On a weekend when our four Big V teams went a combined 4-0, Jackson Meshanic (pictured) led all scorers with 30 points and reeled in 13 rebounds as our Championship Men made short work of Wyndham on the road on Saturday night.

Luke Liesegang added 21 points and 13 boards and Brennen Burns handed out four assists to go with 15 points for the Dragons, who hammered their host with a 29-12 first quarter and never looked back on their way to a 97-65 win.

It was another impressive night out from Meshanic, who’s averaging a team-leading 20.5 points (seventh in the league) and 11 rebounds (second in the league), and for the Dragons, who improved to 4-4 ahead of a much-anticipated date with fourth-placed Sunbury (4-3) at Balwyn High School next Sunday.

Also at the weekend:

– Our Division 1 Women rallied from three points down at three quarter-time a long way from home to beat Mildura on the road. Eleni Valos (18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists) and Sian Gillam (10 points, 11 boards) with double-doubles in a 69-61 win as the Dragons improved to 4-4. The two teams will meet again next Saturday – this time at Boroondara Sports Complex (BSC).

– Our Youth League Men held off fast-finishing Wyndham for an 82-78 win at Eagle Stadium. Owen Ireland posted a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double and Billy Barton reeled in 14 boards to go with nine points as the second-placed Dragons improved to 9-2. They’ll go head to head with top-of-the-table Sunbury (9-1) at Balwyn High School next Sunday.

– And our Youth League Women pulled away in the second half for a 66-43 win against Sunbury at Boroondara Sports Complex. The Dragons shook off a slow start to outscore the Jets 41-26 after half-time. Gemma Watson had 10 points, six rebounds and three steals for Camberwell, which improved to 5-7. The Dragons play Albury Wodonga in Wodonga next week.

Terminus Big V Players of the Week

Championship Men at Wyndham: Luke Liesegang
Division 1 Women at Mildura: Eleni Valos
Youth League Men: Owen Ireland
Youth League Women: Hannah Morsi

Terminus Big V Players of the Week (Overall)

Championship Men: Ayuel Ayuel (2), Daniel Powell (2), Brennen Burns (1), Riley Simmons (1), Jackson Meshanic (1), Luke Liesegang (1)

Division 1 Women: Sian Gillam (2), Eleni Valos (2), Emily Roche (1), Talia D’agostino (1), Anna Burrows (1), Neehara Ravikumar (1)

Youth League Men: Ace Adama, (2), Jesse Macleod (2), Billy Barton (2), Caleb Lingwood-Smith (1), Will Sinclair (1), Noah La Combre (1), Matt Marcun (1), Owen Ireland (1)

Youth League Women: Gemma Watson (2), Jess Del Brocco (2), Lucy Rowe (2), Hannah Morsi (2), Mia Demarte (1), Ciara Newman (1)

Our Week Ahead

Saturday, May 23
Division 1 Women: Dragons v Mildura at Boroondara Sports Complex, 6pm
Youth League Women: Dragons at Albury Wodonga (Wodonga Senior Secondary College), 5.30pm

Sunday, May 24
Youth League Men: Dragons v Sunbury at Balwyn High School, 12pm
Championship Men: Dragons v Sunbury at Balwyn High School, 2pm

Our Partners

Camberwell Basketball and the Dragons are fortunate to have a quality line-up of valued Partners and encourage our community to support them the way they support us. For the complete list of Camberwell Basketball Partners, please click HERE For information about partnership opportunities with Camberwell Basketball, including the Dragons, contact Communications, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

Dragons Big V Game Day Program

Camberwell Dragons Big V Game Day Program is available HERE throughout the 2026 season.

Dragons Den Newsletter

The most recent edition of the Dragons Den newsletter is available online. For the latest from the Dragons, the Community Basketball League and Camberwell Basketball, click HERE.

PHOTOS: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.

Eleni Valos was named Terminus Player of the Week for our Division 1 Women after leading the Dragons to a come-from-behind road win at Mildura.

Camberwell Basketball and the Dragons are proud to be associated with SA1NT Layers as our official Compression Partner in 2026.

SA1NT Layers’ compression range includes shorts, tights, long-sleeve top, socks, arm and calf guards, and our friends there are offering 20% off RRP storewide to our community right now. To receive your discount, click HERE and then type in the special Camberwell Basketball code – DRAGONS20 – at checkout.

