New Gators Team Not a Croc
BBL President Hayden Forbes has today confirmed that Treasurer Lachlan McLean will be heading the Greenbank Gators’ return to the league as Head Coach for term four.
Mr Forbes says the league has been successful at onboarding new players and will need to continue introducing new teams to accommodate the influx.
“We are excited to announce this expansion, and are proud of the growing number of players joining the league,” Mr Forbes said.
This will be Mr McLean’s first time coaching for the BBL but he says he is confident about his abilities to run a strong team.
“I’ve been around the league for over three years analysing each team from an unbiased point of view,” he said.
“Having a good relationship with all the players gives me a great advantage heading into the next trade window”.
There is still no confirmation of the names of the players who will be joining the Gators with the debuting coach remaining tight-lipped.
“I have numerous players approaching me because they’re interested in a trade to the Gators but all players will stay unnamed until contracts are confirmed”, Mr Mclean said.
Mr McLean did not confirm that Reilly S would be joining the team when asked about the leaked photo of them meeting in secret.
“I’ve had no word from Reilly that he will be joining the league, however recent scandals have sparked his interest and narrowed down which team he will be supporting for term four” he said.
Leaked photo of Lachlan McLean shaking hands with unsigned player Reilly S
The response from opposition coaches has been overwhelmingly positive with Slacks Creek Storm Coach Dan Mooney and BEST Blazers Coach Riley North sharing their support.
“I think it’s awesome news - very positive for the future growth of the BBL,” Mr Mooney said.
“As a three-time premiership-winning coach it will be great to have some new blood in the league and some new competition”, he said.
“A team with an established legacy is going to allow more players to fill the ranks and make our league even more competitive and strong”, Mr North said.
Gladiators Coach and BBL Founder Chris Stan remains apprehensive and says he has mixed feelings about Mr McLean joining the league as a coach.
“I’ve heard he’s got a lot of playing experience himself and that he used to average 20 points per game playing for BEST Ballers,” Mr Stan said.
“I hope someone like Coach McLean can keep the team financially viable,” Mr Stan said.
“I’m not sure if what coaching experience he has or what his plans are for his roster build but there’s a lot of new players in the league who are just itching for a new contract,” he said.
When asked what strategies he will be implementing to guarantee the financial viability of the Greenbank Gators, Mr McLean says he will be relying on the existing community.
“We will be trusting the popularity of the BBL via Facebook streams, weekly attendance, and media to boost our season opener and ride the wave of radical vibes,” Mr McLean said.
“The Gators are an old school team - having them return in late 2025 will not only be nostalgic for fans, but the players as well”.