Urgent show of hunger is critical

PANIC stations haven’t been activated yet for the Hobart Chargers women but coach Mark Nash is well aware the 2021 NBL1 season is fast slipping away unless his side can find a missing hunger.

The Chargers crashed to 0-5 with an 88-75 defeat by Eltham on Friday night, undone by a herculean effort on the boards from Wildcat Anneli Maley.

Maley, who stands 185cm, hauled in 29 rebounds — one less than the entire Hobart squad — to show a hunger and intensity missing from the hosts.

Her performance saw the visitors finish with 20 offensive boards, allowing Lily Scanlon (25 points) and Rebecca Pizzey (21) to cash in on second chance opportunities as Eltham pulled away in the second half having trailed by two and the long break.

“A nine rebound second half isn’t going to win you many games and Anneli Maley showed how you can dominate a game with effort and rebounding,” Nash, pictured said. “We have had issues with Keely Froling, Monique Conti and once again someone has come out and given us a bit of a lesson in competing hard.

“There is nothing to what she is doing other than competing every possession.

“We are almost at that point being 0-5, I don’t remember a time in the Chargers women’s program being 0-5 other than the first year.

“You don’t want to give up on a season but if we can’t turn it around pretty quickly, the club starts looking at next year.

“It’s about having a bit of pride for this club and right now I’m not seeing sustained effort over 40 minutes.”

Tayla Roberts led Hobart with 24 points on 12-14 from the floor, as well as pitching in six rebounds and six assists.

Maddie Garrick had 18 points, 16 which came in the second half.