There’s something special about a Grand Final Day, and this one is going to be no exception.

The best teams in the Community Basketball League are preparing to do their very best work on the final – and biggest – day of the 2023-24 summer season, and we take the opportunity to wish all players, coaches, referees, officials and families involved tomorrow the very best of luck.

Enjoy every moment of what’s going to be a day we’re sure you’ll remember for a long time, and a reminder to keep us posted on how your team fares along the way. Send your news, updates, game reports, photos and videos to [email protected] and we’ll share them on Facebook and Instagram over the weekend and into next week.

And for those making their way to Boroondara Sports Complex (BSC) tomorrow, look out for Craig Dingle of Melbourne Sports Photography. He’ll be working the sidelines for us throughout the early part of the day and capturing all the colour and excitement for use on our social media platforms and right here on the Camberwell Basketball website.

Finally, thank you to the entire CBL community for your wonderful efforts and support throughout the season and we look forward to seeing you back again next month for the start of the winter campaign.

• The Grand Final action starts early tomorrow (March 23) and continues throughout the day, with a total of 84 games scheduled at BSC, Camberwell Grammar School, Melbourne Girls’ College and Kew High School. Follow our coverage of the big day on Instagram and Facebook.

• All photos: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.

Dear CDBA Member,

With the 2024 basketball year well and truly under way, I felt it timely to update you on what’s happening at Camberwell Basketball in what’s shaping up as the biggest and best year yet for our Association.

Camberwell Dragons
After attracting more than 1100 young athletes to our tryouts late last year – a record number for our program – I’m proud and delighted to say the Camberwell Dragons junior representative program has continued its impressive growth and on-court progress this season while remaining true to the family culture that has been a cornerstone of our club.

We have 56 teams competing in the VJBL, with a club record of 10 having qualified for the Victorian Championship (VC) division. VC is recognised as the highest level of junior club competition in Australia and ours is one of only five programs to be represented by 10 or more teams at that level this year.

We are enormously proud of this accomplishment, and I’m pleased to say our progress has been widely recognised and applauded within Victorian basketball circles. A sincere thanks to the players, coaches, administrators, volunteers, parents and Partners who have made, and continue to make, such valuable contributions to our program. We don’t take any of it for granted.

It is also shaping as another exciting season for our senior Dragons teams in the Big V competition. Our Men’s and Women’s Youth League teams opened their respective campaigns last week, while our Championship Men’s and Women’s teams will step out for the first time in 2024 after the Easter break.

All four teams will be represented by some of the talented young players in our region – many of whom have advanced through the Dragons’ junior program. With home games this season at Balwyn High School and Boroondara Sports Complex, I urge you to take the opportunity to experience the size, power and speed of Big V basketball up close. You won’t be disappointed.

Community Basketball League
Our domestic competition, the Community Basketball League, is also thriving, with 524 teams competing on courts across Melbourne’s inner-east during the 2023-24 season. As I write this, we are just over three days away from our much-anticipated grand final day and I take this opportunity to wish all teams who’ve advanced to the last day of the season the best of luck.

As we look to grow the league and provide more opportunities for more players in our area, the CBL will launch competition for Under 8 Boys and Girls teams in the 2024 winter season, beginning April 20. This initiative is an important step forward for the league and its clubs, and vital to the continued growth and health of the game.

Your Game, Your Choice
While one of the great attractions of the CBL is that it allows children to enjoy the game with friends and families close to home, I’m also aware a number of junior Dragons players continue to develop their game with clubs in the Eastern Districts Junior Basketball Association (EDJBA), which is fantastic. I, too, played in that competition growing up, and can attest to the strength and quality of the competition.

With a focus squarely on encouraging coach and player development, I believe it is imperative that individuals are free to play junior domestic basketball with their club of choice. One of the special things about our sport is it allows friends and families to remain connected by “belonging” to the same domestic team.

Connecting With Our Community
The Association has never been more connected with our community and I’m proud of the relationships we’ve established with local schools, community leaders, businesses, families and sports industry experts.

Dragons coaches conducted 103 clinics for more than 1500 students at 32 primary and secondary schools in 2023 and we’re well on track to exceeding those numbers this year.

The Association has recently been awarded out-of-school venue management rights to the gymnasium and all-weather sports fields at Kew High School, we engage regularly with local state and federal government representatives, and this year, with the assistance of sports industry professionals, established “Outside the Lines” – a free series of workshops and seminars for CDBA members interested in pursuing a non-playing career in sports.

We’ve also established a vibrant and successful weekly Walking Basketball program for older members of the community and have welcomed a new range of Partners in 2024. We’re also making plans to better engage with the local business community and look forward to sharing some exciting news in that space with you soon.

In closing, I thank you for your continued support of Camberwell Basketball and its programs. Enjoy the excitement and colour of the upcoming CBL and EDJBA grand finals, throw your support behind our four Dragons senior teams in the Big V, and have fun on the road if you’re associated with one of the 56 Camberwell teams travelling west for the annual Adelaide Easter Classic.

For more information, please email me at [email protected] or our Communications Department at [email protected]

Yours faithfully,

Ross Wignell – CEO, Camberwell Basketball

Camberwell Dragons Big V Championship Men’s coach Mark Jeffers will conduct a free coaches clinic at Canterbury Girls Secondary College on Monday, March 25.

