Camberwell Dragons announced today that Shawn King will lead the club’s Big V Championship Men’s team in 2025.

“We’re delighted to welcome Shawn King to the Dragons as the head coach of our Championship Men’s team,” Camberwell Basketball chief executive officer Ross Wignell said.

“Shawn is a great basketball person and an experienced and well-respected leader who knows and understands the Big V competition. He will be an excellent addition to the senior Dragons program and the wider Camberwell Basketball community.”

King brings a wealth of experience to Camberwell, having coached previously at Dandenong, Chelsea, Hawthorn and Melbourne University – his Big V home for the past three seasons – and is enthusiastic about taking the next step on his journey with the Dragons.

“The timing was right. I’d stepped down from Melbourne Uni and obviously there are good things happening at Camberwell,” he said. “I’m excited about the opportunity. They’ve got some good guys there and hopefully we can have a good year.”

King said he looked forward to working with some familiar faces at Camberwell, and to being part of a Dragons program that is closing in on the completion of one of the biggest and most successful seasons in club history.

“The thing that really jumped out at me was I saw that you guys had 10 VC (Victorian Championship junior) teams this year,” he said. “Very good. Very impressive … I know how hard that it to do, and it’s happened quite quickly. Within a couple of years.”

King, who replaces Mark Jeffers as head coach, will get to work immediately on putting together his first Dragons team.

“The first thing I want to do is meet everyone, find out their plans, understand everybody’s individual goals, and then hopefully their goals align with my goals,” he said. “And then do an analysis of where I think we need to improve, or what things we need, and then try to work towards that. Once you get the team on the court, it’s about goal setting.”

As King prepares to take charge of a Dragons team for the first time, three familiar faces will return to the senior program for the 2025 Big V campaign.

Fraser Kennedy is back as head coach of our Youth League Men, Cara Jeffers will lead our Championship Women and Danni Fidge will call the shots for our Youth League Women again.

Photo: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.

Congratulations from all at Camberwell Dragons to our 14.5 Girls and coaches, who went all the way to Friday night’s VJL6 (P1) Grand Final.

While a strong Chelsea 1 line-up had too much for the Dragons at Sandringham, this was a season to remember for our girls, who put together a 13-4-1 record in the regular season and then beat Frankston 6 twice in the finals to advance to the decider.

Our 14.5 Girls were one of 11 Dragons teams competing in preliminary or grand finals on Friday night. Five of our teams went on to claim titles, while our 20.2 Girls beat Whittlesea 1 in their preliminary final to qualify for next weekend’s grand final. Here’s all the results from Friday night’s games:

Grand Finals
12.6 Boys – Bulleen (6) 44 d. Dragons 41
12.8 Boys – Dragons 30 d. Pakenham (4) 26
18.4 Boys – Dragons 47 d. Westgate (1) 39
14.5 Girls – Chelsea (1) 37 d. Dragons 16
14.6 Girls – Dragons 30 d. Eltham (7) 20
16.2 Girls – Dragons 39 d. Wangaratta (1) 38
16.5 Girls – Dragons 31 d. Pakenham (3) 27

Preliminary Finals
12.1 Girls – Dandenong (1) 43 d. Dragons 33
14.1 Boys – Knox (1) 72 d. Dragons 62
20.1 Girls – McKinnon (1) 53 d. Dragons 47
20.2 Girls – Dragons 31 d. Whittlesea (1) 24

Our 16.2 Girls and coaches enjoy the moment at Montmorency on Friday night after holding off Wangaratta 1 in overtime to win the VJL3 title.

Anastasia Mantzsis had an equal game-high 11 points to pace the Dragons, who needed extra time to put the finishing touches on their dream season after Wangaratta rallied with a big fourth quarter to tie things up at the end of regulation.

Sydney Ridley added eight points and Allegra Maiolo seven for Camberwell, which won it 39-38 in front of a big turnout of friends, families and players from the Dragons Under 16 Girls program.

The newly crowned champions were one of 11 Dragons teams competing in preliminary or grand finals on Friday. Here’s the results from all games.

