James Woite has previewed the Halls Woollacott dinner by making predictions for all the major awards.

A week before the best teams in the 2012 Central ABL are rewarded for their efforts, the Halls Woollacott Dinner will honour the best individual performers this season.

Following are my predictions for the Halls Medal, Woollacott Medal, the Best Defensive Players, the Coaches of the Year and the All Star Fives. Intriguingly, no female Rocket nor male Eagle have been predicted in my All Star teams, even though the Rockets women and Eagles men both finished in the top two after the regular season.

 

Halls Medal

Predicted Winner: Tess Madgen, Eastern

30.9 ppg, 14.7 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.9 spg, 0.8 bpg, 46.4% FG, 35.8% 3FG in 15 games.

The Eastern Mavericks went winless in 2011, before a successful offseason of recruiting saw Tess Madgen return to the club. The 22-year-old won the Halls Medal while with the Mavericks in 2010, leading them to a sixth-place finish. However, this season she helped the Mavericks to 10 wins and a rare and unprecedented Elimination Final. Madgen averaged career best figures in scoring, rebounding and assists, while scoring in excess of 40 points three times.

 

Honourable Mention: Olivia Thompson, Forestville

25.3 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.1 bpg, 50% FG in 17 games

In her first Central ABL season, Olivia Thompson has proven herself as a force to be reckoned with in the Forestville low block. With Carla Borrego absent for most of the season and Monica Bello no longer with the team, the Eagles wasted no time in finding another gem. Thompson averaged over 25 points and 16 rebounds in helping her team to 13 wins and a third-place finish.

 

Honourable Mention: Jessica Mahony, Central Districts

14.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.9 apg, 2.4 spg, 0.7 bpg, 37.8% FG in 18 games

Jess Mahony has been around the league a long time and no matter where she goes, her teams win. The 2002 Halls Medal winner averaged 14.9 points per game, and after the loss of D’Lesha Lloyd to Bulleen, took it upon herself to steady the ship and lead the Central Districts Lions to a second successive postseason appearance.  

 

Woollacott Medal

Predicted Winner: Thomas Daly, Sturt

18.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 7.6 apg, 0.7 spg, 45.8% FG in 15 games

After losing star players Jacob Holmes and Jan Warbout, and failing to replace them with players of the same calibre, the Sturt Sabres; success was always going to come from development within, and Point Guard Tom Daly has risen to the challenge. Daly finished seventh in scoring, equal fifth in rebounding and first in assists, while leading his team to 14 wins and the Minor Premiership. His scoring, rebounding and assist averages were all personal bests.

 

Honourable Mention: Brian Moultrie, Norwood

22.4 ppg, 16.3 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 50.6% FG in 10 games

The Norwood Flames were going nowhere fast until Brian Moultrie made his debut in Round 9. On that night, Moultrie led his new team to an upset victory over reigning premiers Forestville. He only got better from there, registering a double-double in every game and helping his team overcome their difficult start and make the postseason once more. Moultrie’s 10 games will not be enough to earn him enough votes to win this award, but after being arguably the best player in the league since his arrival, the American fully deserves a mention.

 

Honourable Mention: Pero Vasiljevic, North Adelaide

18.3 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.2 bpg, 49.8% FG in 18 games

Pero Vasiljevic finished eighth in scoring and fourth in rebounding, while coaching the Rockets to 13 wins, the equal second-best mark in the league. Having played in all 18 games and being the Rockets’ best player in a number of them, Vasiljevic is a chance of pipping Daly for this award. Vasiljevic has scored 31 points twice this season, against Southern on June 16 and Centrals on July 28.

 

Best Defensive Player (Women)

Predicted Winner: Jessica Mahony, Central Districts

14.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.9 apg, 2.4 spg, 0.7 bpg, 37.8% FG in 18 games

 

As mentioned previously, Jess Mahony has been the catalyst behind another successful season for the Lions. Mahony is always feisty at the defensive end and produces big plays game-in, game-out. Mahony has won this award twice already.

 

Honourable Mention: Olivia Thompson, Forestville

25.3 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.1 bpg, 50% FG in 17 games

Olivia Thompson led the league in rebounding this season, while also averaging more than one steal and one block per game. The Eagles consistently force their opponents to beat them from the perimeter, and Thompson’s interior presence plays a huge part in doing just that.

 

Best Defensive Player (Men)

Predicted Winner: Blake Truslove, West Adelaide

14.4 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.8 spg, 2.1 bpg, 54.3% FG in 18 games

The Bearcats finished with the equal second-best record in the competition, and their defence played a big part. They formed the strongest defensive unit in the competition, conceding just 70 points per game over the regular season. Big Blake Truslove has been an intimidating presence all season, whether it be blocking shots, grabbing defensive rebounds or forcing the ball out of the paint. Truslove finished second in the league in rebounding with 12.7 boards per game, his best tally since the 2005 season.

