Bigger Sauce impact for NBL24?

It’s no lie to say Alan Williams was a vital cog in the South East Melbourne machine last season. The former Phoenix Sun elevated his game as the campaign went on and comfortably placed himself in the conversation for a position in an All-NBL team.

He could very easily be even better in NBL24, according to former Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell.

‘Big Sauce’ as he is affectionately known, forged a physically lethal frontcourt partnership with star forward Mitch Creek as the season progressed, and quickly became a fan favourite due to the obvious passion with which he plays the game.

He averaged 16.6 points and 9.9 rebounds across his debut campaign – a season in which he stood tall amongst a raft of injuries to other key members of the side.

Williams also put the team on his back in its Play-In Qualifier defeat to Perth, with 16 points and 17 rebounds.

“I think last year he maybe could have been in better shape coming into the season, and he had his issues with the referees early where he was finding himself in foul trouble,” Mitchell said of Williams on The Marketplace Round Table.

“He solved that mystery by the end of the season and became a more efficient player as the season went on, got himself to the free throw line and was finishing at the free throw line – he wasn’t doing that earlier in the year.

“We were – as in from last season we – not a good shooting team last year. We had to redirect how we went about things during the course of pre-season, and it was hard to tell because we were probably playing four starters down for most of pre-season.

“We got an inkling we weren’t going to be the greatest shooting team and became more of a post-up and slashing team trying to get to the line. We were still able to tick it over on the offensive end even though we changed the way we played but looking at this team, ‘Creeky’ and Williams need a bit of space to play in.”

There’s been a distinct changing of the guard at the Phoenix under Mitchell’s predecessor Mike Kelly, with incumbents Kyle Adnam and Dane Pineau both moving onto pastures new.

While incoming guard Ben Ayre will likely shoulder the bulk of the offensive load previously occupied by Adnam, young guard Owen Foxwell is set for an increased role within the side, after signing a deal to take him onto the main roster.

The 19-year-old made 21 appearances for the side under Mitchell – including 17 last season – and his former coach believes it will be another season of improvement for the electric defender.

“I think Brian Goorjian has christened him for the future Boomers team ... Goorjian has said he has the potential to be on a Boomers squad,” Mitchell said.

“I’m not sure which tournament that’s for, but I’m very high on Owen Foxwell.

“I think the kid has some defensive capabilities that are special, and the moving on from Kyle Adnam … Owen Foxwell’s development is going to be key to this team.

“He can defend on the ball at a very high level, off the ball is where he’s got to make his progressions because he’s still a young kid and he still makes young kid mistakes. I’m very high on Owen Foxwell.”

South East Melbourne will open the NBL Blitz against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Saturday, September 16. For more information on the Blitz, click here.

The Phoenix will also be playing in the opening game of the NBL24 season when they play Melbourne United on Thursday, September 28.