Eastern has Jake Rios to partner Will Wise. Southern have Greg Mays.

Have any of these guys played elsewhere in Aus before?

Rios plus another import (I don't know anything about him - how good is Wise?) sounds like Eastern will be competitive this year. How were they on the weekend? Rios is a star - could put them back in finals contention.

Legan played QBL previously

How were his numbers there? Have any others played in state leagues?

Mavs weren't great at the preseason tournament. Got a long way to go

Apparently West sacked their big import

I think southern beat eastern by 60 without Rios.
What about the women? Looks like a lot of clubs have gone with 2 as well. Could even up the lower clubs if they get some gems.

Wow 90-31 is a big win. Low scoring games, were they running clock or something?

I see that Will Wise top scored a few times for Mavs, could be a dark horse for Woollacott.

Were there results from Millicent? How did imports looks?

Top scoring when you lose by 50 probably ain't going to get you votes...

D'Angelo Russell leading Nets with 15ppg, he aint winning MVP

Forestville no imports in the women, spent all their money on the men (again)

I was going off the idea that Rios would make them playoff level competitive.

I heard Mays from Southern previously played at Albury. Does anyone know what he averaged? Is he a big banger?

Reason Forestville didn't resign Rios - not the same player he was. Struggled more last year in a decent team.

south men also sacked their men's big import, wasn't big enough so replacing him with a guard, WTF

'Again' comment re Forestville women neither fair nor accurate.

Even if it was there's a lot to be said for developing your own talent, and anyone who under-estimates the Eagles' women's combo this season does so at their own risk.

Olivia will be brilliant as always. Not sure what 'combo' you’re speaking about. Simons? Be interesting to watch her play against adults

Would love to take more about the team but we can't discuss under 18s on this site

A few forest ville women defecting

Greg Mays is a monster, he will kill opponents this season.

In what way? How big is he? What were his numbers in SEABL?

Men's predictions
Southern
Forestville
West
North
Sturt
South
Woodville
Norwood
Centrals
Eastern

Wow how will Norwood be so low? They will be the same team with upgraded imports?

Southern have lost a lot. Do their replacements make up for it?

Money will cover it! Norwood probably spent us much so that won't be 8th!

Nobody will beat Southern! Well coached, great roster and great club culture.

You didn't see Southern scrimmage last night, did you 726?

They will be there at seasons end and everyone knows it. Budget, recruitment or junior talent don't dismiss the Tigers.

Everyone said that last year.

West men going with one import.

Money would want to cover Norwood as they obviously haven't spent it in the coaching ranks! This guy is flat out awful, worst coach in the competition easily

Forestville drew with Southern with pretty much their youth league team plus their import, Forestville surely favourites

Forestville
North
West
Norwood
South
Southern
Sturt
Woodville
Centrals
Eastern

South the real danger if they can put some guys around Eian. Talk of Southern near the top but have to be alarm bells if they're drawing to Forestvilles kids with their full team.

North great recruits & Norwood always solid. Sturt off the pace with a couple of kids moving on to college.

Southern will have Johns, Burns, Brine, Turnage and Mays as starters - they will be fine. One trial game shouldn't be analysed so much.

Anon #676515
You have no idea what you are on about


Explain?

Centrals could be a sleeper if they get a second import with size!

With how close I am to the club I am, I reckon I might know a little bit

Not much respect for West in the men considering they are the reigning premiers

Last two predictions have them 3rd? Last season they won it from 4th. Their core is old & an extra year could hurt them plus Oldham was league MVP so no guarantees their new import will be as good.

I think all in all it's going to be a great season starting next weekend. Young talent and fresh imports looking to make their mark.
BSA should put their preview out soon

And they just sacked an import

How many of this years Tigers played in 2016s title team?

The Southern coach might be feeling a little uncomfortable at the moment. Losing the "unlosable" GF in 2017 and now has an even better team. If he loses this year then surely he must be on his way.

As for these 6'9" imports that several clubs have been linked to I am sceptical. If they are truly any good why are they playing in SA. The other possibility is that they were measured in their girlfriend's stilettos and not as big as quoted.

Anyhow all things will start to become clearer in a week's time.

South women lost a scratch match to under 16 boys

How was 2017 unloseable after they lost an import just before finals & even with him they weren't top! North were the team to beat all year until finals.

Woodville will be terrible, too many guards. West losing Oldham is huge, he carried them, especially in finals. I'd say North are preseason favourite with CJ a perfect addition to squad, now he just needs to lose 10 kilos. Southern are experienced especially with John's back, but losing Drmic will hurt. Forestville will have ups and downs, centrals may surprise if new import can make impact. Eastern, don't know. Import has mobility of tree but is big. Norwood will be interesting, will veterans listen to coach, bench very thin. South will run and gun, will pull off plenty of upsets.

221, I guess that is one of the issues. Which ABL team has had the biggest turnover of players each year since 2016 and why is this?

