Hoops

Wildcats sign Todd Blanchfield

Yes contracted but can be buyout.

More money for new import plus Reath.

So you're saying he's selfish, lazy, and doesn't like playing D...

Yet he's just signed for the hardest working organisation (on and off court) in the league, for a coach, team, and fans that value defence, and for a demanding coach who will bench his arse if he doesn't play to expectations.

And whilst I said that having recruited him previously, Trev possibly seems potential, "Mr Sentimentality" Gleeson is not.

I thought his move to Sydney was curious, as it was always going to be a bench role. But Given Gaze was coaching, who knows. I vaguely recall that Sydney originally looked to be "Marquee City", and that Gaze in his infinite wisdom apparently planned to start Lisch at point. Maybe Blanch thought he'd play big minutes on the wing alongside Newley??
One can only assume too that he was one of the few people who hadn't figured out that Gaze couldn't coach a fart from his arse.

Then IIRC they experimented with an import SG, before bringing in Randle and switching Lisch back to SG. And yes at times they went small-ball, forcing Blanch to play the 4.

"Releases" are a matter of perspective and reporting. Ultimately the decision is mutual. Presumably he was offered a better opportunity at the Hawks. Who would you rather be coached by? Gaze or Bevo?

Maybe could get Kenny back to Perth.

I'm warming to it.
Especially now understanding that Damo was going.
1) We need to somehow cover the PG slot. Whether that's Norton and a kid, or a veteran or an import or sliding Cotton to the point, there's a hole there around the 1/2.
2) We needed a SF or 2/3
3) A Starting PF
4) A Centre.

We lost Kay, and with Damo retiring, we start running out of options, not enough import slots to go round, so obviously we have to either promote or chase local talent.

I'd say roughly you've got four pools:
1) Kids turning pro (we already have Wani, Travers, and may well bring back Britt.)
2) Guys returning from College. We appear to have a nice crop joining the league this year, and best of luck to them, but not sure sny fitted the bill. I think Vasiljevic would have been an interesting young prospect, but that would have locked us in to starting Steindl at the 3.
3) Expast coming off contract in either Europe or US. I can't think of any that were realistically on our radar for this role.
4) The local Free-Agent pool. Yes there's been a lot of buzz around, but not a lot of quality. Drmic probably the best available talent in this category, but who knows whats doing on there and it seems he was always headed to Brisbane. If Trev & co can get him firing, Blanch could be a good pickup. And hopefully he hasn't broken the bank, so we have some serious cash available for a guh import.

Todd Blanchfield would be up there as one of the most underrated in the league. He's a versatile player who can do more than just shoot. He can get to the rim and defends well. When he's on, he can turn the game on his head. Much more rounded player than Steindl, who is just a shooter, no more.

Look I'm never going to look down on a guy that wants out of a Kings contract.

The guy that wanted out of his Kings contract because he wasn't willing to accept a role off the bench?

Solid bit of business. Blanchfield has a lot to offer and seems like he could be a good culture fit to help keep the nucleus of the Wildcats going.

Todd Blanchfield would be up there as one of the most underrated in the league. He's a versatile player who can do more than just shoot. He can get to the rim and defends well. When he's on, he can turn the game on his head. Much more rounded player than Steindl, who is just a shooter, no more.

Sorry, sometimes the penny is a bit slow to drop...
Rook me a while to realise that Trev would have recruited Blanch to the Crocs. Presumably he feels he can get the best out of Todd.

And no, its not an earth-shattering signing, but as others have said, what were the options.
We needed a PG, a wing, PF, and Centre. With one import slot available, hopefully Damo returning, maybe Cotton naturalising, and maybe Reath getting out of his contract, whilst praying Kay wouldn't go to Europe.
At some point, you have to start making decisions. As fans we can all hope and wish that everything magically falls into place, but the club has to make difficult rational decisions. You can't build a season on what-ifs. It's possible that once the Kay domino fell, the wrong way, the Cats decided they had to move, and this was the easiest box to tick.

Perth Wildcats-Gleeson

6’1 M.Norton/6’1 D.Martin
6’1 B.Cotton/6’5 W.Buluk
6’7 T.Blanchfield/6’7 C.Steindl
(I)/6’8 J.Wagstaff
6’11 D.Reath/6’9 M.Majok

DP
6’7 L.Travers SF


Or Motum plus import centre...

