Hoops

Bendigo for a new NBL team

I agree with anon's point that the arguement about the gap between SEABL and the NBL is quite subjective and difficult to substantiate with statistics or other meaningful methods.

I also agree that in many regards it appears both are doing a good job in providing an improving basketball environment for the players and us as spectaters.

But I see HO's point also, it would be nice to have a second tier basketball competition truly aligned with the NBL as a feeder to support the main competition by providing a recognised competence level which can satisfy the desires of our best coaches.

That's why forums are a good discussion point, we can agree to disagree but ideas do come forward that make for interesting reading...

I would argue that we have probably not seen the level of talent in our junior ranks than what we are currently seeing.

The amount of players coming out of junior ranks to play overseas in the U.S. college system, or elsewhere around the world is perceived to be at its highest level for quite some time.

Banter or political discussion about which league is better or how the gaps are changing seem to be less important to me than forging an elite Australian competition to accommodate what I see as loads of potential talent coming through.

I realise there are many challenges in doing this, also that the new structure of the NBL and BA have changed our landscape somewhat; however the bigger picture is clearly in line with identifying the increase in the number of our elite or potential elite players and how do we accommodate them into playing here!

Thanks for the common sense and non conflicting post @Jack Toft, yes we can probably learn quite something from other successful leagues, even if from different sports.

There was an article a year or two ago that said they wanted back in, but they'd need a better stadium first.

Given the new direction the NBL's gone with expansion, the stadium may no longer be an issue.

@Bear, I do remember those discussions. I think the NBL being privately owned now might make a difference.

When you look at the successful leagues in any sport around the world, there are always clubs banging on the door trying to get into that league.

With the NBL, where are those expansion clubs going to come from? Option A is a new club. Built from the ground up like say a GWS. They need to garnish support from a population, knock on doors for sponsorship etc. Option B is a club taking the next step. Like a Port Adelaide moving from SANFL to AFL. There's an existing supporter base, sponsor base, volunteer base etc. They dominate their current league and might struggle for a bit in the new league. Option C is an amalgamation model. There are existing clubs (or an association) that creates a new team from the feeder clubs (e.g. The Crows)

Is 8 teams enough? What would be the ideal number? How many NZ teams do we need to keep it a true Australasian League?

@anon, I believe that Bendigo Basketball is about to get more new courts built, not sure of the details but another 3-4 courts alone would bring then up to level with some of the biggest Associations in Melbourne.

HO, how accurate do you think the official figures quoted are? I wouldn't rely on official basketball records alone, certainly there are quite a few variables to consider.

Bendigo as an Association, for example, would have vastly more potential for growth than say Dandenong.

I qualify this in the belief that population growth, court expansion and competition from nearby Associations alone would seem to indicate this probability.

Subjective arguements and opinions aside, @Jack Toft I have posted similar ideas also, probably more in line with divisions as well as conferences, to keep costs down and create rivalries.

Not something we will likely see in the near future, but worth discussion, that's what forums are about no....?

Thanks @HO, actually I did read them, hence my point that you and the anon may be trying to fit the current environment into what would no doubt be a longer term proposition.

I get that some of the conversation is about the here and now, mine was not entirely though, cheers...

I know this has been discussed before, but does the NBL need to have division system?

For example, the "premier League" consists of the current NBL teams, plus say 4 "associate" teams like Bendigo, Ballarat, Mt Gambier etc. An Associate team would be a team that has been in the premier league for 3 seasons or less in the last 5, or could be an current NBL team with a win rate less than say 20%.

The next division is the "reserves" for want of a better name consisting of 12 or so teams (a merging of the SEABL/CABL/QBL/WL/WASL etc)

At the end of the season, the bottom 2 premier league teams play the bottom 2 reserve league teams for a chance to go pro/rel. If the bottom teams have won over say 20%, then perhaps they have a chance to stay in the premier league unless the lower ranked team clean sweeps them in a best of 3.

You could then have a premier league team linked to one or two reserve league teams and feed players between them (with some guidelines so they don't get stacked etc)

Thoughts?

^Anons you will have to understand how far back the name goes, it was the only recognised basketball Association in Geelong way back in the day, before others came onto the scene and got their house in order.

I suspect you may be trolling...

Right now the region is thriving with more local kids able to play at various levels, I don't see anything but positive things coming from the three Associations in the Greater Geelong area, little brother in Surf Coast still has a long way to go perhaps.

Please do your research and you may be surprised as to what you will find... :]

Disagree HO, if this was a 5 year plan, that would give you plenty of time to develop a list. Maybe right now, with the players available the concept would seem a little short on talent, but where would the players for a new Melbourne franchise come from?

Or, the new Brisbane team, or a new team from N.Z...?

You may be trying to fit the current environment into a longer term play here mate, also the SEABL season and NBL season are conducted during different time frames, so I could see such a concept gaining favour.

Just needs to be seen in a positive light; Go the South (Country Victorian) Dragons!

While we are throwing around ideas, what about this one then...

What about a Victoria country NBL team, linked to both Geelong and Bendigo, playing home games at both venues and called the Southern Bushrangers or something like that?

Expand the NBL with another Melbourne team, sure, but accomodate the rest of the state with an NBL team supported by the two major country hubs, feb by their SEABL programs!

Like I said, just an idea....But maybe worth considering?

I have posted before that I believe, of all the potential future NBL locations, Bendigo will be one in about 5 years.

That is just my opinion, but is based on some facts which support the possibility.

The issue I see for the NBL's expansion is also the cost (initial and ongoing)!

For the NBL to grow, I believe it either needs to change its model slightly, to accomodate teams under a more workable budget by reducing costs, at the same time introducing a top fed fincnial structure similar to that of the AFL and other major leagues.

Conversely, keep pushing the barrow and only allow the teams with huge financial security, big sponsors and an already solid business model to enter the NBL.

The problem is that the second option is not really working, is it.....?

I was blown away when I moved to Victoria & drove up for a game in Bendigo.. it was better than many of the NBL games I've been to & their team & coaching staff all had good bball pedigrees.