Geelong United set to reveal its first bunch of player signings

The city’s inaugural WNBL coach says he hasn’t been this excited about a new challenge since his days at the Townsville Fire, which resulted in back-to-back titles.

Chris Lucas, coaching the Melbourne Boomers against the UC Capitals in February this year, has been appointed Geelong United’s inaugural WNBL senior mentor. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images.

Geelong United has already locked in a few players for its inaugural WNBL roster, including a regional Victorian, as the franchise unveils former Opal assistant Chris Lucas as its senior mentor.

Lucas, who coached the Melbourne Boomers last season and was previously at the helm at Adelaide Lightning, told the club’s website he hadn’t been this excited in a long time.

When asked by this masthead when that was, Lucas said it was back in the days of Townsville Fire, who he led to back-to-back titles in the middle of last decade.

“This situation is very similar to what actually happened up in Townsville, I was working as an assistant in Canberra (with the Capitals),” Lucas said.

New Geelong United coach Chris Lucas marshalls his former team, the Melbourne Boomers, against the UC Capitals in February. Picture Mark Nolan/Getty Images.

“In 2011 that licence was handed back and was taken over by a consortium up in Townsville, it’s got a very similar feel.

“It’s exciting because you can set the culture and the standards and the values every early on in the program.

“I had a great experience up in Townsville for five years (as senior coach), and I’m hoping I can create the same sort of atmosphere in Geelong.”

The next step is getting a squad together and Lucas said the franchise is due to announce a few signings next week.

All things going well, United will have a squad in place by the end of June with development players to follow.

“We’ve signed 2-3 players already which I’m already very excited about, and we’ll start to balance the group around those signings,” he said.

Lucas said he officially committed to United a few weeks ago. Picture: Geelong United.

“The first signing is a Vic country girl.

“We want to make sure we’ve got a blend (of youth and experience).

“If they happen to be Vic country that would be fantastic.

“We’re looking at the NBL1 team, there is some potential for a couple of the locals out of that program to potentially be in the squad.”

Lucas indicated there was interest in some of his former Boomer charges, although Penina Davidson is not one of them.

Lucas said he would be sticking to his recruitment policy: people first, players second.

“You don’t always get that right, but if you get the right people, the rest of it just falls into place,” he said.

“People first is imperative in a team environment, we spend so much time together, the chemistry of the group needs to align.

“The culture of the team, the chemistry of the team, are imperative, because if you don’t have that you’re not going to have success.”

Describing himself as a “firm, fair” mentor, Lucas is determined to create a style of play local fans will want to see, with a big emphasis of “up tempo” offence built upon sound defensive principles.

“It’s going to be tough, I think the turnover of players in programs now is a lot higher than what it was 10 years ago,” he said.

“We had a fantastic core people in that group (in Townsville).

“We’ll take our time in the first year, and make sure we get the right people, and then obviously try to retain the people we’re really comfortable with.

“Then get the right pieces in the second year.”

However, don’t think season 2024-25 is just about setting up a launching pad for future success.

Lucas was previously at the helm at Adelaide Lightning. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“My expectation is to play finals,” he said.

“And put ourselves in a position to win a championship, that’s what every coach wants.

“If we’re not in it to win, I’d have a problem with that.

“It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be challenging because it’s a brand new group.”

So far, Lucas has been impressed with his dealings with United, with discussions beginning a week after the WNBL season wrapped up.

“The thing that’s impressed me the most is the professionalism of the way everything’s been handled,” Lucas said, who officially accepted the position a few weeks ago.

“(Geelong United chief executive) Mark (Neeld) is a terrific operator.

“I just think the vision they have I’d like to play a part in that, and set the club up, not just for the next couple of years but for the future to come.”

Lucas believes a WNBL team in Geelong will have a “huge impact” on female participation.

“It’s pretty exciting for the Geelong community, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

Geelong United signs former Opals assistant Chris Lucas

Geelong United Basketball has unveiled Chris Lucas as its inaugural WNBL senior coach.

Signing on for two years, United said in a statement that Lucas had been a strong advocate for women’s sport, spending his entire career working exclusively in women’s basketball leagues.

This publication flagged Lucas’ likely appointment earlier this month.

A former Opals assistant, Lucas coached Townsville Fire to back-to-back WNBL titles in 2015 and 16.

The success saw Lucas appointed as an assistant to the national team when it won silver at the 2018 World Cup in Spain.

In a statement, Lucas said he was “very excited” about the challenge ahead at Geelong Arena.

“I haven’t felt this way in a long time,” Lucas said.

Chris Lucas during his time with the Adelaide Lightning in late 2019. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“I’m very excited ... and very appreciative to (Geelong United chief executive) Mark Neeld and the board for giving me this opportunity.”

Lucas coached the Melbourne Boomers to the finals last WNBL season and was previously at the helm at Adelaide Lightning.

“The expectations of every coach in the league is to make finals, and mine is no different,” he said.

“We’re hoping to put an extremely competitive group together that will hopefully put us in a

position to make finals.

“We’re hoping to create a terrific balance in the team, traditionally my teams play an up tempo style and definitely a blend of experience and youth.”

Originally published as Geelong United set to reveal its first bunch of player signings