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<\/a><\/p>\nDid you know Scott Pendlebury has a basketball background?<\/p>\n
The running joke has been doing the rounds for years, but he is not the best-qualified former baller to play in the AFL.<\/p>\n
Far from it, actually.<\/p>\n
Hugh Greenwood played four years of Division 1 ball in the states, starting for two seasons at the University of New Mexico.<\/p>\n
Todd Goldstein represented Australia in Under 19s.<\/p>\n
And Mason Cox has three years at the Div 1 Oklahoma State.<\/p>\n
Does Pendles even get a look in as a starting five player?<\/p>\n
Well, it\u2019s the off-season\u2026 time to find out.<\/p>\n
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AFL Basketball Crossover All-Stars \u2013 Our 10-Man Roster<\/p>\n
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THE STARTING FIVE<\/p>\n
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Scott Pendlebury (PG, 6\u20190\u2033, Collingwood)<\/p>\n
AIS scholarship holder, Pendles replaced Patty Mills in the squad. With eyes in the back of his head and the slowest heartbeat in sport, he would be an ambidextrous finisher.<\/p>\n
Strength: Elite vision and change-of-pace deception.<\/p>\n
Weakness: Age (38 in 2026) and average vertical leap. Has he ever taken a speccie?<\/p>\n
Yeah, he gets a gig because he is the best-equipped passer on the squad, as evidenced by his 316 goal assists (originally spelled as \u201cgaol\u201d assists\u2026 I\u2019m not sure how many he helped into gaol, for the record).<\/p>\n
Pendles has had his credentials talked up for years, but he did possess high-levels of talent before opting for footy. And here you were thinking he just shot hoops in his driveway, huh?<\/p>\n
I kind of kid.<\/p>\n
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Hugh Greenwood (SG, 6\u20193\u2033, Retired)<\/p>\n
A four-year NCAA D1 starter (New Mexico), Greenwood shot 37% from downtown during his college career, and guarded All-Americans nightly. Ab elite pick-and-roll operator, he is tough as nails, and with an AFL-hardened body, would be a tough man to muscle out of the way.<\/p>\n
Strength: Genuine high-level balling IQ and perimeter defence.<\/p>\n
Weakness: Turning 33 in 2026; lateral quickness has slowed a tick.<\/p>\n
Make no mistake, Greenwood would be the star of this team. Knows the game inside and out, and was courted by NBL teams before opting to switch up and play footy upon returning from college. Imagine having that decision? Bloke is a flat-out athlete! Amazing that his accomplishments were barely acknowledged by commentary teams, huh?<\/p>\n
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Jesse Hogan (SF, 6\u20197\u2033, GWS Giants)<\/p>\n
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Tasmanian junior basketball star who dominated state U16 and U18 championships. Regularly posted 25-30 point games in local leagues, and earned interest from US colleges and NBL clubs before footy\u2019s marking contests stole his heart. Elite body control in traffic, soft hands, and a 35-inch vertical that still shows up when he climbs packs.<\/p>\n
Strength: Contested finishing and rebounding instinct.<\/p>\n
Weakness: Perimeter defence and lateral quickness are average; might get exposed on switches and could be a little foul-happy from footy habits.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d be a dominant inside\/outside force. Strong down low, with the ability to step out and hit a jumper. Might be called for travel a little\u2026 unless the refs are from the NBA. Do you see what blokes can get away with these days? Hell, five steps are the new two steps. Jesse\u2019s set shot\/free throw prep might need some tweaking.<\/p>\n
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Luke Jackson (PF\/C, 6\u20199\u2033, Fremantle)<\/p>\n
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Luke Jackson grew up in Western Australia as a genuine two-sport prodigy. He represented WA at U16 and U18 national basketball championships, captained WA\u2019s U18 side in 2018, and won All-Tournament honours as the dominant big man.<\/p>\n
He also had multiple US college offers on the table before Melbourne took him at pick three in 2019<\/p>\n
At 24, he\u2019s still in his athletic prime, and at 6\u20199\u2033 with a big wingspan, soft hands, and a buttery mid-range touch that still shows when he shoots free throws or fadeaways in warm-ups. You could see him running the floor like a deer, finishing above the rim, and has real pick-and-roll-weapon feel about him.<\/p>\n
Strength: Modern big-man skill-set, would roll hard to the basket, or keep defences guessing as he pops for 15-footers. Would also be an excellent rebounder.<\/p>\n
Weakness: Foot speed defending stretch fives; footy habits make him reach too much on perimeter D.<\/p>\n
A gamebreaker. Fast, athletic, and able to take a hit in traffic and keep on going. Jackson brings a bit of everything to the table, and averaged 13.7 points and 13.7 rebounds in the 2018 FIBA Under 17 world cup.<\/p>\n
The boy could play.<\/p>\n
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Mason Cox (C, 6\u201911\u201d, Collingwood)<\/p>\n
Three-year NCAA D1 player (Oklahoma State), soft touch to 18 ft, huge rebound radius, sets brick-wall screens.<\/p>\n
