Season Preview - Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks
The Hawks suffered a heartbreaking loss in the men's Grand Final in 2011 while a promising women's season ended in the final four. Find out the changes they've made over a busy summer by checking out their SBL.asn.au season preview.
Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks Season Preview
Men-
2011 Recap: 2011 was an up and down season for the Perry Lakes Hawks; they worked their way to the playoffs with 17 wins for the year and defeated the League favourites, Lakeside Lighting, for their second Grand Final appearance in three years. The Hawks fell agonisingly short of becoming the 2011 SBL Champions when they lost to the Wanneroo Wolves by five points.
Off-Season Grade: C
Off-Season Summary: A change in coach and a younger squad has refreshed the Perry Lakes Hawks during the break. New head coach Trevor Pugh stepped up to the role and has recruited some old SBL faces as well as kept in young locals to develop with the team. Former Southwest point guard Cory Richardson has joined the metropolitan team along with another country player in American guard Matthew Roskinki, who played with the Goldfields Giants in 2011 until he was struck down with a knee injury. Centre Shane Ross comes in as a tall import while former Kalamunda Suns forward Fletcher Creelman returns to the SBL after a two year break. Returning for the Hawks is Wildcats development player Ben Purser who is set to improve on his 18 points per game from last season after playing for the NBL side. Rosinski, who is still battling the injury which ruled him out for the end of last season, and Ross have plenty to live up to match the production to match the production of Anthony Lee, the departed import who was one of the better players the league has seen in recent years. Joe-Alan Tupaea has retired and Peter Crawford won't be able to suit up late in the season as he now counts as a restricted player, with Rosinski and Ross taking up the available slots.
2012 Fixture: Round Four brings the Grand Final rematch against the Wolves and the following week they test their new look team against Lakeside. Rounds 10 and 11 will try their tenacity with two weekends of double headers and Round 13 they take the long trip to the Goldfields to face Rosinki’s former club.
Women-
2011 Recap: The Perry Lakes Hawks strived through the season to place second on the WSBL ladder, but the East Perth Eagles claimed a shock win in the semi finals to knock the Hawks out of Grand Final contention. The Hawks saw the likes of guards Rosie Tobin and Belinda Mayger shine in their experienced team.
Off-Season Grade: D
Off-Season Summary: After 2011, the Hawks lost players who made a big contribution last season including Tanya Kelly, Emily Burton and Tegan Walker, but they have retained impressive centre Rosie Tobin, who averaged more than 10 rebounds per game in 2011, and WNBL player Gabbriella Clayton. Perry Lakes have also brought in some of their younger players through the ranks and could see big things from teenagers Kate Duff and Pia Jelinek.
2012 Fixture: The Hawks start 2012 at home against the promising Mandurah Magic and then they are up against their rivals in the East Perth Eagles in a double header weekend which also sees them take on a new and improved Perth Redbacks side. Round 11 will be a match up to watch when the Hawks host the reigning Champions, the Willetton Tigers.
Article by Frizz Ferguson
Photo by Travis Hayto (Outerbounds Photography)
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