Blockbuster night
IT’S going to be the biggest night of the year so far for Mildura basketball when both the Heat men’s and women’s teams host their respective Big V elimination finals on Saturday.
The Hothouse should be packed as home fans get the chance to celebrate the careers of departing club greats such as James Madigan and a swag of players in the women’s team.
Collectively, there will be about 1400 Big V games’ experience bowing out.
The team have forged a close bond over the seven years that Madigan has been in charge of the women’s Division 1 outfit.
Regardless of the result against Western Port, who upset the Heat in week one of last year’s playoffs, emotions will be running high.
Over the past two seasons, I’ve had the privilege of covering this team.
It’s been a roller-coaster ride for the players, coaching staff and this reporter, but I’ve seen close up what makes both retiring 370-game captain Vanessa Power and veteran mentor Madigan tick.
Power’s work ethic is second to none at the club, regularly turning up to practice early to fine-tune her shooting and setting high standards for others to follow.
Madigan has been coaching Heat teams for as long as I’ve been a journalist (23 years), and I can safely say he’s one of my all-time faves to interview.
This will be the last time I see the women’s team play at home as I’m also calling time on my days as a journo in a fortnight.
Like Madigan and the retiring players, I have other adventures to explore, plus I need to be closer to family in northern NSW.
Madigan has told me a few times that he isn’t looking forward to the end of his final season as women’s coach, which could be as early as tonight if the Heat loses.
This is primarily because of the people he’s become associated with through basketball.
I feel the same with my job. I’ll miss people like Madigan who I’ve been privileged to get to know and report on.
It’ll be a tough interview after tonight’s game, but any tears that flow will be joyful.
Footy fan courtesy
THIS might seem a trivial thing to some of you, but it’s been the biggest bugbear of my Saturday coverage at SFNL grounds this season.
It’s the lack of common courtesies shown by some people.
Now, to put it into context, I cover senior football games from my car because there are no media boxes for print journos at local grounds, except for Mildura Sporting Precinct.
For the most part, I don’t sit in the MSP press box, which is at the Deakin Avenue end of the premier oval, because it’s too hard to see players at the opposite end. But that’s a separate concern.
There are two things I’m encouraging those at grounds to take into consideration.
If you’re seated or standing in front of parked cars around the main footy oval, please check to see if it’s obscuring the view of the game for those inside the vehicle.
Secondly, give some thought on how and where you are parked.
I’ve seen too many times where three cars could have parked instead of two if those people who pulled up earlier had either adjusted their park during the course of the day or generally been more mindful of those still to come into the ground.
Potholes finally fixed
AFTER that brickbat, here is a bouquet for the day.
In late May, I wrote a column calling out the disgraceful, pothole-plagued carpark at the Hothouse.
Thankfully, something has been done about it after several years of inaction by the Mildura Basketball Association.
The drive into the back of the Hothouse is not as perilous now after the worst of the potholes were recently sealed.
Well done to MBA for finally listening to the community’s concerns.
Picture: Bernard Humphreys
In the changeroom, with star Mildura netballer Jess McNamara
Who has been the biggest inspiration in your netball career?
All of my coaches in the Victorian Netball League
Who is your funniest teammate?
Ava Zadow
What’s your biggest pre-game superstition?
Having peanut butter on toast and wearing a new pair of socks each game. They don’t have the same softness after I wear them once (laughs)
Favourite movie?
White Chicks
Last TV series you binge-watched on a streaming service?
Yellowstone
What’s your go-to music before playing sport?
Anything upbeat and happy
If you were down to your last $10, what would you spend it on?
Could I borrow $15 to make it $25 so I can buy a medium-rare steak with chips and veggies (laughs)