Back in Townsville, I always thought Blanchfield was a much better scoring option than Steindl- too many missed threes. Will be interesting to see who's the starter and how both are used

On the plus side, the Cats will not be relying on Blanchfield to score consistently. At United I thought maybe he was just being underutilized, but watching him in Sydney and the Hawks... Good for a couple of big games a year, sandwiched between a whole bunch of bad/frustrating ones.

I'm not ecstatic about this signing, but Trev knows what he is doing and will integrate him into the system. He's going to be a systems guy, never the star he promised to be back in Townsville.

'I saw someone posting previously that statistically Blanchfields detailed stats showed him better than Terrico last year. Its all about how your coached and the team around you.'

I am assuming this is the article you're referencing?

https://www.thecoolcatscorner.com/post/todd-blanchfield-for-terrico-white-a-look-at-the-numbers

Last season i was impressed with Blanchfields uncanny ability to get the one handed floater in the key to go in. Was super reliable. In the cats he wont be the number one defensive target for oppositions and could suprise many.

There is no proof that the Cats were chasing any of those guys and to call any of them "Big Fish" is a stretch.

Goulding was the only proven quality player and it would of been a long shot to get him away from Melbourne

We have got a baller in Todd.

This buys us time on Cotton's citizenship. If Cotton receives citizenship, Perth will have a chance to add two imports. One of the imports will need to be a scorer, the other would be a luxury. Imagine if Perth sign two scoring imports to compliment Cotton, Blanchfield and Steindl... watch out league.

Not only this, but it gives Perth a very reliable 3 man and a complimentary 2nd/3rd scorer. 28 year old Blanchfield may be pick of free agency. Just because other players are signed before him, it doesn't mean that we are getting scraps. Plenty of clubs would have been happy with his signature.

Haha you saying Blanchfield is a PF? Stupid

Meh signing.
Perth missed out on all the big fish they were hoping for. No Adel, no Goulding, no Dech, no college kids. Had to do deep down the list

I saw someone posting previously that statistically Blanchfields detailed stats showed him better than Terrico last year. Its all about how your coached and the team around you.

You wander for example had Cam Gliddon come to Perth would he have had those two dreadful years in Brisbane.

If Todd stays healthy this could be his chance to really go the next level.

Welcome Vinnie, it's not inconceivable that he could play 10 seasons for the cats considering his shooting prowess stays the same. I think he is a brilliant get for Perth.

As for who starts, valid points above for sure but why not start Steindl and see how good he is with that responsibility and besides we haven't really seen how hungry Todd has been in fighting for court time outside of maybe Boomers so if it brings out the best in Todd then perfect and if Clint ultimately goes back to the bench due to being a better spark off the bench then no harm done and you rewarded the man that has been pretty bloody massive in stages of the last couple of playoffs.

I do really like how Townsville this team is as it does bring a sense of familiarity amongst some of the squad and obviously they get along otherwise that would have been brought up by Steindl, Norton and Kay at some stage this year.

As for what we are missing, I can't help but feel that with Blanchfield's extra perimeter game that Plumlee would be a major asset to this squad of players, would anybody else like to see him return?

Wow, Perth signed a local 2/3, who'd a thunk it.

I'd guessing this means they have no inside gos on Cotton's naturalisation. They can take it s and when it comes, and if it happens within the season then they have an import slot up their sleeve for injuries.

Keep in mind that Damo is till uncertain, we don't know yet the nature of the (import) PF, and still need that local Centre.

I was a little surprised by Blanchfield, except that Trev says he still has plenty of upside which is what Trev was looking for.

Good to have experience, considering Wani is still young, and there will always be games where somebody gets injured or into foul trouble. There will be a few minutes when we have both Blanch & Steindl on court, with Cotton either resting, injured, or running Point.

As for who starts, I guess we wait and see who has the early form come pre-season. But I also think Steindl is at his best when he comes off the bench as an impact scorer.

Hoping he thrives at the Cats

Blanchfield will start. Clint with about 18-20 MPG off the bench. Similar to how he was used with Terrico.

I’d still say Clint ....however it is probably line ball.

The most important thing is to make sure Bryce is surrounded by shooting and then you can pick your poison.

Teams > Trams

If he’s going to step up his game, it will be with Perth.
Decent signing, tons of experience yet still only 28.
He has been a passenger for the most part since leaving the Crocs but still capable of burning trams from outside if not respected and more than capable of finishing at the rim.

me

A decent signing hopefully TB can raise his game.

Who would start TB or Steindl?

Great signing.

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