Almost every player talks up playing for the coach in the announcement. Remember all the jokes about "childhood hero Heal" in the past. Not saying players aren't happy to play for him, but I wouldn't point to a quote as evidence of their keen interest.

I think that's more applicable to Lisch and (as you said) players like Martin and Knight.

With Penney, it might be money and the available position being right. NZ have Abercrombie and Webster now. Could be that no other team was as keen on spending up at SF?

Fair point, but it wasn't all about that quote. I found the pairing of the 'Gong and Penney an odd one. New Zealand may not have had room for him but surely other clubs would have had some interest?

Given the 'Gong also have Lisch and Ogilvy already on the books, I'd imagine Penney has also sacrificed some cash in this deal too. Which to me adds up to be willing to sacrifice in order to (in part) play for a great coach.

I don't think the differences were as much between Marvin and Bevo as they were between Bendat and Bevo. It was "win or you're gone" mentality hanging over his head in his final season at that was coming from the top.

Couple that with the pressure of the Boomers gig (whoever won the title was getting the nod), plus some very personal issues with former Cats players, I think Bevo knows himself he needed a break.

Glad he is back in the league.

Juno, factors might've been that Penney flew under the radar (teams assumed he would only play sunset years in NZ, or still had a gig in Europe). Also that he's 35 now. He relied on running around screens for years and that speed might dry up with time.

Money would be a big part of any of these deals, but Bevo doesn't have a reputation that would hamper his recruiting and certainly not with younger players (no rookies on the team though!). Gordie started pre-season notoriously early and that might not have excited all players.

The problem in Perth was and will always be Marvin.
He's a micro-manager who undermines peoples authority and place within the Club. It's not just Bevo that has had issues with him and left.

watch the exodus from Perth , now Bevo has a stable gig with money to spend

Birdman: Im more concerned with the Exodus from Illawara if the name change and key big signings dont pull in the crowds. I think THAT is the big thing here. Its all well and good bringing in Bevo, Lisch, Penney and co but at the end of the time Illawara is going to sink or swim based on how many people it can get in through the gate. On paper this roster looks awesome, I just want to see the excitement it can bring directly translate into bums on seats.

Even with a lot of the stars out, The Wildcats were still pulling in 12K + crowds. Ive always respected the Hawks because they have managed to pull in a pretty decent crowd. They have also in recent years angled towards the same thing my own wildcats do.. targeting the family audience. Both teams crowds still harbor a lot of basketball obsessed people but thats not their target audience, its the family night out, its the entertainment.

I think it started before here:

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/10/17/4109251.htm

but I definetly think this had an effect.

Out of interest is the Hawks location near a transport hub/train line etc?

"All very well and good to have cash now from where I still don't know, but bums on seats mid week will be the key for all clubs now."

The NBL won't survive on bums on seats on any night or day. Revenue from broadcasters and sponsors is the key for all clubs and the league itself.

The Hawks stadium is on the beach, and about a 15 minute walk from the train station, I have done the Wollongong/Sydney double header against the 36ers (not with the club) twice and love going to the gong to watch games.

The Hawks' stadium is in a great spot. You can literally walk out of one side of the venue, around the other side (100m or so) into a brewpub that looks out over the beach. Couple of blocks the other direction is a restaurant strip. Across the road is a burger bar of sorts.

My brother rents a place that is easily walking distance to the venue and the beach. Wollongong has a really good outdoor fitness/lifestyle culture too, beach cafés, etc. For players, it's an hour's drive to Sydney when required.

A Great spot to me for a sports venue is somewhere that is within 5-10 minutes of a transit point (Bus stop/ Rail stop /other). Anymore than that and you get people saying 'Its too far' or 'Ill have to drive' .

When i traveled to the US, i went to about 3-4 Baseball games and a couple of basketball games. I have average a couple of minutes to about a 6 minute walk to their venues.

Pubs/Bars/other are good but families dont need those. They might go to a restaraunt but more than likely mum, dad and their 2-3 kids will get to the game, buy stuff there then go home.

two gf defeats does that to a coach, going with one import both of those years wasn't smart I might add. D martin and co are 30 + do it will be time to rebuild as majority are out of contract. Good on bevo, top bloke always gas. time for a chit chat.

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