Great signing.

A decent signing hopefully TB can raise his game.

Who would start TB or Steindl?

If he's going to step up his game, it will be with Perth.
Decent signing, tons of experience yet still only 28.
He has been a passenger for the most part since leaving the Crocs but still capable of burning trams from outside if not respected and more than capable of finishing at the rim.

Teams > Trams

I'd still say Clint ....however it is probably line ball.

The most important thing is to make sure Bryce is surrounded by shooting and then you can pick your poison.

Blanchfield will start. Clint with about 18-20 MPG off the bench. Similar to how he was used with Terrico.

Would also start Blanchfield. Steindl is a great offensive weapon in the second unit.

Wow, Perth signed a local 2/3, who'd a thunk it.

I'd guessing this means they have no inside gos on Cotton's naturalisation. They can take it s and when it comes, and if it happens within the season then they have an import slot up their sleeve for injuries.

Keep in mind that Damo is till uncertain, we don't know yet the nature of the (import) PF, and still need that local Centre.

I was a little surprised by Blanchfield, except that Trev says he still has plenty of upside which is what Trev was looking for.

Good to have experience, considering Wani is still young, and there will always be games where somebody gets injured or into foul trouble. There will be a few minutes when we have both Blanch & Steindl on court, with Cotton either resting, injured, or running Point.

As for who starts, I guess we wait and see who has the early form come pre-season. But I also think Steindl is at his best when he comes off the bench as an impact scorer.

Hoping he thrives at the Cats

Welcome Vinnie, it's not inconceivable that he could play 10 seasons for the cats considering his shooting prowess stays the same. I think he is a brilliant get for Perth.

As for who starts, valid points above for sure but why not start Steindl and see how good he is with that responsibility and besides we haven't really seen how hungry Todd has been in fighting for court time outside of maybe Boomers so if it brings out the best in Todd then perfect and if Clint ultimately goes back to the bench due to being a better spark off the bench then no harm done and you rewarded the man that has been pretty bloody massive in stages of the last couple of playoffs.

I do really like how Townsville this team is as it does bring a sense of familiarity amongst some of the squad and obviously they get along otherwise that would have been brought up by Steindl, Norton and Kay at some stage this year.

As for what we are missing, I can't help but feel that with Blanchfield's extra perimeter game that Plumlee would be a major asset to this squad of players, would anybody else like to see him return?

Dech is overrated.

We have got a baller in Todd.

This buys us time on Cotton's citizenship. If Cotton receives citizenship, Perth will have a chance to add two imports. One of the imports will need to be a scorer, the other would be a luxury. Imagine if Perth sign two scoring imports to compliment Cotton, Blanchfield and Steindl... watch out league.

Not only this, but it gives Perth a very reliable 3 man and a complimentary 2nd/3rd scorer. 28 year old Blanchfield may be pick of free agency. Just because other players are signed before him, it doesn't mean that we are getting scraps. Plenty of clubs would have been happy with his signature.

There is no proof that the Cats were chasing any of those guys and to call any of them "Big Fish" is a stretch.

Goulding was the only proven quality player and it would of been a long shot to get him away from Melbourne

'I saw someone posting previously that statistically Blanchfields detailed stats showed him better than Terrico last year. Its all about how your coached and the team around you.'

I am assuming this is the article you're referencing?

https://www.thecoolcatscorner.com/post/todd-blanchfield-for-terrico-white-a-look-at-the-numbers

Perth were allegedly after Dech (overrated),
Goulding ( a long shot)
Vasilijevic ( unproven as a pro)
Mathiang ( gone to Slovenia)

Doesn't matter really needed a small forward and got a good one in Blanchfield.

I'm not ecstatic about this signing, but Trev knows what he is doing and will integrate him into the system. He's going to be a systems guy, never the star he promised to be back in Townsville.

On the plus side, the Cats will not be relying on Blanchfield to score consistently. At United I thought maybe he was just being underutilized, but watching him in Sydney and the Hawks... Good for a couple of big games a year, sandwiched between a whole bunch of bad/frustrating ones.

Back in Townsville, I always thought Blanchfield was a much better scoring option than Steindl- too many missed threes. Will be interesting to see who's the starter and how both are used

Sorry, sometimes the penny is a bit slow to drop...
Rook me a while to realise that Trev would have recruited Blanch to the Crocs. Presumably he feels he can get the best out of Todd.

And no, its not an earth-shattering signing, but as others have said, what were the options.
We needed a PG, a wing, PF, and Centre. With one import slot available, hopefully Damo returning, maybe Cotton naturalising, and maybe Reath getting out of his contract, whilst praying Kay wouldn't go to Europe.
At some point, you have to start making decisions. As fans we can all hope and wish that everything magically falls into place, but the club has to make difficult rational decisions. You can't build a season on what-ifs. It's possible that once the Kay domino fell, the wrong way, the Cats decided they had to move, and this was the easiest box to tick.

lotta moving from city to city the past 2-3 years Toddy. If you'd only move half as much on D and hustling to get around picks you wouldn't be half bad!

