New coach Ryan Addison is hopeful a strong pre-season will hold the Sunbury Jets in good stead come the Big V men’s division 1 season.
Addison, who was an assistant coach last season, said despite a very different line-up the side was looking strong.
With less than a quarter of last year’s team returning Jacob Formosa, who led the Jets scoring last season averaging nearly 20 points a game, will again be a key for the side.
Addison said Formosa, who is in his second season with the Jets, had been training really well.
“He’s a big presence for us and we are expecting big things from him,” Addison said.
“He’s only fairly young and already shown some big things.”
Daniel Jackson and Damian O’Keefe have also returned.
Jed O’Riley, who comes from Hume City Broncos, is expected to get some big minutes.
O’Riley, who played in both the Broncos youth league and state championship side, averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in his youth league games and was named in the division’s All-Star 5 team.
Canadian import Jonathan Alexander will play as a stretch four and is set to help the side in transition.
Alexander has been part of the American College system, while most recently playing for the University of Manitoba.
Some former Jets players have returned, while a couple of Kiwis are set to make the journey across the Tasman.
The Jets won’t have a chance to ease into the season, playing against Chelsea Seagulls, which lost last year’s division 1 grand final series, first up.
Addison said it would give them a bit of a look at what to expect this season.
He said it could take a bit of time to settle in with a new side.
“Chelsea made the grand final and they nearly won it and we face some other good teams first-up,” he said.
“We’ll see how we go the first couple of weeks being a new team.
“The team has come together really well and we’ve been going strong since early January.
“It’s good to have an almost full roster.”
The Jets will play two practice matches and then the Dandenong pre-season tournament, before kicking off their Big V season on March 17.
