Based on their impressive weekend you would have to think they are a very good chance. Playing some very good BBall.

It was Ballarat today not Bendigo. Absolutely smacked Geelong oat the arena. We're up by 30 plus in the third. The will finish top of South, likely to give them two home finals. Hard to see them not making championship game again. It's all about team for the pioneers, but Damian Johnson deserves a mention for his all round game today not far of a quadruple double today. 15 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 8 blocks!

Bear at Seabl level local players are great but reality is most clubs can't develop enough players to fill the side. Even harder for a team like Mt G with small population and lack of strong second tier comp.

If each club has 2/3 its a good result

A small town like Mt Gambier is never going to be able to compete with local players only. Having said that it is developing some good local juniors so hopefully they stick around. Football does draw away some of the young talent.

Some credit must surely go to Richard Hill for being able to recruit in the right type of player, including imports. To have everyone playing for the team and not being concerned about individual stats is very hard to achieve in this league. It was a big difference over the weekend. The fact that the core have stayed together for a number of season now also says much about the programme.

Bear acknowledged that Geelong also look elsewhere but they also have a few home grown every season. They also give their best local talent every opportunity, not as sad as you might think. Werribee have no SEABL yet, so what's your point ?

It's so competitive in SEABl so development is limited to spot minutes and youth leagues.

I think locals are great but reality is not every kid can play junior ball at a SEABL club for a number of reasons so to have rules around that sort of thing is a bit hard to enforce/impose on clubs.

In theory locals or great don't get me wrong but talent levels coming thru all clubs change year to year and really it's all about go recruitment and trying to get Aussies in when they return from college or out of lesser program in there early 20's and keeping them long term so they give back to the club and local community even if they didn't play juniors there.

I'm wondering how many young local players coming through the Mt likely to get time in the court ?

@lights out, as far as the Supercats go they have a few youth league or u/18 age that will be going to US college, so will pick them up possibly in 4-6 years time. They got Liam last year I think it was after 4 years in the US, he is local product and their youth league team is mostly local talent. Further to that their men's D1 Big V team has no imports at all, mostly local talent, and this only the men's group.

I would say Richo is a huge part of their success. Championships seem to follow him at every coaching stop he has had. Builds a great culture and gets the best out of every player.

I also believe their board did some fantastic work behind the scenes to get the club in a very stable financial position, so kudos to them as well. With out that, they wouldnt be able to put the team they have on the court.

Seems like the club has a great future with both Hilly and their current management.

aonon #015 the Supercats also developed the Varley brothers out of their youth league program last year, plenty of local talent being produced in their program. Not about the money their either I assure you anon^, they are both just very well run organisations, like most SEABL teams.

I dont think the basketball community truly appreciates how good the SEABL league is. Many leagues in europe that are 75% professional rosters arent as good or just as strong as SEABL.
Its a professional standard league. Not every junior is going to be able to play that standard. Its nit a case of clubs not playing home grown talent, its a very high quality league that some kids who play state teams will not be able to ever cut it at.

Very true, a high quality league on and off the court, until you get to the media and promotions part. Where is SEABL TV? What's going on with BA and its involvement in SEABL? Where is it heading??????

I know this is off topic, but it is not clear to me where the future of SEABL is going.

All three were/are nbl players. Forget our top tier league only has 8 teams and isnt known for its roster turnover.
If league consistently had 12 to 14 teams you would see more top seabl players playing nbl. If you dont think they are good players you have no idea.

@Thunder Jam, please put your head back in that sand bucket!

Herbert could have kept playing and could still play NBL.

Conn might be a touch slow but he could still be a back up in the NBL and compete on a nightly basis if anything he'd be just as good as Jervis so often helps to land on the right roster/situation.

Thunder Jam = FigJam

Every time we go down it seems like the players get looked after, pretty sure they aren't paying for a meal in town, plus for fringe NBL guys great place to work on your game without other distractions and in supportive environent

agree its not always about money. Players look at more than just money like any other "job". There would be many factors. Livability of the place, coaching, team environment and relationship with other players, relationships with others in town, employment opportunities outside of basketball, assistance provided to improve individual game, accommodation, culture, importance of winning, just to name a few!

It might be that some clubs do things better than others rather simply stumping up bigger amounts of cash, or it maybe that his how those without the cash availability can keep pace with or perhaps even out do those clubs with the cash.

and they keep on keeping on with another w, this time over Bendigo. Their defence is ridiculously good. Tony Lewis held to 2 points in the first half and 7 for the game. He only had four but hit a three in junk time. D Johnson for the Pioneers led them in every stat category except for blocks! and this would be the first game of the year he hasnt lead the team in block shots! He should be leading the MVP vote at the moment but im sure he wont be because all that is looked at is how many points you score!

Another good win way to go!!!

However starters play Mega Minutes, hope nobody gets injured or 'worn down'.

Coach Hillie would have no idea of the bench capabilities or in fact their names.

What's your point Ballarat old boy? Owusu was born in Africa but until the opportunity at Geelong came along his development was no where near what it is today. Liam may have come from Ballarat originally but was coached locally at Geelong before college. Do you give Stetson any credit for his development or has he become the player he is today because of some under 10 Ballarat coach?

Next you will be telling us Kyrie Irvin is a product of the Melbourne Tigers!?

Actually Liam is from timboon and played geelong juniors prior to ballarat and then Kilsyth before returning to Geelong post Stetson

Now being critised for not using the bench, at least there are 5 on the court who are all involved and contribute seems to be working, compared with those that spend mega money on 2 players and think that will win championships. The
Other teams are forced to use the bench trying to come up with 3
Players who can pass it to their studs and then watch them. Most of the competition is far to predictable, unlike the neers and it seems to be working.

Perhaps if you are unsure if hilly knows who the bench are should have been at the ice house at 6am most mornings for the last 7 months.... Probably wouldn't be asking the question then.