Basketball On The Internet.

BULLEEN has lost two Opals but I expect the Boomers to be favorites for Gold when the 2012-13 season tips off tomorrow.

It's no secret I rate Tom Maher as our all-time greatest women's basketball coach and trotting out his list of achievements here now is hardly necessary.

Suffice to say, he has been a winner with great teams and great players and he also has been a winner with modest teams and modest talent, unlike many of his contemporaries who only succeed with the former.

While the Boomers lose Lizzie Cambage and Sam Richards who had such good Olympics in London, Hollie Florance's return is significant, Emma McDonald is back in Melbourne, Elyse Penaluna suits after injury and Rachel Jarry was one of the revelations of the London Games.

Plus Bulleen picked up a future Opal in Tess Madgen, whose conversion into a point guard will be one of the season's grand experiments and a probable gateway for her into the Australian team.

She has Michele Timms to provide additional guidance and my records here say: "Timmsy - pretty fair point guard in her day." (I have to update that.)

I also expect Dandenong and Canberra to get off to slower starts until their WNBA players return but to be there at the business end.

The same for Adelaide but, as with Krista Phillips at the Rangers, LJ at the Caps and Suzy Batkovic at Lightning, keeping those "bigs" healthy is a major component with any sustained success.

I love the look of Townsville and the way that group functions as a unit. Their PSST wins over China and Sydney after an embarrassing loss to Bendigo spoke volumes for their character too.

Bendigo has hardly put a foot wrong in winning the PSST and players such as Gab Richards, Renae Camino and Chantella Perera are on the verge of big seasons alongside the Great One, Kristi Harrower.

It's just such a tough competition that I cannot see them being able to sustain that blistering early pace though.

Sydney is Sydney, continually trying to buy a championship and seemingly almost always just on the verge of self-destructing.

How much did West Coast look like a contender at the PSST? Bringing in New Zealand's national coach (and his three-syllable Kiwi mates such as Wallbutton and Edmondson ... wait, Todhunter is three syllables too!) has helped turn around a losing culture.

And Deanna Smith looked an absolute superstar. The Waves will not go quietly.

Neither will Logan, after all, it's Thunder that makes scariest noise. But a scary noise is all I expect them to be, the team which gets you when your guard is down but which struggles when you come prepared.

THE TEAMS - 2012-13

ADELAIDE LIGHTNING

Last Season: 18-4, 1st, lost preliminary final

Coach: Peter Buckle (71-48, 60%)

Returning: Suzy Batkovic, Jenni Screen, Amy Lewis, Jo Hill, Angela Marino, Kelsey Ireland

New: Laura Hodges (Bracco Geas-Italy), Nadeen Payne (Townsville), Molly Lewis (Canberra), Hannah Bowley (Canberra), Stephanie Talbot (AIS), Lauren Mansfield (North, SBL)

Gone: Abby Bishop (Perpignan, France), Rachel Herrick (Bendigo), Toni Edmondson (West Coast), Georgia Minear (ret)

Who to watch: Suzy is a superstar if she can stay healthy and Laura will have a point to prove.

What the? Lost their last two home games last season - the only ones which ended up mattering - and have great motivation going into 2013.

Prediction: 4th

 

BENDIGO SPIRIT

Last Season: 12-10, 6th

Coach: Bernie Harrower (66-50, 57%)

Returning: Kristi Harrower, Kelly Wilson, Gabrielle Richards, *Chelsea Aubry, Madeleine Garrick

New: Renae Camino (Logan), Chantella Perera (Bulleen), *import to come

Gone: Tess Madgen (Bulleen), Deanna Smith (West Coast), Lisa Wallbutton (West Coast)

Who to watch: Chantella rocked at the PSST, Camino is a Grand Final MVP but Kristi is still the Queen.

What the? Sweeping the PSST even startled Rip Van Winkle (a personal friend of Bernie's) but no-one will be sleeping on the Spirit this season.

Prediction: 6th

 

BULLEEN BOOMERS

Last Season: 15-7, 1st, lost grand final

Coach: Tom Maher (243-64, 79%)

Returning: Rachel Jarry, Alice Kunek, Kerryn Harrington, Rebecca Cole, Rebecca Allen

New: Hollie Florance (had a baby), Tess Madgen (Bendigo), Elyse Penaluna (inj), Emma McDonald (Logan)

Gone: Liz Cambage (China), Sam Richards (Europe), Chantella Perera (Bendigo)

Who to watch: Jarry came of age in London and watching Tess' evolution as a point guard will be fun.

What the? This will be a team which steadily will evolve into the "shock" of the season. The big question is will Tom Maher's shirt be hanging out late in the first quarter or early in the second.

