A once powerhouse team, Adelaide has struggled in recent years but have taken great leaps forward in this year and have the makings of a team on the rise.

 

Luke Watkins was a surprise packet in season 2012, having a career best season and finishing just a single point behind eventual leading scorer, Brett Stibners (Wollongong Rollerhawks). Watkins led from the front all season long and was the Thunder’s best player in 2012. There was some preseason talk that Perth’s Brant Garvey was joining the Thunder which would have only help free up Watkins even more so with added speed and another scoring threat on court. Unfortunately it has since come to light that due to Garvey’s other commitments we will only see him on court a handful of times for Adelaide in 2013.

 

Watkins won’t be alone though with Scott Crowley returning from a stint overseas to re-join his Thunder teammates in 2013. Crowley was in the Australian Rollers Squad in the lead up to the Paralympic Games in London and his scoring ability and basketball smarts will benefit the entire Adelaide list and go a long way to making them a more competitive team.

 

The Thunder will be a little undersized compared to some of the top teams in the league so ensuring they are boxed out and aren’t giving up offensive rebounds and second chance points will be vital if they are going to remain competitive in those games.

Adelaide has added two young one pointers to their list this season as well as another young 4.5. Coached by Darryl Taylor and Tim Maloney, Adelaide have all the right ingredients of a successful team.

 

I think personally it’s probably too early in the development of this young team to call them a championship threat but I would expect a much improved effort on previous seasons. In 2013 you can expect Adelaide to be competitive and take another giant leap forward in their development as a team. Come seasons end, I can see them well and truly in the hunt for that fourth place finish and finals berth.

 

2013 Adelaide Thunder:

5. Luke Watkins (4.0)
6. Samuel White (1.0)
7. Alex Azvedo (3.0)
8. Scott Crowley (3.0)
9. Brant Garvey (4.5)
10. Beau Buckley (4.5)
11. Tim Barnes (1.0)
12. Tony Wade (2.0)
13. Adam Roocke (4.5)
14. Toyotake Yamauchi (3.5)
15. Samuel Germein (4.0)
22. Graeme Docking (1.0)
23. Josh Toway (2.5) Rookie

Head Coach: Daryl Taylor
Assistant Coach: Tim Maloney
Manager: Peter Routleff
Physiotherapist: Anna Nowicki

 

Written by Joel Mackenzie