Norwood Flames Anthony Green is back for another year and likely to put on another show above the rim as he did opening round last season. Photo supplied by Picture IT Sports Photography
Central District Lions
Men: It’s a big year for the Lions as WNBL Bendigo Spirit coach Tracy York takes charge and she has some weaponry at her disposal. The biggest recruit was grabbing Tobias Dowdell from the North Adelaide Rockets whilst also adding former Adelaide 36er Bijan Johnson and former West Adelaide Bearcats import Demetrius Perkins. Capping off their recruiting is former Mavericks import guard Nathaniel Koko making the Lions men one of the busiest in the off-season. Watch for the form of Sunday Bol (Averaging 12.2 ppg in reserves this season) and Alex Day a junior who has risen through the ranks (11.1 ppg in reserves).
Prediction: It really is going to come down to how all the pieces fit together, Koko and Johnson are potent scorers and Perkins and Dowdell are proven. The Lions will be around the mark early with some winnable home games against the Mavericks, Panthers, Tigers before a tough mid-season run against the Warriors, Rockets and Flames. If York can get them all syncing along with the talent they have, they are a genuine chance to finish just inside the final five however I think they’ll land somewhere between 6th and 8th.
Women: The other side of the pride will be looking to make the climb up this year with a plenty of familiar faces returning for Scott Herriman’s squad. The three huge ins are Ranisha Washington a former championship winning import with the Southern Tigers (2016), WNBL UC Capitals rookie Casey Samuels and Clemson University centre Tyla Bennett. Watch for the games of Laura Richardson and Alyssa Jones back from college to help the Lions move a little more up in progress in 2022.
Prediction: Consistency will be the goal for the Lions women in 2022 and while it may be not enough to lift them off the bottom of the table, it certainly will be more wins and closer games than 2021.
Eastern Mavericks
Men: The only way is up for the Mavs after finishing on the bottom in the 2021 season. The Mavs newly rebranded have loaded up with 2016 Woollacott Medallist guard Nelson Kirksey, Tiger jump man Koop McCalop and a giant in Dimakopoulos at over 7’1 giving us our own “Giannis” in the league. A host of familiar faces are back to watch for including Lachy Knibbs, Tom Cromarty and Owen Raneberg back to “rain” in some more from outside the arc at St Francis De Sales.
Prediction: With “Giannis” likely coming in late, the Mavs have a tough start with all four of my predicted top four but are likely to come home with a flourish and that will likely harden them for return bouts against those teams. If they split those games and their back-up power can harness the stars of the team, they might sneak into the final five moving five places up from 2021.
Women: The Mavs have really bolstered their Women’s side under new coach Steven Knight. Two Canadian’s frontline the group both from Stonybrook in Bridgette-Lefebvre Okanku and Oksana Gouchie-Provencher and hopefully will fill the gap by the departing Mollie McKendrick (Tigers) and Rachel Hines (Eagles). Two young bigs in Olivia Bradley and Stephanie Formby have been in hot form in the preseason while Emily Dawe will take on board a larger role this season.
Prediction: If the two Canadians are the real deal, this Mavs team are going to go another step forward than last season. They turned St Francis into a fortress at times in 2021 and could be potentially 4-0 after early into the season. That would give them the confidence to be right there fighting for fifth spot in a logjam of other teams.
Forestville Eagles
Men: Andy Simon’s men are the raging favourite heading into the 2022 season and its no surprise why. They will be loaded at every position with championship guard returning in Adam Doyle, Perth Wildcat shooting big in Jack Purchase and grabbed Fiston Ipassou from the Rockets to join an already studded team. The re-signing of Brandon Brine, Greg Mays, Jake Rios, and Malith Machar make the Eagles a team that’s going to be hard to catch when they are flying.
Prediction: After missing out in 2021, the Eagles start favourite in the men’s and have more depth than previous years. Unless some chemistry issues occur with who’s the guy in the team; its hard to see them doing nothing less than finishing in the grand final and taking the championship.
Women: Through the preseason the Eagles have gotten pieces in place for new coach Daniel Stratford. His daughter WNBL Bendigo Spirit’s Isabella will run the point while the Simons in Adelaide Lightning’s own Sam and her sister Jess will feature prominently this season. Saavy recruiting saw the Eagles land Rachel Hines (Mavericks) and bring back Katia Stamatelopoulos (back from college) and Bianca Stasinowsky which will be a lot of fun to call this season. They’ve also added a potentially strong piece in Laura Aldazabal, a forward/centre import from Hungary and should be confirmed shortly.