Prediction: 1st

 

CANBERRA CAPITALS

Last Season: 9-13, 8th

Coach: Carrie Graf (243-85, 74%)

Returning: Carly Wilson, Jessica Bibby, Mikaela Dombkins, Michelle Cosier, Brigitte Ardossi, Nicole Hunt

New: Lauren Jackson (Seattle, WNBA), Samantha Norwood (West Coast), *Valeria Ogoke (WA SBL)

Gone: Marianna Tolo (Aix-en-Provence, France), Molly Lewis (Adelaide), Hannah Bowley (Adelaide)

Who to watch: LJ of course but Bibby was white hot from the perimeter at the PSST and Graffy rarely goes wrong with her import choices.

What the?  I'm picking the Caps for Bronze. It just seemed the right fit.

Prediction: 3rd

 

DANDENONG RANGERS

Last Season: 14-8, 3rd, won championship

Coach: Mark Wright (78-56, 58%)

Returning: Jenna O'Hea, Kathleen MacLeod, *Krista Phillips, Tegan Cunningham, Stephanie Cumming, Alison Downie, Aimie Clydesdale, Clare Papavs

New: Sara Blicavs (AIS), Carley Mijovic (AIS), Rebecca Mercer (Townsville)

Gone: Sam Woosnam (ret), Hope Terdich (study)

Who to watch: Jenna is a winner but she'll be missing for a while with the WNBA's Sparks so keep your eyes on burgeoning Opals playmaker Kathleen Macca and boom recruit Sara B.

What the? Where is Hope Terdich? I mean, seriously. Who's going to wow us at the awards dinner this season?

Prediction: 2nd

 

LOGAN THUNDER

Last Season: 12-10, 7th

Coach: Jason Chainey (4-13, 24%)

Returning: Kristen Veal, Emma Langford, Holly Smith, Cassie Smith, Natalie Taylor

New: *Lindsay Laur (Hobart, SEABL), *Laurie Koehn (Atlanta, WNBA), Jasmine Hooper (West Coast), Izzy Chilcott (Uni of San Diego)

Gone: Renae Camino (Bendigo), Cayla Francis (Aix-en-Provence, France), Sarah Graham (Sydney), Emma McDonald (Bulleen)

Who to watch: The Thunder are hoping their imports get it done but Kristen has been one of my fave players since her first game. She can do so many different things, and all brilliantly.

What the? Count Olaf left Jason C his legacy and his wardrobe - eight black T-shirts.

Prediction: 9th

 

SYDNEY FLAMES

Last Season: 13-9, 5th (lost elimination final)

Coach: Karen Dalton (167-104, 62%)

Returning: Alicia Poto, Lauren King, Katie-Rae Ebzery, Tayla Roberts, Jaimee Kennedy, Elyce Ironmonger

New: *April Sykes (LA Sparks, WNBA), Sarah Graham (Logan), Ellie Manou (Townsville), Michelle Joy (West Coast)

Gone: Belinda Snell (CCC Polkowice, Poland), *Amy Denson (Caja Rural, Spain)

Who to watch: Poto still sizzled at times at the PSST and Katie-Rae is coming along. But you don't bring in an import such as April without expecting results. (See Amy Denson...)

What the? Karen Dalton is STILL coaching this team? Isn't Sydney our largest city? Who knew Bill Tomlinson going to work in China was going to devastate the city's women's coaching ranks for more than a decade?

Prediction: 7th

 

TOWNSVILLE FIRE

Last Season: 13-9, 4th (lost KO semi)

Coach: Chris Lucas (57-35, 62%)

Returning: *Shanavia Dowdell, Jess Foley, Mia Newley, Rachael Flanagan, Nicole Romeo, Micaela Cocks, Alicia Froling, Keely Froling

New: Olivia Thompson (AIS), *Kayla Standish (Minnesota, WNBA), Yinka Olorunnife (Uni of Idaho)

Gone: Nadeen Payne (Adelaide), Ellie Manou (Sydney), Rebecca Mercer (Dandenong)

Who to watch: Shanavia, Jess, Olivia, Mia and let's not forget Tammy Willey's lil sister, Kayla. Win or lose, the Fire will be fun to watch.

What the? Rachael, Mia, Nicole, Olivia and Chris are teaching everyone what Fritz is. (For those not able to attend the class, yes, it is a peculiarly local sausage.)

Prediction: 5th

 

WEST COAST WAVES

Last Season: 2-20, 9th

Coach: Kennedy Kereama (R)

Returning: Melissa Marsh, Zoe Harper

New: Deanna Smith (Bendigo), Lisa Wallbutton (Bendigo), Amelia Todhunter (Bulleen), Toni Edmondson (Adelaide), Natalie Burton (US College)

Gone: Rohanee Cox (ret), Michelle Joy (Sydney), Samantha Norwood (Canberra), Jasmine Hooper (Logan)

Who to watch: Deanna was PSST MVP, Melissa is streaky, Todhunter is hard-as-nails (the new Tully?) and Natalie Burton will be a surprise.

What the? They were pressing, hustling, harassing and working together at the PSST. The Waves definitely will be making a splash this season.

Prediction: 8th

(*Denotes import)