Why you never write off the JackJumpers

With an injury list that could just about fill a team, the Tasmania JackJumpers come into Thursday night’s Play-In Qualifier in a world of pain.

Magnay, Hamilton, Macdonald and Ayre headline a casualty ward that runs six deep, and on availability alone it’s hard to see how the JackJumpers can overcome a full-strength Melbourne United side bolstered by the return of Shea Ili.

But if there’s one team capable of defying the odds, it’s Tasmania.

The JackJumpers have made a habit of doing just that throughout their short history, something Melbourne United know all too well, and all eyes will be on what Scott Roth has in his bag of tricks on Thursday night.

“When I spoke to Scott at awards night, he said ‘just wait, we’ve got some stuff up our sleeve’, and I’m wondering what that could be,” Peter Hooley said on NBL Overtime.

“You can throw that (the injury concerns) out the window when it comes to games like this,” Felix Von Hofe continued.

“It’s not pretty looking … but Tasmania can just get it done when their backs are against the wall.”

“The only reason I’m giving the JackJumpers a fighter’s chance … they’re the JackJumpers,” Damon Lowery added.

While the Overtime panel all ultimately tipped Melbourne to win, Hooley says the JackJumpers cannot be underestimated.

“It is going to be hard with just available bodies, but when you’ve got nothing to lose you play the starting unit … the starting unit is Tyger Campbell, Nick Marshall, Josh Bannan, Majok Deng and David Johnson. There’s a lot of talent there still,” he said.

“They're just going to make the game as ugly as possible and grit and grind away and try and get into Melbourne's heads and then, who knows what could happen.

“They (United) have way more talent available right now, so I expect Tasmania to really slow it down, at a crawling speed.”

Lowery said Melbourne go into the game as deserved favourites, but the result was far from a fait accompli.

“They’re the JackJumpers, but you still need some horses,” he continued.

“But Melbourne United are so wobbly, we don’t know what’s going to happen.”

United have won just two of their last five games and haven’t quite hit their straps since entering the mid-season break at 13-2, but their recent victory over the Phoenix will give them confidence heading into the John Cain Arena clash.

“If it was the same Melbourne United, even a fraction of what they used to be like, I would say this could be a blowout,” Lowery added.

“I think Scott Roth will have some tricks up his sleeve,” Hooley said.

Melbourne hosts Tasmania on Thursday night at 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.