The Rise and Fall of the West Sydney Razorbacks with Mark Watkins
February 17, 2025
John Rillie
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 4/11/71
- Place of Birth: Toowoomba (QLD)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 195
- Weight (KG): 85
- Junior Assoc: QLD - Toowoomba
- College: Tacoma CC (1991-1992) / Gonzaga (1992-1995)
- NBL DEBUT: 21/04/95
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 8/01/10
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 38
- NBL History: Brisbane 1995 | Adelaide 1996-98 | West Sydney 1999-04 | Townsville 2005-09 | New Zealand 2010
- Championships: 1
- Adelaide (1998)
#VALUE!
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | 38 | New Zealand | 15-13 (5) | 12 | 162.0 | 51 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 40 | 40% | 15 | 36 | 42% | 4 | 4 | 100% | 61% | 59% | 11 |
| 2008-09 | 37 | Townsville | 17-13 (6) | 34 | 1,058.0 | 418 | 152 | 62 | 39 | 113 | 17 | 2 | 50 | 56 | 142 | 346 | 41% | 91 | 262 | 35% | 43 | 50 | 86% | 57% | 54% | 34 |
| 2007-08 | 36 | Townsville | 17-13 (5) | 32 | 1,172.0 | 500 | 159 | 73 | 50 | 109 | 27 | 2 | 48 | 70 | 166 | 387 | 43% | 99 | 246 | 40% | 69 | 76 | 91% | 59% | 56% | 30 |
| 2006-07 | 35 | Townsville | 19-14 (5) | 35 | 1,358.0 | 668 | 227 | 168 | 69 | 158 | 27 | 8 | 41 | 70 | 222 | 422 | 53% | 121 | 257 | 47% | 103 | 119 | 87% | 70% | 67% | 37 |
| 2005-06 | 34 | Townsville | 9-23 (9) | 32 | 1,165.0 | 479 | 181 | 134 | 67 | 114 | 42 | 6 | 79 | 74 | 176 | 393 | 45% | 90 | 224 | 40% | 37 | 50 | 74% | 57% | 56% | 32 |
| 2004-05 | 33 | Townsville | 19-13 (3) | 35 | 1,418.0 | 637 | 263 | 182 | 95 | 168 | 43 | 12 | 91 | 66 | 227 | 546 | 42% | 93 | 283 | 33% | 90 | 100 | 90% | 54% | 50% | 31 |
| 2003-04 | 32 | West Sydney | 22-11 (3) | 41 | 1,830.0 | 820 | 309 | 209 | 108 | 201 | 51 | 3 | 88 | 52 | 299 | 643 | 47% | 139 | 344 | 40% | 83 | 93 | 89% | 60% | 57% | 45 |
| 2002-03 | 31 | West Sydney | 14-16 (7) | 16 | 631.0 | 378 | 111 | 59 | 34 | 77 | 28 | 2 | 35 | 34 | 145 | 263 | 55% | 50 | 126 | 40% | 38 | 43 | 88% | 67% | 65% | 45 |
| 2001-02 | 30 | West Sydney | 16-14 (5) | 38 | 1,617.0 | 845 | 290 | 140 | 90 | 200 | 53 | 10 | 74 | 87 | 321 | 598 | 54% | 127 | 268 | 47% | 76 | 90 | 84% | 66% | 64% | 35 |
| 2000-01 | 29 | West Sydney | 9-19 (8) | 28 | 1,231.0 | 546 | 228 | 95 | 78 | 150 | 30 | 3 | 54 | 42 | 201 | 434 | 46% | 88 | 224 | 39% | 56 | 78 | 72% | 58% | 56% | 30 |
| 1999-00 | 28 | West Sydney | 12-16 (6) | 31 | 1,376.0 | 567 | 214 | 105 | 69 | 145 | 40 | 5 | 52 | 55 | 210 | 430 | 49% | 85 | 229 | 37% | 62 | 72 | 86% | 61% | 59% | 41 |
| 1998-99 | 27 | West Sydney | 12-14 (8) | 26 | 1,164.0 | 451 | 175 | 104 | 71 | 104 | 31 | 2 | 43 | 30 | 163 | 322 | 51% | 94 | 198 | 47% | 31 | 35 | 89% | 67% | 65% | 32 |
| 1998 | 26 | Adelaide | 19-11 (2) | 33 | 868.0 | 325 | 142 | 88 | 69 | 73 | 25 | 4 | 47 | 33 | 121 | 259 | 47% | 35 | 111 | 32% | 48 | 56 | 86% | 57% | 53% | 22 |
| 1997 | 25 | Adelaide | 14-16 (8) | 30 | 1,150.0 | 401 | 139 | 141 | 41 | 98 | 36 | 15 | 69 | 51 | 144 | 334 | 43% | 57 | 182 | 31% | 56 | 66 | 85% | 55% | 52% | 22 |
