Wollongong All Time

They started way back in 1979 in a place called the snake pit as the Illawara Hawks. Fast track 30 years later and they play at the sandpit as the Wollongong Hawks. The Hawks epitomises the Australian blue collar working class team. They have made the finals 14 times and won a championship in 2001.

Four coaches that have had multiple years at the club are Dave Lindstrom(7 years), Alan Black(3), Eric Cooks (2) and Brendon "Choc" Joyce(12). Choc being the first and only coach to win a championship with the franchise. Anyways here are my top 6

Point Guard: Gordie McLeod

Gordie(Current Hawks coach) was the general and captain of the Hawks for 8 years. The 215 gamer is second all time at the hawks in assists and third all time in steals. In 1985 he averaged 10.2 assists a game. He also represented Australia in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He also racked up 18 assists in a single game twice.

Shooting Guard: Mike Jones

Mike Jones was the 1981 NBL MVP in which he averaged 30.5 points a game. In 1983 he averaged 32.7 points a game.  He had a career high 46 points in 1983.

Small Forward: Glen Saville (c)

Sav pretty much leads the hawks in every single major category there is. Points, Assists, Rebounds, Steals and Block shots. His hawks career that expanded over 395 games has been topped off with the GF MVP after there win in 2001. He's a two time Olympian, musician and one of Wollongong's favorite sons.

Power Forward: Melvin Thomas

This smooth moving lefty that made basketball look effortless was All NBL First Team in 1993. He played 235 games at the hawks and is sitting second all time in steals, blocks and rebounds, third all time in points and fourth all time in assists. He dragged down 21 rebounds in a single game and has recorded 7 blocks in a single game twice.

Center: Norman Taylor

Norman was a three time club MVP. Back in 1989 he averaged 29.9 points a game and 11.7 rebounds a game for the season. He had 54 points, the most points ever by a hawks player in a single game. He also had a 49 point game as well.

6th Man: Doug Overton

Doug Overton was drafted 40th in the 1991 NBA Draft. He soon after came to Australia where he was All NBL First Team in 1992. He went on to play 499 games over 11 seasons in the NBA after his success in Australia.

Honorable mention: Mat Campbell, Chuck Harmison and Damon Lowery (Clutch, Clutch FT's)

 

Tune in next time when I feature the Melbourne Tigers

Until next time

Have a beer for me 

Wortho