Matt Flinn opens up on his goals and approach for season 2024

Darwin Salties head coach Matt Flinn says he isn’t sweating on the late arrival of new NBL champ Sean MacDonald but can’t wait to get him back.

Darwin Salties men's head coach Matt Flinn is focused on starting the season strong. Picture: Jack Riddiford.

A starting centre is the only position yet to be filled in Matt Flinn’s side, with not much time left to do so.

However, after a great off-season that saw the club snag the NBL talent’s of Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Kouat Noi as well as re-signing 2024 NBL Championship winning Jack Jumper Sean MacDonald, hopes are high for a deep finals run.

“I don’t think any team wants to finish second, so obviously winning the thing (NBL1 North Championship) is what we want,” he said.

“Our goal this year is to minimum, bring a home final to Darwin.

“The squad is coming together well, but we’re still missing a few guys, namely (Sean) MacDonald who will be joining us a week or so after the season kicks off due to his deep run and eventual championship with the JackJumpers, where he was absolutely electric all series.

“So right now it’s a matter of moving things around to work for us in the meantime and we’ll get better as the season goes on.”

Sean Macdonald of the JackJumpers lays up in the final twenty seconds during game five of the NBL Championship Grand Final Series. Picture: Daniel Pockett (Getty Images).

In what he described as a pretty ‘fresh new look side’, Flinn put down the fruitful off-season signings to the club’s stature among the league.

“NBL guys and other NBL1 players know what good programs look like,” the former Illawarra Hawks coach said.

“We really believe that we have one of the better programs in the country, not just on court but off it as well.

“So to already have this sort of rapport in just our third season, it’s really pleasing to have these big names wanting to play for us.”.

A relatively tall side littered with offensive firepower, Flinn said his focus was to let his men flourish and show their flare in attack, but he’ll be in charge of the defence.

“I’ve been doing this (coaching) for over 18 years now and I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way,” he said.

“But the one thing that’s stuck out to me most is when you stifle players freedom to attack the basket by implementing rigid and complicated plays, you hinder a side more than you help.

“There are a lot of solid shooters in this team and great offensive minds, so obviously I’ll give my two cents about what to do here and there, but my main focus as their coach will be on our defence.”