To view the SA1NT Layers range, visit its website HERE. For more information about this partnership and other opportunities with Camberwell Basketball and the Dragons, contact Communications, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

Billy Barton led all scorers with 18 points and Tyson Mackenzie (pictured) added 10 points and eight rebounds as our Youth League Men surged late to reclaim second place in the Big V standings with a 56-45 road win at Ballarat on Saturday night.

The Dragons trailed by seven points at the half and were still down by four wth a quarter to play, but outscored their host 25-10 over the final 10 minutes to secure the win.

Matt Marcun closed with 10 points and six rebounds and Jesse Macleod had nine points and eight boards for Camberwell, which improved to 8-2 ahead of next weekend’s road date with Wyndham.

Unbeaten Sunbury (9-0) leads the league, with Coburg (7-3), Bendigo (6-4) and McKinnon making up the top five.

Also at the weekend

– Brennen Burns and Daniel Powell each had 19 points for our Championship Men in an 89-82 home loss to second-placed McKinnon at Boroondara Sports Complex on Saturday night. Burns handed out four assists and Luke Liesegang added 16 points in an absorbing contest that wasn’t decided until late – the Cougars closing out the game with a 25-20 final quarter. McKinnon improved to 5-1 and closed Round 6 looking up only at unbeaten Hume City (7-0). Camberwell dropped to 3-4 and will enter next weekend’s clash with Wyndham at Eagle Stadium in seventh place.

– Our Youth League Women split their road double, beating the Miners in Ballarat on Saturday night before falling to Coburg in overtime at Balwyn High School on Sunday. Jess Del Brocco led all scorers with 19 points and Gemma Watson added 13, four assists and three steals in an all-the-way 88-51 win over the Miners. Del Brocco had a game-high 19 points again in a 53-51 loss to the Giants on Sunday and Lucy Rowe pulled down eight rebounds to go with 10 points.

– And our Division 1 Women had a rough one against highly ranked Altona in the second game of Sunday’s Pink Round double-header at Balwyn High – the Gators controlling it from start to finish in a 65-27 win. Anna Burrows led the Dragons with seven points and nine rebounds.

The Terminus Big V Players of the Week

Championship Men v McKinnon – Daniel Powell
Division 1 Women – Neehara Ravikumar
Youth League Men at Ballarat – Billy Barton
Youth League Women at Ballarat – Jessica Del Brocco
Youth League Women v Coburg – Lucy Rowe

They Said It

“Nee has been improving on court every game. Despite a tough result, Nee displayed positivity and a willingness to execute instruction consistently.” – D1 Women’s Coach Mark Jeffers on Neehara Ravikumar.

The Terminus Big V Players of the Week (Overall)

Championship Men: Ayuel Ayuel (2), Daniel Powell (2), Brennen Burns (1), Riley Simmons (1), Jackson Meshanic (1)
Division 1 Women: Sian Gillam (2), Eleni Valos (1), Emily Roche (1), Talia D’agostino (1), Anna Burrows (1), Neehara Ravikumar (1)
Youth League Men: Ace Adama, (2), Jesse Macleod (2), Billy Barton (2), Caleb Lingwood-Smith (1), Will Sinclair (1), Noah La Combre (1), Matt Marcun (1)
Youth League Women: Gemma Watson (2), Jess Del Brocco (2), Lucy Rowe (2), Hannah Morsi (1), Mia Demarte (1), Ciara Newman (1)

Our Week Ahead

Saturday, May 16
Youth League Women: Dragons v Sunbury at Boroondara Sports Complex, 7pm
Championship Men: Dragons at Wyndham (Eagle Stadium), 8pm
Youth League Men: Dragons at Wyndham (Eagle Stadium), 6pm
Division 1 Women: Dragons at Mildura (Coomealla Club Hothouse), 6pm

Our Partners

Camberwell Basketball and the Dragons are fortunate to have a quality line-up of valued Partners and encourage our community to support them the way they support us. For the complete list of Camberwell Basketball Partners, please click HERE For information about partnership opportunities with Camberwell Basketball, including the Dragons, contact Communications, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

Dragons Big V Game Day Program

Camberwell Dragons Big V Game Day Program is available HERE throughout the 2026 season.

Dragons Den Newsletter

The most recent edition of the Dragons Den newsletter (published April 24) is available online. For the latest from the Dragons, the Community Basketball League and Camberwell Basketball, click HERE.

PHOTO: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.

