1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: Our Wheelchair Basketball Australia is gearing up to celebrate a 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: major milestone this week. It's first ever Kevin Coomb's Indigenous Round. 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: It's starting on the fourth of July across the men's 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: National League now. The round recognizes the contributions of Aboriginal 5 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 1: and Torres Strait Islander players and celebrates culture, connection and 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: community through. 7 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:23,799 Speaker 2: The power of sport. 8 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: We are set to see three massive games for the 9 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: Darwin Salties, the first being played tomorrow night. Joining me 10 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: live on the line from training, I believe is Darwin 11 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: Salty's superstar. CJ McCarthy grogan. Good morning to your CJ. 12 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 3: Good morning Catie, thanks for having me. 13 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, lovely to have you on the show. 14 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: Now, how is training looking this morning? How's how the 15 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: boys going? 16 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, the team's looking really really good. We've got 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 3: a couple of the other interstate boys frough in yesterday, 18 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 3: so it's not to have all ten of us here. 19 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 3: We've just got one more coming in late tonight from them, 20 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 3: so yeah, we'll almost have everyone. But tomorrow we'll have 21 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 3: a shoot around and we'll have everyone here together. 22 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 2: Oh good stuff. 23 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: Now tell me about the round that he is named 24 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: in honor of Kevin Coombs. Sounds like a phenomenal person 25 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,639 Speaker 1: and a great thing to be named in his honor. 26 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, one hundred percent. You know, the round definitely is 27 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 3: as well deserving after Uncle Kevin Tombs. And you know, 28 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 3: he was a pioneer that blaze the trail for all 29 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 3: of us as indigenous, not indigenous athletes, but just to 30 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 3: try and help break down the barriers in the real 31 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 3: world as well as off the court. And you know, 32 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 3: I was fortunate enough to know Uncle Kevin before he 33 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 3: passed a few years ago, and just yeah, just grateful 34 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 3: that his family had had given us the approval to 35 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 3: be able to put this round in his name and 36 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 3: he's honor. Yeah. 37 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 2: Well, and ce js I understand it. 38 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: Obviously you are Ad and Salty's player, but also the 39 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: chair of the WBA's Indigenous Working Group. And it sounds like, 40 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: you know, this round is more than just being about basketball. 41 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's correct, Otie. It's more than more than basketball, 42 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 3: and it's it's quite significant to be the first endigenous 43 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,959 Speaker 3: round in the National League's history, you know, in this 44 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 3: sport in the country. And you know what, it's even 45 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 3: more special to be celebrating it because it's also coincided 46 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 3: with fiftieth anniversary of Nadok as well. So how awesome 47 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 3: is that? 48 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 2: How good? And how good to have games happening here 49 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: in the Northern. 50 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 3: Territory, oh, in the dry season as well. I'm looking 51 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 3: forward to it, and I'm sure the WOLLANDNG team are 52 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 3: looking forward to getting out of the cold from down 53 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 3: south as well. 54 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, well how are they looking? 55 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,639 Speaker 1: Are you expecting them to be tough opponents for your 56 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: games this weekend? 57 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 3: Oh? Look, Wollongong Rollhawks have always been a solid outfit. 58 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 3: They've in my opinion, they've always been, you know, one 59 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 3: of the top two teams ever since I can remember 60 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 3: as a kids. So you know, they've got a very 61 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 3: well experienced lineup and a good group of players that 62 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 3: have been playing for you know, fifteen to twenty plus years. 63 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 3: So you know it's not going to be easy, but 64 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 3: you know, we wouldn't want it any other way. 65 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: See ja, to anyone who hasn't been to a wheelchair 66 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: basketball game, what can they expect this weekend? 67 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 3: A lot of a lot of crash and bash. You know, 68 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 3: still technically a non contact sport, but you know, works 69 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 3: of basketball, it's it's a very different atmosphere when you're 70 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 3: seeing it live as opposed to watching it on TV. 71 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 3: You know, you're feeling the impact of the players on court. 