Prediction: The Eagles have some serious depth this season and should feature in the finals race yet again. If Sam Simons goes to a Halls worthy vein of form and Hines captures some of the form she showed with the Mavs, the pace and speed of the Eagles will worry half-court defensive teams with the form of the front court a key to seeing them push further into premiership contention.
Norwood Flames
Men: The Flames fell one game short of taking the championship and have suffered some off-court blows as well. CJ Turnage is gone (NBL1 West Joondalup Wolves) which is a huge blow however opens the opportunity for plenty of new Flames to step up including Serbia’s KK Radnicki G-League Toronto Raptors 905 US import Trey McBride (who’s younger brother yes is NBA New York Knicks Miles McBride). Joining Ray Harding, Matt Lycett, Daniel Webber and import Anthony Green will be the talented Marco D’Annunzio whos been showing some good reserves form and a new coach in junior and state representative in Tim Odell. Luca Barei has been in elite form in the reserves so watch for him to take another step this season.
Prediction: Last year’s runner ups will need a lot to go right and McBride to be a dominant force in the guard position. New coach Odell will have a mixed start against teams with the Flames likely to either be just in the final five or slipping down to the bottom rungs. There’s plenty of quality still there though for them to slide either way…
Women: Its all additions for the Flames women as adding to the powerhouse of Bendigo Spirit player Ally Wilson, solid forward Genna Anderson and rapidly improving Alek Akuen is some WNBL and returning college talent. Adelaide Lightning’s Brooke Basham (Eagles) arrives to increase the scoring punch while Molly Coleman who has been on the radar of clubs has returned from Upstate South Carolina averaging 9.8 points at 54 percent and 3.9 rebounds per game. Preseason suggests that Chelsea Apacible and Tara Girardi will take even further steps in 2022.
Prediction: One of my two favourites for the title this year, they are certainly not weaker this season than last meaning they’ll likely climb into the final five. Basham and Coleman are huge ins and their coach Terry-Jo McNamara got them going big time in the second half of the season with a six game winning streak. I have them finishing in the top two and competing for the premiership in 2022.
North Adelaide Rockets
Men: Dean Nyberg’s men come in the reigning champions and while they’ve lost some elite quality in Jack McVeigh and Dowdell, Nyberg has been on the phone yet again through agents and pulled some quality players to replace them. Former Mt Gambier Pioneer Brad Rathjen leads the recruiting along with two new imports and big centre from University of Montana in Jamar Akoh and forward from Odessa in the Ukraine Super-League Terry Winn III. Reserves in form players currently are shooter Riley Harrap and dynamic guard Dylan Marshall who’ll see even more time than he did in the previous season.
Prediction: The Rocket men left their run late starting with a 1-6 record in 2021 so even if something like that happens again, be very wary of the red and white. The impact of Mcveigh, Dech and Dowdell will need to be covered by Rathjen, Akoh and Winn III. If the imports fire then another finals appearance appears likely but much like similar teams I have them finishing just outside this time around but I’m sure Nyberg will be keen to prove me wrong again.
Women: The biggest blow for Brenton Johnston’s women was the loss of Lightning guard Taylor Ortlepp (NBL1 West Rockingham Flames) so more responsibility falls to the energetic Tia Bails and returning co-captain back from maternity leave Lauren Badenoch. Returning is also Sammy “De Fran” Francesco and back from injury Tayla Corrigan. The preseason has seen the emergence of young Grace Facchini and the improvement of forward/centre Lily Zbierski and will be ones to watch of the new crop.
Prediction: Runners-up in 2021, I think this year the depth is not quite there for the Rockets and see them slipping out of the final five and finishing somewhere between 6th and 9th. An import like the rumoured MSU Roadrunner Peyton Taylor could change those calculations but they need a couple more big names to really lift the squad where its at.
South Adelaide Panthers
Men: A clean out of sorts saw a club legend return to the coaching helm in Scott Ninnis and he’s brought a few new faces in while retaining some key personnel. Runner up Woollacott medallist of 2015 Jeremy Smith comes in from the UK while Ninnis has managed to nail in the signatures of the dynamic Alex Starling (who’ll be hoping for a full year on court), shooting veteran Todd Davies, the ever reliable Sam Johns and the man ready to fire in Jarryd Hoppo. Watch for New Zealand international in Kazlo Evans Jr (14.3 ppg in reserves) and Matt “Reggie” Regenass who have made some leaps and bounds across the preseason.
