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Bendigo Spirit

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Bendigo Spirit
Bendigo Spirit logo
LeaguesWNBL
Founded2007
HistoryBendigo Spirit
2007–present
ArenaRed Energy Arena
Capacity4,000+
LocationBendigo, Victoria
Team colorsDodger blue, yellow
Main sponsorTAC
General managerDaniel Jackson
Head coachKennedy Kereama
OwnershipSports Entertainment Group
Championships2 (2013, 2014)
Websitewnbl.basketball/bendigo

Bendigo Spirit is one of three Victorian basketball teams in the Australian Women's National Basketball League.[1] The team, based in the regional city of Bendigo, Victoria, joined the competition from the 2007/08 season.

History

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The Bendigo Spirit were formed in 2007 and started playing out of Bendigo Stadium, the first side based in regional Victoria. Coached by Bernie Harrower, the team was led by his daughter, Australian Opal and captain, Kristi Harrower. The Spirit have won the WNBL Championship twice (2013 & 2014) led by the likes of Harrower, Gabrielle Richards, Kelly Wilson as well as imports Chelsea Aubry and the now naturalised, Kelsey Griffin.

Season-by-season records

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Season Standings Regular season Finals Head coach
W L PCT
Bendigo Spirit
2007–08 7th 10 14 41.6 Did not qualify Bernie Harrower
2008–09 5th 14 8 63.6 Lost Elimination Final (Adelaide, 73–81) Bernie Harrower
2009–10 5th 13 9 59.1 Lost Elimination Final (Townsville, 73–84) Bernie Harrower
2010–11 3rd 15 7 68.2 Won Semi Final (Logan, 74–53)
Lost Preliminary Final (Canberra, 78–83) 		Bernie Harrower
2011–12 6th 12 10 54.5 Did not qualify Bernie Harrower
2012–13 1st 21 3 87.5 Won Semi Final (Dandenong, 78–71)
Won Grand Final (Townsville, 71–57) 		Bernie Harrower
2013–14 1st 22 2 91.6 Won Semi Final (Dandenong, 71–62)
Won Grand Final (Townsville, 94–83) 		Bernie Harrower
2014–15 2nd 15 7 68.2 Lost Semi Final (Townsville, 63–82)
Won Preliminary Final (Sydney, 85–77)
Lost Grand Final (Townsville, 65–75) 		Bernie Harrower
2015–16 6th 12 12 50.0 Did not qualify Simon Pritchard
2016–17 6th 13 11 54.1 Did not qualify Simon Pritchard
2017–18 8th 4 17 19.1 Did not qualify Simon Pritchard
2018–19 7th 7 14 33.3 Did not qualify Simon Pritchard
2019–20 7th 5 16 23.8 Did not qualify Tracy York
2020 8th 0 13 0.0 Did not qualify Tracy York
2021–22 5th 7 9 43.7 Did not qualify Tracy York
2022–23 5th 11 10 52.3 Did not qualify Tracy York
2023–24 6th 11 10 52.3 Did not qualify Kennedy Kereama
Regular season 192 172 53.0 2 Minor Premierships
Finals 6 5 54.5 2 WNBL Championships

Source: Bendigo Spirit Archived 22 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Players

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Current roster

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Bendigo Spirit roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
F/C 0 Australia Hannan, Ashlee 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 23 – (2001-03-21)21 March 2001
F 3 Australia Bird, Opal 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 18 – (2006-03-03)3 March 2006
G 5 Australia Simpson, Micah 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) 21 – (2002-12-02)2 December 2002
G 6 United States Burton, Veronica 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 24 – (2000-07-12)12 July 2000
F 10 Australia Nightingale, Asha 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 18 – (2006-03-20)20 March 2006
C 12 Australia Tolo, Marianna 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 35 – (1989-07-02)2 July 1989
G 13 Australia Wehrung, Abigail 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 28 – (1995-12-28)28 December 1995
G 14 Australia Booth, Georgia 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 21 – (2003-01-17)17 January 2003
G 16 Australia Samuels, Casey 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 30 – (1994-08-02)2 August 1994
G 22 Australia Wilson, Kelly 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) 40 – (1984-01-01)1 January 1984
F 23 Australia Griffin, Kelsey 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 37 – (1987-07-02)2 July 1987
G 32 Australia Whitcomb, Sami 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 36 – (1988-07-20)20 July 1988
Head coach

Kennedy Kereama

Assistant coach(es)

John White Deanna Smith Zoe Carr

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 2 November 2024

Former players

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Coaches and staff

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Head coaches

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Bendigo Spirit head coaches
Name Start End Seasons Regular season Finals
W L PCT G W L PCT G
Bernie Harrower 2007 2015 8 121 61 66.4 182 6 5 54.5 11
Simon Pritchard 2015 2018 4 36 54 40.0 90 0 0 0.0 0
Tracy York 2019 2022 3 5 16 23.8 0 0 0 0.0 0
Kennedy Kereama 2022 1 7 0 100 0 0 0 0.0 0

Ownership

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In April 2022, the team's WNBL license was purchased from Bendigo Stadium Limited (BSL) by Sports Entertainment Group.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ "WNBL Media Guide 2016–17" (PDF). wnbl.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  2. ^ Bendigo (12 April 2022). "BENDIGO SPIRIT FUTURE LOCKED IN FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS, SEN TO ACQUIRE LICENCE". wnbl.basketball/bendigo. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  3. ^ "SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK GROW BASKETBALL PRESENCE WITH WNBL BENDIGO SPIRIT ACQUISITION". sen.com.au. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
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