Gameday program - Round 9

RD9 VS PERTH WILDCATS // 17 DEC 2018
WE ARE MELBOURNE
GAMEDAY
IT’S 1ST V 2ND
WARE V
COTTON
WHITE OUT ROUND
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ISSUE 09

GAME DAY
INFORMATION
MONDAY 10th DECEMBER 18 - 7.50PM
V
DOORS OPEN
5.30pm - Members
5.45pm - Non-members
GETTING TO THE GAME
Parking is limited, we recommend using public
transport if possible.
FAN ZONES & ACTIVITIES
Be sure to explore the exterior & interior concourses
to make the most of our fan zones & activities!
TICKET COLLECTION
Ticket collection can be found to the left of the main
entrance of Melbourne Arena. The main entrance
to Melbourne Arena is on the West (city) sideof the
stadium.
GAME DAY SHOW
Our Gameday show commences at 7.20pm, get
to your seats early to enjoy the whole show! This
game is a sell-out so be sure to be in your seats
early to catch all the excitement!
STAND TALL MELBOURNE
When the game begins, GET ON YOUR FEET & STAY
ON YOUR FEET until the opposition scores.
REQUEST A SONG FROM THE DJ
Melbourne United’s in-stadium DJ will be playing
tunes throughout the game & you can request a
song! Jump on our Instagram page (@melbunited),
follow us & direct message your request!
MERCHANDISE
TODAY ONLY - 20% OFF AWAY JERSEYS
Located in the arena foyer opposite the main
entrance you will find out Official Melbourne United
Baller Store. Get kitted out in MU gear. Members
receive a 10% discount!
You can also purchase merch from your seat. Visit
www.melbourneutd.com.au/merch2you
WIFI
Melbourne Arena has FREE WIFI! Select “Melbourne
Arena Free Public WiFi” on your device.
FREE HUNGRY JACKS BURGER
If the opposition miss 2 free-throws in a row - YOU
WIN!
CELEBRATE WITH A MATE
If Melbourne United win you can celebrate with a
mate at Sandwich Chefs. For 48 hours after the
end of the game you can get 2 for 1 roast rolls at
any Sandwich Chefs location. Simply show your
ticket or membership to redeem.
GAMEDAY SURVEY
We aim to provide you with a memorable gameday
experience. Please tell us what we can do
better. Visit http://bit.ly/MUSurvey18 & share your
feedback to be in the running to WIN a Melbourne
United Merch Pack.

Club Desk/Information
Indoor Fan Fun Zone
Main Merchandise Store
Club Ticket Collection Point
MU Bus & Jumping Castle
Arena Merchandise Store 1
Group Bookings Meeting Point
Member Enquiry & Sales Desk
Arena Merchandise Store 2
Half Court
Superhoodz Hip Hop Dancers
Toilets
Lifts
Ticketek & Online Ticket Collection Point

CASPER WARE & BRYCE COTTON
A MATCH (UP) MADE IN HEAVEN
Casper Ware and Bryce Cotton both
entered the NBL in the midst of the
2016/17 season. Since that time, both
players have led their respective teams
to a Championship or two and whenever
they go head-to-head, basketball fans
around the country know they’re in for a
treat.
The two small in stature, but big in heart
guards are leaders of their squads and
when they clash on Monday night at
Melbourne Arena, the bright lights will be
shining down on them.
Ware, who stands at 177cm, explains that he
knew of Cotton, 182cm, before they headed
south to Australia.
“Oh yeah, I knew of him,” he said.
“Being in the NBA, in Summer League, training
camps and all that, I knew about him when
he was at Utah.
“It’s one of those basketball things where we
have mutual respect; I knew of him and he
knew of me – if we saw each other, we’d
say what’s up and how’s it going.”
That respect is something that has only
grown since entering the league just a
couple of months a part. Ware signed with
Melbourne in mid-November 2016, while
Cotton signed with Perth in the new year.
“It’s about respect – he knows I’m good, I
know he’s good,” Ware said.
“We go out there and compete, we don’t hold
nothing back. He’s going to go at me and I’m
going to go at him and that’s the way you
want it.”
When these two meet on the hardwood,
you can almost guarantee it’s going to go
down to the wire; five of their seven games
head-to-head have been decided by five
points or less.
Their last meeting was a game that Ware
is ‘still mad about’ – a double overtime loss
in Perth. But he knows the squad learnt a
lot from that game and can take that into
Monday night.
“I’m still mad about that,” Ware said.
“A few plays, a few calls go our way and we
win. You can’t dwell on it though; you live
and you learn and we learnt a lot from the
last time we played them.”
In a league that is filled with star import
point guards – the likes of Ware, Cotton,
Jerome Randle and Melo Trimble – Ware
relishes the opportunity to go up against
those types on a weekly basis.
“I think it’s got to bring out the best in you,
because they’re going to do good, so you
have to do good – you have no choice,” he
said.
“You have to step your game up that much
more when you play against guys like that.”
With so many big names across the league,
Ware is separating himself this season with

