Hobart Chargers relying on home-grown talent in 2021

The Hobart Chargers start their NBL1 campaign against local rivals the North-West Thunder, and coach Anthony Stewart has ensured the magnitude of the occasion will not be lost on his young team.

HOBART men’s coach Anthony Stewart says he has discussed the Chargers’ rivalry with the North-West Thunder “at length” with his young playing group ahead of this weekend’s season-opening derby.

With imports and NBL players difficult to come by this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Stewart said the Chargers were stacked with young local talent.

Hobart Chargers men’s coach Anthony Stewart. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The Chargers start their NBL1 season against the Thunder at Kingborough Sports Centre on Saturday night, and Stewart said the magnitude of the occasion would not be lost on his players.

“We’ve actually spoken about [the rivalry with the Thunder] at length with the young guys,” Stewart said.

“Obviously the last six or seven years we’ve certainly dominated the win/loss column against the Thunder, but with no imports or recruits here, it’s a new test for this young group of Tasmanian kids.

“They understand the rivalry between the North-West and the South, and what it means.

“The game means a lot, it’s one that you pencil in at the start of the year, and I think over the last couple of weeks of talking about, the group fully understands the expectations and what’s at stake.”

Stewart said border restrictions and an extended NBL season had made signing new players difficult, but that had given young local players an opportunity to showcase their skills — and he has liked what he’s seen in pre-season.

“This will be a totally different look, not having imports or NBL players at the start of the season, so a lot of onus on the young kids, but I think they’re up for it,” he said.

“There’s a lot to play for, NBL is now on our back door as well, so these kids are playing for opportunities further up the ladder, so I’m expecting them to leave everything on the floor, and I’m really excited about Saturday night and going up against the Thunder.”

Zac White, left, playing for the Hobart Chargers in 2018. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Stewart said his immediate focus was developing young local talent, and he aims to have another championship in Hobart within three years.

“It’s definitely going to be a tough ask for our young kids, but this will be a three-year project, not one, and we’ll just try and get as many wins on the board as we can this year with a plan to develop these kids and just complement them with some imports or players in the future that give us an opportunity to win a championship,” he said.