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Opinion
Melbourne boomed through the 2019-20 regular season to finish 16–7.
If not for Southside’s historic season they would have likely have finished first.
In the regular season they only lost one game that was not to Southside or Canberra, the top seed and the eventual champions respectively.
The semi-finals came around and once again the Capitals proved too strong. The Boomers won their home game but could not manage to steal a game on the road at the AIS.
The Boomers’ Cayla George was named in the All-WNBL second team and Ezi Magbegor was awarded the youth player of the year award.
These two front-line players combined with import Lindsay Allen and Australian Opal Maddie Garrick to form one of the strongest top fours in the league.
2019-20 roster
| Name | No. | Position | Nationality | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonia Farnworth | 7 | Guard | Local | 181cm |
| Chelsea D’Angelo | 12 | Guard | Local | 177cm |
| Monique Conti | 14 | Guard | Local | 165cm |
| Lindsay Allen | 15 | Guard | Import | 173cm |
| Stella Beck | 21 | Guard | Local | 178cm |
| Madeleine Garrick (co-captain) | 23 | Guard | Local | 180cm |
| Sophie Cunningham | 3 | Guard/forward | Import | 185cm |
| Penina Davidson | 11 | Forward | Local | 190cm |
| Ezi Magbegor | 13 | Forward | Local | 193cm |
| Kalani Purcell | 32 | Forward | Local | 187cm |
| Cayla George (co-captain) | 22 | Forward/centre | Local | 192cm |
Head coach: Guy Molloy
Assistant coaches: Paul Flynn, Kennedy Kereama, Larissa Anderson
Maddie Garrick. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
2019-20 roster
| Name | No. | Position | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antonia Farnworth | 7 | Guard | 181cm |
| Rachel Antoniadou | 4 | Guard | 175cm |
| Rachel Brewster | 6 | Guard | 180cm |
| Tess Madgen | 9 | Guard | 180cm |
| Stella Beck | 21 | Guard | 178cm |
| Madeleine Garrick (co-captain) | 23 | Guard | 180cm |
| Izzy Wright | 10 | Guard | 180cm |
| Penina Davidson | 12 | Forward | 190cm |
| Ezi Magbegor | 13 | Forward | 193cm |
| Kalani Purcell | 32 | Forward | 187cm |
| Cayla George (co-captain) | 22 | Forward/centre | 192cm |
| Ashleigh Karaitiana | 47 | Forward | 183cm |
| Hope Terdich | ? | Forward/centre | 189cm |
Head coach: Guy Molloy
Assistant coaches: Paul Flynn, Larissa Anderson
Additions
Rachel Antoniadou has a lot of experience in the WNBL and is a great back-up combo guard for any team. She provides excellent bench depth on a roster and will contribute on the floor and in the locker room.
Tess Madgen is an Australian Opal and a legend of the WNBL. Now she returns to her roots at Melbourne. The projected starting point guard will work perfectly alongside co-captain Maddie Garrick. In a year that no team has an import, signing such a talented point guard is a huge boon. Madgen will be a steadying hand on the court and a wise mentor in the locker room.
Subtractions
Monique Conti, the combo guard, moved a few suburbs to the east in the Southside Flyers. She was a good back-up combo guard who does a little bit of everything. Boomers fans will remember last season’s play-offs and how obvious it was that Melbourne missed her and her instant offence off the bench. The Antoniadou signing does soften the blow somewhat.
Summary
The Boomers lost very few players not including imports. This will give them an edge in the early games when teams are still building chemistry. Madgen is about as good of a replacement point guard as you ever get and Melbourne were already stacked at the forward spots. Look for the Tall Ferns to take on a larger role and the twin towers of Magbegor and George to dominate.
Prediction
Boomers will end up second, led by the trio of George, Magbegor and Garrick.
(10–4)
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