WARRNAMBOOL Seahawks teenager Liam Killey is bracing himself for a different reception on Saturday night to the supportive one which lifted him at the Arc last weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Seahawks, one win away from their first grand final series since 2011, meet Latrobe City Energy at Traralgon in their Big V semi-final.
Killey, 17, expects a hostile Energy crowd to do its best to rattle the Seahawks.
“Apparently they are a vicious crowd so they get into you a bit,” he said.
The 205-centimetre forward played in his first Big V final in front of a loud Seahawks’ supporter base last weekend.
Warrnambool snared a last-gasp 68-65 quarter-final win against Chelsea Gulls, with the near-capacity crowd riding every decision.
“It was crazy,” Killey said. “It was all pretty surreal to be honest.
“The shot clock went off three or four times and I didn’t hear it because it was so loud in there.”
Killey said the Seahawks enjoyed the win but quickly turned their attention to the Energy, which knocked out Mildura Heat in a hard-fought quarter-final battle.
“We beat them earlier in the year here,” he said.
“They play a good team game and hopefully it’s another exciting game like it was against Chelsea.
“I think my nerves will come 10 minutes before we play but for now I am excited.”
Killey is in his second Big V season and has used veteran tall Simon O’Keefe as a sounding board.
The Brauer College student has played 19 games under coach Bobby Cunningham, up on 12 in his debut campaign.
He is averaging 9.7 points and 5.4 rebounds a game.
“I need to work on my consistency and then I will be happier,” Killey said.
“Simon has taught me a lot this year.
“He is a big body and it’s almost impossible to get the best of him at training.
“As a 17-year-old to get experience against older bodies (is great).
“On Monday we played regionals for school and playing against kids my own age it was so easy, knowing how to use my body.”
Killey, who lives in Laang, is yet to decide on his playing future beyond this season.
He is contemplating whether or not to take a gap year in 2015 or go straight to university, preferably in Melbourne.