Taipans CEO silent on Fearne’s future
THE Adelaide 36ers are steeling themselves for a physical contest with Perth tomorrow by not holding anything back at training this week.
Point guard Adam Doyle BASKETBALL CAIRNS Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft has offered “a huge thank you” to the club’s coaching staff but failed to shed any light on the future of out-of contract coach Aaron Fearne at the club’s awards night.
Addressing the crowd of more than 300 members, sponsors and fans at the Pullman Hotel on Wednesday, Beecroft said the team’s mentors had guided the Snakes said the no-holds-barred practice games would hopefully have the desired result when they host the Wildcats in game one of the NBL semi-finals at Adelaide Arena.
“The other day there were a couple of teeth (flying) and a through a tumultuous 11-win season that included the departure of import Michael Carrera and injuries to key players Nathan Jawai and Stephen Weigh.
“(I want to give) a huge thank you to (assistant coach) ‘Pearl’ (Jamie Pearlman), Aaron and Jamie O’Loughlin,” Beecroft said.
“This year was a real challenge.
“Managing the ins-andouts with the roster and all the curveballs … I think you did an incredible job.
“The fact that you can go split eye but no one was injured today and we got through the session so it’s all good,” Doyle said after training yesterday.
“I’m sure it’s always physical with us and Perth but we’ve been practising it during the into Perth (and win) in the second last game I think is a credit to the team and showed the potential of what a healthy roster could have looked like this year.
“I want to congratulate the guys on what they achieved and sticking it through right till the end.”
In his opening address, Taipans chairman Troy Stone also thanked the club’s coaches.
“It’s been an unfortunate year,” Stone said.
“There have been some injuries and frustration but you week so I think we’ll be fine, we’re just there to win.”
Doyle said it was important the 36ers make the most of their home-court advantage for the opening game of the series, which then heads to Perth next Friday. never gave up. You should be proud of what you’ve done.”
This season the Taipans hit their highest revenue for a regular season game outside the traditional New Year’s clash with the club raking in more than $80,000 for a home fixture while overall attendance increased by more than 100 fans per night.
“We have an incredibly hard working group,” Beecroft said.
“We don’t have some of the bells and whistles or lights and lasers (at home games) .... but we’re very proud of our game “It’s a huge game,” he said. “I think we’re all keen to wrap it (the series) up in two.”
There has been no love lost between Adelaide and Perth this season with their Round 17 Perth clash ending in a melee and two players suspended. night entertainment package.”
But with the NBL achieving record crowd attendances this season, Stone said it was important that the Taipans remained competitive with their rivals on and off the court.
“It puts pressure on our club,” Stone said. “We need to change and evolve as the NBL keeps growing and they keep growing and driving for better outcomes. We need to make sure we’re not left behind.”
No Taipans officials or players were made available to Cairns media outlets yesterday. THE biggest off-season in Taipans history is upon us. And it’s not off to a great start.
One of my favourite NBL podcasts is current Townsville basketball GM Greg Vanderjagt and coach Rodney Anderson’s pod “The Long and the Short”.
The episodes feature a weekly segment called “C’mon man” in which they highlight the worst of the week.
My personal “C’mon man” goes to the Taipans social media team. Here we are celebrating the end-of-the-season dinner and the coveted club awards, and the public announcements were nowhere to be found until late the following day.
For hours on Thursday I sat staring at a blank Snakes Twitter page and absent Instagram post of the gala dinner. Did it happen? Did people win?
Finally the club put something out after lunch yesterday and I’m glad to hear Mitch McCarron and Cam Gliddon took out the top gong, while forward Alex Loughton won just about everything else. It’s not good enough from a “community team”. The club has literally thousands of fans sitting in the dark wondering what went on.
The 300-odd at the dinner all know, but that’s about it. Hell of a time to fall asleep at the wheel after a tough season. Perhaps I’m being harsh but the 2015 minor premiership is starting to slip into the sunset, and community engagement needs to be at an all-time high.
I mentioned a couple of blokes from Townsville earlier, and it’s ironic because there’s certainly a “Townsville” feel starting to creep in. The Crocs lost touch with the community, and it ultimately cost them their licence. It’s certainly not at those extremes, but it’s a slippery slope when you’re not one of the league’s glamour clubs. I love this club. Many out there do, but the head-inthe-sand approach to media is not going to get it done.