Strength: Size and actual post footwork, plus a pick-and-pop threat.<\/p>\n
Weakness: Slow feet on perimeter switches.<\/p>\n
A no-brainer, here. The decision\u2026 not the player. Although\u2026 some may argue you could use either.<\/p>\n
Got his glasses on, a la Kareem, and if he could start nailing a skyhook, name me an AFL defender that could stop him on the block?<\/p>\n
No one, that\u2019s who.<\/p>\n
Would make a commanding presence down low, at both ends of the court.<\/p>\n
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THE BENCH<\/p>\n
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Todd Goldstein (C, 6\u20197\u2033, Retired)<\/p>\n
Australian U19 Boomers rep with Patty Mills\/Joe Ingles. With veteran IQ, he is a slick passer, and years of taking contact would mean he\u2019d roll to the basket without fear. Looks like he won\u2019t do damage, which is probably his greatest asset<\/p>\n
Strength: Screening angles and outlet passing.<\/p>\n
Weakness: 221 years old, minimal lift left.<\/p>\n
Did you not see this one coming? How often have you heard about Goldy\u2019s background? Never, right? All bloody Pendles, all the bloody time!<\/p>\n
Goldy\u2019s soft hands would make him a good mid-range threat, stretching the defence and making opposing centres work hard to cover him.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t expect him to win many races up the floor, though.<\/p>\n
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Mitch Wallis (PG, 6\u20190\u2033, Retired)<\/p>\n
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Victorian junior hoops standout who lit up Keilor Thunder\u2019s U12 and U14 state championship squads, earning rep honours and NBL scout nods before pivoting to AFL via the Dandenong Stingrays. He carved out a 12-year career as a versatile Mr Fix-It, with 100+ games. Underrated vision from his ball-handling roots \u2013 became a very good finisher and distributor when deployed forward later in his career.<\/p>\n
Strength: Elite perimeter pressure and steal instincts; pesky defender who funnels into turnovers like a footy tagger.<\/p>\n
Weakness: Limited scoring punch \u2013 more facilitator than bucket-getter, and footy bulk softened his pure quicks.<\/p>\n
We need some reliable, nuggety toughness as a backup point guard, and Wallis fits the bill. Always unassuming, he is in the game to steady the ship and run a tight offence, whilst remaining a harassing presence on the opposition\u2019s ball-handlers.<\/p>\n
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Reuben Ginbey (SF\/PF, 6\u20197\u2033, West Coast)<\/p>\n
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The former Wesley College basketball captain is still only 21, bouncy, strong, and still growing into his body. Always thought he\u2019d be great on a switch, able to cover a guard, or drop in to body-up on a big man and get teh stop<\/p>\n
Strength: Modern combo-forward tools, plus youth.<\/p>\n
Weakness: Basketball feel still catching up to athleticism.<\/p>\n
Ginbey was drafted to be a mid, but has settled into defence. He is getting bigger and stronger and could be a solid lockdown defender coming off the bench.<\/p>\n
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Stefan Martin (SF\/PF\/C, 6\u20196\u2033, retired)<\/p>\n
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An elite Victorian junior, Martin grew up on basketball, not playing a game of footy until he was 19. A crafty lefty, with a high IQ, can play multiple positions.<\/p>\n
Strength: A basketball natural.<\/p>\n
Weakness: 36, retired and fitness unknown.<\/p>\n
Stef offers some muscle off the bench, and can slot in at any of the three front court positions. Hopefully, Steven May isn\u2019t setting picks for the opposition, right?<\/p>\n
Known as a footballer, but basketball was his first love.<\/p>\n
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Christian Petracca (PG\/SG, 6\u20191\u2033, Melbourne)<\/p>\n
Yeah, look\u2026 he played with Ben Simmons in high school \u2013 he might have picked up a thing or two. Silky lefty handle, ridiculous body control, sees angles no one else does.<\/p>\n
Strength: Explosive first step and midair creativity.<\/p>\n
Weakness: Never played structured 5-on-5 past U18s \u2013 decision-making can be termed as \u201cAFL chaotic\u201d.<\/p>\n
Okay, this one is a stretch, I know\u2026 but maybe he could convince Ben to play a year in the AFL. Then he could team with Greenwood and we\u2019d actually have a decent team.<\/p>\n
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So there we go \u2013 a 10-man roster built for\u2026 well, built for no apparent reason other than because I had nothing to do and decided this would be a good idea.<\/p>\n
Who did I miss on the way?<\/p>\n
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As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely\u2026 thank you \u2013 HB<\/p>\n
Like this content? You could buy me a coffee \u2013 I do like coffee, but there is no guarantee I won\u2019t use it to buy a doughnut\u2026 I like them more. And I am not brought to you by Sportsbet or Ladbrokes\u2026 or Bet365, or any of them.<\/p>\n
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