them both.

Hawks v Flames - The flames did beat the Hawks at Bendat earlier this year and that was without Hire or Jervis, huge danger game for Parsons boys - Rockingham to stun the minor premiers
Lightning vs Tigers - Word is Bowie is done for the season as is Prue. But do the Tigers have too much reliance on Scott and Vigor. Lakeside to get the W in another thriller
Magic v Cougars - No Machado makes this a totally different game. Holmes will have his hands full with Carlwell but who from Mandurah can stop Field and Pozoglou is the huge question. Cockburn in an upset for mine
Senators v Redbacks - Perth absolutely ravaged with injuries at the wrong time of the season. Warwick just sneaking under the radar somewhat. Senators to win in their final home game of the season before needing to win two on the road to make the big dance

Semi Finals
Hawks vs Cougars
Tigers vs Senators

What are you on about western whisperer?

Men finished 8th and women 7th, that's exactly what Cockburn announced?

Grand final tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster.

Not sure how Ethan Elliott doesn't win the u23 NBL1 award. MacKenzie literally sits on a wing in a system run for him and looks good because opposition teams best defenders go to Bowie, Isenbarger and Shervill. Elliott on the other hand ran starting point as a 17 year old and his numbers only got better as the season went on (Not that they were horrible to begin with he just developed amazing consistency with the Wroe injury forcing that accelerated development somewhat) Honorable mentions to the Willo pairing of Williams and Mincherton, as well as Redhead down at Rocko.

If Bowie stays fit be wins League MVP and I still don't agree with Pozoglou winning it either. Bob carries that team yet never gets the credit from an awards perspective he truly deserves. Weird season as there was no real standout player

Ethan doesn't win because he didn't have more MVP votes than Mackenzie, that's all.

If Bowie is fit, maybe he doesn't get as many..

How does Andrew Ferguson not win the youth award? Or included in the all NBL1 1st team?
Also Pozoglou MVP and Defence player...?

Seems like most teams played 22 games, but the regional teams only played 20 and a handful of the metro teams only played 21? What's going on there? I recall a game late in the season being cancelled because of an issue with the floor, but I don't recall anything else?

Four men's games were cancelled and unable to be replayed.

Tigers vs Giants - COVID related
Flames vs Giants - COVID related
Buccs vs Slammers - COVID related
Buccs vs Eagles - Court/humidity problem

As all of the games involved either the Giants or Buccs, it was deemed impossible for them to be replayed before the end of the regular season.

As the NBL1 West ladder is based on win/loss percentage (and not premiership points) no team was either advantaged or disadvantaged.

^^^^^
Correction - Buccs vs Eastern Suns, not Buccs vs Eagles

Nope still percentage

Cougars with the Double-W tonight
Tigers over the God Squad .. no amount of pre-game praying can cover the losses of key players at this stage of the season
Wolves Women to take care of the Redbacks at home.

Rocko women in big trouble they won't accept a first round loss.

How's Cockburn? Edwards was HUGE. Could be smokeys off that confidence booster.

Could both rocko teams be out in straight sets?

Maybe time to get their WABL teams new uniforms instead of paying hire?

WOMENS

Redbacks in huge trouble Cougars to roll through to a big derby preliminary

Eagles out in straight sets

Looking like a Wolves Tigers GF, but a confident Warwick and Cougars have been as good as anyone this season (when playing well)

Rocko being able to charge $15 dollars for entry is a crime.I guess the fans are the ones paying for Hires salary . what a disgrace... #boycottrocko

It's been an issue for a long time but it's sad to see where the priorities are at Rockingham.

Things the Flames have spent money on in 2021:

1. Roster: Hire (800) Jervis (600) Bior (400) Riak (400) Godfrey (250) J Beard (150) Durnin (150) Petrik (7k+)
Close to 3,000 per week and then add Petrik's season salary as well, and that's just the men's team mind you (Boag, Richards, Ciabatonni & Burrows would be at least 2k total per week), yet after last night you can see the Flames losing next week although they should beat Mandurah but their record at Lakeside is not good and I can't see that changing should they get past the Magic on Friday night

2. NBL1 Glitz: Intro Lights, Pyrotechnics after three point shots, New grandstand, Huge new screen which serves very little purpose (You're at the game already so why would you watch the screen?!) As mentioned above, yet their WABL program run around in old uniforms whilst the NBL1 program has endless funds. This is what happens when your club president is also the NBL1 director.

