Grand Final

[kazza]

Just looking into how easy it will be for supporters of the team that gets to go to Canberra to obtain tickets to the game, I believe they sell out fairly quickly. Any Canberra supporters that can give us some info on accommadation, preferably cheap, close to the venue. Not counting my chickens but like to be prepared just in case. I am sure there are other people from both sides who will also be after this info.
Cheers
Kazza :lol:

[darth hoopa]

can get your tickets through ticketek

i believe that half the stadium has sold already, so travelling supporters better get in quick!

[Suzi]

Lots of options for accommodation.

You can stay at motels, caravan parks & even Ridges if you are game to pay for it. There is lots of accommodation in the following areas: Macquarie, Belconnen, O'Connor, Watson, Dickson - Don't forget that the Brunbies are also playing @ 7.30pm that night, so I may suggest that you get in now and try and book. I know there is a Formule 1 motel on the Federal Highway, but do a google search for accommodation in Canberra,or if you are with the NRMA (RACV or RACQ), use their websites to check out accommodation, then get those fingers dialling fast. If you are unlucky to get into close to the arenas, you can always try accommodation in Queanbeyan (about 20-25 minutes east of the arenas).

If you are up for the Caps & Brumbies, see the WNBL website & you will find there the following news item with the prices for the 2 games. http://www.wnbl.com.au/index.php?id=81&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1632&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=c0aa2d2c66

[Bort]

You may want to have booked before now - Parliament is sitting that week, and as Carrie Graf pointed out it's a Public Service town... if you get desperate don't discount Queanbeyan, which has a bunch of 3-star motels and doesn't tend to get as much Public Service action due to the different TA rates. It's a little way from there to the AIS, but not *that* much further.

[Suzi]

Bort
I have just moved into Canberra from Queanbeyan after approx 18 years of living there. They are also affected by Public Service/Parliamentary people wanting accommodation, but usually on Friday, the pollies, etc are on their way home for the weekend. Qbn has a wide range of accommodation ranging from cabins to 3 1/2 star motels. Qbn has also the best eateries (from the Central Cafe with main meals from $15 - $25, to - dare I say it - Maccas drive thru open 24 hours).

[Bort]

usually on Friday, the pollies, etc are on their way home for the weekend.

True that - if you're trying to stay on Thursday night, you may have trouble, but if you're travelling on game day there should be no worries.

Qbn has also the best eateries (from the Central Cafe with main meals from $15 - $25, to - dare I say it - Maccas drive thru open 24 hours).

Again true - Queanbeyan is one of those nice country towns Australia puts up sometimes. The eating is good, but a little less so since the School of Arts closed. I'd put the Rendevous in front of the Central these days, too, unless you're wicked hungry.

[Dunkin' Dan]

So can anyone see Bulleen getting anywhere near Canberra in the big one?
If they had Hammonds in there I would give them some sort of chance, but as it is now I just don't see how Bulleen are going to get enough points on the board.

I'm really hoping for a good, close game, but I can't say I'm expecting it to pan out that way. Caps by 15+ for me.

[kazza]

Thanx everyone for the info, very helpful. Unfortuately we are not going, boo hoo. Can't wait for the game as it should be a good one.
Cheers
Kaz

[Clips]

Bring empty chinese containers if you dare to eat at the Central. I strongly recommend to all to try take on the mixed grill.

[Bort]

If Bulleen had played last week the way they did last night, this thread would be about accomodation options in Melbourne. However, with an extra week's rest the battered Canberra side is only going to get stronger.

I think the Capitals will get over the line, but I think it'll be close.

[Dunkin' Dan]

Canberra are effectively adding Hurst since the last game.
That gives them backcourt superiority as well as in the paint. They just need to do a job on Hibbert and they're as good as home.

[WilloWildWaves]

Caps should get the win but I like seeing the underdog get up so I'll back Bulleen

[Left Field]

I can't see the Boomers beating the Caps, the loss of Hammonds is especially difficult for the Boomers to cover against Canberra as we already have the advantage in the talls. Carr will have to play one of her best ever games to help Penaluna overcome the triple threat of Beatty, Bishop and Tolo. If Hibbert and Glaubitz play as they did on Saturday the Boomers are a chance, but I'd expect Abrams to alternate between the two, reducing the effectiveness of both. Hurst and Milner will be a great contest, but I think the Caps have the advantage in the guards as well with Bibby and Perera coming of the bench. Home court advantage should also be huge plus for the Caps, with 5000 screaming fans cheering them on.
I hope it's a close and exciting game, but IMO opinion the Boomers will have to play at their best to beat the Caps, while the Caps can still win with a below par performance. Caps by 5-10pts.

[darth hoopa]

My two bobss worth:

Bishop is the key to the win for the Caps for mine. Let's look at the match-ups.

