Why are ticket prices to Melbourne v Southside so much? $39 for general admin and $45 for reserved seat, and at a stadium that's hard to get to.

its cheaper to get a ticket for the AFL

Yeah prices seem high but they seem to be going well selling the tickets.

Difficult to get to depends entirely on where you're starting.

Blicavs had an outstanding first half with 21pts but why is it so hard to barrack/cheer for Blicavs...

Some quality players oout there. Enjoyed it. Blicavs forty.

Southside's shooting numbers were horrible outside of Blicavs, but they found her in the right spots at the right time. Melbourne could have defended her a bit better but Blicavs hitting all her threes and most of her midrange jumpers is a black swan event lol. Sometimes, one player is just too good in a single game.

Kristy Wallace's fouls and turnovers can rival Shaneice Swain's in terms of headdeskiness. TBF Tiffany Mitchell and Olivia Nelson-Ododa weren't that great in this department either tonight. Melbourne can be a bit wild at times.

Southsides numbers weren't that dissimilar to Boomers if you take Blicavs out, both in the 30’s percentage wise.

What a standout performance from Blicavs, she’s really building into a special season

Now, After half of the wnbl season is complete...

Based on form and familiarity, Early prediction Asia cup?
Reid-Rocci
Nicholson-Madgen-Melbourne
Blicavs-Maley
Smith-Griffin-Garbin
Tolo-George

Madgen, last years opals el capatano probably the highest probability of dropping out atm.
Young Borlase or Swain for exp maybe.


Other possibilities
Heal-Mangakahia-Amoore-Lavey
Garrick-Borlase-Swain-Shelley
Kunek-Atwell-Puoch-Murray
Froling-Bibby-Sharp-Horvat
Scherf-Bunton-Jackson-Bishop


wnba n/a
Whitcomb
Wallace
Talbot
Allen
Magbegor

She just scored 41 - which was brilliant no doubt - but that saw her leapfrog 8 players on the league scoring list up into ... 14th place.
So if we're being honest her season has been pretty unremarkable until yesterday.

She had a very ordinary start to the season, but the last 4 games or so has been up there with the best in the league, hence the word 'building'

Chelsea Brook for Adelaide Lightning must dramatically improve her physical conditioning if she wants to have greater impact on both ends of the court.

Ugly for Townsville after quarter time.
They are really sliding. Opening the door for Adelaide or Perth to claim that 4th spot.

Nice to see Aokuso back in action again.

Fejo very underrated Imo, should be getting 5-8 minutes behind Borlase.


Mansfield-Cubillo
Borlase-Fejo-Basham
Talbot-Whittle*-Simons
Brook or Whittle*
Monroe-Batish

*backup 3/4


Aren't using at all
Brazel
Hines
Coleman


Lightning need much better and more frontcourt options for next season.

To be fair, this doesn't become a development season’ for Adelaide until they’re out of contention for playoffs. Hurst focus would be on getting a few more wins & rightly so. Isn’t Brazel injured?

Agree with Samcro on Brook, very talented player, would be great for Lightening if she was in better shape.

Also, can Talbot please take more shots?!

23/24?

Mangakahia-Cubillo
Borlase-Fejo-Brazel
Talbot-Whittle
Import-Horvat
Import-?

Senior SA players worth a shot
Sawyer
Brett
Gordon
Hank
Rees


Could be on chopping block from 22' side
Basham, Hines, Simons, Coleman, Batish

FL, I think Fejo could contribute now. She's been a dp for sometime, been contracted before and then pregnant and now back. She’s lightning quick, w3 should be seeing more of her now and if she was willing to move from sa would get more minutes elsewhere.

Her nbl1 highlights.
Avg 19-5-5, 84% ft

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql1m00t4F8M

If they don't play her, she’ll be lost to aflw guaranteed.

Adelaide have a pretty favourable schedule in the run home. Let's see if they can string together some wins. The game up in Townsville in 2 weeks will be important because it will determine the season series and could have finals implications.

The plus minus stat was interesting for Townsville today - Samuelson was +4 but got into foul trouble then was injured. Townsville went down the toilet with Woods replacing Samuelson and Woods had a shocker going 0/9 from the field. Probably the best Adelaide defensive effort we have seen all season, especially on Townsville's perimeter players.

"Also, can Talbot please take more shots?!"

She was 1/8 from the field and everybody else was shooting well so she set them up instead. I thought the shot distribution was great and they won by 25.

