THE introduction of giant New York centre import Chad Yates is expected to be crucial in the Warrnambool Seahawks campaign for a berth in the Big V division one finals.
New Seahawks coach Tim Gainey said that after a tough rebuilding season last year the addition of 205cm Yates was a key ingredient in the Seahawks becoming a much more competitive unit starting with the season opener at home this weekend.
The Seahawks and Mermaids clash with Werribee on Saturday at the Warrnambool Stadium with the women at 6pm followed by the men at 8pm.
Gainey said he had the youngest squad in the division one competition but with a season’s experience and the addition of Yates and veteran Bobby Cunningham the Seahawks should push for a place in the finals.
“A lot of younger players got experience last year. We’ve also really reached out into the regional areas and targeted a lot of junior players,” he said.
“Last season we often had eight or nine players at training. This year we’ve had 23 or 24. We’re still in the process of trimming the squad back to 12 or 14 players.”
Gainey said players he expected to perform well this season included last year’s MVP guard/forward Nathan Sobey, Yates, guard Kurt Smith, forward Dion Smith, forward Sam Byron and guard Tom Symons.
“Chad will be able to fill that middle-man void,” he said.
‘‘We’ve not had a proper big man in the last two years.
“I’ll play wherever I’m needed, hopefully up forward.
“Bobby Cunningham is back. I think it’s the third time he’s been recruited by the club and we’ll use him off the bench.
“He’ll be a great help to our young guys.”
Gainey predicted that with solid performances during the next two years the Warrnambool men’s team would be looking to return to the championship division.
He said players in line for spots on the bench included Jackson Greene, Jordan Kavanagh, Brad Wright, Pat Keane, Jacob Sobey, Leigh Saffin, James Mitchell, Josh Dean, Port Fairy duo Ben Pohlsen and Kyle Buchanan, Terang’s Justin Wallace and Jay McKenzie and Portland’s David Homley.
“We’ve had a lot more of a focus on recruiting and looking at players from across our region who would not otherwise have the opportunity to be involved in basketball at this level,” he said.
“We’ve tried to reach out to those players who have in the past dropped out of the system when they get to 18 and we’ve trained in Terang and Camperdown.”
Gainey said he wanted to trim the squad down to about 14 players which would allow him to have an extended roster of 12 players for home games and 10 for away games.
“We’ll try and rotate players through, give them a game and some experience,” he said.
“I thought Matt (former coach Matt Alexander) did a terrific job last year. We won five games without an import, but now he’s too busy to coach.”
The new coach said he had been part of the junior Seahawks system and had coached many of the young players now vying for places on the senior team.
“Our long-term goal is to make the top six, play finals and protect our home court. Sunbury has won the past two competitions, Geelong is always tough and we open our season against Werribee on Saturday,” he said.
“We have a young side but they are basketballers who are trying to develop themselves into elite players.
There’s a new committee, new coaches for the Seahawks and Mermaids. It’s all been revamped and things are very positive.”
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