{"id":122244,"date":"2025-09-06T03:16:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T03:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/122244\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T03:16:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T03:16:10","slug":"the-import-emerging-as-uniteds-biggest-weapon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/122244\/","title":{"rendered":"The import emerging as United\u2019s biggest weapon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dean Vickerman says a \u201crelentless\u201d Melbourne United found their rhythm in the second game of the CODE Sports NBL Blitz and believes the squad\u2019s depth will be a strength heading into Round 1.<\/p>\n

United opens its Hungry Jack\u2019s NBL Season campaign with an away clash against Tasmania, a perfect early test of their off-season growth.<\/p>\n

With experienced names like Matthew Dellavedova, Jack White and Ian Clark departing, fresh opportunities have opened up for the next generation, with 213-centimetre big Jesse Edwards primed and ready.<\/p>\n

Vickerman highlighted Edwards\u2019 sheer size as just one of several key strengths, pointing to multiple areas of upside in his evolving game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat plus the length, the 7’4″ kind of wingspan, I thought as the two games wore on, he just grew as a shot blocker,\u201d he told the Melbourne United website.<\/p>\n

\u201cOffensively, he just continues to grow. We see the lob threat, the ability to run at pace. Saw a little bit of his post game as well. He had a nice little elbow drive late in the shot clock too.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s been shooting the ball really well in practice from three. I think there are just levels to his game that we can keep adding. He’s not a finished product as a pro, he’s still got big upside and hopefully we keep seeing it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Vickerman says Edwards and a fellow import have been setting the tone at practice, driving the team\u2019s intensity and lifting standards across the board.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirstly, we had to replace amazing people. When you talk about Delly, Jack White, Ian Clark, Marcus Lee, the first thing you think is, wow, what great people and players they are.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, we had to bring in really good people as well, and obviously a little bit more youth. We did a leadership exercise with some of the younger guys in the club and saw Tyson (Walker) and Jesse emerge. They’re still pretty young, but there’s youth coming into it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe added speed with Tyson, rim protection and hopefully a high-level rebounder in Jesse, and then Milt (Milton Doyle), who’s been there before and won. He’s a guy who, late in the shot clock, can take pressure off CG (Chris Goulding) and others as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe went out and got the pieces we needed. Finn Delany comes in to replace Jack White \u2014 they’re not the same player, but he can have a similar impact at the four spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m excited about the group we’ve put together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vickerman believes Melbourne is well positioned to extend its run of Finals\u2019 appearances, pointing to the squad\u2019s growing depth and versatility, but acknowledges there is still work to do.<\/p>\n

With Chris Goulding only just back from an ankle injury, Shea Ili nearing a return from concussion, and the club\u2019s imports still settling after just weeks in Australia, the cohesion is still building.<\/p>\n

Even so, the coach was buoyed by the signs of upside, especially a dominant 38-point win in Game 2 at the Blitz.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we started to understand how we want to play,\u201d Vickerman said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got relentless in the Brisbane game, how we move the basketball, what shapes we want to play out of. We played a lot of people and it’s starting to feel like we’ve got pretty good depth on our squad.\u201d<\/p>\n

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