NBL1 GAME NIGHT Welcome to our Wildcat family, but also to the teams and supporters of the Nunawading Spectres!
Despite our distance apart, there is a long and successful relationship between the Eltham and Nunawading programs; one of strong connection and respect. Going right back, clubs of the Melbourne East association (MEBA) and the Eastern Districts (EDJBA) competed under one competition banner, before size and geography allowed the two competitions to separate. We now see the EDJBA and MEBA as two of the largest junior competitions in Australia, servicing community level basketball better than any other region.
Many people in the crowd today will have been witness to the developing rivalry in recent years in 2018 and 2019 where Eltham and Nunawading’s Youth Men played off in Grand Finals in both years. Disappointingly for us, we were on the wrong side of those results, but the crowd and atmosphere was amazing across both series. At Junior Championship level in recent years we’ve consistently seen Eltham and Nunawading as two of the most successful junior programs, regularly playing off in Victorian Championship Grand Final matches and National Junior Classic and U14 National Club Championship Grand Final. Both associations also currently operate the two largest junior basketball tournaments available in Australia. Members of both programs have much to be proud of.
Prior to the inaugural 2019 NBL1 season, it was a long time since Eltham and Nunawading had their senior teams playoff in a game for points. Such a long time ago, I am not willing to put a date on it, as Nunawading participated in the SEABL (under multiple competition names) whilst Eltham participated in Big V State Championship. One of the wonderful things about NBL1 is the bringing together of Victoria’s power associations and that includes Eltham and Nunawading. Back in 2019, Nunawading’s Men took both victories, whilst the Women split the results with a win each. Currently the Spectres Men sit atop the NBL1 South ladder and as defending champions from 2019, they represent a tough contest tonight for the Wildcats. Pleasingly both clubs will see the stars of their 2018/19 Youth seasons battle it out in the NBL1. For our women, we can be excited with a 2-0 start but tonight represents a terrific opportunity to get a leg-up on the rest of the competition, against a team we’d expect to go deep into the playoffs in September. Our Wildcats have been headlined by Anneli Maley, but we’ve also seen 6 players across the first two games record double figure points in an example of the scoring power available.
Enjoy the matches tonight and make plenty of noise! Next week our Wildcats undertake our club’s first interstate trip for senior basketball for many years as we take on the power of Tasmania in Hobart on Friday night and then up north on Saturday night. Make sure you tune into the NBL app to watch the games live and free and watch our Wildcats down on the Apple Isle!
Greg Jeffers Eltham Wildcats Basketball Chief Executive Officer