With the start of the 2023 NBL1 Central around the corner, let’s look at some of the must-watch games!
Get a pen or open your digital calendar to mark these key games down for the 2023 Central season.
Women
April 20, Round 5: Sturt Sabres vs West Adelaide Bearcats
The NBL1 Central women’s Grand Final rematch will take place in Round 4 as the Sabres will host the Bearcats in what will be a frosty game.
The Bearcats ended a 15-year championship drought with a seven-point win over the Sabres. The re-signed Jasmine Fejo had an impressive double-double of 14 points and 10 assists as the Bearcats controlled the tempo through their star guard.
The Sabres have re-signed young star Zoe Walker-Roberts and this re-match will be a must-watch clash on Thursday night at 6:30pm ACDT streaming Live & Free via Kayo Freebies here.
April 29, Round 6: Southern Tigers vs North Adelaide Rockets
Both teams are looking to improve after last season and both are ready to make that push. The North Adelaide Rockets have signed WNBL star Lauren Mansfield while the Tigers have retained young star Morgan Yaeger.
Mansfield and Yaeger were teammates with the Sydney Flames in the 21/22 WNBL season, with Mansfield making the move to the Lightning and Yaeger now with the Townsville Fire.
The two will face off as each team's star in Central and it should be a fantastic reunion and battle. Watch the game live & free from 6:30pm ACDT via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.
Men
April 25, Round 5: Woodville Warriors vs South Adelaide Panthers
Starting off with the men’s NBL1 Central Grand Final on ANZAC Day, with the Woodville Warriors again hosting the South Adelaide Panthers.
The Warriors were the best team all season and have retained two of their stars Jawan Stepney and Joe Jackson – while also adding New Zealand guard Tyrone McLennan to the team.
While Finals MVP and Central Defensive Player of the Year Alex Starling and NBL legend Daniel Johnson will be the fulcrum of the team this season after losing ConferenceMVP Jeremy Smith.
Watch the game Live & Free from 3:15pm ACDT via Kayo Freebies here.
April 29, Round 6: Eastern Mavericks vs West Adelaide Bearcats
After finishing last on the ladder, the Eastern Mavericks will have a major test in Round 6, facing off against the brand-new Central duo of Anthony Drmic and Mitch McCarron with the West Adelaide Bearcats.
The pair dominated the NBL1 North, taking the Northside Wizards to the Semi-Finals against the eventual champions the Gold Coast Rollers.
Related: Why Anthony Drmic moved to the Bearcats.
The pair have high expectations for the coming season but it is the Mavericks are to change their season around it will be through their star guard James Legan.
After averaging over 23 points per game, the professional bucket-getter will have to try to turn points into wins for the Mavericks this season and he’ll have none-other than NBL Champion Mitch McCarron trying to lock him down.
Watch the game Live & Free from 8:15pm ACDT via Kayo Freebies here.
Conference Expert Picks
NBL1 Central expert and writer for the Pick and Roll Tristan Prentice gave his picks for some must-watch Central action.
27 June, Round 9: (men’s) Woodville Warriors vs West Adelaide
One team with many well-known names from the Adelaide 36ers and the other the runner-up to the championship in 2022 - but the second rematch at the Castle of St Clair should give us a greater idea where each is compared to their round one matchup.
The Bearcats will boast NBL players Mitch McCarron and Anthony Drmic while a junior Bearcat and another former Adelaide 36ers rookie in Joel Spear returns to where also his father David Spear played for both. Add to that the uber talented scorer in Nik De Santis and rising star Lachie Hunter - coach Dean Nyberg's team is one of the teams on paper alone to beat in season 2023.
The Warriors will have continuity with "special J" back in Jawan Stepney and Joe Jackson as an import tandem while Riley Meldrum and Devon McGee have also returned to keep the nucleus of last year's runner-ups together. The additions of Brad Ficken who's returned to the league after being a cross-coder and New Zealand explosive combo guard Tyrone McLennan add to the depth of coach Scott Whitmore's list. It's also the potential for Cooper Osborne who will have had a huge 12 months to really put his name up into the spotlight and that is the cherry on top for its timing in the season of this much-anticipated fixture.
April 20, Round 5: (Women's) Sturt Sabres vs West Adelaide
The standalone game will be a Thursday night blockbuster between last year's grand finalists at Springbank.
The Bearcats will be boosted from their championship team with the Adelaide Lightning's Molly Coleman joining teammate Jasmin Fejo and that's just the tip of the Bearcats claws in season 2023. Experienced forward Genna Anderson (Norwood Flames) and shooting guard Annaliese "Lou" Watkinson (NBL1 North Rockhampton Cyclones) who was identified as the breakout player of the year by the Pick and Roll Australia - join another cross-coder in Jasmine Simmons returning with some solid depth in the form of Abby Brenton, Bethany Heaft and Keeley Pearce for coach Kaye-Lee Stuart.
The Sabres often underestimated season in season out by observers will be boosted by the return of long "injury" layoff of Adelaide Lightning rookie Tayla Brazel and centre Soriah "Sailor" Moon. Dominant mobile centre the brilliant Mikayla Williams - the league's reigning Halls Medallist returns for year two under coach Tim Shortt to partner with the damaging duos of Kayla and Nicola Mathews and Mia and Zoe Walker-Roberts. Add the presence of Meg Prosser and Jasmine Rigoni and the Sabres will be up there once again contending looking to erase the memories of season past.
This Grand Final rematch already has several pieces at each end of the floor for both teams - and makes them ones to watch in season 2023.