No feel for the game, cannot understand players, no empathy for being an athlete.

229, I'm not quite sure what you’re getting at if you’re referring to Tigers?

Of their 2016 win Johns, Staude, Dodman, Ellison still remain & valued contributors. Barton, Williams, Peacock, Smyth as far as I know still part of the team(or a least played reserves over summer). And to the best of my knowledge no one has left that program to go to another club.

West lost an import the week of the GF so Southern losing Jones cancels that out. Ridgeway was more important to West than Jones to Southern.

And I think you'll find the import replacing Oldham is more than adequate. Only going with one import will hurt them though.

I don't think anyone is suggesting otherwise. West were 4th last year & the two ladder predictions have them 3rd.

Bryan McGriff is Norwood men's import. Have heard rumours about Tyler Kennedy but nothing confirmed.

Can we please stop with the West only using one import

The new guy corey has signed will be here Tuesday , Tobias dowdell

Tyler Kennedy is confirmed for Norwood , visa pending

Centrals have been talking about a 6"9 centre for 2 months now and still nothing confirmed , players in the dark at the lions

Dowdell turned down West ages ago.

Links to any articles re McGriff?

Have read some interesting articles about Norths new import.

Ha, #267. So you're knowledge about Dowdell is wrong and the Centrals import arrives next week. Only thing you got right is Kennedy, you're an ace reporter.

How many imports will suit up in round 1??

Corey wouldn't of sacked an import without a backup plan

Who are West & Centrals imports then?

Info on Dowdell is correct

Centrals - Keith

#284 please post an oppology when dowdell arrives this week to play for west

Kind regards

"Oppology"

Why would she?!?

Players haven't heard anything about it so it’s doubtful

Reed & Starling clearly the best restricted duo. Which other teams are up there for restricted combos?

Have you seen Reed yet , clearly not been playing much since he left Australia last , not in game shape, it's a shape but not basketball shape, so NO they are not the best restricted combo

Is say the tigers have best restricted combo going off reserves and pre season perfromances

Reed will soon get into game shape and looms as the best import duo at this stage. Exactly what North needed, Miller was too much of a gunner for them to be consistent. Reed is more of a traditional point and was fantastic for Sturt in the grand final a couple of years ago.

Reeds stats were similar to Millers when they played in the league. Shot around 40% from memory too. Not sure he solves that problem. Who will North's other starters me? Goodluck, Atem & Jonnek?

I think you are very wrong on both counts

There's definitely a little more to West's core than just the older guys. The local core is much younger and experienced than you think. Imports help but don't seem to define their team culture.

CJ Reed 21ppg, 6rpg, 4apg @ 39%

http://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=202140107&client=1-3656-44093-347153-22177653

Aric Miller 21ppg, 5rpg, 5apg @ 41% (2015, same year as CJ) & 24ppg, 4rpg, 4apg @ 42% in 2017

http://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=202138692&client=1-3656-44102-347153-22177658&ocompID=435540

Who do most people think is better? My recollection was Aric was more dynamic in 2015.

They are different players - both very good. The question which should be asked is which player makes the current team better.

What's the answer to that? I would have thought Aric was a better fit.

I'm thinking CJ is a better fit - more a point guard and besides may be some synergy as played together with Starling in college

Did Aric not also play with Alex before in college?

PlayMakerMo what I'm getting at is they've got young guys who have been around 4-5 years now who are the perfect supplement to their much older guys.

I can only think of 1 - Patty Thomas. He is a very good player & will be for a long time. Is Jordan West playing again?

Forestville announcing a lot of players now. What is their import like? Strange to get a guard & then announce both Teys & Doyle?

Thomas
Kubank
West

All have US college experience. They do the heavy lifting and the older guys compliment them. Worked for them last year, and with 2 good imports this year no reason they can't repeat.

Forestville still to announce Daniel Johnson too.

Looks like half their womens team has changed. Some massive recruits there...

DJ ain't playing

Players seem to think he is

I see Wilson is not back with Mavs in the Women. They wont be a shadow of the 2017 team without her!

Why wouldn't DJ play?

#284, Corey has announced Dowdell in today's messenger, is that info still wrong?

Ricky also announced Centrals second import Keith Jumper, not sure when he arrives.

Eagles have also confirmed DJ through the messenger articles released today.

Not if you ask DJ

Maybe he should let someone other than himself know then

Nah, Dowdell still not playing, god its easy to get bites!!!

If rumours are correct and DJ is going to the Wildcats they will tell him no to state league and rest up.

Can suggest to not play state league, can't tell other players what to do really in off season.

Wildcats have a history of being firm with this though.

Forestville finally announced DJ so they might know something you don't

Okay then. Thanks for the update. I'd say the Wildcats rumours were BS then.

If memory serves when he played for Sturt a few seasons ago he only played the last third of the season or something. Maybe he'll take a break and come back to qualify, or even if he signs elsewhere he wont suit up at all.

DJ will not play PL... Andy is just hoping.