Vic Metro men will win it all comfortably if they stay fully fit.

Shouldn't win by less than 20, just too talented, and too deep.

SA Metro will struggle

Vic Metro women aren't as strong as usual from all accounts. Got a few coming back from last year who are obviously very good, but the bench isn't as fantastic.

Vic Metro men should dominate, returning two from last year, including their leading scorer, and have a better bench than last year too. Have been putting up strong showings against the U18 teams over here, including beating Classic winners Waverley.

The Vic Metro Mens U16's team, has been playing practice games against the U18's club teams. Have played most of the good ones, Dandenong, Waverley, DV, Werribee. Have been going pretty well from all accounts.

SA Country boys certainly dont have size, although will take it up to teams given the oppourtunity.

SA Metro boys look good, beat the Country boys by 15 on the weekend. Well coached with some good outside shooters.

SA Country Girls would be the pick of the bunch, talented squad with some experienced coaches in charge.

SA metro girls likewise, not as talented but given a great draw for the week.

Good luck to all SA teams

For SA Metro boys to only beat Country by 15 pts would suggest they are in serious trouble.

SA Metro has 1 0r 2 cocky kids in their team.....

The ECC is only for NITCP kids, held 6 months ago. I think you will find this tournament is not a true indication of team depth or talent.

Some of the better SA Metro kids didnt attend, & the Country kids dont go either.

757: Draws are always the same.
As for the 16 country girls being the pick of the bunch, time will tell but I doubt they have the overall game to take it out. The one thing they do have though is the most number of coaches and support staff at the tournament all ready to take some of the glory if they snatch the prize.

Second plane needed for the SAC support staff? SA metro girls will be to strong for country lasses who will just have to make do with conventional coaching numbers.
But who knows, SAC could be at the cutting edge of junior representative basketball in having a 2 to 1 ratio of staff to player and I accept it is not anything like a gravy train, perish the thought in this world wide recession.

West end, the third plane is carrying the booze!

SD,
if you don't think sending 4 coaches and a manager to an U16 tournament is a joke then your a hard nut to crack. The whole thing smacks of wanting to share in the glory of a predicted win especially since the boys are making do with just 2 coaches.
I wish all teams from SA well but I'm against the country gravy train.
I think sending 3 coaches, which is the norm,is overkill and is a major component of the cost to families. Wise up basketball and trim the fat.

One assistant coach is paying his own way.

What is amazing is people who think it is a junket !!! Coaches take time off their jobs, leave family and work hard during a tough week to make sure " other " peoples kids get an opportunity to enjoy the experience.

" Trim the fat " !!!! How do young coaches get experience, maybe coaches should let the parents coach and not put life on hold for other peoples kids

Coaches will not make sacrifices such as taking time off their jobs, leaving their family and working hard if there is no net benefit for them.

I dont think the best description in regards to the SAC coaches is young and inexperienced.

Vic Metro Men are taking 1 head coach, 2 assistants, and 1 development coach. As well as a team manager and physio.

Is it a congenital defect that comes out in parents once their kids start playing sport that makes them so ungrateful. Be a responsible parent and let your kids know what these people do for them instead of constantly putting them down, its not always about what you can get out of people. The assitant coach that is going to Tassie is attending off his own back as well as losing a weeks salary, the reason he is doing this is his love of the game and the kids. You all should be grateful there are people out their that volunteer their time or junior sport wouldn't exist at all.

Yeah Yeah Yeah, Blah Blah Blah!!!!

wow, you must be one of those parents that teach their kids nothing and wonder why they grown up losers like you, or else you don't have kids because no one can really be that irresponsible, either way your mother must be very proud. I for one am grateful for what the coaches do for my child and I am teaching my both of my kids to be proud of what they achieve whether its sport or academic, but don't forget the people who have helped you along the way. Hopefully my children will one day give back what they have so generously been given.

Yeah I know, blah blah blah

It's not unreasonable to question why so many are going with one team when the boys have only 2 coaches and a manager. It's not unresonable to ask why the assistant coaches are not going with the boy's team if they love the game and need experience this would afford better access to the action.
With costs in excess of 2000 dollars parents like to know where their money is going and it's not unreasonable.
Why aren't the extra coaches going with the boys and therefore make the teams equal?
Motives will always be questioanble when on the surface they seem inequitable.
As far as asking questions I don't think anyone should stop from asking them because if there is nothing to hide theres nothing to find out. If people asked more questions and were not put off by people calling them petty BASA would still be around and basketball would be in a better state than it is now.

No it isn't unreasonable to question but the point is constantly being missed, the parents are not paying for the extra staff. One assistant is paying for himself, the other assistant is on scholarship, leaving the coach and his assistant who happens to also be his brother. I do believe when parents receive their accounts it is itemised to show the breakdown. I also don't think it is unreasonable if the coach and his/her assistant is covered in those costs by players and parents, not forgeting that these coaches and staff don't get paid for the 10 days. We all know the cost when our kids try out for these teams, so we have to either suck it up or pull the kids out. I know there was a SE country family who didn't let their daughter try out for nationals purely because they could not afford it, we are not forced into this. Parents complain about the cost but are afraid not to send their kids in case they miss out on something.

It's not unreasonable to question why so many are going

No it's not unreasonable, but you (and your ilk) are not questioning, you are anonymously accusing/sniping on a forum. If you were to do it the right way - say ringing up the person in charge (whether it be Metro or Country) and questioning them on how the costs are broken down - then no-one would accuse you of being petty. Of course, you aren't doing that though are you?

Extensive coaching and support staffs. All thats missing is the partridge in a pear tree...

Still haven't answered why there are so many going with this team and considerably less with the boys?

I think you will find that all of these coaches have been involved with the girls' program within SA Country for the last few years, not the boys program. I think (not 100% sure) they all attended Albury this year as part of the girls program as well, and if not this year they definitely have in previous years. So it makes sense that they go as part of the girls coaching staff - if you were paying your own way wouldn't you want to go with the side of the program that you had an interest or previous experience with? I guess if those involved in the boys program wanted to pay their own way then the boys would have extra staff too. Simple.

Some of these coaches have been involved with the girls since U10's. They deserve to go. I'm quite sure that the players are happy for them to be there.
The coaches are as much of a team as the players.

Massive blow to metro girls with the loss of their key guard to a knee injury

Champion, 'a bit of a blow' is understating her worth to the team and I would not agree that the replacement can fill the spot comfortably.

tnt,
In general too much training is just as bad as not enough and the state program is about 4 months of endless trainings and games in addition to their school and district commitments. Much talk about looking after yourself is squashed by the reality that if you don't do the 'overkill' you don't get a place. Would think 8 weeks training the playing team would be enough if they cut the team selection process to a more reasonable 3 or 4 weeks.
At the moment kids , strain and strive, play district, abl, school and whatever while the selection process is taking place over 6 or 7 weeks just to make the team and injuries are the result.
The state and sasi program has the reputation for outdated coaching methodology dating back to biblical times with the 'suck it up' brigade having only just come round to allowing kids to drink without the fear of them getting stitches.
The state and sasi process is unlikely to change while the incumbent for life, lives.
On another note I can't help wondering about the use of ankle braces and the spate of knee injuries. Are ankle braces so effective that they simply move the injury higher to the next joint, the knee?