I like it. Our big needs were perimeter scoring and a big man and they've obviously opted to go for the former. Ere can still ball and is a smart player who prefers skill and finesse unlike Creek and Walker. If everyone is healthy and with Joey at the helm the 36ers should the give the NBL a red hot crack. We have made good replacements and have built a strong core over the years and McNeail and Ere should be strong additions. Bring on the season!

You're one very glass half full type of fan my friend. Glad something, anything, has finally been announced.

Worried about Hodgson lasting the season and missing Big Red. Apart form that I'm all good. Except of course with the lack of member contact and social media but use to that being poor so nothing new there.

Yep, if Hodgson stays on the court and lives up to some of the wraps on him as an interior presence then this is a good team. The other question mark is McNeaill. If he struggles this is a playoff contender and nothing more. If he can fill his role really well, particularly from range, this becomes a title contender.

I'm hoping McNeil has more defensive presence at the back door where Jamar failed. He has support so if he has an off shooting night, recognises when he has gone too deep and getting hammered and uses the pass and plays smart it should be all good. I am looking forward to Lucas Walker with this team. I mention whim a few years ago when he players for South in Allstars and he fitted in well with our lads. He is athletic but been in a dud team with loads of attitude issues. He does have a maturity which is a bonus and he performed well last season for Boomers but Melbourne screwed him over. Give him a chance and he could be our new BJ. Although I would love to have BJ back.. Was a crowd favourite and finding his form and such a shame he was injured. Would like to see him brought back in when he is better and if there are issues int he team he can really get it going on court and he has the best game face ever !!!

I find it strange that people are already writing Ere off at 34 years old, when just a couple of years ago people were still calling for Willie Farley to be signed at 38

No one with any real idea was considering Farley as a impact type import... as much as he was loved in his prime. Just a few factors compared to what he offers most likley, in comparisonto what we need that worries me.

Carlin will play more than hodgson

Different category of player, but Kobe is doing OK at 37. Fair to give any player a chance to play before being judged. More difficult to assess in advance than if they'd, say, added an ABL benchie in place of an import where everyone had recently seen them play.

Someone suggested this announcement was supposed to be made on 1st Sept...what happened to that?

Announced via Boti at Adelaide now -http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/dual-nbl-title-winner-ebi-ere-back-to-lead-adelaide-36ers-championship-assault/story-fnii09ki-1227500080897

People make it sound as if he is 40 odd.

34 isn't too old.

Plenty of professionals are still productive at this age. Braswell was older and had achillies history.

He would have lost some athleticism but that skill wouldn't have diminished.

If you're comparing him to Kevin Braswell, thats not a great thing!! For me as stated, 34 is one thing, but needing to come in and be a big time impact type is going to be hard to see happening. Ofcourse would love to be wrong, but a lot falls on this signing because Mcneale doesn't look like he will be much at all...

You sure this happened. It's not confirmed on 6ers social media lol

We are going on like he is really old yet Dmac played until he was 44 at a high level! Darnell Mee played until he was 36 at 34 he was still getting great stats. Andrew Gaze played until 39 averaging 20ppg in his final season, he averaged 29ppg when he was 34.

Josh Childress is 32 and would have been MVP last season. Something tells me that Kirk Penney at 34 is not going to be average either just because of his age. Jamar Wilson is 31 he didn't look hampered by hitting the old age 30's.

As others have suggested that Ere's stats continue to be good in strong leagues. Let's just wait until he has played several games before judging.

Italy, France and Spain are good leagues.Will be a different style of player to when we last saw him.

He himself said he is less athletic but smarter which is exactly what I was expecting. He really just needs to hit his open shots and be a threat to keep the defense honest to be effective...we have Creek and Walker who can slash to the basket and provide that athletic aspect.

'Announced via Boti at Adelaide now'

Boti is not the 36ers.

So what will the starting five look like?

36ers looking good. If DJ didn't come back last year & u announced him this year your roster is as exciting as all others! If anything u get to fly under the radar a bit. U have the best coach out there so look out!

Adelaide will be very solid...

Gibson / Sobey
McNeill / Teys
Ere / Creek
Petrie / Walker
Johnson / Hodgson

But probably with a depth chart as follows:

Gibson / Teys
McNeill / Gibson / Sobey / Creek
Creek / Ere / Walker
Ere / Petrie / Johnson / Walker
Johnson / Hodgson

All of the guards are pretty interchangeable and can play multiple roles, will depend on how good McNeill is. Gibson also has to go back to the main PG role, which is not always his best fit.

There is a genuine battle for minutes at the wings, with Ere, Creek and Walker all being most suited to the 3 spot. We will likely be playing a bit of small ball this year.

The big man depth is probably where we will struggle the most and where we look a little thin, particularly defensively. Really only a three big man rotation.

XY. Think Walker is better at the 4. Has the Athleticism and the size. Also his J isn't great as a 3.

Gibson 30 McNeaill 10
McNeaill 20 Teys 15 Ere 5
Ere 20 Creek 20
Petrie 20 Walker 15 Creek 5
Johnson 30 Hodgson 5 Petrie 5

I love how Boti is singing the praises of Ere for being a winner, playing on some of the most piss-taking, cap cheating teams in history, but still making sure to stick the boot in to Perth for exploring loopholes in player contracts.

Announcement now on 36ers site

Yeah I defintely think walker is gonna play bulk minutes at the 4

Id consider bringing McNeal off the bench and starting 2 of Creek, Petrie, Walker

I reckon a starting 5 of Gibson, Ere, Creek, Walker, Johnson with McNeal backing up the pg/sg, Teys backing up sg/sf, Petrie backing up pf/c would be a really nice 8 man rotation.