with his three-point shooting, efficiency and
bringing his teammates into games.
Ware has made more three pointers than any
other player this season (45) and incredibly,
has drained at least three triples in each of
his last 11 games – a feat not achieved by
anyone in the NBL in the last 10 years.
His 39% shooting from deep is a career-high
and a marked improvement on the 33% he
shot last season.
He’s not just chucking up triples either; he
is picking his poison and shooting with
efficiency. If the shot is there, he’s taking it,
but if not, he will make a play for himself or a
teammate.
In typical Casper style, he credits his
teammates for his hot shooting.
“I’m really happy with how that’s going, but
that’s a testament to my teammates just
finding me and setting good screens to get
me open to make those shots,” he said.
“If we keep doing that and moving the ball
well, I think it will keep happening and it will
happen for the whole team, not just me.”
Having guys like Chris Goulding, Mitch
McCarron, DJ Kennedy and Dave Barlow
around him – players who can make shots
and create plays – has allowed Ware to play
off the ball more this season, something that
the star point guard has enjoyed.
“It helps me big time – I don’t have to carry the
ball up every time and I can give it to Mitch
(McCarron), (Pete) Hooley comes in and
brings the ball up, so it helps to get off the
ball,” he said.
“You’ve got DJ (Kennedy) who can also bring
the ball up, that’s what helps me now; just
getting off the ball, running off screens and
getting open to give the defence a different
look.”
Whilst United has an array of players who
can make big shots, when the crunch time
comes and the game is on the line, the ball
more often than not finds its way into Ware’s
hands.
Whilst he admits having to beat a team in
crunch time isn’t ideal, it takes him back to
being in the backyard as a kid trying to be like
Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant.
“You don’t thrive on it because you don’t want
to be in that situation,” he said with a laugh.
“But when it happens, you don’t think about
it – it’s just like being in the backyard and
you’ve been practicing that shot since you
were little; counting down to yourself ‘5, 4, 3,
2, 1’, acting like you’re Michael Jordan or Kobe
Bryant.
“When that time comes, and for it to actually
mean something, it’s big for me to be able to
come through for my team.”
His head coach, Dean Vickerman has worked
with some of the finest point guards this
league has seen and he has Ware right up
there with the best of the best.
“He’s probably a little bit different to some of
the other ones I’ve coached,” Vickerman said.
“To have a Darryl McDonald, who had an
impact on the game with his defensive length
and ability to pass the basketball and then
make big plays, Cedric Jackson in some ways
was kind of similar.

“Casper is probably more of a CJ Bruton type
from those that I’ve had experience working
with – they can just explode and break a
game open, but then they can also go into
being in a really unselfish mode and getting
everybody else involved.
“What has impressed me most this year is
his consistency of his three-point shot – it’s
up there at the higher end of his career so
far, and then the work ethic that he’s had
consistently every day. It’s a great leadership
model for everybody else right now.”
With all eyes on Casper Ware and Bryce
Cotton on Monday night, NBL fans across
the country – not just in Melbourne and
Perth – better strap in for what promises to
be another fascinating chapter of a rivalry
built on respect.

