Herbert rekindles fire
Lady Supercats benefit from coach’s move to Victoria
A PROMISE to his late father will drive Lady Supercats coach Dave Herbert in Saturday’s SEABL championship game against Bendigo.
Herbert made the move from Cairns to Geelong in 2015 to be closer to his father, Barry, who was sick at the time.
Barry had invested 70 years in basketball in Gippsland and Victoria, as a president, coach and mentor, before joining Basketball Victoria Country on the executive committee.
“My father was crook. I was in Cairns at the time and I decided I wanted to get closer to home; he was obviously in Victoria,” Herbert said.
“So I decided to head home and managed to spend six months with him, which was great.
“He’s a Vic Country stalwart and was a basketball fanatic, so I guess I always think of him at the moment, with all this happening.
“I promised him we’d do as well as we possibly could and I’m sure he’d be very proud right now.”
He said he was a more wellrounded coach since his days coaching Townsville in the WNBL.
At the Fire’s peak, in 2002-03, Herbert took the side on a 15-6 win-loss streak to finish second before being bundled out in a preliminary final.
He was named WNBL coach of the year, having improved the side’s record from 3-18 the previous season, and Herbert said that experience would hold him in good stead for this weekend.
“I was lucky enough to coach Townsville in the inaugural year; in the second year we made the preliminary final — I don’t think I’ve seen hype like that,” he said.
“I’m not new to this but there’s an anxiety — one of the girls said they’re feeling butterflies already. I just said, ‘Butterflies and nerves are good, it means you’re ready’.
“The town is behind us; the hype is building.
“This is special and I’m glad I went through the Townsville thing because I think I realise what it takes to take the next step.
“I was very young then as a coach; I think I’m more calm and relaxed these days and a little bit more ready to lead the team the right way.”
Herbert said his side’s improvement had come from the special bond his players had developed.
“I think last year, I don’t think we jelled as a group,” he said.
“We were disrupted last year; heading into it, Alex Bunton had gastro and still tried to play and it probably wasn’t for the best.
“This year we know what group we’re heading into the national final with and hopefully we can remain focused and play the best we possibly can.”
And Herbert said he would not be resting on his laurels, having won last week’s conference final.
“To be honest, I don’t consider it a conference final; I see it more as a preliminary final,” he said.
“The real final is this week and that’s been the whole focus.
“It’s definitely a wonderful challenge and heading back to Kilsyth, we can’t wait.
“I know Bendigo considers it a war — that’s what they said in the article on the SEABL page — I don’t see it that way. I think it’s more a focus and a determination that will get either team across the line.”