Agreed. McNeail off the bench.
I really don't want to see Creek come off the bench, due to a logjam at the 3 for another season.
He's been ready to step up as a starter since early last season, let's give him a shot at it.
Gibson, Ere, Creek, Petrie and DJ to start hopefully.
We'll be leaning on DJ and Petrie quite a lot this year.
McNeail will likely be given an opportunity to prove himself as a starter early season. But I think Creek will be a starter by round 5.

Thank god is announced Isaac. was worried it was all a hoax NOT

Jonno, I am just concerned with that starting 5 about the lack of ball handling/play making smarts.

Gibbo is great, but is a 1/2, and can be susceptible to the trap/pressure.

Creek is not a ball handler and is not there for the skill set to create the plays.

Ere, from my recollection, is a pure wing (albeit with good length) and would not be taking ball handling roles. He is no point forward and will be best playing off the ball.

In fact, it could be said that all three play their best basketball off the ball. Will be interesting to see how that works.

Good point, I agree we only have one real ball handler on the floor, but Gibbo is a PG imo so happy to have him shoulder that load as much as possible, there will be times when him and McNeall are on the court together anyway.

I guess id let Walker bring it up against his bigger less mobile PF opponent, he isnt a point forward but if Gibson is doubled then there should be enough room for him to quickly push it and head straight to the basket and even kick it forward to DJ or Ebi who will be in our forward half.

Fast ball movement overall will be the key and make it difficult for opponents to trap Gibbo and/or Walker without leaving a Creek, Ebi or DJ fairly open in decent positions.

I just like the look of an athletic, versatile, fast paced line up with my suggested starting 5.

I also reckon Gibbo, Creek and Walker could do a fairly good job trapping there opponents too with the length, athleticism and grunt.

Anon, at 6'5 I am not sure that Creek is a full time solution at PF, small ball or not. Ok for a changeup though.

We will largely be playing small ball anyway with DJ a mobile big and Petrie/Walker each only 6'8. We will be coming up against some monster front courts.

Johno, we might need to insert Teys or Petrie into your lineup if you want McNeail on your bench for that extra pair of safe hands.

Yea, im not opposed to McNeail or even starting him, i just like the idea of the bigger more athletic line up starting both Creek and Walker with Gibbo, Ere, DJ. I just think Creek, Walker, Petrie are too good to have 2 of the 3 off the bench, but hey it gives us great depth, and McNeall may be better anyway.

I suspect Joey will start something along the lines of McNeal, Gibson, Ere, Walker or Creek, Johnson.

In 2007 with the Bullets from memory he used Mackinnon as his pf from memory, Creek is of similar height and Walker is taller so i dont think Joey will be worried about having those 2 play some minutes at PF, with Petrie obviously also in the PF/C rotations.

Those 2007 Bullets were the epitome of run and stun basketball. They only genuine big they had was a Bradtke playing limited minutes in his final season. Even when they were wiping us off the court they were fun to watch.

Joey tried to replicate it in subsequent seasons but didn't have the cattle. Maybe that is the thinking behind stacking the team at the wings this year?

A nice dunk by Ere

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uWX65z_m1OA

2007 is a long time ago. Certainly a stacked team being paid ridiculous $. Might have a lot of wings
but very weak at guard spots. Probably 5 players that are really threes and 2 guards, both who you would hope will start.

the number plate is back...ebi-ere

Johnson / Hodgson
Walker / Petrie
Creek / Teys
Ere / McNeail
Gibson / Sobey

Anon #546471 - Melbourne were stacked last year, how did they go?

Now I'm prepared to have people jump down my throat for not taking the time to read the article but didn't Mitch Creek just have surgery for something?? No matter how minor you wouldn't think he'd been ready to start come tip off for the season with minimal prep time playing with the complete roster???

He said he woke up with a sore elbow out of the blue & is not sure why or how it happened? He just had minor surgery to clean it up. Will only be out a week (provided it isnt anything more sinister) and will be ready for season tip off.

@anon we made the GF and semi's with 1 import. Aussie core far more important than imports. Perth's success is built on a sustained core of local talent.

"The fact that many people want to see our import start on the bench means we got it wrong.
import should be the difference.."

Like Torrey Craig?

Goorjian was renowned for having good Aussie talent with 1 good import and 1 off the bench as well.

Ebi looks pretty good out there, although there's a lotta americans training out there, all pretty good...hodgson's hard to guard, need jawai to block him...

Peach told me Ebi is looking really good and is a real pro!

Might be better than some expect and also could be good for the team in more ways than one?!

he lifts you up a bit being around

Anon #546522 - How do you know Kenyon will be no good, have yuo seen him play?

Anon #546582 - Peach could say a lot of things with diplomacy without saying he is rubbish or not up to. Camel 31 has obviously been out to training and seems to think he is looking pretty good. What are you basing your negativity on?

Camel 31 - How is Kenyon looking out there?

For what its worth I got a txt from a mate who saw him play said he didnt look up to it, but you never can tell until they are in the heat of battle...

kenyon looks small..shoots threes good , but not much else YET..needs more work out there

I watched training yesterday and whilst it is pre season was not impressed with Ebi Ere. Gibson and the other import watched on and he was up against yellow singlets so reserves and hit 1 shot from about 8 attempts. I just expected more. Hoping its just rust !