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TIME TO UNITE
AGAINST PERTH
Melbourne United will be looking to bounce
back on Monday night against the Perth
Wildcats after a disappointing round 8.
At home, in front of a massive crowd, against
the Wildcats on a Monday night. This is
going to be a big one and there are incredible
potential match-ups all over the court to keep
an eye on.
Boomers facing Boomers, MVP candidates
going head-to-head, multiple Grand Final MVPs
on the court – this one has it all and you won’t
want to miss a second of the action.
Perth enters the contest on top of the ladder
and coming off a Friday night clash against
the Kings at home. Despite injury troubles, the
Wildcats have found ways to win games and
as they regain health, they become even more
dangerous.
Melbourne enters Monday night looking to
avenge for a disappointing round 8 that saw
the reigning Champions drop two games to the
Brisbane Bullets. With a week to prepare for
the Wildcats, United will be ready to go come
tip-off.
Coach Dean Vickerman spoke about what
his team has focused on in the lead-up
to this match-up and it’s all about getting
contributions from across the board.
“For us it’s been a discussion about playing
some of our best basketball of the year but
then flipping the coin and playing some of our
worst basketball,” Vickerman said of round 8.
“What are the things we can do at practice
during the week to find consistency? I thought
leadership on court over the last couple of
days really grew and we’ve asked more people
to be leaders.
“Obviously when Casper is playing so well
everyone wants to give him the basketball and
wants to see him continue to do well to the
point where they’ve probably stepped back
from their own game a little bit.
“We’re just asking for more contributors all over
the floor.”
When Melbourne and Perth met in round 3
it was an absolute nail-biter over in the West.
Chris Goulding was on fire – recording 29
points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists – before a
knee injury forced him out of the game early in
the fourth quarter.
After the two teams couldn’t be split in
regulation, Casper Ware drained the gamewinning
lay-up with one second remaining in
the first overtime period, but it was waived off
and he was called for a questionable offensive
foul.
In the second overtime period, Perth asserted
themselves against an undermanned, yet
valiant United squad to escape with a 101-96
win.
This time around we once again get to enjoy

the battle of the guards, with two superstar
imports and two Boomers matching up against
one another.
Casper Ware and Bryce Cotton are two of
the best imports this league has ever seen
and are capable of turning it on at any given
moment and leading their team to victory.
and playing tough defence to keep him in
check.
Melbourne, make sure you’re loud and
proud as we welcome the Perth Wildcats to
Melbourne Arena on Monday night. This is
going to be big!
They may not be directly matched up against
one another for much of the night, but there’s
no doubt that if either team can halt Ware
or Cotton, they’ll have the upper hand in the
match-up.
There are a host of Boomers in this matchup,
but the backcourt battle between Chris
Goulding and Damian Martin – both of whom
were 2016 Olympians – is always a great one.
Martin is known for his defensive tenacity
and he can flat-out annoy the opposition with
his relentless and pesky defence and neversay-die
attitude. We all know what Goulding is
capable of and if he can get off to a hot start,
expect Martin to play him extremely closely for
the remainder of the game.
Terrico White starred for the Wildcats when
these two teams met in October, scoring 27
points and grabbing 6 rebounds. The likes of DJ
Kennedy, Mitch McCarron and Craig Moller will
see some against White on Monday night.
Nick Kay and Angus Brandt are the big men
who power the Wildcats on both ends of the
court. They not only anchor the defence, they
provide plenty in the way of offence too.
Kay is having an outstanding season.
Averaging 15.5 points, 9 rebounds, 3.4 assists
and 1.2 steals, he really can do it all and Dave
Barlow, Josh Boone, Alex Pledger, Moller and
Kennedy will need to be attacking the boards

MELBOURNE
UNITED
Coach: Dean Vickerman
#
3
JOSH BOONE
#
7
PETER HOOLEY
#
9
CRAIG MOLLER
#
10
MITCH McCARRON
Height: 208cm
Position: Centre
DOB: 21 Nov 84
Height: 193cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 5 Feb 92
Height: 208cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 22 Aug 94
Height: 190cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 30 Jun 92
#
14
TOHI SMITH-MILNER
#
15
DANIEL TRIST
#
17
DJ KENNEDY
#
20
DAVID BARLOW
Height: 206cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 6 Oct 95
Height: 204cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 29 Aug 92
Height: 198cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 5 Nov 89
Height: 205cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 22 Oct 83
#
21
CASPER WARE JR.
#
35
ALEX PLEDGER
#
43
CHRIS GOULDING
Height: 178cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 17 Jan 90
Height: 218cm
Position: Centre
DOB: 27 Mar 87
Height: 193cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 24 Oct 88