72 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 3: You know, they're just the chairs, you know, run and 73 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 3: gun as well, so to speak, but just just the 74 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 3: passion and you'll see a lot of very passionate players 75 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 3: out on court. Because I think you know, for us, 76 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 3: it's our actual first round, although it is the second 77 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 3: round of the National League. We were fortunate enough to 78 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 3: have the buye last weekend so to be able to 79 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 3: have our first home games during Indigenous round leading into 80 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 3: NADOC week and it's you know, in Darwin, nowhere else 81 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 3: I'd rather be. 82 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, mate, how does that feel for you? Like that 83 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 2: must be? 84 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: It sounds like it's a wonderful, wonderful weekend and in 85 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: particular for you, you know, our home growing star. 86 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 3: Yeah. Look, it's you know, it's still still got to 87 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 3: pinch myself at times, but you know, this wouldn't have 88 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 3: happened without all the support from you know, down Basketball 89 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 3: Association and you know, like I've mentioned several times, but 90 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 3: you know, Tom and I were just two local kids 91 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 3: wanting to chase our dreams and see where we can 92 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 3: go with it, and you know, we try and make 93 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 3: the most of our opportunities. And thankfully, you know, our 94 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 3: passion ended up leading us to where we are today, 95 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 3: and we're able to help set you know, set the 96 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 3: platform for the next generation and you know, whether kids 97 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 3: are born with their disability or people might acquire their 98 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,239 Speaker 3: disability later in life. This is what it's all about, 99 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 3: because we didn't have these options as kids, you know. 100 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 3: Unfortunately for us, we had to actually travel a lot 101 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 3: into state and I went to boarding school and Tom 102 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 3: had to fly a lot to Brisbane. But now we're 103 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 3: very thankful and very grateful for all the support we've 104 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 3: been given from the whole community as you know, all together. 105 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 3: And yeah, we're able to have a local team, you know, 106 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 3: so we don't have to play for Brisbane or Sydney anymore. 107 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 3: We can come home in the dry season, or we 108 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 3: can live here and not have to worry about traveling 109 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 3: as much until the season's actually on. 110 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: Now it's awesome. Hey, you said before, it's a non 111 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: contact sport. It gets pretty rough though, doesn't it. 112 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, no, it does get pretty rough. You know. 113 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 3: That's why I always tell people, Hey, technically it's still 114 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 3: non contact sport wheelchair basketball. But yeah, you will. You 115 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 3: will hear a lot of cheers getting hit, but you know, 116 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 3: it's all part of the experience and it's something something 117 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 3: everyone sort of is a bit stand off, I guess 118 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 3: that at first until they see it and want to 119 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 3: want to jump in and give it a go, or 120 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 3: they just like to watch it live. And you know, 121 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 3: this is the highest level of wheelchair basketball in the country, 122 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 3: So you're getting you know, you're getting Paralympians, You're getting 123 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 3: guys who have gone to a World Cup, several warld Cups, 124 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 3: guys who play professionally overseas or go to college in 125 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,160 Speaker 3: the US. You know, pretty much in your backyard now 126 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 3: here in Darwin. So you know, what more would you want? 127 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 3: On a beautiful dry season morning? 128 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 2: Spot on? Spot On? Now, tell me what type? 129 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: When are the games happening for anybody out there listening 130 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: this morning? Who's keen to get along? And anyone can 131 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 1: go and watch, can't they? 132 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's correct. So if you check out the DA 133 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 3: and Salties nwb L facebook page and the Instagram, you'll 134 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 3: be able to follow there. They've got the link for tickets. 135 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 3: I think you know, tickets starting around fourteen or fifteen, 136 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 3: but from my understanding, don't don't hold that against me. 137 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 3: A little bit more will go. But but there's there's 138 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 3: definitely links on there Katie, for all the listeners out 139 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 3: there and people that might be interested to come and 140 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 3: check us out. You know, we are the defending national 141 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 3: champs as well, so that's it. And it's going to 142 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 3: be a Grand Final repeat or a Grand Final rematch, 143 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 3: I should say here in darl On this weekend, So 144 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 3: that's I think that's what makes it even more specials. 145 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 3: You know already it's already a big weekend as it is, 146 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 3: so you know, playing against the grand final, Grand Final rematch. 147 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 2: Heah, it sounds like it's going to be wonderful this weekend. 148 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 3: You know. 149 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: It sounds like all the stars are aligning for the Salty. 150 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 2: So I hope they do. 151 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 3: Oh, I hope they to. Hope they do as well. 152 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 3: But you know it's easier said than done. Yeah, like 153 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 3: I said, long or solid outfit, so they won't be 154 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 3: easy to take on. But you know, we love the 155 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 3: challenge and we love the rivalry. 156 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, our good stuff will see j lovely to talk 157 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: to you this morning. Thank you so much for having 158 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: a chat with us. I know you are at training 159 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: this morning, and you guys are busy, busy getting prepped 160 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: for those games, so really appreciate your time. 161 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 2: Good luck on the weekend. 162 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 3: No, thank you very much, Katie, thank you