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The re-integration of former Perth Wildcats players into the club after COVID-19 lockdowns has taken a giant leap with star duo Ricky Grace and Paul Rogers both attending training on Thursday morning.
Players and coaches lived in a COVID bubble for two seasons as they attempted to avoid missing games, and that prevented big names from interacting with the group.
But with Grace and Rogers at the Bendat Basketball Centre at the same time as Bryce Cotton was on court, the team got a clear reminder of the club’s famous history.
“Any time you get to have club MVPs, NBL MVPs or Wildcats legends (here), it is great to have them at practice for the presence they bring,” coach John Rillie said.
“COVID restricted a lot of that. In my time as the head coach here, I want to make sure those former players and coaches are welcome around our program at any time.
“When you bring former guys around, it does bring a different edge to the group on that day.
“With more guys like that coming around the program and feeling welcome, nothing bad can come from that.”
The entire Wildcats roster is now in Perth after Luke Travers, Mitch Norton and Todd Blanchfield returned from Australian Boomers duties. The club has also signed New Zealand centre Jack Andrew after he impressed for Sports Entertainment Group’s Otago Nuggets.
The Wildcats can now prepare to play two practice matches against Adelaide in Eaton on September 9 and Joondalup on September 11.
“We’re finally all together, so we can move forward,” Rillie said.
“We’ve been chipping away at it in different ways for a month now so we want to keep building. It’s going to be great to play some games so we know where we are at. There’s an element of us being used to playing against each other. It’ll be really great to play Adelaide and see where we are really at as a team.
“Everyone is available. To be fair to the guys on the roster you’ve got to give them an opportunity so they can show me what they can do. We’re playing five pre-season games in total so everyone will get an opportunity to perform.”
