The Australian rollers are on their way to Europe this month, while the national wheelchair basketball team is starting an important international tour prior to the Asia Oceania Zone Championships in November.
The 12-man team starts their tour on the Rollstuhlbasketball Nations Cup from 2025 in Cologne, Germany from 13-17 August, where they will be dealing with Great Britain, the Netherlands, Poland and a European All-Star team. The team then goes to Varese, Italy for a five-game series against the Italian national team of 19-22 August.
Australian Rollers -head coach Brad Ness said the Tour marks an important step to set up the team for success during the next Paralympic cycle.
“This tour is about building team culture and embedding the principles around What is needed to win For this new group, “said Ness.
“We want to set the tone in LA 2028 by determining clear team values and core processes.”
“We will also test different combinations and are looking for the holes left by Shaun Norris and Thomas Mchugh in the group not, while preparing for the Asia Oceania Championships in November – the qualification event for the World Cup 2026.”
The Touring-Line-Up contains veterans Tristan Knowles and Bill Latham, next to Paris 2024 teammates Jannik Blair, Luke Pople, Jaylen Brown, Tom O’Neill-Thorne, Phil Evans and Frank Pinder.
They are accompanied by the young gun Lachline Dalton, who recently earned All-Star Five Honors at the IWBF 3×3 wheelchair basketball world championships in South Africa.
Ness said that strong versions during the Tour can influence the latest team selections for the Asia Oceania Championships in November.
“There may be some selection results of this tour – it is a valuable opportunity for a few new players to insist in a place in the last 12,” Ness said.
“We still have a selection camp in September, but it will certainly help people in the coming weeks will certainly help people to break into the group. In general it is about expanding the possibilities of our team, so that we can adapt to various opponents and playing styles.”
With limited possibilities for the entire group to play together outside of major tournaments, Ness emphasized the importance of cohesion on the Court.
“Just being able to come together and build chemistry is one of the biggest benefits of playing in such tours.”
Looking ahead, the rollers are aimed at mixing experience with fresh energy when they start their path to LA 2028.
“We are still looking for the right mix of players to bridge the previous generation and the future,” said Ness.
“Our veterans are in world class, and with the right wing men there is no reason why we cannot improve our result and insist a stage. That starts with players such as Dalton, Klein, Leard and Brown-Die each bringing a youthful sparkle that brings a youthful sparkle that brings a youthful mooring and our leaders brings our leaders that our leaders brings out our leaders that our leaders brings out our leaders ‘shocking sparkle that brings out our leaders’’
Team list:
Jannik Blair | Tomas small |
Jaylen Brown | Tristan Knowles |
Jonnee Brown | Bill Lathan |
Lachlin Dalton | Tom O’Neill-Thorne |
Phil Evans | Luke Pople |
Frank Pinder | Jeremy Tyndall |
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