Yeah you're right, she passes up good looks though & is a good shooter, 8 shots isn’t enough for someone of her calibre.

Appreciate the background on Fejo Weedy

It wasn't happening for Talbot tonight (some credit for that must go to the Fire's D - they didn't make it easy for her), and others were hitting their shots. I thought she played it perfectly in deferring to the hotter options. Double digit boards & assists in a 25 point win. I'd happily live with that.

I wouldn't be surprised if Whittle leaves Adelaide and joins Maley at Spirit next season, seems to be on less minutes now?

Don't think spirit wanted her.

The refereeing was a bit ordinary and spoiled the Southside v Bendigo game. Wouldn't have changed the outcome, but some consistency in calls would be nice.

Bendigo playing like bums spoiled the game. Flyers went 66% from 3 LOL. Bendigo's perimeter D was non-existent.

Bendigo must be wondering how Southside manages two absurdly good three point shooting games against them. When Puoch and Conti go off from three like that, it really isn't your night. I found the Maley vs Puoch matchup fun to watch - two athletic wings and likely future Opals teammates going at it. I'd happily give Kayla Thornton defensive player of the year. She's defended well on the perimeter and the interior all season and her effort against Kelsey Griffin today was impressive. Sara Blicavs following up a 41 point game with a zero pointer was also impressive but it was a good night to have an off scoring game.

Looking like the 2 clubs with the biggest budget will be making the final again.
Not good in an 8 team league, the salary cap is only 430,000.

lol at Thornton wanting to belt Froling at 3/4 time because Froling ran into her and walked off. Like Thornton didn't do the exact same thing to Froling in the first quarter.

Thornton's behaviour was embarrassing & typical of someone who craves the attention & spotlight! Bendigo’s defensive effort was absolutely non existent & the way they defended the 3 point line was disgraceful & without effort. They’ll need to regroup quickly or another shellacking will be served up by the Boomers on Sunday arvo.

I was at the game, total cheap shot by Froling, clearly embarrassed that she was stripped at halfcourt the play prior. Nothing embarrassing about Thornton's behaviour, she controlled herself, even after McKay got involved as well. Crowd gave her a massive cheer when she came back. She plays with joy & is clearly a fan favourite

Thornton's a great player, no doubt about it. Definitely a favourite and definitely likes the spotlight.

Not defending Froling at all, can't stand either of them.

Froling was careless. Thornton reacted. I wouldn't read anything more than that into the incident.

Agree with Footloose... nothing in Thornton's behaviour. Our society just continues to knock down people that show confidence etc. We want emotion and passion, as soon as players show it, they get shot down.. I for 1 like it when players show that they care for the fans.

I was at the game so haven't seen the replay of 'the bump' from Froling. But I'm not a fan of bumping/clipping someone from behind (thats what it looked like at the game). Will hold further judgement until I see a replay.

As per SamCro... Bendigo just don't defend. Not sure if they know what they are doing to defend on-balls, continually got exposed.

I think their lack of depth, well maybe not depth, but the confidence of their thousand coaches to play the bench will hurt them the longer the season goes. Only play 7 players, you only need 1 or 2 in foul trouble or having an off day and you get results like last night.

I felt at time the inconsistent calling of the game had an impact. Ref, Battye at times looked out of his depth.

It is concerning for the sport of basketball that a game between a top couple of teams can't get a few female ref's good enough. Even some female ref's on the NBL roster, they are on the NBA roster. Where are they in Australia?

I think a lot of people's problems with Thorton are about her theatrics rather than her passion. She was rolling around on the floor numerous times in the Boomers game claiming to have been hit in the eye. The first one I didn't see so can't comment on but the second one with Wallace didnt appear to make any contact and the third one definitely had no contact with Thorton falling to the floor to cover up turning the ball over (1 hour 12 in on Kayo if you want the replay). This would be bearable if she quickly got up and moved on, but instead she stayed on the ground for the whole of the boomers possession before she subbing herself off to double down on her flopping. That, to me, is not just attention-seeking but also selfish and is exactly why I think people comment on her behavior. You truly have to watch it back to understand, like when you see certain soccer players flail about like a tuna fish.

No doubt a great baller but, like Lebron, a little hard to watch.

Townsville look closer to a mid-table team than a championship contender atm. Besides a good first half from Reid and a good third quarter from Nicholson, pretty average performance from them. I think Melbourne won the matchup against Reid in the second half easily.

