GAME DAY PREVIEW
Tasmania Jewels v Geelong Venom
7:00pm, Thursday 15th October
MyState Bank Arena
Watch live on 9Now, ESPN via Disney+, WNBL.com.au and the WNBL App.
SEASON OPENER
The Tasmania Jewels will make history tonight when they step on court for their WNBL debut and season opening game against Geelong Venom at MyState Bank Arena.
The Jewels will be playing in front of a sell out home crowd of more than 4,200 fans as they let the reign begin in the Spirit of Tasmania’s first annual Spirit Challenge.
Jewels Head Coach Claudia Brassard said the team had been working hard in the short six-week pre-season, which included one win and one loss at the Townsville Tip-Off.
“It’s a short time to get a team ready, but I’m confident these players will get around each other, and they’ve done all the extras we’ve asked of them.” Brassard said.
“If we come out how we have been preparing in training in the past weeks, we should be a good chance of winning.”
Brassard will announce the Jewels first starting five tomorrow night, around an hour before the 7:00pm tip-off.
Jewels Development Player Andie Smith will be elevated into the roster to replace Import Madina Okot, who is still in the U.S where her WNBA team the Atalanta Dream is having a stellar run in the league’s finals series.
Geelong is also expected to be without a key Import, with 6’ 11” international superstar Han Xu expected to miss the season opener too.
Geelong is coming in strong from the pre-season, having taken out the title at the Townsville Tip-Off after notching two wins.
The team boasts one of the strongest guards in the league in Maddison Rocci, and strong outside shooters including Indiah Bowyer.
Jewels Vice Captain Keely Froling and Taylor Mole both played for Geelong, and will be bringing some of their insider knowledge to the team’s prep.
Froling said the Jewels would also be harnessing the extraordinary turnout of Tassie fans.
“It’s so special that Tassie has come out to support us like this,” Froling said.
“We’ve already broken the all-time membership record in the WNBL, and now we have a sell out first game, a really big sell out, and it makes this place a really hard place to play.
“That gives us such a boost on the court to have a home team advantage, a home ground advantage where people don’t want to play here because they know the crowd is going to be riding the game the whole time.”
KEY TIMINGS
MyState Bank Priority Entry: 5:30PM
Hertz Gold Lounge: 5:30pm
Sky Suite Access: 5:30pm
Main Doors Open: 6:00pm
Pre-Game Show: 6.30pm
Tip Off: 7:00pm
* All times are approx. & subject to change *
INJURIES
Tasmania Jewels
OUT:
Geelong Venom
OUT:
CONCOURSE INFORMATION
Head to the MyState Bank Arena external concourse from 5.00pm to enjoy activities and give aways from the Jewels and our commercial partners.
Pre-game activities will include:
- Face painting
- Temporary Tattoos
- St Lukes Personalised Badges
- Engineering activities with JMG
- Balloon Artist
- Basketball at our Hoops Trailer, thanks to SRT
- JMC Vehicles on display
- Ant Army Merchandise Display
- Jewels Merch Stall
MYSTATE BANK ARENA – BAG CHECKS
MyState Bank Arena will be conducting bag checks for this event, in line with NBL and WNBL requirements, for your safety and expedited entry to the venue. Backpacks and large bags are not permitted; handbags are welcome and will undergo a contactless screening on entry. There is no cloakroom or storage facility for backpacks or large bags at the venue, and patrons carrying these will be required to return them to their vehicle before entry. Exceptions will be made for guests with medical necessities and small childcare/nappy bags (with an accompanying infant/child), subject to inspection.
MYSTATE BANK ARENA – WATER BOTTLES
Patrons are welcome to bring a plastic or soft reusable water bottle containing water only into the venue. For safety reasons, hard metal, aluminum or glass bottles are not permitted and will need to be returned to your vehicle or disposed of prior to entry. Water bottles will be checked by security at the entry point. Free drinking water is available at all concessions and bars. Simply ask a member of their staff and they will be happy to fill your water bottle for you.
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