Preview: South East Melbourne vs Tasmania (Round 3)

Thursday, October 12, 2023

The JackJumpers are flying at the moment, but can South East Melbourne defend home court?

Saturday, October 14 at 8pm AEDT | John Cain Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports - International viewership details
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South East Melbourne has been left reeling by injuries to key players Alan Williams and Tyler Cooks, and barely fell to Illawarra last week, despite having just one natural center on its roster – development player Anzac Rissetto.

Gorjok Gak is set to make his first appearance in Phoenix colours following an ankle injury and crossing over from Brisbane in the off-season.

Tasmania is flying towards the top of the NBL ladder and will enter the clash off the back of a dominant 30-point win over Illawarra on Thursday night.

South East Melbourne
106-113 loss to Illawarra
80-87 loss to Cairns
110-99 win over Perth

Tasmania
103-73 win over Illawarra
80-75 win over Melbourne
80-72 win over Sydney

Will Cummings

For all of South East Melbourne’s injury problems at the center position, the performances of new import Will Cummings in the backcourt are cause for optimism amongst Phoenix fans, when the likes of Alan Williams, Tyler Cook and Gorjok Gak return to the floor.

Cummings earned himself a nomination for Chemist Warehouse Fans’ MVP for his pair of performances in Round 2 – most notably his game-high 28 points against Illawarra.

While Gak has been listed as returning for Saturday’s clash, Rhys Vague and/or Craig Moller will likely have to play big at an unnatural center position until one of Cook or Williams can return from their own injury problems, and South East Melbourne’s potency inside will likely be tempered until their bodies get back up to speed.

Until those players are back, the offensive effectiveness of Cummings will be key to their hopes of getting anything out of his side’s upcoming fixtures.

“We’re just trying to get it tofether, we have a lot of turnover with injuries and guys coming in and out so it’s definitely a little task in that sense, but we have a great group … any time you can play with great players is fun and we’re learning day by day.” – Will Cummings following the loss to Illawarra.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Will Cummings is cooking ?<br><br>He's up to eight points in the first quarter ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/RACiaDbBpZ">pic.twitter.com/RACiaDbBpZ</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1710548426323071207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Milton Doyle

If there’s such thing as Milton Doyle fatigue, NBL fans certainly are yet to feel it. The Tasmania guard has taken the mantle of most clutch player in the competition this season, and he’s more than in the conversation of being the best.

The JackJumpers star has racked up three straight Foot Locker Player of the Game awards in each of Tasmania’s past three wins, and while the JackJumpers cruised to their win over Illawarra, it was against Melbourne in Round 2 where he really shone.

Doyle’s shot wasn’t falling early against United, so he turned distributor to end the game with eight assists. Then, with the game on the line, he took control to complete a remarkable comeback over the then-title favourites.

Injured Phoenix center Alan Williams questioned the defending of Doyle late in that game against United, so it remains to be seen if South East Melbourne’s litany of defensively astute guards can slow down the early front-runner for the league MVP.

“It’s the perfect example of ‘who do you want to beat you?’. If I’m playing against the JackJumpers I don’t want it to be him … for what it’s worth United didn’t do anything to try and stop them. They didn’t trap the ball and get him off it, they had Hukporti still back in a drop without a hand to contest … we’re playing the Jackies this week, and we’re going to be up.” – Phoenix center Alan Williams on NBL Overtime.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"These guys should be in the NBA"<br><br>Scott Roth has some huge praise for Milton Doyle, and believes he's just one of multiple NBL stars who should be playing in the NBA ?<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/3jH3ufbL7o">https://t.co/3jH3ufbL7o</a> <a href="https://t.co/IkKXkr3mjt">pic.twitter.com/IkKXkr3mjt</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1712601951672950817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mitch Creek vs Jack McVeigh

The power forward position has been lauded as the deepest in the NBL for the past few seasons, and Saturday’s matchup simply offers the opportunity to watch to of the best local fours in the business lock horns and battle it out.

Mitch Creek’s extensive resume is well known to most Aussie hoops fans. The Phoenix linchpin has NBA experience, extensive international experience, and returned to the NBL after departing for Germany and the United States as one of the league’s best players.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mitch Creek slams it home with authority ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/6ofbvvvuS7">pic.twitter.com/6ofbvvvuS7</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1710566913636446629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

McVeigh has been something of a later bloomer in his career, and only began his stint in the league at Adelaide following the departure of Creek.

The now 27-year-old has turned into one of the most watchable – and likeable – players in the NBL under Scott Roth, and a successful stint with German side Heidelberg in the off-season has presented him with the best possible launching pad for a great NBL24 campaign.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dancin' like Dirk down low ?<br><br>Looks like Jack McVeigh picked up a thing or two playing in Germany ??<br><br>Catch the second half live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach and 10play ? <a href="https://t.co/yfsfUtlub4">pic.twitter.com/yfsfUtlub4</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1710864540676526587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

So, in the words of Liam Santamaria, sit back, relax and up next – Jack McVeigh vs Mitch Creek.

South East Melbourne has won 11 of its last 13 home games. As the depleted Phoenix prepare to welcome a high-flying Tasmania, they’ll have to use every iota of that home court advantage to help them emerge with a win.

Gettyimages 1718461922
South East Melbourne guard Gary Browne.