Finals hopes to be put to the test

By Glen Atwell
SIX changes to the Dandenong Rangers’ playing roster hasn’t deterred coach Michael Davies from aspiring to make the Big V Championship Women’s finals this season.
Having beaten Sandringham on the weekend, Dandenong is precariously placed in sixth position on ladder with four wins and five losses.
The tough season won’t get any easier, with Dandenong playing the in-form Eltham Wildcats (4-5) this Saturday night.
Davies said the aim of this season was to introduce several new players without jeopardising the success of the team.
“The team has changed dramatically this year. We have six new players,” he said.
“It’s not something you want to do every year, so we’re fast tracking the young players to get them some experience.
“We didn’t recruit any big-name players in the pre-season, so the aim is now to blood the young players and get them to a stage where they are playing consistently well at senior level.”
But despite the influx of youth, Davies said his expectations to play Big V finals still stood.
“If we don’t play finals, we probably haven’t progressed as well as I would have liked,” he said.
“The bigger picture is two or three years down the track when we’re a lot more physical and experienced, but playing finals every season remains a goal.”
The Rangers were too easily pushed around and outmuscled early in the season, a factor that contributed to the side’s three game losing streak.
Davies said the ability to “push and shove” was one of the most important qualities of a good basketball team.
“Having a physical presence is such a big part of the game these days,” he said.
“Tess Meyer is probably our best pusher and shover and Kassie Dear can hold her own as well.
“But most of our roster hasn’t got the physical strength to really take it to the opposition. It’s still two to three years away.”
Melissa Colcott and Fahy Phan are the Rangers’ most experienced players, both with two seasons under their belt.
“It’s good to have some experience on the court,” Davies said.
“The focus is now to get the inexperienced players improving every week.”
This weekend’s game against Eltham at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium will give Davies a good indication of exactly where his team is at, and whether or not playing finals is a realistic expectation.
Tip-off is at 7.30pm.