This man tryna collect all team jerseys Ben Knight/ Matt Shanahan style.

Solid bit of business. Blanchfield has a lot to offer and seems like he could be a good culture fit to help keep the nucleus of the Wildcats going.

The guy that wanted out of his Kings contract because he wasn't willing to accept a role off the bench?

Look I'm never going to look down on a guy that wants out of a Kings contract.

AngusH, exactly!


Running back to the "coach who first gave me a go", in other words, will tolerate my style of play.

The guy is a serviceable journeyman but underrated is a bit much. If anything, he's way overrated, and mostly by his own personal opinion.

Todd sees the light and knows his career will finish in 4 years time. He want a championship. That's why he joined Perth.

Todd Blanchfield would be up there as one of the most underrated in the league. He's a versatile player who can do more than just shoot. He can get to the rim and defends well. When he's on, he can turn the game on his head. Much more rounded player than Steindl, who is just a shooter, no more.

That makes no sense. They overhauled the roster and replaced Gaze with Weaver.

As per all the reports, even Bogut having a little dig at him, Blanchfield clearly expressed he wanted "more opportunity" than what was on offer for the Kings who had very clearly upgraded and were gunning for "title or bust" for NBL20.

Blanchfield opted for big fish/small pond in the Gong instead. It's a very apt metaphor for just how he is as a player/persona.

Same thing with the constant bitching the 1st Kings season about "playing out of position" when Gaze had him spell the 4 spot a few minutes here and there.

Geez can you imagine..being 201 cms and being asked to go in and grab some boards and take some contact inside for 6-8 minutes per game...I know! I'll opt out..

I'm warming to it.
Especially now understanding that Damo was going.
1) We need to somehow cover the PG slot. Whether that's Norton and a kid, or a veteran or an import or sliding Cotton to the point, there's a hole there around the 1/2.
2) We needed a SF or 2/3
3) A Starting PF
4) A Centre.

We lost Kay, and with Damo retiring, we start running out of options, not enough import slots to go round, so obviously we have to either promote or chase local talent.

I'd say roughly you've got four pools:
1) Kids turning pro (we already have Wani, Travers, and may well bring back Britt.)
2) Guys returning from College. We appear to have a nice crop joining the league this year, and best of luck to them, but not sure sny fitted the bill. I think Vasiljevic would have been an interesting young prospect, but that would have locked us in to starting Steindl at the 3.
3) Expast coming off contract in either Europe or US. I can't think of any that were realistically on our radar for this role.
4) The local Free-Agent pool. Yes there's been a lot of buzz around, but not a lot of quality. Drmic probably the best available talent in this category, but who knows whats doing on there and it seems he was always headed to Brisbane. If Trev & co can get him firing, Blanch could be a good pickup. And hopefully he hasn't broken the bank, so we have some serious cash available for a guh import.

Hopefully get the one good covid19 season out of him, then when 3 imports are allowed again he becomes a bonus bench vet

812606 errr mate...he wanted out that off season knowing Gaze was leaving and some big names (Bogut, Ware, similar etc) were coming.

He could smell dem bench minutes or that he would actually have to fight Newley and whoever else for minutes...which prompted him to be asked to be released.

-He was signed for 17/18 and 18/19


-Bogut signed 22 April 2018

-Blanchfield sought a release a couple of weeks' later (8 May 2018) 5 months before season starts

-Bogut threw digs at people that wanted to leave because they weren't prepared to accept a lesser role and/or have to "earn" guaranteed minutes

-Newley was signed for 18/19. In 17/18, he took ol' Todd's preferred 3 spot the season prior, causing Gaze to play Todd at 4 at times. Lots of bitching and excuses.

-Dude left a team that eventually went to the semis, to rack up stats for a 12-16 Hawks team.

Real character, "locker room" guy.

Get it now?

Lol.

and now...he's "choosing" to re-locate 3,900 kms citing "championship" aspirations when really he's basically saying, "Trev likes me. I'mma play for Trev. I know I should theoretically be in the rotation and get minutes, since I'm a Trev guy from way back".

This is even with perhaps the greatest coach in the L's history "taking over" at the helm of the club you were "kinda" contracted to (I get he's technically not).

So Option Goorj means busting your butt and perhaps fulfilling whatever "unfulfilled potential" people think you have (not me, I don't rate him).

Option Trev means, "play, get buckets, keep getting 1-2 year contracts and get paid".

