How to watch & talking points: SE Melbourne v Melbourne

07 Dec 2025

south east melbourne phoenix

melbourne united

South East Melbourne hosts Melbourne at John Cain Arena in the 31st edition of the Throwdown.

South East Melbourne Phoenix v Melbourne United
Sunday, December 8, 2.30pm AEDT
John Cain Arena

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Tickets

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Talking points

Phoenix's moment
During the FIBA Break, there was plenty of chatter that the Phoenix were knocking on the top two this season, with their only losses coming against Melbourne and Adelaide.

That changed on Thursday, when they dropped an overtime thriller to Illawarra in Wollongong.

But that will all in the rear-vision mirror if South East Melbourne can buck the trend (21-9 all-time series score to United) and defeat their crosstown rival.

Especially with it being in front of a sold out crowd at the Fire Pit. This is the Phoenix's moment.

United bounce back?
Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman labelled parts of the club's loss to Perth as "the worst five minutes that we’ve had all season".

And with Adelaide breathing down their necks for the top spot, Melbourne will be desperate to return to the winners' circle.

Expect a locked in United side, who are going for four straight wins over South East Melbourne on Sunday.

What they're saying

Phoenix coach Josh King on how his team are going to respond from Thursday's loss to Illawarra:
“Taking care of the ball, creating quality open looks that we’ll need to take, no matter what, and then just put four quarters together.

“We’ve played them good for two and a half, three quarters … you’ve just got to perform and you’ve got to play well.

“If we do that we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

United coach Dean Vickerman ahead of the Throwdown
“I think there certainly needs to be a change of mindset [going into Sunday].

“I was just disappointed to see our guys play [like that] after seeing guys put absolutely everything out there for their country (during the FIBA Window).

“Tonight (Thursday) we just didn’t turn up with the right mindset and if you do that in this league you’re going to get punched, and we certainly got punched in the face in that first quarter.”