Sports News Sunraysia with Sammy Smythe

The National Basketball League (NBL) is pleased to confirm that the Brisbane Bullets will return to the competition in the 2016/17 NBL season, with six-time NBL Champion CJ Bruton announced as the first official appointment to the club.

Known as one of the first great sporting franchises of the Queensland capital, the Brisbane Bullets were one of the League’s founding teams and boast more than 30 years of history and three NBL Championships.

The Bullets captured national attention in the 1980’s as one of the most dominant teams in the competition, selling-out stadiums and producing household names such as Leroy Loggins and Cal Bruton.

Both Cal and his son CJ have played key roles on Championship-winning teams for the Bullets, and the historic connection continues with CJ Bruton being appointed as Assistant Coach and Basketball Operations Manager of the newly established Brisbane franchise.

NBL General Manager Jeremy Loeliger is excited by the appointment and said that CJ will have the full support of NBL headquarters, which will facilitate the development of the Brisbane based club until the right ownership group is identified.

“We are obviously thrilled to announce the return of the Brisbane Bullets, very happy that we have CJ Bruton secured in such an integral role with the club and we’re really looking forward to working with him to find the rest of the pieces of the puzzle,” said Mr Loeliger.

“Recruiting the right individuals to be involved with the re-establishment of this club is critical, and the General Manager advertisement currently in circulation has generated a lot of interest from a high calibre of applicant.

“We are very much heartened by the number of interested parties willing to get involved and support this franchise, which always had such strong support in Brisbane.

“All basketball fans have fond memories of the Bullets and we’re getting all the building blocks in place to put the NBL on the map in Brisbane all over again.”

The Brisbane Bullets will enter the 2016/17 NBL competition branded with a new brand and colour scheme, featuring the gold and maroon that has come to typify Queensland sporting franchises.

The NBL has engaged professional services firm KPMG to assist in identifying and qualifying an appropriate ownership structure that will ensure the long term sustainability of a successful Brisbane franchise.

Bendigo Braves legend and inaugural premiership coach David Flint has been appointed as an assistant coach for the 2015-16 Wattle Valley WNBL season.Flint played 319 games for the Braves and was named in the SEABL Team of the 1980s and Head Coach of the Team of the 1990s.

Flint was recently appointed Head Coach of the Ballarat Rush — the city’s SEABL women’s team — for the next two seasons, and spent six years coaching at the Australian Junior National Championships.

“I am really looking forward to the being involved with the Bendigo Bank Spirit this season and having the opportunity to work with both (Head Coach) Simon Pritchard and (Assistant Coach) Andrea Walsh,” Flint said.

“The vibe around the players is very positive at the moment and no doubt I would like to keep that momentum going.

“I am keen to work with the players individually and assist with their ongoing development on an individual level that will no doubt transfer over to our training sessions and our WNBL games.

“I see this coaching opportunity as a direct link between The Spirit and The Rush, with the ability to give all country Victorian players a clear pathway to the national league.”

Flint said he is impressed with Head Coach Simon Pritchard and where the team, and the club, is heading.

“I had a tremendous meeting with Simon last week and 100 per cent agree with his coaching philosophy and his expectations of me,” he said.

“I watched training on Thursday night and I think we will be able to put a very competitive team on the floor every night.

“We have a team that has a fantastic mix of proven WNBL talent and a solid group of

younger players who are looking to impress.

“We will play an enjoyable brand of basketball for the Bendigo fans to come out and

support. It is an exciting year to be a member of the club, so I encourage everyone to sign up.”

Pritchard said Flint’s reputation was almost second to none.

“Anyone who has played with him or under him cannot give him enough accolades,” he said.

“His ability to get the best out of players individually will be a great asset to this club and to Bendigo basketball in general.

“He is a legend of the game and a legend of this city. He is also a legend of a bloke.”

To take advantage of the new reduced membership deals, go to www.bendigospirit.com.au