Welcome to the first issue of From the Clubrooms. This series will provide opinions from inside Wolfpack Headquarters – which may or may not cause debate, intrigue or otherwise.

This first issue covers off on a topic that has been controversial at Wanneroo for a number of years. Should the club recruit an import for an SBL season or should they not. During the 2000’s Wanneroo had a set policy that it would not bring an import into the SBL team, and I was asked many questions about why we chose to pursue this option. Why were we so focussed on being 100% local? The retort was quite simple “What are you looking for in an import”.

I think this question is really the question that needs to be asked year in year out by each team in the league. What are you trying to achieve through the recruitment of an import? I don’t believe there is a wrong answer for this, unless your answer is “to help us win”. Year on year, there are many examples of teams that bring out one import, maybe two, and yet do not make the finals. So if their reason was “to win”, then there is a lot of money that has been wasted and a lot of court time that could have been invested in juniors.

During the ‘lean years’ at Wolfpack Headquarters, the focus was on developing a strong foundation from what we could build. We knew we had a solid junior development program, but this was not transferring into on the court success for the Club in the SBL. With limited funds available, the strategy was that we needed to invest in our youth and provide young local players with the opportunity to gain experience and develop their own games. To make such a decision can seem self-defeating, but as long as there is a strategy this is never the case. The Club focussed on supporting the players where they could and rewarding loyalty at any opportunity. When a player was able to leave the Country on a college scholarship, this was seen as success by the Club.

The first venture back into the space of paid players was through Jeffrey Dowdell, who was playing with the Wildcats at the time. Jeff was targeted by the club as filling a void that we had. He enabled players to play in their correct position, and develop the parts of their game that would let them flourish. By recruiting Jeff we had an opportunity to provide a resource to the players, and a vision of where we wanted to be. Most importantly however, it was about recruiting a player with the character and leadership that we desired. A player who could assist in developing the games of those around him, and encourage the young players coming through. Jeff is a big part of the development of WBA in recent years.

A similar story exists for Scott and Marcus Moore, both who came to the club on working holiday visa’s. The choice facing the club was do we fill two positions in the club, or provide further opportunities for our juniors to development. Scott and Marcus were again of the character that we were seeking, great leaders and great teachers of the game. The same can be said for JV (John Vaudreuil) as can Jordan Wild. The imports chosen are complimentary to the group, and have a skillset and demeanour designed to build the ability of those around them.

Heading into the back end of 2012, the issue of junior development will again raise its head for many clubs. Have your juniors been given the opportunity to shine, but at the same time have you made sure that they have been positioned in an opportunity to flourish. Are you on track to foster the development of the next Greg Hire, or Ben Purser, or Michael Vigor. Or are you import centric, and in a rut of living or dying by the quality of your imports?

The quality and depth of the league has improved dramatically in recent years. It is the clubs who are able to generate and maintain legitimate depth that will remain in the upper echelons of the ladder year on year.

Where do you want to be?

If you would like a topic to be covered in future issues, please email welcome@wolves.asn.au.

Regards
Ryan Hunter
President
Wanneroo Basketball Association

Article by Wanneroo Wolves
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The opinions, views and comments in this article are those of the individual and are not the opinions or views of the State Basketball League or Basketball WA.