Storm readying first Big V run

BELLARINE Storm will split its training between Drysdale and East Geelong as it caters for its inaugural Big V Division 1 men’s and women’s sides.

The Storm missed out on attracting former Division 1 Supercats players to their start-up side, with a number electing to try their hand at State Championship level with Corio Bay.

But Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association operations manager Aaron Lothian said travel wasn’t to blame for missing out on potential recruits.

“I don’t think location has come up too much,” Lothian said.

“We certainly thought we may have got one or two of those players come across to us — and there were a couple that expressed interest in doing it — but I’m not sure if location was a factor or if it was the ability to play in a slightly higher league at State Champ. That was probably the main factor.

“We are planning on splitting training between Drysdale and in Geelong (likely at the Try Boys Stadium in East Geelong) because we will have a few players that are based in Geelong, so to try and cut down that travel commitment we’ll do one and one during the week.”

Lothian wasn’t ready to release the names of committed players, but said the men’s and women’s sides would present as youthful and athletic, with the club handing opportunity to its former juniors.

Luke Beauglehall, a former SEABL assistant coach to Leon O’Neill, will coach the men, while Brendon Matthews will coach the women’s side.

“We’re probably 90 per cent of the way there with both teams,” Lothian said.

“We’ve got a couple of final positions to finalise, which we should do by the end of this month, and then we should have everyone on court training by the start of February, I reckon. We certainly started internally and then we’ve tried to build the team around the local team we do have.

“We’ve got quite a few local players stepping up to Big V for the first time who have come through our junior ranks, so it will be the next step for them. We’re going to be youthful with a little bit of experience, so we should be fairly quick.”

Lothian added that the club would explore whether to bring in some overseas talent in 2020.

“We’re trying to do it with local talent for our first year and then get a real gauge on what we need moving forward,” he said.

“I think year two we’ll definitely be looking at some imports or marquee players.”