By Jenny Dixon

My coaching journey started just like all of the best things in life … unexpected and unpredictable.

I had been playing basketball since I was seven years old, it was always a safe space for me, an anchor, knowing I had my training session, and then the game on Saturday. I had been around the game for a long time and then my little brother started out as I turned 13. I went to every game just like all basketball fanatics. I couldn’t get enough of the sport, the thrill.

Watching his games, it was easy to see the quieter and the smaller players had been cast aside, my brother being one of them. The season ended and that team split up, leaving those underestimated kids without a coach.

When the parents asked if I wanted to step in, my instinct was to say no. I didn’t know these kids personally although I had been watching them play basketball every Saturday. I reluctantly said yes, and my journey began. Little did I know I’d coach these kids through finishing primary school to finishing high school.

It was the best chapter. This team went through many phases – from having an undefeated season, to experiencing many, many losses. But it wasn’t about those wins or even the games we lost, it was about how each one of those players grew confidence and formed a really wonderful team bond.

No player on the team was valued less than another. Everyone had their own strength, everyone had a role to play. Even if it was just cracking a joke at training, their presence mattered. That’s what basketball can do for a kid.

During this time, I often found myself coaching two teams at once, and as much as it was about personal player growth and building a safe place on the court, I built my own community at basketball. When I turned 18, I became involved in venue supervising, where I met some of my closest friends. I was completing my VCE at the time, and knowing I was coming to basketball got me through. I continued my involvement through my university degree, too.

My brother’s team finished up to complete their Year 12 exams, and he and another member from that team went on to coach together. I was also their team manager, and it was great to see them stepping into a coaching role. I joined the committee that year as well, and none of it ever felt like work to me. It was so rewarding being in that space and feeling a part of something that mattered.

That’s what coaching can do for someone. That’s what it can do for anyone.

PHOTO: Supplied.

• Jenny Dixon was a long-time junior basketball coach at Whitehorse Mustangs. She is the newest member of the Camberwell Dragons Big V Working Group and a valuable addition to the Camberwell Basketball Communications team. Look out for more of her work here in the future.

Camberwell Dragons Division 1 and Youth League Women’s teams will feature in a Big V Pink Round double-header at Balwyn High School on Sunday (May 10).

Our Youth League Women tip things off on Mother’s Day with a 12pm date against Coburg before our
D1 Women (3-3), featuring Sian Gillam, Eleni Valos and Lauren Moran (all pictured), host unbeaten Altona (5-0) at 2pm.

The Dragons are participating in Pink Round to support Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women, with one in seven diagnosed in their lifetime. More than 20,000 women and 200 men are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

So reach into your wardrobe, dress to impress in pink and come along and support your Dragons and this very special cause. We’ll be collecting gold coin donations at the venue.

In other Big V action this weekend:

– Our in-form Championship Men host McKinnon at Boroondara Sports Complex on Saturday night (7pm). The Dragons have won three of their past four and are fifth with a 3-3 record. The Cougars (4-1) are second behind unbeaten Hume City (7-0).

– The Youth League Women open their weekend against the Miners in Ballarat on Saturday night (6pm), while our Youth League Men will also play Ballarat at the Minerdome on Saturday (8pm).

For more information about the Dragons Big V program, contact Camberwell Basketball Communications, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

PHOTOS: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.

Jess Del Brocco, Amelie Atkinson, Tilly Quartel, Dragons Youth League Women.

Thank you for being part of something special, Camberwell.

Camberwell Basketball extends its gratitude to those who supported our inaugural Mental Health Awareness Week (April 26-May 2).

Special thanks to our quality line-up of guest speakers – including Provisional Psychologist James Farrough from Glynn Mind Clinic, two-time National Basketball League champion Andrew Parkinson, world-class extreme athlete with a disability and Dragons ambassador Bobby Bajram – Australia Post, Heidi Glynn and Glynn Mind Clinic, Beyond Blue and the volunteers who worked hard behind the scenes to help bring this Association-wide initiative to life.

And last, but certainly not least, to the Dragons teams (including our 20.2 Boys, pictured) who threw their support behind the cause by adding a splash of blue to the club’s traditional maroon and yellow for games played over the weekend. Scroll down for more photos of our Dragons teams.

