2024 NBL1 East Grand Finals Preivew

The Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 East Grand Final will take place on August 10th, between the women’s Sutherland Sharks and Newcastle Falcons and the men’s Maitland Mustangs and Canberra Gunners.

Related: 2024 NBL1 Grand Finals Tickets!

Check out each game preview below:

SUTHERLAND SHARKS VS NEWCASTLE FALCONS

Live from 2:00pm AEST live and free via Kayo Freebies.

Players to watch:

Newcastle: Nicole Munger

The dominance and importance of Nicole Munger to the Falcons can’t be underestimated. The reigning MVP led the team in points (24.9), rebounds (10.8), assists (4.1) and steals (2.5) throughout the regular season, and that production diversity was on show in the Preliminary Final win with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Listed as an MVP finalist once again, can Munger’s Falcons overcome the Opal-led Sharks on Saturday afternoon? 

Take a bow Nicole Munger ?

The @NBL1East reigning MVP just handed the undefeated Albury-Wodonga Bandits their first loss of the season ? pic.twitter.com/GtkGjmE4xT

— NBL1 (@NBL1) July 20, 2024

Sutherland: Lauren Nicholson

No stranger to winning NBL1 championships, having led the Kilsyth Cobras to the inaugural 2019 title, Lauren Nicholson’s poise, calmness, and leadership on the big stage will be vital to the Sharks’ success.

Rejoining the group mid-season after a contract overseas ended, she averaged an incredible 32.5 points. In her second NBL1 East Grand Finals appearance, the hottest team in the conference has the chance to claim a title off the back of her momentum on both ends. 

Lauren Nicholson is the @NBL1East Foot Locker Player of the Week! ?

In her first game back she dropped a massive 4?4? points, taking home her first $200 Foot Locker voucher of the season ?? pic.twitter.com/LewbPa4DW3

— NBL1 (@NBL1) June 18, 2024

Last time they met: Newcastle 93 def Sutherland 83, May 25

The Falcons took down the Sharks in their previous meeting, with Munger unsurprisingly leading the way with 35 points and 15 rebounds, while Isla Juffermans provided a strong helping hand with 25 points and 14 rebounds. 

With Nicholson not in action, a spread of scorers for Sutherland saw Madeleine Norris, Aliza Fabbro, Vanessa Panousis and Olivia White record double-digit points.

MAITLAND MUSTANGS VS MAITLAND MUSTANGS

Live from 5:30pm AEST live and free via Kayo Freebies.

Players to watch:

Canberra: Glenn Morison

In a rematch of the 2022 title game, Morison will be hoping the result remains the same. The heart and soul of the Gunners, the team’s captain will need to lead from the front and cause significant pressure inside if Canberra hopes to secure its second championship in three years.

A team constructed around their Canberra-born players, the team succeeds with their even contributions across the board. With their star averaging a team-high 18.8 points and 10.1 rebounds during the season. 

Maitland: William Cranston-Lown

One of the standout players throughout the entire season, the reigning NBL1 East MVP holds the key to Maitland exorcising the demons from two straight Grand Final defeats. Coming off a strong Preliminary Final effort of 24 points, nine assists, three rebounds and three steals, he is riding a wave of momentum into the decider.

Can anybody stop William Cranston-Lown? ?

Watch the NBL1 East Finals live via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/ky24HehISs

— NBL1 (@NBL1) August 3, 2024

Last time they met: Canberra 82 def Maitland 80, June 22 

If the last clash between these two is an indication of what is in store, then this has the potential to be one of the great Grand Finals. A two-point win from the Gunners was charged by sensational performances from Morison and William Mayfield, while Daniel Millburn and Will Mortimore were impressive off the bench for the Mustangs.

Canberra Gunners captain Glenn Morison says tomorrow's clash will be a must-watch ?

Read more: https://t.co/HpmlhElIim pic.twitter.com/lByoT5F3Yo

— NBL1 (@NBL1) June 21, 2024

With the recent memories of the 2022 Grand Final, the 2023 Semi Final, and their last clash. There will be plenty of bad blood on Saturday night.