Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman fires back at South East Melbourne owner Romie Chaudhari’s attack on star Chris Goulding

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman has issued a warning to South East Melbourne, hitting back at Phoenix owner Romie Chaudhari after he slammed star Chris Goulding as ‘weak’.

The NBL’s bitter Melbourne rivalry is about to go nuclear with United coach Dean Vickerman firing back at Romie Chaudhari after the Phoenix owner slammed superstar Chris Goulding.

With his first tweet in 23 days — a stretch where South East Melbourne lost five games in a row and sacked its coach — Chaudhari called out the 450-game sharpshooter.

“Goulding constantly flops and cries about it, that sh*t is weak,” Chaudhari wrote on Twitter Sunday — after his team recorded its first win of the season over United.

Goulding constantly flops and cries about it, that sh*t is weak.... Great win for SEM, they earned it, so proud of the effort, way to keep fighting!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾 https://t.co/8AOmWc6TMn

— Romie Chaudhari (@RRome44) October 20, 2024

Vickerman, on Monday, hit back at Chaudhari, declaring the rival owner should have been enjoying the spoils of the Phoenix’s first win of the season, rather than having a personal crack at one of the NBL’s most celebrated players.

“I’d be disappointed if one of our owners made personal comments about another team’s player on social media,” Vickerman told Code Sports.

“It’s something we’ll remember for the next time we play them (Phoenix).

“I thought maybe he (Romie) should have focused on celebrating their first win of the season, instead of making comments about one of the NBL’s best players.”

Dean Vickerman wasn’t impressed by the comments. Picture: Getty Images

The NBL ticked off Chaudhari’s social media comments telling Code Sports there was no action to be taken.

The Miami-based entrepreneur called out Goulding after the veteran sharpshooter became entangled with Phoenix big man Jordan Hunter and flailed to the ground during the first quarter of Sunday’s local derby.

Hunter was hit with a common foul but a furious Goulding roared at the refs and had to be held back by United teammate Matthew Dellavedova as tempers flared.

Vickerman believes Goulding reacted angrily because his shooting arm was trapped under Hunter’s arm and he didn’t want to get injured.

Many fans believe Chaudhari had a point regarding Goulding, who has a tendency to sometimes exaggerate contact.

Peatling @MelbUnited made a similarly dirty play to Creek @SEMelbPhoenix at last year's Throwdown. Stuff like this is totally uncalled for. I know the guy runs around the court like he's uncoordinated, but it's obvious to me what his intentions were and it's just plain dirty SMH https://t.co/iViPc8prVc

— Romie Chaudhari (@RRome44) January 1, 2023

It’s not the first time the bitter cross-town rivals have verbally sparred. In 2022, Chaudhari accused then-United enforcer Mason Peatling of “dirty” play towards then-Cairns big man Keanu Pinder. The Phoenix owner took to social media to compare it to a similar incident involving his star Mitch Creek.

“Peatling @MelbUnited made a similarly dirty play to Creek @SEMelbPhoenix at last year’s Throwdown. Stuff like this is totally uncalled for. I know the guy runs around the court like he’s uncoordinated, but it’s obvious to me what his intentions were and it’s just plain dirty SMH.”

The two teams don’t meet again until Sunday, December 15, leaving nearly two months for the bad blood to boil.