PERTH
WILDCATS
Coach: Trevor Gleeson
#
3
NICK KAY
#
4
GREG HIRE
#
8
MITCH NORTON
#
11
BRYCE COTTON
Height: 206cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 3 Aug 92
Height: 201cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 19 Sep 87
Height: 187cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 1 Apr 93
Height: 186cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 11 Aug 92
#
12
ANGUS BRANDT
#
13
TOM JERVIS
#
23
TERRICO WHITE
#
24
JESSE WAGSTAFF
Height: 208cm
Position: Centre
DOB: 26 Oct 89
Height: 211cm
Position: Centre
DOB: 4 Feb 87
Height: 196cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 7 Mar 90
Height: 203cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 30 Apr 86
#
25
RHYS VAGUE
#
35
CLINT STEINDL
#
53
DAMIAN MARTIN
Height: 206cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 17 Jan 96
Height: 201cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 15 Mar 89
Height: 186cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 5 Sep 84

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Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd January.
271C Belmore Road, Balwyn North,
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GLEN EIRA SPORTS &
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Thursday 24th & Friday 25th January.
200 East Boundary Road, Bentleigh East.
10.00am - 4.00pm.
Register at: www.melbourneutd.com.au/camps

COOL
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NOVEMBER 15 – DECEMBER 1, 2018
EXTENDED UNTIL 15 TH DEC 2018
Purchase any stock * New Age caravan during the
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Front and Side Screens

MELBOURNE UNITED
2018-19 NBL SEASON FIXTURE
HOME
AWAY
ILLAWARRA HAWKS
PERTH WILDCATS
1 FRI 12 OCT 18 - 7.30PM
MON 17 DEC 18 - 7.30PM
9
Win Entertainment Centre
Melbourne Arena
NZ BREAKERS
SYDNEY KINGS
1 SUN 14 OCT 18 - 2.30PM
SUN 23 DEC 18 - 2.30PM
10
Melbourne Arena
ADELAIDE 36ERS
ADELAIDE 36ERS
2 SUN 21 OCT 18 - 2.30PM
WED 26 DEC 18 - 7.30PM
11
Melbourne Arena
PERTH WILDCATS
BRISBANE BULLETS
3 SAT 27 OCT 18 - 2.30PM
SUN 6 JAN 19 - 2.30PM
12
Perth Arena
Qudos Bank Arena
ILLAWARRA HAWKS
CAIRNS TAIPANS
3 MON 29 OCT 18 - 7.30PM
SUN 13 JAN 19 - 5.00PM
13
Melbourne Arena
CAIRNS TAIPANS
PERTH WILDCATS
4 SAT 3 NOV 18 - 7.30PM
SUN 20 JAN 19 - 3.00PM
14
SYDNEY KINGS
ILLAWARRA HAWKS
4 MON 5 NOV 18 - 7.30PM
WED 23 JAN 19 - 7.30PM
15
W
ILLAWARRA HAWKS
ADELAIDE 36ERS
5 THU 8 NOV 18 - 7.30PM
MON 28 JAN 19 - 7.30PM
15
Win Entertainment Centre
CAIRNS TAIPANS
NZ BREAKERS
5 SUN 11 NOV 18 - 2.30PM
FRI 1 FEB 19 - 5.00PM
16
NZ BREAKERS
NZ BREAKERS
6 SUN 3 FEB 19 - 5.00PM
16
FRI 16 NOV 18 - 5.30PM
iLT Stadium Southland
BRISBANE BULLETS
SYDNEY KINGS
6 SUN 18 NOV 18 - 2.30PM
FRI 8 FEB 19 - 7.30PM
17
Melbourne Arena
SYDNEY KINGS
ADELAIDE 36ERS
7 SAT 24 NOV 18 - 2.30PM
SUN 10 FEB 19 - 5.00PM
17
Melbourne Arena
BRISBANE BULLETS
CAIRNS TAIPANS
8 SAT 8 DEC 18 - 2.30PM
THU 14 FEB 19 - 7.30PM
18
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
BRISBANE BULLETS
PERTH WILDCATS
8 MON 10 DEC 18 - 7.30PM
SUN 17 FEB 19 - 2.30PM
18
MELBOURNEUTD.COM.AU
Cairns Convention Centre
Melbourne Arena
Melbourne Arena
Melbourne Arena
W
L
W
L
W
W
W
L
W
W
W
W
L
L
Melbourne Arena
Gold Coast Sport & Leisure Centre
Cairns Convention Centre
Perth Arena
Melbourne Arena
Titanium Security Arena
Spark Arena
Melbourne Arena
Qudos Bank Arena
Titanium Security Arena
Melbourne Arena
Melbourne Arena
*All times in AEDT
#WEAREMELBOURNE

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