My thumb hurts... comprehensive indeed.

Looks like everything will be boosted this year except the talent pool which has gone backwards.

It's still at the point where I'm just relieved to have a team in the league each season.
Pretty sad how little revenue is able to be generated by the longest running women's national league. Wish the right person could get hold of it.

Collier is doing an ok job but kestleman would take it to a different level once the teams are aligned.
BA though do not want to give up the lions share because they would have little work to do and would have to cut the majority of the employees.

Supposed to be some big news coming 2024. Hopefully expansion (brisbane?) and Bendigo moving to Tassie would be good too.

'Supposed to be some big news coming 2024. Hopefully expansion (brisbane?) and Bendigo moving to Tassie would be good too.'

Don't think the supporters of Bendigo would be too thrilled about that, the team has a major backing now behind them in SEN, so don't think it'll be happening anytime soon.

The Spirit have been playing more games around Central Victoria, so I could see a rebranding of sorts (the new jersey's dont have Bendigo on them) where games are played in Bendigo/Ballarat/Mildura/Shepparton but I don't see that being logistical on any sort of 'home court' advantage.

The club has had the lowest crowds, financial support for sometime. Nothing stopping them from moving location and Tassie would likely get 5-6 times the support in the 1st season.

Melbourne Boomers starting horrendously at the offensive end. Sarah Blicavs conditioning looks to be very poor at this early stage of the season.

Lightning looking a bit more organized. How far away is talbot from returning ?

Standard is poor. Umpiring to match. Awful.
Adel poor after 1/4 time

one thing that stumped me was with 2 mins to go Melbourne made a great lay up and the player fell near the basket support. Adelaide inbounded the ball from the end line and Melbourne player unintentionally stumbled and fell into the inbounders back (from behind) as she passed in from out of court. The pass went straight out of court as teh Adelaide inbounder was accidentally pushed off balance. Now surely that is a foul on the player that stumbled into the player throwing the ball in or a reset ? Crucial point in the game.

Talbot is out for sometime.
Wallace back in early December.

I thought the exact same thing +, at the very least they needed to give Adelaide the ball back, very strange and costly for Adelaide.

Haven't come across the M&M website before, thanks for the link. Really comprehensive, kudos to the authors.

Ready for the Lynx season opener, be interesting how Sydney line up too and how much George plays.

Maybe a little too much faith in Forster and Bradley, 2 unknowns at this level.

how does Bradley start in the point over Pannoussis?

Bloody hell. Going to be listening to all games on mute again this season, with Montesano in commentary. Just, WHY.

Canberra...
Pizzey n Tugliach out for a bit.
Tupaea out for season.

Claudea waihape andrews a local now on the players list.

what's wrong with Pizzey? Big out for them

Tupaea should really just retire...

I find it hard to believe Yaeger, Scanlon, Fejo, Mclean, Hollingsworth could not find end of the bench guard spots.

Dominant from Perth, if all their starters fire theyll have 100 point games.

Sydney looked rusty indeed but still expect them to easily be a finals contender

Rusty is polite.... But if they can get George into what was working for them in the preseason, will be tough.

As for Weedy's comments about end of bench guard spots, reality is for some of those named the choice not to play is theirs. For some, the time commitment and minimal pay just isn’t sustainable and at some stage they have to choose career over sporting dreams.
I’m more surprised that NBL1 MVP McKay wasn’t high on anyone’s list. Would be handy for Bendigo instead of veterans with ongoing injuries taking up much of salary allocation.

Mckay took a break. So did Brook.

Scanlon re-tore her Achilles in July.

Sam Simons is the notable omission for me

Is Madgen every going to play again? always injured.

Same with Kelsey Griffin. Hope we are both wrong though and we get plenty more games with both!

If I was Bendigo I'd swap Ruth Davis for Meg McKay immediately!

No sign of Southside vs Melbourne on 9Now.

Southside top heavy, too many bigs. Trying to play bigs as wings ain't gonna work Cheryl.

@ koberulz... I watched on 9now last night.

On a side note, when do we allow 4 imports? Time to remove NZ players as 'local'... our development of Australian players has dropped off the cliff cause we don't invest time into them at elite level. Time we invest time back to ensure the Opals are back near the top.

Removing nz players as locals would be a mistake, they just need more teams and better imports p,us get the Aussies from europe back.

@ koberulz... I watched on 9now last night.

I'm good with NZ players as locals too. It's good for NZ and good for the standard of the league.

where can you watch the post game press conferences for WNBL? I saw them doing it on the way out last night

Late to upload everything, including the press conferences.

Borlase havin a blinder early.

Canberra not enough but a good first game, lots of players contributing.
Borlase went ice cold in the 2nd half.

Down by 3 with 6 seconds left, and Potter goes for a contested fadeaway mid-range.

Makes sense.

Lightning did their best to let it slip but a lucky banked 3 got them the W

Potter showing her age and inexperience on that one. Probably should have made a play for Sharp or quick hand off back to Melbourne.

Caps fans have a lot to be excited about. Caps of last season would have crumbled at 15 points down. A bit more time to gel and establish rotations and they will upset some teams this year. Fowler and Clark both impressive on debut, and fingers crossed this is the breakout season for Sharp!

Potter was also very good (aside from that last play) in what is also effectively her debut after 2 ACL's. Lots to like about the Caps!

Capitals vs Lightning game was easily the best game of the round. The others were all a bit meh.

Melbourne's court vision is so much fun to watch. Best court vision and playmaking for an Australian point guard since Kristen Veal, surely. She will feel relieved this season having a decent pick and roll inside player to work with in the form of Alex Fowler.

Borlase was excellent one half offensively, but I was impressed by her defence. She's not quick, but has good defensive awareness and besides getting beaten off the dribble a couple of times, defended Melbourne reasonably well when on her

Jordin Canada is going to dominate the WNBL this season and I think she and Melbourne are going to fight for the assists league leader all season.

Also, Isabelle Bourne and Alex Fowler look a lot better in the WNBL than playing in college last season. Definitely more opportunities in the pros for them to showcase their skills.

I thought the Melbourne v Borlase matchup was great. Jade's defence has improved and she handled the bigger frame of Borlase better than she should have last season. Borlase on the other hand kept up with Jade's speed.

Two future Opals for sure.

Sorry - late to the thread. How good was Maley for Perth in Round 1? She is so good to watch and an absolute beast on the rebounds. Back to her MVP Form.