Kings might not be looking that great but they are not letting this slip. Who's in or out for taipans? Probably doesn’t make to much difference, kings by 10 at least. I’d like to be wrong though.

As far as I know Waardenburg is back. Gak and now Makoi out which shouldn't have much bearing on things.

If Sydney are serious they should win well. If not things will get interesting very quickly.

No team is looking that great atm - mainly because there is so small margin for error with such a quality, deep comp - so it's just about ticking off enough Ws, however you can get them, to get a good seed for the finals while you work on producing your best ball at the right time.

Leafa starting ahead of Bruce, Goorj love of Leafa is strange to me.

Horrible starting five from kings, to small.

Let Leafa shoot is a good defensive plan for Cairns

The Jackson Makoi Cup

Bul Kuol, Cam Oliver, Kouat Noi, Shaun Bruce too.

Kuol on two fouls, again they talk about him as great defender, I've never seen it, he’s a foul machine. Hindsight is telling us that kings squad so unbalanced. Kings still should be good enough to win this though.

Bruce, Adams, Toohey, Oliver and Cooks their best five and get them back in front of.

Kings by one, scrappy game, Noi -7, Leafa -4, Kuol -8, all other kings in the plus. Taipans trying but very individual as well.

Classic Brian, no idea his best player got subbed out.

Come on Cairns

Kings in foul trouble and Edwards chucks up a miracle three, get to the rack man.

Cairns had this but got nervous and couldn't close it out. It’s a big shame. Would’ve made me feel a lot better about the ridiculous Hawks loss to Cairs last weekend.

Oliver with 15p and 17r was best player. Noi was minus 13 when on the court, yes he can score though.

Noi hit the big 3s when it counted, plus a combination of right place/hustle to get that foul shot miss.
Dammitt, I really wanted to hear who Brian was going to blame if they lost.

But back to his seniors moment in timeout, all for empowering assistants but surely the head coach needs to know who's on the floor. And especially when the 5 on court are sitting on the bench in front of you and he's going on about Cooks doubling and everyone's confused. Then complaining why he was subbed out.
Kevin Sheedy was a great coach in the 80/90/00s, but he wouldn't have a clue if he went back to Essendon today. Can see this being a one and done for Brian if they bomb out early, won't be sacked but will step away and be a consultant or something.

And if Armstrong keeps progressing he might be a dark horse for Boomers. Giddy a way better passer, but Armstrong seems like he can keep defences honest. Not saying he replaces Giddy, but brings something a lot of the NBA guys can't do at the point.

Sheedy was finished and sent to the giants, another afl plant that wasted years of development. Yes I know it's a different sport. ::::::)))::::))))))

Brian is just as done as Sheedy was, good in his day but past it. His record is a bit better than Abdelfattah last season yet Mahmoud was considered a massive failure.

I would say make your judgement after the finals. Goorjian has clearly been coaching to set standards he knows will help the team succeed at the pointy end. If he can't get his team playing the way he wants by season's end it would show he's lost one of his best assets as a coach.

Sheedy didn't know who some players were at Essendon in his last couple of years. Bluffed his way through with muscle memory at GWS. is Goorjian the same, got old real quick?

Mahmoud never had cooks either. Imo the salary for this team would far exceed last seasons team.

Could I make my judgement after the last boomers campaign instead?

I did.

I made mine after that Hawks SF choke job in 2021 against a Cotton-less Wildcats. If after that and the Boomers 23 & 24 campaigns an NBL team is silly enough to hire Goorj that's on them.

Noi plus/minus is the worst stat to use regarding players.

It was obvious playing Cam off the bench and trying to get him early touches, it seems that JA and Oliver don't like each other he always looks him off for a pass.

Brian seems to have too much trust in an assistant group outside of Billy that just aren't strong enough to carry the load for him. And you can't do everything at this level.

the subs seemed to have vision in them if the timeouts didn't, Taipans are frisky but failed to get the Burg involved as the 3rd piece in this game which could of helped. Must admit not sure what value Fordes assistants are offering him