Grand Finals
12.6 Boys – Bulleen (6) 44 d. Dragons 41
12.8 Boys – Dragons 30 d. Pakenham (4) 26
18.4 Boys – Dragons 47 d. Westgate (1) 39
14.5 Girls – Chelsea (1) 37 d. Dragons 16
14.6 Girls – Dragons 30 d. Eltham (7) 20
16.2 Girls – Dragons 39 d. Wangaratta (1) 38
16.5 Girls – Dragons 31 d. Pakenham (3) 27

Preliminary Finals
12.1 Girls – Dandenong (1) 43 d. Dragons 33
14.1 Boys – Knox (1) 72 d. Dragons 62
20.1 Girls – McKinnon (1) 53 d. Dragons 47
20.2 Girls – Dragons 31 d. Whittlesea (1) 24

We’ll have more photos, results and details to share here and on our social media platforms over the weekend.

Community Basketball League Grand Final Weekend is here!

And to celebrate the biggest and most exciting few days of the winter season, we’re rolling out some of the most magical and memorable images of recent CBL grand final days, as captured by Craig Dingle of Melbourne Sports Photography.

Have a great grand final weekend, CBL, and if you’ve got something from your team to share with the wider hoops community on the league’s social media platforms in the lead-up to and/or over the weekend, please send it to [email protected]

Our own Angus Nelson flies to the United States this week to begin an exciting new chapter of his basketball life at Skagit Valley College, in Mount Vernon, Washington. Before hitting the road, Angus reflected on his journey with Camberwell – the club he loves – for Dragons Media.

By Angus Nelson
It’s always easy to reach a certain milestone in your life and forgot where you started, the origins of your story, the hurdles along the way that only now look small once you leap past them. In fact, I always struggled to see past all the hurdles in front of me.

I started playing rep basketball in Under 12 for Hawthorn Magic, then for Blackburn, until in top age 16s I moved across to play for Camberwell. A big and impactful step forward in my basketball development. The pivotal decision to move to Camberwell has played a key role in achieving the pathway I have landed on today.

The first time I stepped into Camberwell, I was 15 years old, at the pre-tryout. The tryout was led by Andrew Power, my current Under 20 rep coach at Camberwell. I didn’t really understand the impact Andrew would have on my basketball journey. I now realise he really was a key reason for why I moved to Camberwell.

As a young player, throughout Under 12 to Under 16s, I always struggled to fully invest myself into any sport. For a long time, I juggled between footy and basketball, winning Friday night rep games and then getting up the next morning at 6am to play country footy for Lorne.

I was never an aggressive player, and so I remember my parents created what they called the “sticker chart”. The “sticker chart” was a board on the fridge with approximately 20 stars on it. Once every star was covered by a sticker, I would yield a fantastic reward of my choice. I usually picked a brand-new Lego. To earn a sticker, my parents required me to demonstrate what they called “fire in the belly”, being motivated and assertive on the court, loud, fast.

This was a big turning point throughout my journey as I found myself wanting to play better, wanting to play harder, doing everything to make sure I got that sticker. It led to what I like to think of my game today – as being super determined, strong and hard working. Anything for the win. The mindset Andrew Power and my Camberwell coaches really embraced and believed in, and a reason why I love this club so much.

If it wasn’t for these challenges I faced and conquered when I was younger – the lack of aggressiveness, moving clubs multiple times and finally finding Camberwell as my home – I simply wouldn’t be the player I am today.

In April this year I committed to play for Skagit Valley College, located in Mount Vernon in Washington. It has long been my dream to play college basketball, one that started back in 2016 when my family travelled to the US. It was quite the trip. We went to one NBA game and happened to watch Steph Curry shoot an NBA record number of threes. I am super proud of the progress I’ve made since starting at Camberwell in Under 16s, and the pathway the club has set me on through the junior program to becoming a vice-captain for the youth league team and being Youth League MVP this season.

Since finishing high school last year I’ve worked a lot, been able to coach even more, and I’ve even started my own clothing brand – BACK2BACK CLOTHING (@__back2back__ on Instagram) – cheeky plug (Ed note: Cheeky plug noted, and forgiven!).

I’ve been able to coach many young Dragons players, many aspiring future Dragons players keen to try out for the upcoming 2025 season, and many young players who, like me, just can’t get enough of the game. Many of you have probably seen me on the Youth League court on a Saturday night, or even earlier on a Saturday refereeing games. I’m going to miss it all.

To all young aspiring Dragons players, never give up on your dream, and always know you may not have even discovered what your dream is yet. I had no clue of the American college pathway until I was about 16 years old, and only at 17 did I really start to take it seriously. Keep leaping those hurdles one by one, and I promise you you’ll reach your own milestones, on or off the court.

