Returned Colac basketball coach Jordan Lingard hopes becoming “a defensive menace” will help the Kookas’ men’s team return to the top of the standings in 2024.
Lingard will lead a new-look men’s team which is aiming to bounce back from last year’s seventh-placed finish under Liam McInerney.
Former NBL1 basketballer Lingard is back in the fold along with fellow returning Kookas including guards Mitch Thornton and Jake O’Flynn and centre Ryan Summerfield.
The team has also recruited experienced tall Jake McMahon from Ballarat and young Geelong guards Preston Pedron and Luka Gerber.
Just four players are returning from last season’s squad, including Hall brothers Mitch and Spencer, Brady Hall and Isaac Moran.
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Where To BuyLingard said he was happy with how the squad was coming together ahead of this weekend’s home opener against Mount Gambier.
“I’m really happy with the way the squad is coming together,” he said.
“We’ve had a couple of recruits come in who have added some length and athleticism to the squad.
“We just want to be a defensive menace and we’ve got lots of length with Preston, Luka and myself.
“I think they’ll really complement the guys we already had.”
Lingard said the squad had hit the ground running since trials started in August.
“The pre-season has been really good,” he said.
“We’ve got a bit of a new system than what Big Mac would have had, but even after the second try-out we were out there running plays and systems, they’ve picked it up so well.”
Lingard said there had been no shortage of stand-outs, led by Thornton coming off a big season of football with Irrewarra-Beeac.
“Thorny has definitely improved again after a year off, he’s looking stronger after another year of footy,” he said.
“The Hall boys are playing with a lot of confidence, and Jake and Ryan, after a year off, their bodies are looking fresh.”
Lingard, who has led Colac to finals multiple times as coach, said reaching the pointy end of the season was once again the goal.
“We did some goalsetting last week and a lot of guys said championship, and what’s the mindset you want,” he said.
“But finals are the biggest thing for us.”
2023-24 SEASON
Finish: 7th
Record: 5-11
Ave. points for: 70.3
Ave. points agst: 83.5
Top scorers: Evan Juros 13.9 ppg, Liam McInerney 14.9, Cam Primmer 9.6 ppg
IN: Jordan Lingard, Mitch Thornton, Jake O’Flynn, Preston Pedron, Luka Gerber, Jake McMahon, Ryan Summerfield
OUTS: Liam McInerney, Evan Juros, Steve Packer, Jamieson Hultgren, Cody Smyth, Todd Klein, Hudson Dewar, Nick Hough, Zac Charity
Squad
Jordan Lingard
Mitch Thornton
Mitch Hall
Spencer Hall
Isaac Moran
Jake O’Flynn
Preston Pedron
Luka Gerber
Jake McMahon
Ryan Summerfield
Brady Hall
Emergencies
Rhain Santwyk
Ben Li
Cameron Primmer
Campbell Hall