Nunawading Spectres
Nunawading Spectres logo
LeaguesNBL1 South
Founded1979
HistoryNBL/WNBL:
Men:
Nunawading Spectres
1979–1986
Eastside Spectres
1987–1991
Women:
Nunawading Spectres
1982–1991
SEABL/NBL1
Men:
Nunawading Spectres
1990–present
Women:
Nunawading Spectres
1992–present
ArenaNunawading Basketball Centre
LocationBurwood East, Victoria
Team colorsRoyal blue, red, white
Main sponsorQuest Burwood East
Head coachM: Andrew Cutler
W: Paul Flynn
ChampionshipsMen:
SEABL (1)
NBL1 (1)
Women:
WNBL (6)
Conference titlesMen:
SEABL (3)
WebsiteNunawadingBasketball.com.au

Nunawading Spectres is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Melbourne East Basketball Association (MEBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the region. The Spectres play their home games at Nunawading Basketball Centre.

Club history

NBL/WNBL

Eastside Spectres logo (1987–1991)

Nunawading Basketball was established in 1969. In 1979, a Nunawading Spectres men's team entered the National Basketball League (NBL), joining nine other teams for the league's inaugural season. In 1982, a Nunawading Spectres women's team entered the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for the league's second season.

In 1987, the Spectres men changed their name to Eastside Spectres and spent five years under that moniker before merging with the Southern Melbourne Saints in 1992 to become the South East Melbourne Magic. During their time in the NBL, the Spectres were two-time grand finalists, losing to Launceston in 1981 and Perth in 1991. The Spectres women played 10 seasons in the WNBL and won six championships, including four in a row between 1986 and 1989.

SEABL/NBL1

In 1990, with the Eastside Spectres still a championship contender in the NBL, a Nunawading Spectres men's team re-emerged in the form of a South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) franchise. Two years later, the Spectres women joined the men's team in the SEABL after withdrawing from the WNBL following the 1991 season.[1]

In 1995, the men's team collected their first title as they won the SEABL East Conference Championship. The women's team were SEABL runners-up in both 2000 and 2008, while the men were conference runners-up in 1999 and 2004.[1]

In 2011, the men's team won their second conference title and their first SEABL Championship after defeating the Bendigo Braves 88–61 in the grand final. Spectres guard Shane McDonald had a game-high 28 points to earn the MVP award.[2][3]

After finishing as conference runners-up in 2013, the men's team won their third conference title in 2014 behind the likes of Mitch Creek, Tommy Greer, Shane McDonald, Simon Conn and Matt O'Hea.[4] They went on to lose 85–71 in the grand final to the Mount Gambier Pioneers.[5]

In 2018, the Spectres men finished as SEABL runners-up after losing the grand final to the Hobart Chargers.[6]

In 2019, following the demise of the SEABL, the Spectres joined the NBL1.[7] The men went on to win the championship with a 99–90 win over the Bendigo Braves in the grand final.[8][9][10] The NBL1 South season did not go ahead in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

NBL Season by season

NBL champions League champions Runners-up Finals berth
Season Tier League Regular season Post-season Head coach
FinishPlayedWinsLossesWin %
Nunawading Spectres
1979 1 NBL 3rd 18 13 5 .722 Did not qualify Barry Barnes
1980 1 NBL 4th 22 14 8 .636 Lost semifinal (St. Kilda) 77–101 Barry Barnes
1981 1 NBL 4th 22 13 9 .591 Won semifinal (West Adelaide) 74–71
Lost NBL final (Launceston) 54–75		 Barry Barnes
1982 1 NBL 3rd 26 19 7 .731 Lost semifinal (Geelong) 59–71 Barry Barnes
1983 1 NBL 3rd 22 15 7 .682 Qualified round robin 2–1
Lost semifinal (West Adelaide) 77–84)		 Barry Barnes
1984 1 NBL 4th 23 14 9 .609 Won elimination final (Adelaide) 108–101
Lost qualifying final (Geelong) 91–115		 Barry Barnes
1985 1 NBL 3rd 26 19 7 .731 Lost elimination final (Newcastle) 97–103 Barry Barnes
1986 1 NBL 9th 26 12 14 .462 Did not qualify Barry Barnes
Eastside Spectres
1987 1 NBL 8th 26 13 13 .500 Did not qualify Barry Barnes
1988 1 NBL 8th 24 11 13 .458 Did not qualify Brian Goorjian
1989 1 NBL 7th 24 14 10 .583 Did not qualify Brian Goorjian
1990 1 NBL 2nd 26 18 8 .692 Lost semifinals (Brisbane) 0–2 Brian Goorjian
1991 1 NBL 2nd 26 17 9 .654 Won semifinals (North Melbourne) 2–0
Lost NBL finals (Perth) 1–2		 Brian Goorjian
Regular season record 311 192 119 .617 0 regular season champions
Finals record 18 7 11 .389 0 NBL championships

As of the end of the 1991 season

*Note: In 1983 and 1984, the NBL was split into Eastern and Western divisions during the regular season.

Source: Eastside Spectres Year by Year

References

  1. 1 2 "SEABL 2017 Media Guide" (PDF). SEABL.com.au. p. 71. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  2. ↑ Dole, Nathan (18 September 2011). "Braves outmuscled in national championship final". BendigoAdvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  3. ↑ Dole, Nathan (18 September 2011). "Braves fall at last hurdle". BendigoAdvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  4. ↑ Hustwaite, Megan (8 September 2014). "Young star lifts Nunawading Spectres over the line in South-East Australian Basketball League final against Geelong Supercats". HeraldSun.com.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  5. ↑ Hill, Kate; Sneath, Gretel (15 September 2014). "Championship win 'redemption' for Pioneers". ABC.net.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "HOBART CHARGERS' DEFENCE SEES THEM WIN 2018 GRAND FINAL". SEABL.com.au. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "NBL1 to Showcase Next Level of Australia's Basketball Talent". NBL.com.au. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "Grand Final - Nunawading vs Bendigo". NBL1.com.au. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  9. ↑ "Spectres vs Braves". FIBALiveStats.com. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  10. ↑ "SPECTRES CHAMPIONSHIP ENDS BENDIGO FAIRYTALE". nunawadingbasketball.com.au. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  11. ↑ Arsenis, Damian (20 March 2020). "2020 NBL1 season facing uncertainty as South teams withdraw". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
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