Prediction: The Ninnis edge is the big factor for the Panthers men, and they do have some continuity in this year’s squad. If the Panthers are going to make it into the final five, then it’s down to import Jeremy Smith and Jarryd Hoppo to elevate his game to the next level. If Starling can stay away from injury (that’s a big if as well) in another tight men’s ladder they’ll be around the mark but I think after a year under Ninnis they’ll be more ready to go to the final five in 2023.
Women: Similar to the Flames, Richard Dickel’s women have added to their squad and have continuity going for them across the board. Former state junior under Dickel in Jade Johnson (Sturt Sabres) will take to Michael Ahmatt Court along with Bianca McDonald (Sturt Sabres) with plenty of opposition defences pondering where to put their defensive effort. Olivia Levecki (formerly Thompson) and Ash “Splash” Spencer will be ones to stop again and one of the most improved pairs of players in Hannah Stewart and Hatti Cox complete a strong lineup not to mention Jordan Hunter in that mix as well.
Prediction: All the pieces are there for the Panthers to win the championship in 2022. The squad is well balanced and similar to the Flames have added to their depth without losing anything. Johnson may be the one that takes them to their first since 1958 and first Grand Final since 2003.
Southern Tigers
Men: Another club cleaned out by the west as coach David Morrell heads to Joondalup, but the Tigers have secured some big time names this season. They are headed by their two imports in the returning Ricardo Martin after playing for Ringwood Hawks (NBL1 South) last season and we finally get to see Vionte Daniels who looks every part the replacement the Tigers will need for reigning defensive player of the year Cameron “The Truth” Coleman; here’s hoping the truth can be covered by the “V-Factor.” While many eyes will be on 36ers rookie Lachy Olbrich, you’ll also need to watch for Mitchell Olbrich and Curtis Scott who’s had an outstanding preseason (averaging 16.7 ppg).
Mens: The Tigers have lost some real key personnel and while we know Martin, Daniels and Lachy Olbrich will be top shelf, the remaining squad will need to show some big consistency and after a few years closer to the top of the ladder, I get the feeling this is more a re-establishing year for the Tigers under their new coach in Hilbig. I have them finishing lower down the table this time around but Tiger fans will be thoroughly entertained by this team no doubt
Women: It’s the year of the comeback for the defending champions with Mollie McKendrick and Bendigo Spirit’s Demi Skinner returning to the Cage along with all-star five point guard Morgan Yaeger off the back of a big finish to the WNBL season with the Sydney Uni Flames. The biggest loss has been league Halls Medallist in Teige Morrell (Joondalup you guessed correct in the west) so under Lightning assistant Matthew Clarke will need to find a way to dominate the paint differently to the previous season. There is one that may make a huge rise this season and I saw destroy WA in a shooting display in 2019 in Abby Beeche (10.5 points per game in preseason) who could fill a lights out shooting position for the Tigers.
Prediction: They still have Yaeger who’s come off a blinder season with the Flames, McKendrick is a winner as is Skinner and the core has been there for so long under coach of the year in 2021 Clarke. I don’t think they quite have the same depth and weapons as last season but they’ll still be around the mark for the championship if two other teams fall over. I think preliminary final will be where they land in 2022.
Sturt Sabres
Men: Never look at the Sabres list as time and time again, we always underestimate the double light and dark blue. The whole squad except the college guys are pretty much back including Sam Daly, Joel Spear forming their one-two punch at the guard position while Hayden Meakes returns from college to bolster the front court. College club returnee Jacob Rigoni keeps the chemistry strong and a COE gun has also been quietly going about his business in Aimable Rutayisire in the reserves and looks a handy recruit with Keanu (Rasmussen) and Benny (Gristci) missing from 2021. They’ve also just added an import forward/centre in Devin Haygood who’ll be looking to bring the “Goods” with Tom Goodall.
Prediction: Every year the team on paper looks like its not a final five squad but lesson learnt that if the guard combination is settled with the dynamic duo in Daly and Spear and the core is there, they are making the finals once again and you can pencil them into a spot. I think however this time around they are some key pieces short of going all the way in 2022 and finishing top of the table again like they did in 2021.