| 1996 | 24 | Adelaide | 16-10 (6) | 31 | 1,138.0 | 424 | 107 | 94 | 35 | 72 | 36 | 1 | 34 | 67 | 153 | 328 | 47% | 84 | 205 | 41% | 34 | 39 | 87% | 61% | 59% | 34 |
| 1995 | 23 | Brisbane | 16-10 (5) | 27 | 884.0 | 351 | 93 | 104 | 26 | 67 | 31 | 4 | 42 | 50 | 129 | 251 | 51% | 55 | 126 | 44% | 38 | 44 | 86% | 65% | 62% | 20 | Totals | 481 | 18222 | 7861 | 2809 | 1767 | 942 | 1867 | 519 | 79 | 850 | 853 | 2835 | 5996 | 47.3% | 1323 | 3321 | 39.8% | 868 | 1015 | 85.5% | 61% | 58% | 45 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | 38 | New Zealand | 15-13 (5) | 12 | 13.5 | 4.3 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 40% | 1.3 | 3.0 | 42% | 0.3 | 0.3 | 100% | 61% | 59% | 11 |
| 2008-09 | 37 | Townsville | 17-13 (6) | 34 | 31.1 | 12.3 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 4.2 | 10.2 | 41% | 2.7 | 7.7 | 35% | 1.3 | 1.5 | 86% | 57% | 54% | 34 |
| 2007-08 | 36 | Townsville | 17-13 (5) | 32 | 36.6 | 15.6 | 5.0 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 5.2 | 12.1 | 43% | 3.1 | 7.7 | 40% | 2.2 | 2.4 | 91% | 59% | 56% | 30 |
| 2006-07 | 35 | Townsville | 19-14 (5) | 35 | 38.8 | 19.1 | 6.5 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 6.3 | 12.1 | 53% | 3.5 | 7.3 | 47% | 2.9 | 3.4 | 87% | 70% | 67% | 37 |
| 2005-06 | 34 | Townsville | 9-23 (9) | 32 | 36.4 | 15.0 | 5.7 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 5.5 | 12.3 | 45% | 2.8 | 7.0 | 40% | 1.2 | 1.6 | 74% | 57% | 56% | 32 |
| 2004-05 | 33 | Townsville | 19-13 (3) | 35 | 40.5 | 18.2 | 7.5 | 5.2 | 2.7 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 6.5 | 15.6 | 42% | 2.7 | 8.1 | 33% | 2.6 | 2.9 | 90% | 54% | 50% | 31 |
| 2003-04 | 32 | West Sydney | 22-11 (3) | 41 | 44.6 | 20.0 | 7.5 | 5.1 | 2.6 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 7.3 | 15.7 | 47% | 3.4 | 8.4 | 40% | 2.0 | 2.3 | 89% | 60% | 57% | 45 |
| 2002-03 | 31 | West Sydney | 14-16 (7) | 16 | 39.4 | 23.6 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 9.1 | 16.4 | 55% | 3.1 | 7.9 | 40% | 2.4 | 2.7 | 88% | 67% | 65% | 45 |
| 2001-02 | 30 | West Sydney | 16-14 (5) | 38 | 42.6 | 22.2 | 7.6 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 5.3 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 8.4 | 15.7 | 54% | 3.3 | 7.1 | 47% | 2.0 | 2.4 | 84% | 66% | 64% | 35 |
| 2000-01 | 29 | West Sydney | 9-19 (8) | 28 | 44.0 | 19.5 | 8.1 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 7.2 | 15.5 | 46% | 3.1 | 8.0 | 39% | 2.0 | 2.8 | 72% | 58% | 56% | 30 |
| 1999-00 | 28 | West Sydney | 12-16 (6) | 31 | 44.4 | 18.3 | 6.9 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 6.8 | 13.9 | 49% | 2.7 | 7.4 | 37% | 2.0 | 2.3 | 86% | 61% | 59% | 41 |
| 1998-99 | 27 | West Sydney | 12-14 (8) | 26 | 44.8 | 17.3 | 6.7 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 6.3 | 12.4 | 51% | 3.6 | 7.6 | 47% | 1.2 | 1.3 | 89% | 67% | 65% | 32 |
| 1998 | 26 | Adelaide | 19-11 (2) | 33 | 26.3 | 9.8 | 4.3 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 7.8 | 47% | 1.1 | 3.4 | 32% | 1.5 | 1.7 | 86% | 57% | 53% | 22 |
