Downer embraces fresh Bullets role
Young gun will aim high
BASKETBALL BITTERLY disappointed not to receive the Cairns Taipans head coaching position earlier this year, Brisbane Bullets’ Mick Downer is embracing his new role of High Performance and Development Manager.
A former assistant coach to Aaron Fearne in the Far North, the highly regarded Bullets assistant coach Downer was one of the last few standing in the club’s pursuit to find a fresh head coach for the 2018-19 season and beyond.
After serving as an assistant to the Bullets and the Australian Boomers, the former Cairns Marlins boss felt he was ready to take over his own NBL program but frustration turned to happiness for a mate and respected colleague when late on a Friday evening earlier this year, it was released that Mike Kelly was the new man.
“It is no secret, I felt I was a strong candidate for Cairns’ role and had great support from Andrej Lemanis and Richard Clarke at the Bullets,” Downer said.
“I was bitterly disappointed that I was not successful but when I did find out that Mike was the guy that the club hired, it was hard to hold any grudges.
“He is a fantastic guy and deserves his chance.
“There are not many people in our sport anywhere who have a bad word to say about Mike.
“I knew him when he played in Townsville and he is an amazing guy, he will do a great job.”
With Lemanis shuffling his coaching group over the winter, CJ Bruton was promoted, club legend Sam Mackinnon was also brought on to the bench while Downer was moved to a new role of High Performance and Development Manager.
The new job focuses more on planning, scouting and working with other areas of the Bullets business, Downer says, but he believes it is a challenge he is embracing.
“It is different Downer said.
“I still coach, I am an assistant coach primarily, but with all the additional responsibilities, it just means at times I will not travel with the team. for sure,”
“I work very closely with our head of our performance services and we do reports back to the players and coaches.
“You obviously have the scouting stuff too.”
Downer says the club had a “good, hard, long look” at the squad over the summer to end their two-season run as wooden spooners and is confident they have put together a strong group for 2018-19.
The Cairns Taipans open their season against the Bullets this Saturday night, just days after they play the Breakers across the ditch.
Cairns forward Lucas Walker is set to miss the season opener, with Taipans coach Mike Kelly saying on Tuesday that he had yet to complete a full session. POINT guard Melo Trimble is one of the youngest on the Taipans squad this season but that has not slowed his leadership ambitions.
After one season out of college at Iowa Wolves in the NBA G League, the import floor general says controlling a team is a task he wants to work and improve on while in Australia.
Veteran forward Alex Loughton noted on Sunday that he viewed the club’s import contingent, Trimble, Devon Hall and DJ Newbill, in the same conversation as league stars like Bryce Cotton and Casper Ware.
The 23-year-old does not see a straight comparison between himself and the Perth and Melbourne stars but wants to lead the Snakes how they do at their respective clubs.
“Being a leader on their teams, I guess I can say that about myself on this team,” Trimble said.
“They are all different players but I feel like we are respected for what we do on the team.
“(Being a) leader is something I have wanted to work on.
“Especially this team being an older team, that is something I want under my belt.”
Meanwhile, coach Mike Kelly has ruled out signing a “Next Stars” player for his roster.
Earlier this week, NBL CEO Jeremy Loeliger said it was possible that “one or two” more players could join the program this season but Kelly said they would not be one of them. *Offer opens at 9.00am AEST on 12 October 2018. Limit one redemption per eligible Cairns Post Member. Limited to the first 30. Queensland residents only. Offer ends 23 October, or while stocks last. The double pass will admit up to 2 people to a VIP pre-event function, followed by an event ‘An Evening with Johnathan Thurston’ on 27 October 2018. Ticket terms and conditions apply. Tickets not redeemable for cash, not transferable and not for resale. Individual double pass is valued at $500. Total prize pool valued at $15,000. Full terms and conditions available at plusrewards.com.au.