I think Canberra could play a competitive full 40 minutes if they didn't have to play their bench. Massive dropoff from the starters and even Brittany Smart, who you think would be a decent bench guard, is having a bad season. Townsville went on their third quarter run when Pizzey was on for Munger but there's no other bench posts Canberra can play atm. Yes, they are screwed.

27 & 8 for Scherf tonight. It's half time.

Sydney might want to stop helping off her, just a suggestion. Good to see Scherf this aggressive though

Yeah, part credit for Scherf's dominance needs to go to coach Heal for doing nothing to slow her down.
Someone needs to phone him with some ideas.

Lol

What's with heal just having 1 assistant, thought it was min of 2.

Why would there be a min?

It was a rule a few years ago but maybe it has changed.

Granger got suspended for making contact with Ref a month before U16 nationals as he was one of the NSW coaches. 12 month suspension.

Maybe they have more at home but only travel with 1? Boomers only have Harrower, so there mustn't be a minimum

I heard something about that Pinch. Is it true that he's allowed to sit behind the bench but not on it?

Boomers have 2, every club has 2 or more bar Sydney.

Who's Boomers other AC, have only seen Harrower

Anderson

As in Larissa? Are you sure? She's hard to miss

Shyla Heal's shot selection tonight has been hilarious. How many dribble jumpers has she missed? I especially liked it when she passed up an open three for another missed two point dribble jumper (clearly not a fan of analytics). It's really Shane's fault though - this rubbish Shyla-centric offence clearly doesn't work. I think she needs more catch and shoot opportunities and other players playing more on ball.

Nice to see Scherf clean up inside. Sydney did adjust to defend her better in the second half, but too late.

Bendigo bounced back well to make a good contest of this

Great 2 way game from Wallace. She has really blossomed since her (surprise?) WNBA debut. A couple of silly turnovers but the rest of her game was impeccable. Wilson was the clear weak link for Bendigo - couldn't hit the decent looks from three Melbourne were giving her and couldn't really guard anybody (too small!)

They were discussing MVP in the commentary and I agree there will be an interesting race for it. My top two candidates are Cayla George and Steph Reid but the top four teams all have a couple of prospects at least.

This season vs last

Aussie Stock

Up
Reid
Rocci
Whitcomb
Wallace
Nicholson
Froling
Griffin
George
Bunton
Scherf

Down
Heal
Melbourne
Cole
Maley
Sharp

Looks to me like you put Sharp in the wrong list

Yep, my bad.

I always think Sharp should play more. Exciting young talent

Scherf will get a load of credit for turning the game for the Lynx on Saturday and rightly so but Sharp on the defensive end deserves a lot of credit, getting a couple blocks in the second and she always seems to get those defensive rebounds she has no business getting.

Also surprising the D.P. #7 Kelly gets minutes over #10 Edwards with Bibby out...

having front row seats to Shanes hissy fits was the highlight of the night tho

Agree re Sharp, I was so disappointed to see her hard sparingly off the bench earlier in the season. Same with Clarke at Sydney.

I think for Melbourne you need to consider she is playing a very different role and position for the caps this season when considering her stock. Surely Swain is on the up list too...

Didn't add swain as she hardly played last year.

Melbourne playing the pg role is not working atm Imo, she’s playing significantly more minutes which has slowed her down and every time she receives the ball, she stops, dribbles on the spot for 5 or so secs then try’s to run a play. She should be taking people off the dribble alot more as soon as she receives the ball or atleast dribbling around the perimeter forcing players to cut or move.

Also surprising the D.P. #7 Kelly gets minutes over #10 Edwards with Bibby out...

having front row seats to Shanes hissy fits was the highlight of the night tho

yeah looks like Edwards is not showing up in training to earn any minutes

Sharp is my Daughters fav player, she just has a knack for getting rebounds.

Perth 23/24?

Whitcomb-Burrows
Import-Deegan
Sharp-Atwell
Garbin-Bibby
Scherf-Mckay

Burrows not close to WNBL standard.

Move Sammy to the 2 and get a class PG import.

Sharp shooting better this year. Hope she keeps it up.

Who would be the backup pg, Gandini?

Stagger it with Sammy. Forster as the 3rd PG.

Would be hard to stagger an import pg and Whitcomb, need another option.
Foster is nowhere near ready. Someone who is a senior now in college perhaps, Eliis would be a good fit.

Forster'

That's a good 1st win by Canberra. Melbourne, Swain, Burrell very good. Pizzeys best game by far. Maley excellent for the spirit.

Spirit lineup needs Lavey back and Wehrung starting.