All hands on Dech to shut down creativity
JORDAN GERRANS SUNDAY Dech holds no grudges after missing out on the final Cairns Taipans roster spot for season 2018-19 but he is returning to the Far North tonight to show the club what they missed out on.
Dech, as well as Sam McDaniel, who went on to become a Melbourne United development player, and Emmanuel Malou, among others, trialled for the final Snakes roster spot, which eventually went to returning forward Mitch Young.
After missing out on a fulltime job in Cairns, the 28-yearold was snapped up as a training player with the Perth Wildcats, where he saw more than eight minutes in his first NBL game since 2014 recently against New Zealand.
Dech did not let the missed opportunity in Cairns get him down, as he got straight back to work and was influential for the Wildcats in the preseason before stepping into their roster proper when Damian Martin strained his right calf during the club’s win over Melbourne recently.
“I came in there to Cairns with the right attitude, I worked hard and put my best foot forward,” Dech said.
“Obviously the club went a different direction, which is OK as I have a great relationship with Mike Kelly from his days at Melbourne United.
“I really enjoyed it, I battled with Sam McDaniel and the team for a couple of days, we went hard.
“It is going to be exciting to come back, I like Cairns and I have one of my family friends on the team in Kuany Kuany.”
Former Taipan Brad Hill, who has come on board as an assistant coach this season, had not yet joined the club when Dech trialled but says he will be a focus tonight.
“He has given them a little something with his opportunities recently,” Hill said.
“We have to be prepared.
“The competition of the league only has eight teams and any player that comes in, can play.”
The combo-guard says the Wildcats are playing with a “next man up mentality” after losing three starters in recent weeks, Martin, Angus Brandt and Terrico White, to injury.
“Playing preseason really helped a lot, being at the NBL Blitz, getting me up to speed with the game,” Dech said.
“I credit that to the coaching staff at the Wildcats, they have instilled confidence in me. I go up against Boomers like Damian Martin and Mitch Norton at training, that is getting me ready.”