Coach to miss Taipans fixture

12 Feb 2026

melbourne united

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman will miss Thursday’s game with Cairns due to appendicitis.

Melbourne United will be without head coach Dean Vickerman for their Round 21 clash with the Cairns Taipans on Thursday night.

The club announced that Vickerman would miss the Cairns Convention Centre fixture due to appendicitis.

Squad update:
Head Coach Dean Vickerman will miss tonight’s game against the Cairns Taipans due to appendicitis.
Assistant Coach Rhys Carter will step in to lead the team in his absence.
The game will be live on ESPN from 7:30pm. pic.twitter.com/QaLxg1CxNg
— Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) February 12, 2026

Assistant coach Rhys Carter will take the reins of United on Thursday, marking his first-ever game as a head coach in the NBL.

The Round 21 match, between the fifth-placed United ad ninth-placed Taipans, tips off at 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN