Grand Final Game 5 Program

Grand Final Game 5
vs Adelaide 36ers
31 March 2018
MARCH INTO MARCH
THIS IS IT

IT’S NOW
OR NEVER
Melbourne United v Adelaide 36ers. It’s time.
Grand Final Game 5 decider time.
Despite an 18-point come back in the final quarter
of Game 4 last Sunday, United fell short to the
Adelaide 36ers which would send it to a Game 5
blockbuster decider.
The one upside of this means that United will
close out their season back on their home court,
in front of their home crowd… A sold out
home crowd.
Dave Andersen talked about the impending
Game 5 and just how important home-court
advantage is.
“I think it’s great, it’s a big opportunity. You put it all
down for 40 minutes, you score more points than
they do and you go home Champs. I look at
it simply like that”.
“This is our house, this is Hisense Arena, we know
it’s going to be packed and everyone’s going to
be behind us so we’re looking forward to
doing something pretty special”.
“When you play on your home court you have
your home crowd and the people that you love
supporting you so you definitely step your game
up. When it gets rocking in here [Hisense Arena]
it gets pretty good and even though there might
be some Adelaide supporters in the crowd, I think
that’s pretty good too”.
As well as having the home crowd back in their
corner, the team have put plenty of focus on
upping the physicality heading into Game 5. As
Head Coach Dean Vickerman pointed out after
Game 4 that the team had been too complacent
on stopping Adelaide getting to the rim.
“I thought we got fouls because we were a little
bit passive tonight, I think if we become more
aggressive and stop them getting to the paint
that will be a little better for us,” Vickerman
shared.
United point-guard Casper Ware also echoed
these comments as the team were put through
a rigorous week on the training track.
“It’s a grand final, so if you don’t come out with
intensity the other team will and it’s not going
to look good for you,” Ware said.
2 Game Day Program

“We felt like the last game they were more physical
than us and we just got to start with ourselves
and that’s what we did today, be more physical
with each other.”
With the loss of Josh Childress, there’s one man
who has been called upon to step up for the
36ers; Majok Deng.
Deng has showed what he is capable of as he
continually brings an added presence of the
bench chipping with 13 points in Game 4. Daniel
Johnson was also a monster for the 36ers and will
prove a challenge for Tai Wesley who is coming
off a shoulder niggle in Game 4.
With so much feeling in this series, it is
obvious that neither team is going to take
a backwards step.
The back-court battle between Casper Ware &
Chris Goulding and Nathan Sobey & Shannon
Shorter is just warming up. Saturday night it
may just all come to a head.
Can Casper Ware find space to get his shot off
or distribute to teammates?
Can Melbourne slow down the pace that Nathan
Sobey is continually wanting to play at?
Will Chris Goulding finally get the Championship
for the Melbourne faithful?
These questions will go a long way to determining
the outcome of Game 5.
The decider will be broadcast live on
FOX SPORTS 506 and SBS VICELAND.
3 Game Day Program

Beginner - Intermediate | Boys and girls | 6-13 years old | 10.00am - 4.00pm
$175
3 - 13 APRIL 2018
Balwyn North
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Chirnside Park
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Actual pack items may differ from the contents shown.
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MELBOURNE UNITED
HEAD COACH
Dean Vickerman
ASSISTANT COACHES
Mike Kelly and Simon Mitchell
#
3
JOSH BOONE
#
7
PETER HOOLEY
#
8
KYLE ADNAM
#
9
CRAIG MOLLER
Height: 208cm
Position: Centre
DOB: 21 Nov 84
Height: 193cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 5 Feb 92
Height: 185cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 18 Nov 93
Height: 202cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 22 Aug 94
#
13
DAVE ANDERSEN
#
20
DAVID BARLOW
#
21
CASPER WARE
#
22
MAJOK MAJOK
Height: 211cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 23 Jun 80
Height: 205cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 22 Oct 83
Height: 178cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 17 Jan 90
Height: 206cm
Position: Centre
DOB: 10 Dec 92
#
23
CASEY PRATHER
Height: 198cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 29 May 91
#
42
TAI WESLEY
Height: 201cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 13 May 86
#
43
CHRIS GOULDING
Height: 192cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 24 Oct 88
7 Game Day Program

ADELAIDE 36ERS
HEAD COACH
Joey Wright
#
1
MATT HODGSON
#
3
RONALD ROBERTS
#
7
BRENDAN TEYS
#
10
RAMONE MOORE
Height: 211cm
Position: Centre
DOB: 2 Aug 91
Height: 203cm
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Height: 188cm
Position: Guard
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Height: 193cm
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DOB: 27 May 89
#
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SHANNON SHORTER
#
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MAJOK DENG
#
19
ADAM DOYLE
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NATHAN SOBEY
Height: 193cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 1 Aug 89
Height: 208cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 1 Mar 93
Height: 176cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 25 Nov 91
Height: 190cm
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DOB: 14 Jul 90
#
21
DANIEL JOHNSON
Height: 212cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 8 Apr 88
#
22
ANTHONY DRMIC
Height: 198cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 25 Feb 92
#
55
MITCH CREEK
Height: 196cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 27 Apr 92
8 Game Day Program

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STAGE SET
FOR CG43
When Chris Goulding launches a threepointer
at Hisense Arena, the first few rows
of fans rise as one.
Time slows for the Melbourne faithful as they
follow the ball’s trajectory towards the rim.
There’s a sound that takes place too; a collective
gasp of anticipation.
For other players, United’s fans stand when the
ball goes in, but for ‘CG43’ that move takes place
early. It’s as if Goulding’s threes are somehow
more valuable and thus worth getting pumped
about in advance.
They love him.
They love his look. They love his swagger.
They love his crossovers, his step-backs and
his overblown celebrations. But most of all,
they love his three-point shooting.
Opposing fans, of course, can’t stand him.
Not all of them, sure, but a large percentage think
Goulding’s a ‘flopper’ and that his eye-catching
offensive game masks deficiencies elsewhere.
The truth is: Goulding has become a much more
well-rounded player this season. His defence has
been steadily improving over each of the past few
years, as has his passing and his ability to create
off the dribble.
His involvement in the national program has
had an obvious impact in those areas.
What’s been most impressive, however, has
been Goulding’s growth as a leader.
Voted by his teammates to be their captain, the
once-cocky superstar has become a leader of
men. He speaks up. He works with the coaches,
guides the youngsters and challenges the vets.
Throughout the Grand Final series Goulding has
been the guy re-focusing United whenever things
have turned against them. His scoring was crucial
during Game 1 – when Melbourne came from
behind to edge ahead in the series – but
his leadership was equally important.
“His drive to win this year has led him to a point
where friendship within the group hasn’t been
as important to him as it has been in other years.
Winning is the most important thing,” Melbourne
coach Dean Vickerman told media this week.
“So for [Chris] to challenge some of those
friendships by saying what he needed to say, he
just earnt a great deal of respect from the group.
“The actual friendship part has gotten stronger
because they know he’s going to be honest and
sometimes brutal about our performance.
“He’s also willing to put his own hand up and say,
‘Hey I didn’t do this well or I didn’t defend this well.’
He’s kept that same honesty with himself.
People have responded to the challenges that
he’s sent out.”
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For many around the league, Goulding’s
maturation – both as a player and a leader – is
viewed as a key element in Melbourne’s success
and why they, like Adelaide, stand one win away
from championship glory.
It’s also taken a few by surprise. That includes
Vickerman, who took the reins at United last
off-season.
“I wasn’t sure from the outside whether he
could do that,” the veteran coach said.
“And the people internally that I spoke to
about it weren’t sure about where he was as
a leader either.
“It’s an absolute credit to him. Once he received
that ‘captain’ vote, the way he’s taken it on
and just grown.”
After an interrupted start to the season, Goulding
has played his way into excellent form.
He has struggled at the defensive end at times
this series, with Adelaide’s Nathan Sobey
strategically attacking him early in ball games.
But down the other end, he’s been back to his
best; hitting key shots to help spark United runs.
While his efficiency hasn’t been where he’d like it –
he’s shooting just 37 percent from the field – he’s
currently the second leading scorer in the series
(18.8 points per game).
Let me tell you, his impact has him firmly in
Grand Final MVP conversations and, who knows,
a big Game 5 could put him over the line.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Goulding told Melbourne
radio this week.
This Saturday, the moment of truth arrives.
Melbourne have never trailed in this series and
while they had a chance to close it out in Game 4,
they couldn’t get it done. This is their first do-ordie
situation of the finals.
“I think that’s better for us,” Goulding said.
“The last game in Adelaide we were pumped up,
absolutely, but there’s still that thing in the back
of your mind that if it doesn’t go right, well then
you get another crack at it. That was the reality
of the game.
“I think it will be a positive for us, knowing that
everything’s on the line.”
Plus, of course, he’ll be surrounded by those
adoring home fans.
“Knowing that we’ve sold out our home arena is
another positive for the guys. We love playing in
front of the Melbourne crowd,” Goulding added.
“To be honest, Adelaide do a great job of that;
they sell out their arena every time, they’re
abusive, they’re loud, they get behind their team
and they influence the game.
“We’ll be hoping to get some of that home lovin’
from our fans come Saturday night.”
That’s a given. Especially when Goulding toes
the line and let’s it fly from long range.
They’ll stand, they’ll gasp, and if he can find the
bottom of the net, they’ll roar louder than they
ever have before.
“It’s been something, for me, that’s been a long
time coming. I’ve been in this league and been a
professional sportsman for a long time and there’s
only a certain amount of games of this level that
I’ve been able to play.”
13 Game Day Program

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