Mid season review: Why full strength JackJumpers can loom large
Injuries and disruptions have plagued them, but the JackJumpers have shown they can make a run if all their weapons are on deck. We take a look at their hopes in our mid season review.
They be 15 games deep into a 33-fixture season, but it remains difficult to pinpoint how well positioned the JackJumpers are to launch a quest for a second NBL championship.
Injuries to key personnel and being forced to play multiple rotations, when a new-look squad was already searching for synergy, has given coach Scott Roth plenty of headaches.
The good news if they’ve managed to keep their head above water despite those obstacles, albeit being the only team in the top six with a negative win-loss record (6-9).
The chasing pack is showing signs of life, so the Jackies need to hit the ground running in New Zealand on Saturday night.
STATE OF PLAY
After winning three of their first four games, the Jackies’ reincarnation looked to be ahead of schedule with the three new imports Tyger Campbell, David Johnson and Bryce Hamilton complementing each others’ strengths nicely.
But some key injuries, in particular a long term calf injury to Johnson and skipper Will Magnay’s foot issues contributed to a six-game losing streak which has them playing catch-up after the FIBA break.
With all their key players back on deck, the Jackies ended the rot with an impressive 104-81 win over the Kings last start.
KEY GAMES
Realistically the top four teams might be too far ahead to catch from here, so the focus now is to not only lock up a top six spot, but be in good enough form to try and emerge from the play-in games away from home.
The seventh-placed Breakers (6-10) are their most immediate threat to a place at the table making Saturday’s game and the return clash in Hobart on Boxing Day critical to their fortunes.
Defending champions Illawarra (5-9) are also showings signs of recovery after a horror start to the season. The Jackies play them on New Year’s Eve (away), January 24 (home) and February 18 (home) in the final game of the season.
BEST PLAYER
Josh Bannan: The Brisbane Bullets recruit is the latest to find a new lease of life in Tasmania. He is averaging 15.7 points per game, second only to Hamilton (19.3) leads the team in rebounds (9.5 per game) and also contributes 2.1 assists.
It’s also the intangibles he brings. Not only is a he a good defender, he brings plenty of effort and tenacity and his teammates feed off it.
BEST PERFORMANCE
It’s hard to go past Bryce Hamilton’s stellar showing against South-East Melbourne at the Silverdome.
The Jackies lost a high scoring thriller 103-102 at the Silverdome last month, but Hamilton lit up Launceston with 36 points off 16-23 shooting, eight rebounds and five assists.
BEST WIN
Definitely the incredible last gasp win over the Kings in Sydney on October 26.
Tasmania looked dead and buried before a turnover off an inbounds pass by the Kings resulted in a two-point buzzer beater by Nick Marshall to secure a 90-89 victory. Unfortunately the Jackies would go on to lose their next six games.
KEY FACTORS
The Jackies average 85.7 points per game, with only the lowly Cairns Taipans (81.4) less efficient offensively.
However they have scored 95 points or more three of their last five games, indicating that’s on the improve as more injured bodies return.
Invariably when Tasmania wins the rebound count they win the game, so attacking the boards will continue to be a huge focus.
Making MyState Bank Arena a feared destination again is simply imperative. Two wins from eight games at home simply won’t get the job done in any professional league.
OVERALL
If - IF - the Jackies can keep their best players on court, there’s no doubt they have the weapons to test anybody in the league.
The home stretch is vital for the imports to get more game time together and build on the promising early season signs they showed.
If that can eventuate, Tasmania should finish fifth or sixth and provide a significant headache on the road against play-in rivals in a bid for a semi spot.
WNBL: Jewels to scour globe for inaugural coach
Tasmania’s WNBL team will launch a global search for its inaugural head coach now their Jewels’ name is set in stone.
Speaking at Launceston’s where the Jewels’ logo was emblazoned onto the Riverbend Park’s court, CEO Christine Finnegan said the coach will be the first priority before turning attention to assistant staff and players.
American Scott Roach has coached the men’s arm of the club, the JackJumpers, to great immediate success, including a championship.
The team intends to open head coach expressions of interest within a fortnight and begin the interview process in late January.
Recruiting players currently in the WNBL will have to wait until the free agency window at the end of the current season, but feelers have already been put out to agents of overseas-based stars.
“It’s just all about the best person for the job and I don’t mind where they come from,” Finnegan said.
“They can come from Smithton, they can come from America, they can come from anywhere. “The best person for the job should get the job, and if they are the best we’ll be supporting them.”
Jewels assistant general manager Kayla Steindl and Jackies chief operating officer Darren Smith have left no stone unturned in the coach search.
“They have been working feverishly behind the scenes and not just the national stage, the global stage, to see who’s available and who might want come and start it up, just like Scott Roth did with the Jackies,” Finnegan said.
“Once we appoint our coaches and assistant coaches we’ll get to the players, obviously we have to wait a little bit for the season to finish and we know our timelines.
“One thing we know is we’ve had plenty of time to prepare and we’ll be ready to push the button when the time’s right.”
Finnegan reiterated the team’s intent to play at least 50 per cent of matches at Launceston when it enters the WNBL in 2026-27, with games also at Devonport the following season.
“It’s the right thing to do. The north and north west is such a strong basketball corridor and for a number of reasons we haven’t been able to bring as many men’s games here,” Finnegan said.
“It’s really important when we built this that it was something that could fit beautifully into this area of the state.
“The Silverome upgrade pending that (upgrades) is done in time, absolutely we’ll be playing at least half our games there in season 2026, and the following season when Devonport (new sports facility) comes into play we’ll be playing some games in the north-west as well.