Basketball can take you places, and where I’m going, it’s just the beginning …

• Angus Nelson played for Camberwell Dragons 20.1 Boys and our Youth League Men’s team this season.

Photo: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography

The dates, times and venues are set for Camberwell Dragons Tryouts.

To find out everything you need to know about tryouts for the 2024-25 VJBL season, including registration details, Permission to Train (PTT) forms, Tryout Absence forms and the selection process, please visit the official Tryouts Landing Page HERE. 

The Landing Page will be updated regularly in the lead-up to, and throughout the tryout period. For more information, contact Mandy Mathews HERE. 

Camberwell Dragons wishes all players the best of luck for the 2024-25 Tryouts.

Please view our 2024-25 Player and Parent Handbook HERE

Camberwell In Business today released the date and venue for its next event.

The drinks and canapes networking evening for Camberwell In Business members and guests will be at Pincho Disco in Collingwood on Thursday, November 28 (5.30pm-8.30pm), with more details to be released closer to the date.

For more information about Pincho Disco, click HERE. To learn more about Camberwell In Business, view our Information Pack HERE. 

To become a Camberwell In Business member and/or to buy a ticket to its November 28 event, contact Andrew Johnstone HERE.

Be Collaborative. Be Curious. Be Camberwell.

Camberwell District Basketball Association announced today its Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Sunday, November 24.

Venue and starting time will be announced soon.

Please find the Committee Nomination Form HERE

For more information, email [email protected]

The fixture is set for Basketball Australia’s Footlocker Under 14 Club Championships, so our 14.1 Boys know what they’re up against at Casey Stadium later this month.

The Dragons are in Pool F for the tournament and will open their campaign with games against WA team Cockburn Cougars (10.30am) and Canberra (3.30pm) on Sunday, September 22, before going head to head with Sydney team North Bears the next day (3pm).

The boys, led by head coach Conor Mathews, are the first Dragons teams invited to compete at a national championship.

Until then, the boys will be focused on the business end of their VC Championship campaign, which continues on Friday night with a semi-final date against Bulleen 1.

The 14.1 Boys are proudly supported by Monopoly Dreams, BG Private, Kim’s Cleaning and Home Care Services, Melbourne Sports Photography, Bread Street (Mont Albert), Bennet’s Butchery (Canterbury) and Rocket Digital on the road to the Championships.

All photos: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.

Congratulations to our own Sophie Richardson, who has been invited to attend a national selection camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra before November’s FIBA Under 15 Oceania Cup.

Sophie, who played for Camberwell Dragons 16.1 Girls this season, is one of five Victorians on the 20-player squad announced by Basketball Australia that will vie for a place on the Oceania Cup team.

“This camp heralds the start of the qualification journey for the 2026 Under 17 World Cup,” General Manager of the Centre of Excellence and Performance Pathways Peter Lonergan said. “And for these young athletes, will be their first taste of a green and gold camp environment.

“We are excited about the talent in the two selected squads after talent identification at the recent Australian Under 16 Championships in Bendigo and look forward to the camp.”

Sophie played a pivotal role for the state team at those Championships, where the Vics signed off with a silver medal after falling to Queensland South in the grand final.

Sophie has impressed all at our club with her work ethic and dedication to improving her game since she joined the Dragons in 2021, and we’re right behind her as she enters the next phase of her basketball journey.

It has been a remarkable year for Sophie and for the Dragons program, which is nearing the end of one of the biggest and best seasons in club history.

Our program is one of the top ranked in the state, with a record 10 Dragons teams, including our 16.1 Girls, qualifying for Victorian Championship (VC) competition. Three of those teams, our 12.1 Girls, 14.1 Boys and 16.1 Boys, received invitations to compete at the prestigious National Junior Classic in Melbourne over the King’s Birthday Weekend, with the 12.1 Girls and 16.1 Boys going on to claim the club’s first-ever NJC bronze medals.

The 14.1 Boys will become the first Dragons teams to compete at a national championship when they step out at the Footlocker Under 14 National Club Championship in Casey this month (September 21-27). They’re still alive in the VC Champs finals, too, and will play Bulleen in the semi-finals next week.

• The top two finishers at the FIBA Under 15 Oceania Cup (Australian Institute of Sport, November 11-16) will qualify for the 2025 FIBA Women’s Under 16 Asis Cup. To view the complete boys and girls national selection camp squads, click HERE.

Photos: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography, and supplied.