Grand Final Game 4 Game Day Program

Grand Final Game 4 v Perth Wildcats // 17 March 2019
WE ARE ALL IN
GAMEDAY
ISSUE 17
A HARD
FOUGHT
SERIES
SO FAR
TODAY’S GAME
BROUGHT TO YOU BY

GAME DAY
INFORMATION
SUNDAY 17th MARCH - 2.20pm tip off
V
DOORS OPEN
12.00pm
GETTING TO THE GAME
We recommend using public transport if possible.
Please plan ahead to get to the precinct on time &
avoid traffic.
Please note; the new Hoddle Street intesection
right hand turn process will be in place from
10am this Sunday. Please refer to our game day
information or social media for more info on how to
turn right.
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
Get to your seats early to enjoy the whole show!
Pre-game entertainment commences at 2.00pm.
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
Located in the arena foyer opposite the main
entrance you will find our Melbourne United Store.
Get kitted out in our brand new 2018-19 FINALS
RANGE! Members receive a 10% discount!
SILENT AUCTION
Place your bid before 3/4 time for your chance to
win a signed #8 1996-97 Kobe Bryant Hardwood
Classics Authentic LA Lakers jersey (XL).
Text 0417 792 404 your bid, name, email address &
D.O.B. Starting bid = $1,000
WIFI
Melbourne Arena has FREE WIFI!
FREE HUNGRY JACKS BURGER
If Perth miss 2 free-throws in a row - YOU WIN free
Hugry Jacks burgers!
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.

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

KEYS TO
BEATING PERTH
Here we are, three games into the 2019
NBL Grand Final Series and there is so
much to play for in Game 4.
The Wildcats have options aplenty on
offence and defence; players capable of
taking on a massive scoring load & players
with the ability to play lock-down defence.
Today, we take a look at the Wildcats
key rotation guys - their top 8 players in
minutes per game.
The head of the Wildcats extremely deadly
snake is Bryce Cotton. An explosive guard
who can take over games at will, once
again had a tremendous regular season.
The Wildcats possess weapons that can
kill you on offence & stop you in your
tracks on defence, but United has shown
they can get past that.
LIMITING BRYCE COTTON
Bryce Cotton makes them go & when he
is firing, the Wildcats know to keep feeding
him the ball.
The key to limiting Cotton is pressure.
Pressure off the ball, pressure on the
ball - pressure him every second he is on
the court. That requires insane defensive
intensity, but Casper Ware showed how to
achieve that when these two teams met in
the final game of the regular season.
In that thrilling overtime game, of which
Melbourne eventually won 81-70, Cotton
was limited to 11 points on 3/21 shooting in
a touch over 40 minutes of game time. He
gave up more turnovers (4) than assists
dished out (3) as Ware ghosted him with
relentless pressure all afternoon.
Cotton’s 14% shooting from the field
was by far a season low for him and
interestingly, his second worst shooting
performance of the season (25%) came
in Game 1 of the Grand Final Series and his
third worst, yes you guessed it, also came
against Melbourne on December 17 when
he shot 27% from the field.
United should take confidence out of these
stats, knowing they’re capable of slowing
down the key to Perth’s offence.
Ware spoke about the challenge of
guarding Cotton.
“Just stay the path, you can’t change
anything,” Ware said of his mindset
guarding Cotton.
“He’s a good player, he’s going to make
shots, so you can’t get discouraged if he
makes shots or anything - I’m just going to
play hard and try to force him into some
bad shots.”
Locking down on Cotton is certainly easier
said than done. The Wildcats’ big men
set screens like their lives depend on it in
order to get their superstar point guard a
half step advantage. And that’s all Cotton
needs.
When fighting over screens on the
perimeter, Melbourne must be wary of not
being too over-zealous in closing out on
Cotton as he is the king of drawing fouls,
and connecting on the shot, from deep.
Four-point plays can swing the momentum
of any game, let alone a Grand Final game.