 

Honourable Mention: Rashad Tucker, Forestville

10.9 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.2 bpg, 40.3% FG in 16 games

The Eagles have a number of gifted offensive players, yet they have also been strong defensively, conceding just 73 points per game (good enough for third in the league). Rashad Tucker has not been as strong offensively this season, but remains an intimidating presence at the defensive end. His ability to defend the post and help the beaten man has been particularly vital to the Eagles’ success. Tucker finished third in the league in rebounding.

 

Coach of the Year (Women)

Predicted Winner: Barry Mansfield, North Adelaide

2011 record: 8-10, 2012 record: 15-3

The once-soaring Rockets, the Central ABL women’s most successive club, are back with a vengeance. New coach Barry Mansfield has rescued the Rockets from the wilderness, got them back to the finals for the first time in three years and into the top two for first time since 2008. Maybe even their first premiership since 2004? A lot of firsts for the Rockets – so how about a first COY for Mansfield?

 

Honourable Mention: Nathon Jones, Eastern

2011 record 0-18, 2012 record 10-8

Nathon Jones has built a successful system around star player Madgen and got plenty out of the supporting cast. Record-wise, the Mavericks have improved more than any other club, jumping from a winless season in 2011 to a 10-8 2012 record. Jones’ biggest scalp was a Round 13 victory over Southern, where his role players got the job done after Madgen had exited the game injured inside of 12 minutes.

 

Coach of the Year (Men)

Predicted Winner: Tom James-Martin, Sturt

2011 record 12-6, 2012 record 14-4

The Sabres lost Jacob Holmes and Jan Warbout in the offseason, then Scott Butler resigned as coach as the season was about to begin. It appeared the Sabres, who fell from Premiers in 2010 to a Semi Final exit in 2011, were on the way down. However, new coach Tom James-Martin has more than just kept the Sabres competitive. The Sabres have, in fact, improved two wins on last year, while winning the Minor Premiership. James-Martin can cap off an already unbelievable year if the Sabres can achieve one more win in the Grand Final.

 

Honourable Mention: Brad Davidson, Norwood

2011 record 15-3, 2012 record 11-7

The Flames lost David Cooper, Robin Eley, Nick Hambour, Corey Ottey and Dan Thompson to retirement following last season’s Grand Final heartbreak, and a rebuilding year looked on the cards. However, coach Brad Davidson never accepted defeat as a player, and he has shown he won’t as a coach either. It is one thing to not accept defeat, but another to find a way around it. Of course, Davidson has shown he can do both, guiding his team to another postseason appearance despite the early struggles.

 

 

All Star Five (Women)

Jess Mahony, Central Districts

14.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.9 apg, 2.4 spg, 0.7 bpg, 37.8% FG in 18 games

 

Tess Madgen, Eastern

30.9 ppg, 14.7 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.9 spg, 0.8 bpg, 46.4% FG, 35.8% 3FG in 15 games.

 

Alexandra Ciabattoni, Southern

19.1 ppg, 61 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.7 spg, 43.2% FG in 15 games

 

Jess Foley, Norwood

19.5 ppg, 8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.1 spg, 48.3% FG in 15 games

 

Olivia Thompson, Forestville

25.3 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.1 bpg, 50% FG in 17 games

 

Joining Mahony, Madgen and Thompson in my All Star Five are Tiger Alexandra Ciabattoni and Flame Jess Foley. Ciabattoni had a breakout season, finishing fourth in scoring and fifth in assists. She was sorely missed during the last few games when her side dropped out the top five. Foley won the Halls Medal last season and has produced another excellent campaign, coming third in scoring. She has been outstanding defensively as well, leading the defensive-minded Flames to a second successive Minor Premiership.

 

All Star Five (Men)

Thomas Daly, Sturt

18.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 7.6 apg, 0.7 spg, 45.8% FG in 15 games

 

Howard Salters Jr, West Adelaide

19.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 3.1 spg, 43.6% FG in 18 games

 

Pero Vasiljevic, North Adelaide

18.3 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.2 bpg, 49.8% FG in 18 games

 

Brian Moultrie, Norwood

22.4 ppg, 16.3 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 50.6% FG in 10 games

 

Blake Truslove, West Adelaide

14.4 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.8 spg, 2.1 bpg, 54.3% FG in 18 games

 

Joining Woollacott Medal candidates Daly, Moultrie and Vasiljevic and Bearcat teammate Truslove in my All Star Five is Howard Salters Jr. In his first year in the Central ABL, Salters Jr has done an outstanding job of running the point at West and has contributed in a vast range of categories. A 28 point, 8 rebound, 8 steal performance against North on July 14 was arguably Salters Jr’s absolute best performance.

By James Woite

Note that the views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Basketball SA.