Image courtesy of www.wollongonghawks.com.au

A sense of melancholy has engulfed the Wollongong Hawks franchise, as they have come to the realisation that their last games in Australia’s National Basketball League are imminent. The Hawks, who formerly went under the region’s name of Illawarra, are the only remaining team from the league’s original year in 1979. However it seems that their 31st season will be their last, as Chairman Richard Clifford announced that the conditions imposed by the board for the “new NBL” would be too much for the financially-strapped club to withstand.

Long-serving guard, Mat Campbell has given word that he will hang up his basketball boots for good once this season is over, the Hawks’ all-time leader in games played will add just three more to that tally before he is done.

“This is the end of the road for me,” Campbell said. “I can’t see myself playing anywhere else.”

The Hawks Captain also holds the record for three pointers made and attempted and co-captained the team to their only NBL title in 2000/01, along with Glen Saville.

“The writing was on the wall … with the criteria that was set, we knew it would be hard for our club to move forward,” he said.

“But it’s just very disappointing.”

The Hawks will rally for their final three games and play with plenty of spirit, according to Campbell.

“We have a good group of guys who want to work hard and want to play hard,” Campbell said.

“We owe it to the history of the club (to win).”

Saville is absolutely devastated at the prospect of the club folding, after spending all but one year of his career in the ‘Gong.

“It’s very disappointing,” Saville said after a three-hour training session.

“How many times have you been told as a basketball player by a coach that you’ve gotta play like it’s your last game? Well, that’s the exact situation we’re faced with right now.

“If I had a dollar for every time a coach had said that to me, but then not appreciated it, I’d be a rich man, but that’s what we’re in for. Some of us, myself included, could be playing our last game.”

Sav leads the Hawks’ all-time records in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field goals, falling short to only Campbell in games played after taking a year away with the Sydney Kings last season. He is not declaring his retirement yet, but is not sure what the situation will be next season and whether he would play for another club, or whether the league will be up and running in October at all.

“To be able to live here has been great. We’ll be starting a family here and there’s no way my missus will let us move back to my home town Bendigo, and that suits me because I love Wollongong and we’re here to stay,” the 33-year-old said.

“I’ve got no idea and no feel whatsoever for what’s going to happen with the league.

“Is there even going to be a league next year? What’s it going to be called?

“If they end up having to take a year off, is that it for me? Do I stop playing if there’s that much of a break?”

Saville said he would not rush into any decision about joining a new club. “It has to be the right situation,” he said.

“Last year was a long year with the Boomers and the Olympics and then coming back to play this season.

“I can’t make a decision about next season because I’m in the dark about the league as anyone else is. For me, it’s about taking a break after this year and recovering mentally.

“I’d be living away from my wife and friends and it’s not something I like to think about right now. I need to clear my head and then think about those things.

“I just hope that everything that’s gone into trying to create a better league, I hope it works.

“It’s not going to happen in one season. It’s going to take time. I’m going to be retired when that happens and won’t get to be part of it if and when it’s on the improve.

“It was a pretty good league when I started and I want to see basketball do well again, and see young Australian players have the opportunities I had.

“It’s a great lifestyle to be a professional athlete and get paid to do something you really love to do.”

JR, if you’re reading, this would be a great guest to try and get on the show to talk about his stories over the years with the Hawks. Of course, I am biased, with Sav having always been one of favourite players in the NBL to watch.

The Hawks have had their fair share of great players over the years. Doug Overton jumped from Illawarra to a gig in the NBA and hung around for many years thereafter. Melvin Thomas was a loved import, who was loathed by others around the league, with his ability to stare even the toughest opponents — and referees — down. He sits third on the Hawks all-time games and points, second in rebounds, blocks and steals and fourth in assists — truly an icon with the club. Gordie McCleod, known now for his coaching career, has the top three single season assist averages in club history.

******* 

In other news, check out the latest release of JR and DJ Rod’s OT podcast, with special guest, Brad Newley. Apparently this one was recorded from a life raft.

Stuff.co.nz has a very good wrap-up of how the playoff teams are shaping up in the NBL this season.

More news of sad finality on the Gold Coast, as Ben Melmeth, former (let me catch my breath) Newcastle Falcon, Sydney King, New Zealand Breaker, Hunter Pirate, Singapore Slinger and Gold Coast Blaze(r) says he may have played his last game, without even realising it. Melmeth has proven the master of joining expansion clubs in his NBL career, so hopefully this will not be his last season and he will find a new team to join… such as the one being proposed in Sydney, where we all have such fond memories of the title he was a part of in 2002-03.

“It is something that I have been tossing around in my head,” said Melmeth.

“With the stability of the NBL at the moment, there are going to be a few changes next year, so I thought it might be good timing.

“But I’ve also had second thoughts now that we have had the season we have had.

“It is not really a year that I would like to finish off on.

“But I can’t say what I am going to do one way or the other at the moment.”

Meanwhile in Brisbane and Canberra, there are doubts about the respective groups getting the dough together to form clubs in the new league. It seems that the combined $1.5m requirements are too stringent for most bidders.

But Basketball Canberra’s CEO Mark Cartwright defended the new criteria, despite it meaning an ACT bid was unlikely for this year’s competition.He said the million dollar guarantee would ensure a greater security for the competition in the long term, and ensured clubs involved were financially viable.

”You can’t do it any other way,” Cartwright said. ”It is sad to see a proud regional club like Wollongong depart, but the new league has to make hard decisions and part of that is clubs who are going to be part of it need a strong financial base.”

Cartwright said it was doubtful that there would be a Canberra bid before the February 27 deadline, but refused to close the book on the prospect.

WAToday’s Nick Sheridan has a very lengthy and detailed breakdown of what is happening in the sport of basketball today. 

And lastly, check out these jokers, who display some posters of the greats of NBL past — plenty of quality goodies from the old Basketball Weekly newspaper there.

Clint Dogg & J-Foxxx – NBL Poster Show