By Tyler Lewis
SOUTH SIDE FLYERS 2019/20
WNBL SEASON PREVIEW
Colours: Teal and White
Head coach: Cheryl Chambers
Assistant Coach: Belinda Snell
Team Manager: Jenni James
Home court: Dandenong Stadium, Dandenong
Championships: 2004, ’05, ’12.
Season 2018/19: 7 wins, 14 losses, 7th
| PLAYER ROSTER | ||||
| NO | PLAYER | HEIGHT (CM) | POSITION | DOB |
| 1 | Bec Cole | 178 | Guard | 19/03/1992 |
| 2 | Louella Tomlinson | 193 | Centre | 8/04/1988 |
| 3 | Steph Reid | 167 | Guard | 22/07/1996 |
| 5 | Aimee Clydesdale | 176 | Guard | 21/09/1993 |
| 5 | Leilani Mitchell | 165 | Point Guard | 15/06/1985 |
| 7 | Rebecca Pizzey | 190 | Forward | 27/01/1999 |
| 10 | Kiera Rowe | 184 | Forward | 9/01/1999 |
| 11 | Jenna O’Hea | 186 | Forward | 6/06/1987 |
| 15 | Sara Blicavs | 189 | Forward | 15/02/1993 |
| 21 | Mercedes Russell | 198 | Centre | 27/07/1995 |
| 24 | Anneli Maley | 189 | Forward | 1/09/1998 |
| DEVELOPMENT PLAYERS | ||||
| 6 | Saraid Taylor | Forward | 2/07/1998 | |
| 9 | Jacqui Trotto | Guard | 17/08/1998 | |
| 11 | Amy O’Neill | Guard | 28/06/1996 | |
| 20 | Taylah Gilam | 170 | Guard | 7/02/1999 |
FIXTURE:
Game 1 – vs Townsville Fire @ Dandenong Stadium – 12 October 7pm
Game 2 – vs Perth Lynx @ Dandenong Stadium – 17 October 7:30pm
Game 3 – vs Sydney Uni Flames @ Brydens Stadium – 19 October 5pm
Game 4 – vs Bendigo Spirit @ Traralgon Sports Centre 26 October 5pm
Game 5 – vs Bendigo Spirit @ Dandenong Stadium 3 November 5pm
Game 6 – vs Melbourne Boomers @ State Basketball Centre 4 November 7:30pm
Game 7 – vs UC Capitals @ Dandenong Stadium 7 November 5pm
Game 8 – vs Townsville Fire @ Townsville Stadium 23 November 6pm
Game 9 – vs Perth Lynx @ Bendat Basketball Centre 29 November 6:30pm
Game 10 – vs Adelaide Lightening @ Titanium Security Centre 1 December 5pm
Game 11 – vs Melbourne Boomers @ Dandenong Stadium 7 December 7pm
Game 12 – vs Townsville Fire @ Dandenong Stadium 12 December 7:30pm
Game 13 – vs UC Capitals @ National Convention Centre 15 December 5pm
Game 14 – vs Sydney Uni Flames @ Dandenong Stadium 21 December 7pm
Game 15 – vs Perth Lynx @ Bendat Basketball Centre 3 January 6:30pm
Game 16 – vs Adelaide Lightening @ Titanium Security Centre 5 January 1pm
Game 17 – vs Melbourne Boomers @ State Basketball Centre 12 October 5pm
Game 18 – vs Bendigo Spirit @ Bendigo Stadium 18 January 7pm
Game 19 – vs UC Capitals @ Dandenong Stadium 19 January 5pm
Game 20 – vs Adelaide Lightening @ Dandenong Stadium 25 January 7pm
Game 21 – vs Sydney Uni Flames @ Dandenong Stadium 1 February 7pm
MORE:
The Dandenong Rangers, who have been one of the more completive franchises in recent history rebranded themselves into the Southside Flyers for the 2019/20 WNBL season.
The Flyers will essentially be selecting from the same region as the Rangers but with the additional ability to select talent from the bayside regions, the Mornington Peninsula through to Dandenong and as far as Gippsland.
Established in 1992, the Rangers required the expansion to keep up with the ever growing competition of female basketball, which is growing in staggering numbers each and every year.
The Flyers will be coached by the highly-regarded Cheryl Chambers, a two-time WNBL Coach of the Year recipient throughout her coaching career at the Bulleen Boombers (now Melbourne Boomers) from 2001 to 2009. Chambers has since served as an assistant coach to Guy Molloy at the Boomers, before commencing a head coach role at the Sydney Flames, where she guided the side to the WNBL Championship in her first season, ending a 16-year drought and claiming a third WNBL Coach of the Year award.
Chambers replaces Larissa Anderson, who was in the head coach role for four seasons to some success.
Blessed with plenty of talent and star power on its roster, such as Bec Cole, Sara Blicavs, Aimee Clydesdale and Jenna O’Hea, the Flyers are sure to excite in their inaugural season as a re-branded club.