“We certainly won’t be just based in the south, and will be making sure people in the north and north-west can really touch and feel the team and the players.”
Over 1500 memberships have already been snapped up after the club launched his $10 ‘Got the W’ membership campaign.
Finnegan said plans are in place for regional-based membership options, pending the facilities being available.
“The infrastructure dictates the memberships, so we’re waiting to see what happens with the Sivlerdome and when that will be ready.
“But we’re working on north, north west and southern-based memberships (for games in each region), and for anyone who wants to go to all games that option will be available too.”
Steindl said they will look to settle on a coach similar to Roth who encapsulates the hard working, blue collar ethic of Tasmanians.
“We’re taking the blueprint from what the Jackies have done, (someone who can) bring out the best in people. We’ll be looking for the same type of person, tough and hard working and honest and who’s here for the right reasons,” she said.
“Scott’s teams have always been full of superstars on the court, but as people as well. He does a good job of finding the right people who connect and reflect the community of Tasmania.”
“Obviously having Scott as a support and someone to bounce ideas off is excellent, and he’s more than happy to step up as an ambassador. And the new coach would get access to Scott, which would be exciting for any coach.”
Jewels ambassador and WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith said her father, Darren, had already appointed her as an unofficial recruitment officer.
“He’s already in my ear asking me to speak to a few people and I’ve already said it to a lot of them,” she said.
“I’m a big advocate for Australia in general and now the Jewels are part of the WNBL, I’ll definitely be trying to recruit a few people to come play down here.
“The success the JackJumpers have had so early is something you can take away, how they engage with the community and the fan base.”
WNBA star hints at future Tasmania Jewels return
Australian basketball star Alanna Smith has hinted she would one day “love to come and play” for Tasmania’s new WNBL club.
At the launch of the sister club of the JackJumpers, the Jewels, where the club announced the team name, colours and brand, Smith said a return to her home state could be part of her playing future.
Instead, she’s currently focused on her career in the WNBA with the Minnesota Lynx, where she was named the league’s defensive player of the year last season.
“I think you’re more likely to see my sister over me, so if you see a little version of me running around, it’s not me, it’s my little sister,” Smith said.
“But long-term, I eventually would love to come and play down here in Tassie at home, but right now I have overseas commitments so it’s not looking like it’s going to be in the short term.
“The idea of a team coming to Tassie is just amazing in the first place but now seeing it come to actuality and become an actual team and have an identity is really special.
“I’m just in awe of what we came up with and how it took the brain’s together and it’s beautiful, I’m so excited to see it out on court.”
Smith was unveiled on Tuesday as the Jewels’ official ambassador.
The Australian Opal said a team in her own state meant she could help sell it to potential players.
“A lot of it is just grassroots, talking to teammates, a lot of people play overseas too and they all talk to each other about where they want to play and where the best places are,” Smith said.
“I’m in everyone’s ear like Australia’s the best, it rocks and now I’ve got the Jewels down here to really plug up in America.
“But also just in contact with GMs and team officials too and WNBA officials, letting them know that this team is down here, that it’s a really viable option for players and we’re trying to have a more global presence.”
Tasmania confirms new WNBL team’s name
Tasmania’s new professional women’s basketball team has its name.
The WNBL’s ninth team will be known as the Tasmania Jewels with their entry into the competition set for next season.
The club has adopted the name with a direct link to the queen ant, the leader of the colony, as a counterpart to the men’s arm of the club, the Tasmania JackJumpers.
Club chief executive Christine Finnegan said the name was established after consultation across several months.
“We had been going through a process in terms of what we wanted to call the team and we were looking at the Queen Ant, which is the queen of the colony and obviously we have been a team named after an ant,” she told this masthead.
“When we looked at that, we looked at the queen and we decided we really like this part about Tasmania being the Jewel in Australia’s crown and really anchoring that the Queen Ant is the Jewel in the ant colony.
“We thought that was probably a beautiful way to sum it all up. Diamonds and Jewels are forged under pressure and that’s exactly what we’ve had to do to get this team up and running.
“I’m sure that’s exactly how the team will perform, under pressure, in the spotlight and the idea of shining brightly.”
Finnegan said it’s hoped Tassie’s newest professional team could help build on the success of the JackJumpers program.
“The JackJumpers have really established themselves as a really key part of the fabric of Tasmania, not just the sporting fabric, the whole fabric of the state,” Finnegan said.
“The Jewels is the female addition to that. They’ll sit on equal footing and we get the girls and the boys on the same stage which has been hugely important from my and the club’s point of view.”
Altor Capital, who bought a controlling stake in the JackJumpers in July, are the owners of the Jewels.
Its chief investment officer Ben Harrison expressed excitement for the team’s launch.
“Like the JackJumpers, the Jewels will represent all of Tasmania in a sport booming among young women,” Harrison said.
WNBL chief executive Jennie Sager said Tasmania’s arrival showed the league’s continued momentum.
“This is the beginning of something truly special — not only for Tasmania, but for the continued rise of the women’s game across the country,” Sager said.
“With 10 additional roster spots opening up, this club is creating new pathways for young girls to chase their dreams and play basketball at the highest level.”
In the line with the launch of the Jewels, the club has launched a $10 Got the W membership campaign.
Fans can access the package which includes a bumper sticker and launch T-shirt and gives them first priority access to inaugural seated memberships when they go on sale.
All fans who sign up as a Tasmania Jewels Member before December 12 will go into the draw to win a free spot in a junior clinic led by WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, Alanna Smith or former WNBL player and Tasmanian Jewels assistant general manager, Kayla Steindl.
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