The Australian Men’s Basketball team is gearing up for what they hope will be a successful 2016 campaign in Rio.
Headed by avid Crows fan and Club Ambassador Patty Mills, expectations are high for current crop of Boomers as they prepare for Brazil.
But there are also several current Crows who would be willing to swap the Sherrin for a basketball if they scored a shot representing their country.
All players were surveyed on which sport they’d choose if they had the opportunity to wear the green and gold at this year’s Games, with eight Crows nominating basketball as their sport of choice.
Eddie Betts possesses freakish ball skills, whether it is dribbling a footy between an opponent’s legs or finding a teammate with a quick-fire handpass. No doubt his clean hands would prove handy on the basketball court.
A talented junior basketballer, Josh Jenkins could also prove to be a handy Boomer.
Prior to his AFL career, Jenkins was a development player for the Townsville Crocodiles in the NBL and also toured the United States as a member of the Australian junior team.
Joining Betts and Jenkins on the court are the likes of Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Mitch McGovern, Paul Hunter, Paul Seedsman, Sam Jacobs and Tom Doedee, who also excelled at the sport as a junior. On paper, it looks a strong squad.
The surprise though comes in former elite basketballer, Hugh Greenwood.
The 24 year-old has already represented the Boomers and trialed with NBA side Utah Jazz before committing to football. Greenwood somewhat surprisingly (and perhaps sarcastically) chose darts as his alternative sport of choice for this year’s Games.
Unfortunately, the rookie will have to wait a little longer. Darts isn’t a sanctioned sport in this year’s meet and won’t be considered until at least 2024.
Several Crows targeted the world of athletics as their best chance to represent Australia.
Curly Hampton, Dean Gore, Kyle Cheney, Nathan van Berlo, Wayne Milera, Ricky Henderson, Rory Laird and Luke Lowden all fancy their chances as explosive 100m sprinters, while David Mackay prefers the 400m event.
Youngsters Jake Kelly and Harry Dear would test their skills in the range, with shooting and archery their respective sports of choice for Rio.
Dear may actually have a good shot (pun intended) if his recent antics with housemate Mitch McGovern are anything to go by.
Crows captain Taylor Walker would give golf a go at this year’s Games, while left-footers Mitch Grigg and Rory Atkins feel table tennis would be their best chance at a gold medal.
