Nunawading Spectres
Nunawading Spectres is a NBL1 club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1. The club is a division of Melbourne East Basketball Association (MEBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the region. The Spectres play their home games at Nunawading Basketball Centre.
| Nunawading Spectres | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leagues | NBL1 |
| Founded | 1979 |
| History | NBL/WNBL: Men: Nunawading Spectres 1979–1986 Eastside Spectres 1987–1991 Women: Nunawading Spectres 1982–1991 SEABL/NBL1 Men: Nunawading Spectres 1990–present Women: Nunawading Spectres 1992–present |
| Arena | Nunawading Basketball Centre |
| Location | Burwood East, Victoria |
| Team colors | Royal blue, red, white |
| Main sponsor | Burwood One Shopping Centre |
| President | Paul Flynn |
| Head coach | M: Dave Biwer W: Paul Flynn |
| Championships | 2 (2011, 2019) (M) 6 (1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989) (W) |
| Website | NunawadingBasketball.com.au |
Club history
NBL/WNBL
Nunawading Basketball was established in 1969. In 1979, a Nunawading Spectres men's team entered the National Basketball League (NBL), joining nine other teams for the league's inaugural season. In 1982, a Nunawading Spectres women's team entered the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for the league's second season.
In 1987, the Spectres men changed their name to Eastside Spectres and spent five years under that moniker before merging with the Southern Melbourne Saints in 1992 to become the South East Melbourne Magic. During their time in the NBL, the Spectres were two-time grand finalists, losing to Launceston in 1981 and Perth in 1991. The Spectres women played 10 seasons in the WNBL and won six championships, including four in a row between 1986 and 1989.
SEABL/NBL1
In 1990, with the Eastside Spectres still a championship contender in the NBL, a Nunawading Spectres men's team re-emerged in the form of a South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) franchise. Two years later, the Spectres women joined the men's team in the SEABL after withdrawing from the WNBL following the 1991 season.[1]
In 1995, the men's team collected their first title as they won the CBA East Conference Championship. The women's team were conference runners-up in both 2000 and 2008, while the men were conference runners-up in 1999 and 2004.[1]
In 2011, the men's team won their second conference title and their first SEABL National Championship after defeating the Bendigo Braves 88–61 in the grand final. Spectres guard Shane McDonald was superb as he racked up a game-high 28 points to earn the MVP award.[2][3]
After finishing as conference runners-up in 2013, the men's team won their third conference title in 2014 behind the likes of Mitch Creek, Tommy Greer, Shane McDonald, Simon Conn and Matt O'Hea.[4] However, they were unsuccessful in claiming National Championship honours after going down to the Mount Gambier Pioneers 85–71 in the grand final.[5]
After finishing as runners-up in the SEABL in 2018,[6] the Spectres won the NBL1 championship in 2019 with a 99–90 win over the Bendigo Braves in the grand final.[7][8]
Season by season
| Season | Division | League | Regular season | Post-season | Head Coach | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Played | Wins | Losses | Win % | |||||
| Nunawading Spectres | |||||||||
| 1979 | 1 | NBL | 3rd | 18 | 13 | 5 | .722 | Did Not Qualify | Barry Barnes |
| 1980 | 1 | NBL | 4th | 22 | 14 | 8 | .636 | Lost in Semi-Finals to St. Kilda Saints, 101–77 | Barry Barnes |
| 1981 | 1 | NBL | 4th | 22 | 13 | 9 | .591 | Runners-Up in Final against Launceston Casino City, 75–54 | Barry Barnes |
| 1982 | 1 | NBL | 3rd | 26 | 19 | 7 | .731 | Lost in Semi-Finals to Geelong Cats, 71–59 | Barry Barnes |
| 1983 | 1 | NBL | 3rd | 22 | 15 | 7 | .682 | Lost in Semi-Finals to West Adelaide Bearcats, 84–77 | Barry Barnes |
| 1984 | 1 | NBL | 4th | 23 | 14 | 9 | .609 | Lost in Elimination-Finals to Geelong Cats, 115–91 | Barry Barnes |
| 1985 | 1 | NBL | 3rd | 26 | 19 | 7 | .731 | Lost in Elimination-Finals to Newcastle Falcons, 103–97 | Barry Barnes |
| 1986 | 1 | NBL | 9th | 26 | 12 | 14 | .462 | Did Not Qualify | Barry Barnes |
| Eastside Spectres | |||||||||
| 1987 | 1 | NBL | 8th | 26 | 13 | 13 | .500 | Did Not Qualify | Barry Barnes |
| 1988 | 1 | NBL | 8th | 24 | 11 | 13 | .458 | Did Not Qualify | Brian Goorjian |
| 1989 | 1 | NBL | 7th | 24 | 14 | 10 | .583 | Did Not Qualify | Brian Goorjian |
| 1990 | 1 | NBL | 2nd | 26 | 18 | 8 | .692 | Lost in Semi-Finals to Brisbane Bullets, 2–0 (series) | Brian Goorjian |
| 1991 | 1 | NBL | 2nd | 26 | 17 | 9 | .654 | Runners-Up in Final against Perth Wildcats, 2–1 (series) | Brian Goorjian |
| Regular season record | – | ||||||||
| Playoff record | – | ||||||||
As of the end of the 1991 season
*Note: In 1983 and 1984, the NBL was split into Eastern and Western divisions during the regular season.
Source: Eastside Spectres Year by Year
References
- "SEABL 2017 Media Guide" (PDF). SEABL.com.au. p. 71. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- Dole, Nathan (18 September 2011). "Braves outmuscled in national championship final". BendigoAdvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- Dole, Nathan (18 September 2011). "Braves fall at last hurdle". BendigoAdvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- Hustwaite, Megan (8 September 2014). "Young star lifts Nunawading Spectres over the line in South-East Australian Basketball League final against Geelong Supercats". HeraldSun.com.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- Hill, Kate; Sneath, Gretel (15 September 2014). "Championship win 'redemption' for Pioneers". ABC.net.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- "HOBART CHARGERS' DEFENCE SEES THEM WIN 2018 GRAND FINAL". SEABL.com.au. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- "Grand Final - Nunawading vs Bendigo". NBL1.com.au. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- "Spectres vs Braves". FIBALiveStats.com. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.