News

Camberwell Dragons and the wider basketball community came together in record numbers for the 2025-26 Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) tryouts – the biggest and most competitive in our club’s history.

More than 1200 young athletes (1217) registered to take part, representing an extraordinary show of interest and commitment from players and families across our program and beyond. As a result, Camberwell will field more than 60 teams in this season’s state-wide VJBL competition – another record for our growing club.

Camberwell Basketball CEO Ross Wignell said the achievement reflects the continued growth of basketball in our community and the strength of the Dragons’ player development pathway, which stretches from grassroots participation through to senior Big V competition.

“We’re incredibly proud of the way our community came together throughout this process,” Wignell said. “To see so many young athletes striving to be part of our program is inspiring. It also speaks volumes about the work our coaches, administrators, and volunteers continue to do behind the scenes.”

Camberwell enters the new VJBL season in a strong position competitively, with six of our eight teams beginning the grading phase ranked among the top 10 teams in Victoria in their respective age groups.

Wignell extended his thanks to the many people who made the record-breaking tryouts possible.

“With our biggest-ever tryouts now behind us, I thank everyone who played a part in making them such a great success,” he said. “We look forward to an exciting season ahead and can’t wait to see our Dragons teams represent the club with pride across Victoria.”

Wignell also paid tribute to the passion and determination shown by players who missed out on selection, encouraging them to keep developing their skills and striving to reach their potential.

“These tryouts were the most competitive in our club’s history, and every player who took part should be extremely proud of the way they presented and conducted themselves,” he said.

“For those who missed selection this time, tryouts are not the end of the journey – they’re another step in your basketball development. We look forward to following the progress of all current and future Dragons in the months ahead.”

The build-up to the VJBL season continues this weekend (November 7–9), with 49 junior Dragons teams registered to compete at the annual Southern Peninsula Tournament.