What our attendees said

Camberwell Basketball and our presenters received some excellent feedback from attendees at last week’s presentations, including players, coaches, administrators, community leaders, parents and guardians. Here’s a sample of what they had to say:

“It’s great that we were able to have people come together to talk about mental health and the importance of self-care.” – Camberwell Dragons Championship Men’s team head coach and Girls Director of Coaching Shawn King.

“Hearing (guest speaker) Trevor’s story was both inspiring and moving, and the night’s message about positive self-talk was really worthwhile and something that resonates with everyone.” – Dragons Youth League Women’s team captain Amelie Atkinson.

“The session was an amazing demonstration of the power that comes from positive self-talk and the difference it makes not just on the court, but in life. Trevor’s session was inspirational and a courageous example that we don’t have to suffer in silence.” – Member for Hawthorn John Pesutto.

“It was a great night and it’s awesome to be able to support a club that puts the emphasis on health off the court, both mental and physical, (and understands how that) translates to health on the court. Congratulations to Camberwell Basketball on a really positive initiative for the community.” – Nick Smith, Engagement Coordinator and Academy Director at South East Melbourne Phoenix Basketball Club.

“I thought it was a great evening. Listening to Trevor was very inspiring and hearing from a psychologist was good as well. Targeting it to our community and application to basketball was great.” – Anonymous.

“Thought the night was great. All positive from me. Would love for more resources and guidance about players’ self-talk as a coach … I think the premise of reminding everyone that we often only see a certain side of people and the emphasis of reaching out and being kind was great. As a coach, hearing from James (Provisional Psychologist James Farrough) was a good reminder of the mental game sport can bring to a player, and how coaches play a role in managing this.” – Anonymous.

“It was a great event. I liked the two speakers and thought it was a good mix of personal, relatable experience and theory with interaction. Both of them were good presenters and created good rapport with the audience. My feedback is entirely positive: it was well-organised, clear, and provided useful, practical tips. If anything, I would just encourage more people to attend.” – Anonymous.

“Nothing but positive feedback from me. The whole concept of mental health awareness is fantastic. I don’t think you need to change anything. It had the personal touch with Trevor’s personal account of his journey and you had a professional to explain in detail how the mind works and tips to help improve your mental health.” – Anonymous.

Team Photos

See below for more more photos of Dragons teams supporting Mental Health Awareness Week last weekend:

12.1 Girls

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12.2 Girls

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12.9 Boys

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12.10 Boys

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16.5 Girls

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16.6 Girls

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18.1 Boys

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18.1 Girls

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18.2 Boys

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18.2 Girls

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Big V Division 1 Women

For information about our inaugural Mental Health Awareness Week and / or to provide additional feedback, please contact Camberwell Basketball Communications, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

The Dragons 12.10 Boys show their support for Camberwell Basketball’s Mental Health Awareness Week on Friday night.

We’ll have more photos of our teams getting behind this important initiative to share right here and on our social media platforms throughout the week.

Thank you to Australia Post, Heidi Glynn, Glynn Mind Clinic, Beyond Blue, guest speakers James Farrough, Andrew Parkinson and Bobby Bajram, and the wider Camberwell Basketball community for supporting our inaugural Mental Health Awareness Week.

For more information contact Camberwell Basketball Communications, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

Ayuel Ayuel (pictured) led the way with a season-high 23 points as our Big V Championship Men closed Camberwell Basketball’s Mental Health Awareness Week with a 112-89 road win against Melbourne University on Saturday night.

Ayuel added four rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Dragons, who rattled up 33 points in the first quarter en route to a 62-34 lead at the half and never looked back.

Brennen Burns added 20 points, six boards, six assists and four steals and Jackson Meshanic continued his strong run of form with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Riley Simmons also enjoyed a big night out, registering a 14-point, 12-board double-double as Camberwell won for the third time in four outings.

The Dragons closed the weekend with a 3-3 record and in fourth place behind unbeaten Hume City (7-0), McKinnon (4-1), Sunbury (3-2) and RMIT (3-2). Camberwell hosts McKinnon at Boroondara Sports Complex on Saturday night (May 9, 7pm).

In other Dragons Big V action at the weekend:

– Anna Burrows had a team-high 15 points and four rebounds in a 73-62 road loss for our Division 1 Women against Gippsland United on Saturday night. Eleni Valos had five points, six boards and six steals for the Dragons, who rallied early in the third to trail by just one point with a quarter to play, but couldn’t reel in their host over the final 10 minutes.