Not to mention the significant coaching stocks, particularly in their wabl which have departed in the last five years or so. Cooper, Samuelson, Insch, Clayden before that and now word that one of their few remaining quality WABL coaches in our very own Random is leaving in the next month to take up a new job in ACT. No good having all the money spent on unnecessary accessories for NBL1 if you don't have any local talent being developed in your juniors due to lack of player and coach development simply not being a priority.

Boucaut and the current board have killed the Flames in the long term and have very little success to show for the significant amount of money spent. If I were a Rockingham parent with a half talented kid, I know I'd be looking elsewhere in the near future unless their entire club culture changes down there to focus on what should be important like player development and retaining quality coaches, rather than glitz and glamour with zero to little substance.

I'm Hire’s case, if you mean fictitious, I assume you mean not high enough?

I hadn't seen Hire play for a while until last night. He looked very slow and didn't have much effect for someone who's reportedly paid. Jervis did the best he could but the Flames second group were too small to hold the Hawks.

Predictions for men's and women’s this week?

Men - Friday Night
Mandurah v Rockingham - Flames by double digits. Jervis, Bior and Hire inside will cause Carlwell all kinds of problems.
Perth vs Willetton - Tevin Jackson is the X Factor here, if he can have a huge offensive game and shut down Damian Scott on the defensive end, the Redbacks are a more than handy chance to pull off two upsets in as many weeks. Perth by 3

Men - Saturday Night
Rockingham vs Lakeside - Prue's 400th, need we say more. Lightning to shoot the lights out on their way back to a Grand Final spot.
Perth vs Perry Lakes - Hawks well rested and Parsons will have a solid scout on the Redbacks. Perth's injuries could be their undoing here and the fairytale will end for CJs men. Hawks by double digits

Perry Lakes vs Lakeside Grand Final

I'm a bit done with these podcasts saying "Rockingham without Garbin oh what could have been".

She didn’t play a game, she rescinded her contract, it’s as good as saying “what if cambage played for them”.

She won’t be back, they under achieved and they should be annoyed their season was a failure

it's as good as saying "what if cambage played for them".

Grand Finals - women Friday 3rd September, men Saturday 4th September.

Predictions:

Friday men
tigers def redbacks
flames def magic

friday women
cougars def redbacks
eagles def senators


saturday men
hawks def tigers
flames def lightning

saturday women
wolves def eagles
tigers def cougars


grand finals women wolves v tigers men hawks v flames.

Watched the Flames Magic game online, aside from Grace that entire team should be ashamed of that performance. They literally did not show up and pretty much let the Flames do whatever they wanted from the opening tip. I think its quite obvious the the average punter watching that the only reason Kyle is in the team is because his dad is an assistant - He provides nothing on offense and not much more on the defensive end. The only decent product the Magic have is young Parker and with the previous links to Cairns, one could make the case that if he is even offered an NBL1 contract over there next season, he should seriously look at taking it and getting away from the dumpster fire that is the Mandurah men's team. Lakeside will also not be happy as the Flames starters are now very rested ahead of tomorrow night's clash - makes it a much more interesting game indeed. Redbacks with a huge upset for the second week in a row on the road, and now they dare to dream and make it three in a row against the title favourites in the Hawks tomorrow night at Bendat. Timms with 36 and 21 tonight, will cause Ferguson and Thomas a lot of problems tomorrow night if they can not contain his elite athleticism, whilst the matchup of Purser vs Jackson will play a major role in the outcome of the game. Should be two fantastic games to determine who makes the grand final next week

Sooo while teams punch their ticket to the big dance tonight, early calls for teams that better get their act together this off season?

Kalamunda men and women - club is a mess. Losing jewel Williams is embarrassing.

Can south west men and women get any worse?

Will lakeside women fix their mess of a year?

Don't forget Joondalup.

Joondalup men in big trouble

But had to be Kalamunda. Their men have no one good and their women of losing Jewel are screwed. Where is she going

Utley is out
Mansfield is out

They are in big trouble up there.

Ettridge to the men.

Who would even want that women's program? Who is left?