Currently working as Camberwell District Basketball Association’s Competition and Program Manager, Mark has played and coached at the Dragons for many years and has a wealth of experience working with junior domestic and representative athletes.

In this “Team Development” clinic, he will present drills and teaching points that will help coaches of all ages and levels develop their players and teams.

To register for this clinic, go to: www.trybooking.com/CPWLC

For more information, contact [email protected]

Congratulations from all at Camberwell to our own Sophie Richardson on her selection to the Vic Metro Under 16 team this week.

Sophie, who plays for the Dragons’ 16.1 Girls Victorian Championship (VC) team, secured her place on the Vic team after impressing during the tryout period and at last week’s Combine, and will represent the state at the upcoming Under 16 national championship – a fantastic achievement given the strength and depth of talent in Victorian basketball.

Sophie was back at work for Camberwell last night, finishing with eight points in a road loss to the Melbourne Tigers at MSAC. The Dragons are 1-1 in VC play after opening their season with a 67-50 against Keilor 2.

Photos: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography, Basketball Victoria

Camberwell Dragons Basketball Club has finalised its Youth League team rosters for the 2024 Big V season.

Coach Danni Fidge is back as coach of the Youth League Women’s team, which went all the way to the YLW1 grand final last season and has brought back a number of returnees, including Catherine Seletto, Meg Walshe, Jade Knight and Jacinta Li.

The men’s team will again be led by head coach Fraser Kennedy, and also features some familiar faces from last season’s campaign – among them Angus Nelson, Mitch Bacon, Harry Thomas and Jaden Lai.

Both teams will open their seasons against visiting McKinnon at Balwyn High School this Sunday. The women will tip things off at 12pm, with the men to follow at 2pm.

For more information, contact: [email protected]

The Adelaide Easter Classic is coming up fast for all 56 of our Camberwell Dragons junior teams – that’s right, all 56 of them! – and our friends at Kathmandu are playing their part to make sure we look and feel good on the road out west and right here at home all year long.

Kathmandu is inviting all Adelaide-bound Dragons and their families to an exclusive shopping program this week – from Thursday, March 14 to Sunday, March 17 – and offering a one-off Gear Up discount on purchases across the entire range.

So check out the promo information attached, get down to Kathmandu Blackburn or Camberwell and see if you can score something special at a great price in time for the Adelaide tourney.

Have fun shopping, Dragons, and thank you to Kathmandu for its support of our program.

Congratulations to Sophie Richardson, from Camberwell Dragons 16.1 Girls team, on her selection to attend Saturday’s Under 16 State Combine at Keilor Stadium.

Victoria’s best Under 16 athletes will try out for state teams at the Combine ahead of July’s Under 16 National Championships.

On behalf of all at Camberwell, well done to Sophie and best of luck on the weekend.

Camberwell Dragons are delighted to welcome Loop Mobile to our program as a 2024 Dragons Partner.

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We work with major manufacturers to bring you the best pre-loved devices like iPhones, MacBooks and Apple Watches. With prices up to 70% less than buying new, supported by our industry-leading quality checks and 12 month warranty.

We want to change the way people access their tech. Choosing refurbished tech with Loop will not only save you money but you’ll be actively helping the fight for a more sustainable future.

In fact, buying refurbished with us means that your climate impact is reduced by as much as 98% vs. buying new.

Learn more about our sustainability efforts here —> https://loopmobile.com.au/pages/sustainability

Visit us at www.loopmobile.com.au

To our Dragons family – please join us in welcoming Loop Mobile, and thank you for supporting those who support us.

Individuals, businesses and/or companies interested in partnering with Camberwell Dragons and connecting with our community in 2024, please contact Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

Our history-making Camberwell Dragons 12.2 Girls celebrate at Waverley on Friday night after grinding out a come-from-behind win against Sandringham 2 to clinch their place in the Victorian Championship (VC) Division for the 2024 VJBL season.

The Dragons trailed by three points at the end of three quarters but outscored the Sabres 10-4 the rest of the way to secure the 27-24 win that saw them become the first-ever Camberwell 2s team to secure a place in VC. Confirmation of their achievement came on Tuesday afternoon.

Also on their way to VC after a grading game win against a Sandringham 2s team at Waverley on Friday night are our 18.1 Girls.

They, too, had to do it the hard way – rallying from two points down at the end of three to turn back the Sabres 45-42. Confirmation of their qualification for VC also came late on Tuesday.

Our 12.2 and 18.1 Girls became the seventh and eighth Dragons teams to qualify for VC this season, joining our 12.1, 14.1 and 16.1 Girls, and our 12.1, 14.1 and 16.1 Boys.

VC is recognised as the top level of junior club competition in Victoria.

More to share on this later in the week.

We’re gearing up for our biggest and best year yet of Dragons Basketball.

Yes, things are looking good for our 56 junior teams and four senior squads on the eve of the VJBL and
Big V regular seasons, and we’re planning to stand out from the crowd off the court, too!

So if you’re been thinking about adding some new items to your wardrobe for the new hoops season, give one of these – or all three, if you like! – a try.

To find out everything you need to know about these exciting new additions to our 2024 merchandise line – including Camberwell Dragons puffer jacket, Dragons Basketball supporter hoodie and Dragons Basketball T-Shirt – and/or to place an order line scan the QR code next to the item you’re interested in. It’s that easy!

For more information, contact Mel at [email protected]