– Jesse Macleod and Matt Marcun produced quality performances to lead our Youth League Men to back-to-back road wins against Melbourne University and Bulleen. Macleod ignited for a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds as the Dragons dominated the second half on their way to a 90-72 win at Melbourne University on Saturday, while Marcun closed with a team-high 16 points, four rebounds and four steals in an 84-77 win against the Boomers on Sunday. Camberwell improved to 7-2 and is in third place behind Sunbury (8-0) and Coburg (7-2).

– And in the early game at Bulleen Templestowe Stadium on Sunday, our Youth League Women fell behind Bulleen the second quarter and never recovered. Gemma Watson led the Dragons (3-5) with nine points and four rebounds in a 68-41 loss and Ciara Newman finished with six points and five boards in 15 minutes.

Terminus Big V Players of the Week

Championship Men at Melbourne University – Ayuel Ayuel
Division 1 Women at Gippsland United – Anna Burrows
Youth League Men at Melbourne University – Jesse Macleod
Youth League Men at Bulleen – Matt Marcun
Youth League Women at Bulleen – Ciara Newman

Terminus Big V Players of the Week (Overall)

Championship Men: Ayuel Ayuel (2), Brennen Burns (1), Riley Simmons (1), Daniel Powell (1), Jackson Meshanic (1)
Division 1 Women: Sian Gillam (2), Eleni Valos (1), Emily Roche (1), Talia D’agostino (1), Anna Burrows (1)
Youth League Men: Ace Adama, (2), Jesse Macleod (2), Caleb Lingwood-Smith (1), Billy Barton (1), Will Sinclair (1), Noah La Combre (1), Matt Marcun (1)
Youth League Women: Gemma Watson (2), Jess Del Brocco (1), Hannah Morsi (1), Mia Demarte (1), Lucy Rowe (1), Ciara Newman (1)

Our Week Ahead (Big V Pink Round)

Saturday, May 9
Championship Men: Dragons v McKinnon at Boroondara Sports Complex (BSC), 7pm
Youth League Women: Dragons at Ballarat (Minerdome), 6pm
Youth League Men: Dragons at Ballarat (Minerdome), 8pm

Sunday, May 10
Youth League Women: Dragons v Coburg at Balwyn High School, 12pm
Division 1 Women: Dragons v Altona at Balwyn High School, 2pm

Our Partners

Camberwell Basketball and the Dragons are fortunate to have a quality line-up of valued Partners and encourage our community to support them the way they support us. For the complete list of Camberwell Basketball Partners, please click HERE For information about partnership opportunities with Camberwell Basketball, including the Dragons, contact Communications, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

Dragons Den Newsletter

The latest edition of the Dragons Den newsletter (published April 24) is online now. For all the latest from the Dragons, the Community Basketball League and Camberwell Basketball, click HERE.

PHOTO: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.

The Dragons’ 12.1 Girls get right behind each other – and Camberwell Basketball’s inaugural Mental Health Awareness Week – on the road at Kilsyth last night.

This exciting young crew was one of a number of junior Dragons teams to add a touch of blue to our traditional mix of maroon and yellow in a show of support for the Association-wide initiative. We love your work, girls, and thank you for being part of it.

Look out for more photos of our Dragons supporting the cause here and on our social media platforms over this weekend and throughout next week.

For more information about Mental Health Awareness Week, which wraps up this weekend, contact Camberwell Basketball Communications, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

Ayuel Ayuel (pictured) and our Big V Championship Men close Camberwell Basketball’s inaugural Mental Health Awareness Week with a road date against Melbourne University on Saturday night.

The Dragons (2-3) are coming off 94-88 loss to league leader Hume City at Broadmeadows last weekend, while Melbourne University had made a 2-2 start to its season – its result including a 102-91 road win at Pakenham last Sunday.

In other Dragons Big V action this weekend:

– Our Division 1 Women (3-2) are on the road on Saturday for a date with Gippsland United (1-4) in Traralgon.

– Our Youth League Men (5-2) play Melbourne University (3-5) at the Uni on Saturday (4pm) before backing up on the road against Bulleen (3-3) at Bulleen Templestowe Stadium on Sunday (3pm).

– And our Youth League Women (3-4) are also at Bulleen Templestowe Stadium on Sunday. They’ll go head to head with the Boomers (3-5) at 1pm.

• For more information about the Dragons’ Big V program, contact Camberwell Basketball Communications, Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

PHOTO: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.