Hurst v Milner - both control tempo, but are solid defensively. Likely to cancel one another out as they did two weeks ago.
Bibby/Musselwhite v Glaubitz - both can flat out shoot it and rack up points quickly. Galubitz is more consistent and a better defender, however Bibby has shown all season that she can score at a rapid rate and give the Caps a lead. Again, they may cancel each other out. Musselwhite is similar - can put the ball in the hole - although she has struggled with form since her injury.
Beatty/Tolo v Penaluna - The Caps have the edge here, however Penaluna has had some big games this season. She was very quiet last week and will at least need to break even for the Boomers to get it done
Hibbert v Abrams - Abrams has locked down better, harder working players than Hibbert in the past. Expect the Caps captain to do the job again - she nows if her D is up to scratch that Bulleen may struggle to shoot a winning score. If Glaubitz gets going, Abrams will switch.
Bishop v Carr - Carr has played out of her skin the last few weeks and was terrific in the SF once again. But she's matched up here against an MVP candidate who has an inside / outside game and is a monster on the boards. Carr may have a long night ahead of her.

The depth of the Caps will also be a factor. Bringing Bibby and Tolo in as #6 and #7 is a huge advantage as they both run the floor and can score on tiring defenders. Perera at #8 is a real luxury also to give Hurst a breather - Perera is every bit as quick as Hurst and will get after Milner.

Caps by double figures. Bulleen played their Grand Final last week IMO.

[Adam]

With 4 home teams winning the first 4 playoff games Canberra would be red hot favourites to win!!!

[~Angel_Baby~]

My two bobss worth:

Caps by double figures. Bulleen played their Grand Final last week IMO.

Agreed.

[darth hoopa]

Mind you, I do think Bulleen represents some value on the punt at $7 in a two horse race or at a $1.90 for -12.5 points.

[Cram]

Wish I could get to see this! damn having both matches on at once...

[Off_the_bench]

Super effort Boomers! Super super effort! Almost got them! But the talent-laden Caps, congrats to them too. I had my doubts with the amount of players they have to keep everyone happy but Graffie balanced it and balanced it well!

Happy days in the ACT!

[Dunkin' Dan]

Yeah, really gutsy stuff by the undermanned Boomers tonight. I didn't think they had much of a chance, but so much about basketball is in the mind and they definitely came out in front in that battle tonight, even without Hammonds.
Congrats to the Caps though. Just too many weapons out there, and more to the point I guess, just too much size & rebounding ability. The best team in teh league this season so they were deserving winners. Props to the people of Canberra for packing the place out as well, even without a huge drawcard like Zac Efron in the building :P


One final thing I feel an intense need to say after watching the game tonight on ABC2. Can someone please fire the director!! My god, how many times were we forced to watch yet another closeup of Graf (and on the odd occasion, Chambers) standing on the sidelines doing nothing in particular, while there was an important piece of play going on. It was freakin' horrible to watch. This was the grand final for goodness sake, and a close, intense one at that. I kinda want to see what's happening on the court.
Ughh ... sorry, hopefully that's out of my system now.

Congrats again to Carrie & the Caps.

[Clips]

Great atmosphere tonight, in the final quarter there would have been easily 200 people in standing room after they opened the doors to let the breeze in. Quite a few Brumbies members went the double header and turned up early to watch the girls. Caps did a lap of honour at half time of the 14's match and got a great reception and standing ovation as they passed each section.

Brumbies had the largest home crowd of the season (21 594) so the night was a great success for sports in Canberra.

[hellcat]

Congrats to the Caps on championship #6. From start to finish they were the stand out team this season.

My hat goes off to Bulleen for really making a game of it. I too expected this match to be a bit one sided, however the Boomers should be very proud of their efforts tonight in pushing the top team.

And ditto on the Graf close ups. I lost count of the number of times the ball came into the front court, only for the camera to cut to Carrie on the sidelines.

[ScoopJackson]

Great game, and congrats to Canberra. I was hoping for Bulleen to cause the upset, but in some ways it's fair that the most dominant team all season takes home the silverware.

Crucial mistake in my opinion was coach Chambers pleading for a timeout when Bulleen had the rebound and 11 seconds to go in the match - Glaubitz was wiiiide open in the corner and ready to shoot and tie the game. Could have been a very different story had the timeout not been called!

[Clips]

Crucial mistake in my opinion was coach Chambers pleading for a timeout when Bulleen had the rebound and 11 seconds to go in the match - Glaubitz was wiiiide open in the corner and ready to shoot and tie the game. Could have been a very different story had the timeout not been called!
That's what I thought too. One of two of the Caps got a chance to set up after being caught off guard on the inbound expecting the time out.

[Andy K]

Bad Luck Bulleen, It would have been nice to send out Hibbert with a championship but Oh Well. :(

[da_answer]

Looked like it was a great game from highlights!

Does anybody know what the official crowd attendance was? There looked like there was a heap of ppl there!

Excuse my ignorance, but is the WNBL more 'popular' than the NBL? Judging from their respective websites, the WNBL seems to be a lot better run!

[Clips]

Looked like it was a great game from highlights!

Does anybody know what the official crowd attendance was? There looked like there was a heap of ppl there!

Sold out + a few hundred standing, which would be around 5200 I'd say.