Tasmania Jewels make sold-out WNBL debut against Geelong

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 07:02 · Archive

The Tasmania Jewels will play their first WNBL game Thursday night at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena against the Geelong Venom in front of a sold-out crowd.

The Tasmania Jewels will make their WNBL debut on Thursday night against the Geelong Venom, the league's pre-season competition winners, at Hobart's 4,200-seat MyState Bank Arena. The match is sold out. The squad has prepared by meeting with Fiona Moore and Jo Nyhouse, former players at the defunct Hobart Islanders, and ex-assistant coach Ross Park. The Islanders competed in the WNBL from 1986 to 1996 and won a championship in 1991.

Coach Claudia Brassard has had just six weeks of pre-season with her squad, who will start as underdogs. The team will also be without key import Madina Okot, with vice-captain Keely Froling expected to pick up extra minutes. Froling's mother Jenny was part of the Islanders' championship side. Tasmania lost their two pre-season games to the Adelaide Lightning and Sydney Flames, the bottom two teams last season.

Froling said the Jewels would channel the spirit of the Tasmania JackJumpers, who won the NBL in their third season. 'We know it's going to take us some time,' Froling said. 'But similar to the Jackies, we're going to play hard and keep going no matter what is happening.' Coach Brassard said the support around Tasmania had been special and the team intended to embrace rather than be overawed by the sold-out crowd.

Tasmania Jewels make sold-out WNBL debut against Geelong — Image: The West Australian

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How it is being reported

Jewels channel Tasmanian history as WNBL debut sold outThe Tasmania Jewels have heard tales from ex-players and coaches as they prepare to play their first WNBL game in front of a packed home crowd.The West Australian · 13 Oct, 06:46
Jewels channel Tasmanian history as WNBL debut sold outThe Tasmania Jewels have heard tales from ex-players and coaches as they prepare to play their first WNBL game in front of a packed home crowd.Perth Now · 13 Oct, 06:46

In this story: Tasmania Jewels · Geelong Venom · Keely Froling · Claudia Brassard · Hobart · Tasmania

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