NBL25: Bitter Grand Final defeat to the Tasmania JackJumpers to fuel the new NBL campaign for Melbourne United’s Chris Goulding

Speaking at the launch of the NBL SuperCoach competition, Melbourne United’s Chris Goulding says the disappointment of missing Boomers selection for Paris is not the driving force heading into the new NBL season. But revenge for Grand Final heartbreak is.

Melbourne United captain Chris Goulding says the disappointment of missing out on Olympic selection won’t fuel his attack on NBL25 — but the bitter grand final defeat at the hands of Tasmania certainly will.

Speaking at the launch of NBL SuperCoach, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist appeared content with his contribution in the green and gold, admitting his time in the national team was over, but said his focus was on ensuring United is lifting the title at season’s end.

Chris Goulding was joined legends Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland at the NBL SuperCoach Launch. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“Of course, I’m disappointed that that’s how my international career finished but, for me, I think I know what I bring to a team, and I don’t need to go out and prove that I should have been on that team or anything like that,” Goulding said.

“So (the) focus will be us going one step further than we did last year and it starts with a good foundation, building up, trying to find yourself at the top of the ladder and really make a push, come finals.”

Goulding, along with stars Matthew Dellavedova, Marcus Lee and Ian Clark, missed Tuesday night’s pre-season loss to the Brisbane Bullets, but will be raring to go on Saturday night for their mini-Throwdown with cross-town rival South East Melbourne.

A heartbroken Chris Goulding after Grand Final defeat earlier in the year. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“Let’s just say it was good to get the cobwebs out,” Goulding said of the 90-75 loss.

“We’ve got another one against South East … so a few of us guys that didn’t play in the last game will tick over some minutes and see if we can just keep things moving in the right direction.”

United have one roster spot left to fill — the last local vacancy in the entire NBL — likely to be one of Malith Machar, Akech Aliir or Campbell Blogg.

“I’m a SuperCoach manager, not a not an actual NBL manager,” Goulding laughed.

“From what I understand we’re looking to fill that from within the guys that have been with us and keep that familiarity of personnel.”

After a spot of NBLxAFL hoops action, where he teamed up with Melbourne Tigers legends Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland to take on star Western Bulldogs key forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and champions Brad Johnson and Cam Mooney, Goulding (G/F, $268,000) nominated Dellavedova (G, $312,900) as the United teammate most likely to pick himself in SuperCoach.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Chris Goulding. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“Oh, surely Delly, but I reckon that’d be a pretty good pick as well because he fills the stat sheet,” Goulding said.

Copeland, like many Supercoaches, has United’s NBA champion returnee Jack White (F, $232,000) as his first picked and he likes a new Bullet who has dominated early in pre-season.

“I’m going to go for guys that can rebound and steal and pass and do a lot of things so, yes you want Chris Goulding, who can shoot it and fill it up, but I want a guy like Jack White who rebounds, blocks shots and gets steals,” Copeland said.

“I want a guy like Deng Adel (F, $232,000) now, who’s starting to get his groove.

“But again, there’s trades every week so, if you’re not happy with somebody, somebody’s not playing well, I’m the general manager now, ‘You gotta go bro’.

“But that’s what’s fun about the game. SuperCoach is for everybody, anyone can win just sitting on the coach.

“We’re going to give you $2 million to be the GM and pick 10 players — five starters — and if you’re not happy with what’s going on, get rid of them, trade them, every week.”

Originally published as NBL25: Bitter Grand Final defeat to the Tasmania JackJumpers to fuel the new NBL campaign for Melbourne United’s Chris Goulding