Locker room guy. Several articles floating around as well where he cites Wollongong being "laid back" etc as being "less pressure/stress" than Sydney.

Dude's a baller. As long as it's his ball, his court, his rules, his preferred coach. Good get.

I'll bet right now, Gleeson is contracted for 21/22 right? If for any reason, he walks, I guarantee you, Blanchfield won't honour the second year of that contract - unless it's another coach where he's all but assured he will have a role in the rotation.

I'm tellin ya, collecting jerseys Matt Shanahan style.

I thought his move to Sydney was curious, as it was always going to be a bench role. But Given Gaze was coaching, who knows. I vaguely recall that Sydney originally looked to be "Marquee City", and that Gaze in his infinite wisdom apparently planned to start Lisch at point. Maybe Blanch thought he'd play big minutes on the wing alongside Newley??
One can only assume too that he was one of the few people who hadn't figured out that Gaze couldn't coach a fart from his arse.

Then IIRC they experimented with an import SG, before bringing in Randle and switching Lisch back to SG. And yes at times they went small-ball, forcing Blanch to play the 4.

"Releases" are a matter of perspective and reporting. Ultimately the decision is mutual. Presumably he was offered a better opportunity at the Hawks. Who would you rather be coached by? Gaze or Bevo?

hahahaha "Team MVP of the 2018/19 (12-16 finish) and 2019/2 (5-22 finish) Illawarra Hawks". LOL.

Thanks for the 31% win percentage Almighty Cap. Respect the Reggie Miller tribute LOL.

In my best Homicide voice, "facts":

-whoever was coaching for 18/19, the dude SIGNED on, then SIGNED OUT, 5 months before season's start, and 16 days AFTER Bogut was announced. If marquees like Bogut, Randle, semi ish marquees like Newley, and not quite marquee but still a class above Blanchfield like Kickert can tolerate a year with Gazey, what gives Blanchfield the right to opt out because "wrong coach for me". LOL.

-he racked up stats for the Hawks, who missed the playoffs both time and where his penchant for wanting the rock and/or shots, sufficient playing time at his preferred position was never going to be threatened.

There also weren't any players of any real "authority" that would hold him accountable - pretty much what he was avoiding at the Kings for 18/19.

And now he's at the reigning champs, playing for the best coach, in the best arena in front of the largest crowd...I think he's made the right calls so far considering the Kings didn't win FA after he opted out.

Still rambling about Blanchfield and Sydney.
Oh dear.

D2.0

I'm not arguing whether Gaze can/can't coach.

The 17/18 roster was poorly assembled and poorly coached.

Original imports were Leslie (combo guard/wing) and Ellis (undersized forward), then moved to Randle and briefly, Jeremy Tyler, with some bit roles for everyone's favourite side-chick import, Kendle.

This doesn't really support anything about Blanchfield.

18/19 was a new season. He put pen to paper, it wasn't provisional to "who is coaching, who signs on after etc".

Newley didn't bail. Cadee was forthcoming asking for his release saying "I doubt I'll get any game time behind Lisch/Randle, and I want to play, plus I want to cuddle Andrej because I like dem Boomers gigs".

Ethics and integrity and all that good stuff defines character.

As I said, locker room guy.

Because "champ" mentality means imposing your will. Don't want to play behind an age-ing Newley? Outplay him or accept the lesser role.

And he wasn't forthcoming. All that was said was that he was released (16 days after Bogut signed) following his request for it. Presumably he sought a release even closer to Bogut's signing.

Cadee literally tweeted saying thank you to Sydney fans and that he can't see himself finding a role in a loaded back court etc.

LOL you can't read through puff pieces?

"where Todd can play his best basketball" = "Gaze don't give me enough touches, makes me play interior, expects boards, defend bigs, rotate and help when idiot guards get burned. No, thank you. Todd get buckets."

"where Todd can develop" = "Gaze can't coach" (hey, no arguments there, but as I said, Bogut, Randle, Kickert, Newley, plenty of better players than Todd were OK with him).

"responsibility, key member" = "Newley's 7 years my Senior. I should start over him by default. Why I gotta butt heads with his athletic a$$ in pre-season. I am Iron Man! I mean Toddy B."

"blah blah blah, pay cut" = plea for sympathy

So you're saying he's selfish, lazy, and doesn't like playing D...

Yet he's just signed for the hardest working organisation (on and off court) in the league, for a coach, team, and fans that value defence, and for a demanding coach who will bench his arse if he doesn't play to expectations.

And whilst I said that having recruited him previously, Trev possibly seems potential, "Mr Sentimentality" Gleeson is not.

So a good chance Perth can get an import 4 and a 5.

I have had the pleasure of welcoming Todd to the Wildcats today. He is fit, healthy and covid19 free.