Roscoe to Redbacks (friends with Dyer)
Motroni out somewhere
Ironmonger probably won’t play again?
Mansfield won’t be there obviously
Williams to Cougars makes most sense (relationship with TT)

Don't rule out Williams to Lakeside - In a relationship with ben Johnson, could easily see that eventuating. On the Lightning too, with their men getting knocked out before many expected, will there be a push for Daniels to hand over the reigns to the Women's team so he can focus solely on one program and ensuring he gets the absolute best out of them?

Suns are in all sorts of trouble up there. Does Motroni join Jorjah Smith down at Rockingham? What good can the arrogant choking hazard do for that Men's program without his brains trust in L Brennan by his side?! You would almost be better off putting Warren Kuhn back in charge!

Team Coaches 2022:

Cockburn
W: Thwaites
M: Cooper

East Perth
W: Srdarev
M: Cockburn??

Eastern Suns
W: Vacant
M: Ettridge

Geraldton
M: Joseph

Goldfields
W: Rob Thompson
M: Creek

Joondalup
W: Nix
M: Summerville??

Lakeside
W: Daniels??
M: Daniels

Mandurah
W: Alava??
M: Trahair

Perry Lakes
W: Black??
M: Parsons

Perth
W: Allen
M: Jackson

Rockingham
W: Knowles
M: Petrik

South West
W: Advertised as of 1800 today
M: Advertised as of 1800 today

Warwick
W: Morley??
M: Ellis??

Willetton
W: Parker
M: Nener

Why would Redbacks womens be vacant?

Yeah Craig Allen is alot safer at Perth than some other Women's coaches, and he's more than likely adding more talent to his roster in Roscoe.

Suns board are a mess, so he is walking!

Anon. players are never happy

The sooner boards stop listening to them the better

Of course you want happy players. But normally the loudest are complaining for something trivial, or something that is there own doing.

Imagine the idiots on this forum going crazy if wolves looked at Thwaites for CEO role when Summerville goes.

Pull out the popcorn on this forum!!

He will when BWA offer him a gig

No one said they were? Anon said when

Thwaites is on a decent package, I can't see anything less than the GM of NBL1 or higher tempting him at BWA. Biggest disappointments of 2021 for mine:

1. Rockingham Women: Had three WNBL players in Burrows, Boag and Ciabattoni yet were not competitive in Finals. Spending alot of money for no success is a quick way to be out of a job if you're Coach Knowles.
2. Warwick: Entire NBL1 program probably needs a refresh. Ellis' tried and true formula may have worked for a much weaker West Coast Classic, but their weaknesses were well and truly there for all to see this year. Release King and find a better, younger version; Build the team around Elliott who is clearly the future of the club in the Men's program. Morley underachieved after getting a Grand Final team from D'Agostino's time in charge. Way too much emphasis on running everything through Barr and nowhere near the support required to be a genuine title threat
3. Lakeside Men: Were touted as the Title favourites for a large majority of the season, had the luxury of one less game than their Prelim opponents yet could not get the job done on their own court. Time to find two new Imports, with the luxury that Isenbarger is now an aussie. Bowie too injury prone and the live and die by the 3 ball mentality has to evolve for the Lightning to be considered genuine contenders in 2022.

Anon is right. Don't think thwaites would settle for less then deputy ceo at BWA. He’s got it good At Cockburn.

I don't buy into the McKenzie hype. He gets the third best defender on court regularly as opposition teams need to contain Isenbarger and Bowie as a priority on the scout. So you get the likes of McKenzie & Lee who get made to look alot better than they are because they sit on weakside waiting for the inevitable double team on one of the Lakeside studs, then get points from that. Case and point Saturday night versus Rockingham, and when his team needed him the most he couldn't step up when truly needed. Not saying the kid doesn't have talent, but I'm not sold he is the wunderkind some are making him out to be.

Wolves would be my notable admission. Do Salinas and Iliadis hang up the boots? If they do, expect the chequebook to come out again as they do not have the stocks up there to be competitive with their local kids that would remain in the program. Does Nix have to win the GF on Friday night with the Women to be considered a genuine candidate for the Men's gig?

Ahh Hah. A shit canning gone wrong. Blue and Gold nominated for dickhead of the week.