Women: It’s looking like all local for new coach Tim Shortt as the Sabres look to invest in their rising stars. Losing Kylee Smith and Lightning rookie Tayla Brazel (recovering from an ACL sustained at an Australian camp) is a huge blow for the front and back court however Meg Prosser’s strong pre-season form (14.9 ppg) indicates she’s in for a big one combining with the Mathews’s in Kayla and Nicola, the return of the other Rigoni in Jasmine and the daughter of a gun former player from a strong basketball family in Caitlin Dyer putting her name right up for selection. They do have an import in Wasserburg’s forward Mikayla Williams who’s just been announced which will relieve the losses of Smith and Brazel.
Prediction: The Women finished second in 2021 but have lost plenty of key players. They’ll need some core players stepping it up to another level but with their defensive prowess they are always a threat to opposition teams in this league. The consistency and how other teams handle this will be key to where the Sabres finish in 2022. I think a few teams will have done plenty of tinkering with these sets over the summer so I have the Sabres out of the five for this year but won’t be out for long with a return likely the year after.
Woodville Warriors
Men: It’s the last dance you feel for the Woodville Warriors with the Scott Whitmore’s men going all in across every part of the floor this season. They have landed a suitable substitute for Julian Jacobs in Joe Jackson former team-mate dynamic guard Jawan Stepney and that’s means once again “special J” is on the menu at St Clair. David Humphries comes in from the Lions to join “Boon-town” James Boonstoppel and former Tiger Nick Wurm gives the Warriors the depth they need to have a genuine crack at the Eagles this season.
Prediction: The dark horse for this year’s men championship they are loaded defensively and if Stepney can be even half the player Jacobs was, Humphries goes on a scoring blitz and the veterans put their best foot forward; the Warriors may be the ones that can take down the Eagles in 2022 and get that championship for Whitmore and the West.
Women: Headlining the Warriors women recruits is VBL Craigieburn Eagle Renai Fejo back home to join sister Jasmin and brother Dan in our league. She brings speed and pace in the point position and will team up with Regan Turnour-McCarty (NBL1 North Northside Wizards) and Georgia Fagan (NBL1 South Hobart Chargers) under incoming former Lions Mens coach Matt Atkins. Add the experience of Katherine Perkas and Deanna Troia along with star Emily Winter; the warriors are bound to be no easy pushovers this year.
Prediction: I can’t see a huge rise up the ladder for the Warriors women but they’ll push some teams pretty hard in a much closer Womens league in 2022. Fejo is the key along with incoming McCarty and Fagan who’ll add to Winter’s rebounding dominance.
West Adelaide Bearcats
Men: Securing some replacements for Earnest Ross and Bryan Michaels (NBL1 West) was key for Corey McLean’s men and they landed what they needed. Nate Shepperd similar to some other imports gets the opportunity to play in Australia while Nik De Santis who was in elite form before his ACL last year re-joins after a year off from the Pioneers. Patrick Ciganovic, Luke Cadzow and Anthony Spadavecchia the veteran leadership group have youth in form joining them in Daniel Smith and Sean Stock with both averaging over 11 points per game in the pre-season. The tall timber will be a challenge for teams now with another 7’1 centre joining in Raptors G-League Andre Washington to pair with Lachlan Hunter.
Prediction: Tough year ahead for the Bearcats I feel with much of the fate of 2022 resting on how De Santis bounces back from his ACL and Shepperd and Washington’s impact as imports. Their veterans and rookies will have to play near their best each match and I just don’t think they can do that compared to the other sides in the competition.
Women: The Bearcats will be heavily reliant on Lightning’s Jasmin Fejo, import centre Jennie Rintala and skipper Skye “Left-handen” Langebrinck under incoming coach Kay-Lee Stuart. In-form pre-season players Bethany Heaft (13.7 ppg), Keeley Pearce (11.8 ppg) and one to watch for the league’s most improved player in Abby Brenton (11.4 ppg) and although late its just been confirmed that three tri-colour multi sport athletes including a former WNBA/WNBL star are about to pull on the black and red in between major seasons of their other sport in Anne Hatchard, Jasmine Simmons and the big one Erin Phillips.
Prediction: Extremely talented and exciting the Bearcats women could move up past a few other teams but they have been quiet on the signing front. I think we’ll see some improvement from their players from last year, but even with the tri-colour trio incoming they just lack a real big gun name and player to take them into the conversation for finals. I think they’ll land between 6th to 8th similar to last season; but they have potential.
Catch all the NBL1 Central action starting tomorrow on the NBL1 website, app and game of the week between the North Adelaide Rockets and Woodville Warriors on Kayo and Kayo Freebies.
Written by Tristan Prentice
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 