THE BIG MAN BATTLE
The Wildcats have two Boomers up front,
both of whom can make life extremely
difficult for opposing big men. The Angus
Brandt and Nick Kay pairing is in its first
season and is already paying dividends for
Perth.
Kay, a dynamic forward who can shoot
the three-ball with the best of them, goes
to work on both ends of the court. He is
tough, strong and as Josh Boone pointed
out earlier this week, has improved out of
sight over the past year.
“They’ve got two First Team All-NBL guys
and Nick Kay is one of them, deservedly
so,” Boone said.
“He’s had a fantastic year and he’s a guy
that the improvement from last year when
he was in Illawarra to this year has been
tremendous.
“He’s been close to an MVP-level the entire
year, he’s averaging close to a doubledouble
and he’s a really integral part of
their team - he’s one of the guys that we’ll
really have to focus on.”
Boone, along with Alex Pledger, David
Barlow, Craig Moller and at times, DJ
Kennedy will be taking on Perth’s front
court duo.
Having played against the potent postscorer
that is Brandt on many occasions,
Boone knows what the big man wants
to achieve and hopes to make his life as
difficult as possible.
“Just being physical – he’s not quite as
good when you force him off the spot
a little bit,” Boone said of how he will go
about trying to slow Brandt down.
“Doing the early work to try to make his
catch a little bit tougher and a little bit
further out from the basket.”
DEALING WITH PERTH’S DEFENCE
Perth is a team that thrives off its staunch
defence. They held teams to a leaguebest
84 points per game this season and
strangle opposing offences like few others
can.
Whilst Melbourne only scored over 84
points against Perth on two occasions
this season (in last Sunday’s Game 2 and
an overtime loss in Perth in late October),
United have done a good job of not
allowing the Wildcats’ defensive peskiness
to disrupt their own defence.
As was the case in that final regular
season game, Melbourne struggled to
make shots all game long – until Chris
Goulding went bananas in the final couple
of minutes – but they stayed in the game
because of their work rate on defence.
Dealing with Perth’s defence doesn’t
necessarily mean scoring 100 points
- although we’re sure Coach Dean
Vickerman would like that - it means
staying locked into their offensive sets
even if shots aren’t falling. Furthermore,
Melbourne knows they can rely on their
own defensive schemes to stay within
reach.
“Making sure we can stay mentally locked
in to what needs to be done, what’s
next and not dwell on the past or what’s
happened to us.” Chris Goulding said.
The offensive firepower of Casper Ware,
Chris Goulding and DJ Kennedy gives
Vickerman many options to throw the
ball around in an attempt to find ways of
cracking Perth’s defence. The adjustments
made play to play will be crucial and the
team that adjusts the quickest will have
the upper hand in Game 4.

WE’RE FOR ZERO
DEATHS AND
SERIOUS INJURIES
ON OUR ROADS

COOL
SALE
NOVEMBER 15 – DECEMBER 1, 2018
EXTENDED UNTIL 15 TH DEC 2018
Purchase any stock * New Age caravan during the
selected period and receive a bonus
COOL SUMMER PACK
SAVING UP TO
$1160
*does not apply to Wayfinder range. Applies to new vans only
45L Fridge
newagecaravans.com.au
Front and Side Screens

DJ KENNEDY
UNITED’S ‘MR. BIG PLAY’
DJ Kennedy loves to win. Most
competitive athletes do, but something
is different with Kennedy. It’s always on
his mind; it’s behind his answer to every
question. It’s what fuels his fire.
“I just love winning – I’m very passionate
about it,” Kennedy said Tuesday morning.
“Anything else, stats and all that, it’s all
good, looks nice but when it’s all said and
done people are going to look back and
see if you won or not.”
This would put pressure on anyone, but
Kennedy refuses to see it that way.
There are so many facets of his situation
that could make him feel stress to
succeed; his vital role on a new team,
the fact he’s on a team defending the
Championship, his position as an import
player, even his nickname Big Play.
“Me coming in as the new guy, people felt
like there was a lot of pressure,” he said.
“How are you going to fit in, can you help
Melbourne get back to the Grand Final and
win it again?
“I really want to be able to prove that I was
able to come here and help this team go
back-to-back.”
Being an addition to any team poses its
challenges. It presents new scenarios
with new personalities that have already
had opportunity to connect, blend and
integrate with one another.
Then make that team the defending
Champions and you get a heightened
sense of challenge. Kennedy is working to
defend a title that he didn’t win, and yet
he takes the most pride in maintaining the
standard of excellence that United have
built.
“It’s great, it’s a new challenge. I mean, I’m
always up for new challenges and I think
this was a great one for me,” he said.
“When you put pressure on yourself, you
kind of don’t play your game, you worry
about other things than just playing
basketball. But me, I just try to worry about
what I can control and that’s what’s been
my focus.”
Eliminating worry and shifting focus
seemed to work for Kennedy in Game
2. He exploded for eight rebounds in the
first half, and a total of 14 for the game.
Even to the untrained eye, it’s clear that
when Kennedy rebounds well, United win
basketball games.
That’s because his defensive rebounding
fuels offensive transition. His aggression
puts opponents in the hot seat, makes
them choose how they’re going to try and
stop the 6’6” tank of athleticism barreling
towards them.
If Kennedy gets to the paint, it means good
things for Melbourne. He either converts
the bucket himself or forces defences to
collapse on him and create open looks for
his teammates.

