Wade Helliwell Blog
My life with the Melbourne Tigers so far has led me further away from home than I have already been for the last 10 years. Day One of pre-season training saw us jump on a plane bound for Ireland. The long haul flight to Europe has been my personal experience as the start of a new season for some time now, but this was the first time I've ever experienced it with the bulk of the team, coaching and support staff on board. During the tour we were to pick up a couple of imports along the way, TJ Cambell and Eric Devendorf, to complete our roster. So there we were, the Melbourne Tigers team for 2010/11, other side of the world and off to practice for the very first time.
Some people might have questioned the logic behind getting the guys together, giving us time for three practice sessions and then diving into the deep end of a playing schedule of seven games in just about as many days. In hindsight however it couldn't have been more beneficial! We've all come back to Melbourne (5-2) having played some great games against differing styles of competitive basketball and all with a transition game as our only weapon. Playing this way probably cost us our two losses but the real benefit being the opportunity to learn what a teammate will do instinctively, useful knowledge when it comes to developing teamwork. So we've played together, traveled together, lived together and backed each other up against anything that other teams, foreign officials, airlines and mother nature could throw at us. And now the Melbourne Tigers are home and burning to start the 2010/11 season.
One week into practice at our new facility, the North Melbourne Recreation Centre, the learning and workload has intensified. This period will be so important come the middle of the season. It’s where we're putting the strength into our legs and the shuffle into our repertoire so that during the season, and come finals time, the work will have been done and all the systems will be second nature. Along with the extra work load at this time of the year, comes the battle of settling into a new group of guys, and for some a new home. After our preseason tour half the battle is already won with everyone seeming to gel immediately off the court. A really important factor for us if we are to achieve all that we believe we can with the team we have. A lot can happen between now and finals time, but I definitely won't be booking an early vacation this year!!
Being from Melbourne I strangely find myself in the same situation as the other imports and interstate guys. Although undoubtedly I have more friends and family here to rely on, I'm still trying to organise moving into my home, searching for the best route through Melbourne traffic and getting my phone and internet plans in place. Somewhat of a foreigner in my own home town, the two months I would have here every year in the past always feeling like a vacation and returning to Italy as going home. This time does feel a lot different though, knowing in the back of my mind that there isn't an expiry date on my time here. Some of the simplest things like signing up to a two-year phone contract or buying something that doesn't fit into a suitcase make me feel like I'm really here to stay. I can't wait to settle into my apartment and put the bags down for what may be the very last time!
We are fast approaching our first pre season games in Victoria, where we are playing the Wollongong Hawks in Traralgon and Kilsyth on the 10th and 12th of September. We will have a much better understanding of the offence by then and we will be fitter than the International games we have already played. It will be a good measuring stick to see where we are at against last season’s Runner’s Up.
The other day that we are all looking forward to is the 15th of October, when we will get to have our first hit out in the NBL. It will be my first one since 2003! For others like Luke Nevill, Lucas Walker, TJ Campbell and Eric Devendorf it will be their first. To anyone out there who is awaiting that game as eagerly as we are, I know you'll be amazed at what some of these first timers can do. You've all heard about the size that we'll be putting on the floor, but over these first weeks together something that has really surprised me has been our athleticism. After the guys put on an Al Westover branded "Dunk Fest" in China there was no doubt for me that this year Melbourne has a team to be proud of and one that will play some basketball that you won't want to miss!!!!
Wade Helliwell
