Adelaide roster looks good,

[Andy K]

What does everyone think of Adelaide's roster so far,
Marino, Francis, Foley, Duke, Newley, Lisa Wallbutton (new signing)
This team has some experience and plenty of youth, I think they should be back up top again this year after a dissapointing last season. I know their roster is very simular to last year but with Francis, Duke, Newley & even Marino gaining another years experience this team should do better than last year. If they manage to keep Woosnam & Gahan that would be a huge plus but i think even without them playing and with the new big girl in Wallbutton this Adelaide team to me will be right on par with the Caps.

[Leftfield]

Adelaide's roster looked good last season, the problem was their coach. I don't think Valk is a WNBL standard coach. She seems short of idea's when the team is behind in a game and had no idea what to do to get Adelaide out of the slump at the end of last season.

With Chambers leaving Bulleen, for whatever reason, if I was Marino I'd be having a chat with her to see if she would be willing to relocate. Her work with Penaluna, one of the most improved big girls in the WNBL over the last season or two, has been very impressive and I'm sure she could be of great assistance to Francis who (from the outside at least) looked to have stagnated or even took a step backwards in her development under Valk.

[Dene15]

Valk has re-signed and Gahan has left for Europe. Wallbutton did nothing in Dandenong a couple seasons back but apparently Adelaide are "in talks" with a few "Americans" so we'll see what they can do. Trying to say the Adelaide roster would be equal to that of the Caps is a bit extreme. They lost Gahan and got Wallbutton, that's a loss in depth already. They will need to sign some more quality players to have a roster that is championship worthy.

[Andy K]

Wallbuttons form has been excellent in the last few weeks playing against WNBL quality opposition so to compare what she did in Dandenong 2 years ago when she was still maturing as a player is just wrong. I believe with the talanted youth + another 2 signings (possibly imports)this team can match the aging Canberra Caps this season.

[Dr Damage]

I think you will find that wallbutton is one import spot, so only 1 more allowed. She is in good form so lets hope it transfers to the WNBL.

Francis playing inside will not help her getting back into the Opals imo, perhaps a 5 man as the last signing??

[Andy K]

Maybe they can beg Jenny Whittle to come out of retirement, She has had her baby already and might be getting itchy feet again. I know Logan would love to see her playing with them as she is a QLD'er.

[aussieBaller]

I think you'll find that francis will suit up with one of the Victorian Teams.

[Andy K]

Francis is under contract with Adelaide and with no other true centers at Adelaide i don't think they would be likley to release her.

[Dene15]

I have absolutely no doubt that Adelaide are going to put on a strong team for next season. They are owned by a fairly wealthy man and if his company isn't struggling too much from the economic crisis, I'm sure he will want to put on a strong outfit that will be more successful than last season.However, at this point, with the loss of Gahan which contributes to the loss of Phillips the year before really does deplete the strength of the Lightning roster. So with that said, I think it is just a bit silly at this point in time to be saying that the signing of a player like Wallbutton and a further possible signing of some "Americans" will give them a roster to equal that of the best teams in the WNBL.

[Andy K]

I wasn't just saying that the signing of Wallbutton and another import would put them even with the best teams, I also added because they have such a young talanted list that these young players will all improve this season which IMO will have them even with the best teams in the comp, but i guess we will have to wait and see.

[kings thursday]

the lightning still have a hopeless coach. she can't develop talent and she showed last season that she can't manage talent when she has it. it will be another underwhelming season for the south aussies.

[Leftfield]

Marino maybe the Adelaide owner, but he shot himself in the foot, and he deserves the second-rate coach his employed. Sacking Lucas was a huge mistake, Adelaide's team last season was good enough to repeat. Graf built a wonderful team here in Canberra and deserved the title, but if Lucas was the Adelaide coach I believe they would have won the title. The depth was there, and his ability to get the best out his players and to develop a winning game plan is well known. Having him as an assistant coach in Canberra last season was a real plus.

Yes, Valk may have won a championship the season before, but lets be honest, a monkey could have coached that team to the title, and they only played Sydney in the Grand Final, they are bigger losers/chokers than Collingwood. She didn't have to work to hard, all the preparation was done beforehand.