A basic concept in this game, but one that
Kennedy executes so well.
The best part is, he knows it. And he
knows it well.
“I think it has a lot to do with me as far as
rebounding,” he said.
“That leads to our fast break points when
I’m able to get the ball on a rebound and
get it out, pushing it, we get a lot of easy
buckets and a lot of transition and I think
that’s when we’re at our best, when we’re
in transition.”
“I think we’re trouble.”
Coming in as what he calls ‘the new guy’,
Kennedy could’ve slipped into more of
a support role. Instead, he rose to the
challenge of contributing in a big way and
providing United with something new that
they didn’t have last year.
And last year they won a Championship.
Kennedy wasn’t the only player to walk
into a big role in Melbourne’s quest to
repeat as NBL Champions.
“I think me and [Mitch McCarron] were kind
of in similar positions coming into the team.
We both were the new guys, people were
looking at “How are they going to play?”
and just being in a different situation for us
from last year, being that guy that really
has to buy into the team,” Kennedy said.
seems to think it was something of a
coincidence it stuck.
“I just happened to always make plays
every time the team needed a player to
make something happen,” he said.
“Big Play DJ just carried on, people just
caught on and it just stuck with me from
there.”
When you watch Kennedy play, it’s
evident that Big Play is no coincidence. It’s
an intentional nickname that suits him well
and has become his persona.
“I just try to live up to it.” He said.
Rather than feeling the pressure, Kennedy
flips it on his head and makes himself
a presence that puts pressure on his
opponent.
In the case of this week, the Perth
Wildcats have a lot to deal with, and if they
can’t figure out how to keep Kennedy off
the boards, and in turn United out of their
transition, Kennedy said it: they’re trouble.
“I think games like this, the advantage
is who can lock in more mentally, be
focused,” he said.
“The bigger the moment, I like to lock
in even more just knowing that every
possession, all the little things can be the
opportunity to win the game.”
“Me and [McCarron] understand that role,
and we know what it takes to win. We
play off each other and we make a lot of
sacrifices for the better of the team.”
This provision of big contributions is what
earned Kennedy the nickname Big Play at
a young age. Originally coined in his early
days playing American football, Kennedy

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
#
17
DJ KENNEDY
#
20
DAVID BARLOW
#
21
CASPER WARE JR.
Height: 206cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 6 Oct 95
Height: 198cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 5 Nov 89
Height: 205cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 22 Oct 83
Height: 178cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 17 Jan 90
#
35
ALEX PLEDGER
Height: 218cm
Position: Centre
DOB: 27 Mar 87
#
43
CHRIS GOULDING
Height: 193cm
Position: Guard
DOB: 24 Oct 88
#
55
VENKY JOIS
Height: 201cm
Position: Forward
DOB: 7 Jul 1993

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

TURN TAP WATER INTO SPARKLING
WATER IN SECONDS WITH
Proud supporter of
Melbourne United Basketball Club
SODASTREAM.COM.AU

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
W
W
L
L
Melbourne Arena
Gold Coast Sport & Leisure Centre
W
L
W
W
W
W
L
W
L
W
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

MELBOURNEUTD.COM.AU
#wearemelbourne