By DAVID NAGEL
The Jayco Dandenong Rangers will play a leading role in the Women’s National Basketball League’s (WNBL) push to spread its wings into regional Victoria after the 2016/17 fixtures were released last week.
Newly appointed Head of WNBL Sally Phillips said the initiative for clubs to play home games away from their home courts would help bring the game to all corners of the country.
“It’s great to see the WNBL heading to regional areas with the Jayco Dandenong Rangers heading to Traralgon in Round 6 to face the University of Canberra Capitals and the Boomers taking their game against the MAC Adelaide Lightning to Geelong in Round 13,” said Phillips.
“I’m looking forward to seeing our clubs engaging with those communities and our players providing inspiration to junior basketballers in those areas.”
Dandenong home fans will get the chance to see newcomer Ally Malott as well as championship winner Natalie Novosel who makes her return to the club three years after her departure for the first time in Round 2 against the Perth Lynx.
The Rangers will also be involved in two huge double headers against the Melbourne Boomers on Melbourne Cup and Australia Day eve.
Melbourne general manager Justin Nelson is looking forward to another exciting season and said the marquee games were an exciting part of the action.
“The Deakin Melbourne Boomers are really pleased that we will be presenting 12 home games at family-friendly times and with some really exciting themes,” said Nelson.
“Last season’s Melbourne Cup eve and Australia Day eve games were heavily supported and we expect both will sell-out this season.”
The league’s eight teams will play a total of 24 games, the same amount as last year, across 19 rounds for a total of 96 games before the finals begin on 25 February.
Following the introduction of a three-game series for the first time in WNBL’s history last season, the finals structure will again be slightly altered with a three-game series brought in for the semi-finals.
This will eliminate the need for preliminary finals as the victors of those two semi-finals series will meet in the grand final, starting on 11 March.
Phillips is excited by the prospect of the season ahead.
“Right from round one we’ll be treated to some outstanding WNBL action with the much anticipated grand final re-match between the JCU Townsville Fire and the Lynx,” Phillips said.
“Aussie Hoops round in Round 7 promises to be a fantastic opportunity to showcase our role models to the next generation and to see the excitement in the eyes of our Vicinity Centres Aussie Hoopers being front and centre on game day will be a real highlight.”
Three straight home games to kick off the season will provide Bendigo Bank Spirit fans with the perfect opportunity to see returning stars including Kerryn Harrington and Kelsey Griffin as well as new import Blake Dietrick.
“We will once again host a home game over the January Australia Day long weekend which coincides with the Bendigo Basketball Association junior classic tournament which will cap off three big days of basketball action in regional Victoria,” said Bendigo general manager Adam Tarr.
DANDENONG RANGERS 2016/17 WNBL FIXTURE
Saturday 8 October UC Capitals (Away) Friday 9 December Adelaide (Away)
Saturday 15 October Bendigo (Away) Sunday 11 December Perth (Away)
Sunday 16 October Perth (Home) Saturday 17 December Sydney Uni (Away)
Friday 21 October Townsville (Home) Sunday 8 January Adelaide (Home)
Friday 28 October Bendigo (Home) Friday 13 January Melbourne (Home)
Monday 31 October Melbourne (Away) Saturday 21January Adelaide (Away)
Sunday 6 November UC Capitals (Home) Wednesday 25 January Melbourne (Away)
Saturday 12 November UC Capitals (Home) Sunday 29 January Perth (Away)
Sunday 20 November Melbourne (Home) Saturday 4 February Townsville (Home)
Saturday 26 November Adelaide (Home) Friday 10 February Townsville (Away)
Saturday 3 December Sydney Uni (Home) Saturday 11 February Sydney Uni (Away)
Sunday 4 December Bendigo (Away) Saturday 18 February Perth (Home)
