Trial gets show on the road for Kelly

IT MAY just be a preseason game in late August but the Mike Kelly era as coach of the Cairns Taipans officially begins this evening.

It will be an Australian contingent Taipans who take to the floor in Kelly’s first game with the clipboard, with American trio DJ Newbill, Melo Trimble and Devon Hall arriving in Australia later this afternoon but unlikely to play.

Taipans forward Mitch Young, in his second stint at the club, can already see the differences between now and when he was at the club between 2013 and 2015.

“Mike is really positive and he is putting in a system that allows us to play, make reads and be successful at what we do within our roles,” Young (pictured) said. “It has been fun so far and a different experience from the last time I was up here.”

The Far North club hosted a scrimmage against US college Loyola Marymount on Saturday night, which was only open to Foundation and Syndicate Members, with the everyday fan to be able to watch the preseason hitout tonight against the Drexel University Dragons from 7pm.

Young described his new coach as “personable”.

“He coaches with freedom and is open to feedback,” the former Brisbane Bullets big man said.

“He encourages guys to speak up when they see something and he just wants to get better as a coach, and he wants this program to get better.”

Drexel play in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Dual Marlin and Taipan Kuany Kuany will not play tonight to be fresh for the QBL grand final, which starts on Friday.