| 1997 | 25 | Adelaide | 14-16 (8) | 30 | 38.3 | 13.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 4.8 | 11.1 | 43% | 1.9 | 6.1 | 31% | 1.9 | 2.2 | 85% | 55% | 52% | 22 |
| 1996 | 24 | Adelaide | 16-10 (6) | 31 | 36.7 | 13.7 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 4.9 | 10.6 | 47% | 2.7 | 6.6 | 41% | 1.1 | 1.3 | 87% | 61% | 59% | 34 |
| 1995 | 23 | Brisbane | 16-10 (5) | 27 | 32.7 | 13.0 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 4.8 | 9.3 | 51% | 2.0 | 4.7 | 44% | 1.4 | 1.6 | 86% | 65% | 62% | 20 | Total | 481 | 37.9 | 16.3 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 5.9 | 12.5 | 47.3% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 39.8% | 2.8 | 6.9 | 85.5% | 61% | 58% | 45 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 45 | 18 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Penrith 2000
FIBA EXPERIENCE
From 1997 to 2004, Rillie was also a member of the Australian national Team which included making the 2004 Athens Olympics team. With Australia having lost to New Zealand and missing out on the 2002 World Championships Phil Smyth was replaced as head coach by Brian Goorjian. Goorjians first move was convincing Shane Heal to return to the national program (he had retired after the 2000 Olympics) and build the team around teenage big man Andrew Bogut. In his first Olympics Bogut (13.7 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) was the teams starting centre and leading rebounder while Heal (16.7 points and 3.5 assists) would lead the team in scoring and assists. selected a part of the national program as the team. Due to the teams inexperience, the Boomers (1-5) lost to every team in their pool bar Angola, missing the quarterfinals. Australia would then defeat New Zealand, 98-80, to determine who finished the tournament in ninth place.
FIBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 33 | 3 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 16.7% | 0 | 5 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | Total | 3 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 17% | 0 | 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% |
FIBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 33 | 3 | 7.3 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 16.7% | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | Total | 3 | 7.3 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 17% | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Greece - AEK Athens (2002)
Name: Rillie, John | college: Tacoma CC (1991-1992) / Gonzaga (1992-1995)| Additional Info: Rillie took up a scholarship at Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, Washington, where he played one season (1991-92) before transferring to Gonzaga.
After transferring to Gonzaga for the 1992-93 season, Rillie appeared in 28 games and made 14 starts for head coach Dan Fitzgerald as the Bulldogs finished 19-9 overall and 10-4 in the West Coast Conference, with the team averaging 74.7 points per game while allowing 65.5.
In that 1992-93 season at Gonzaga, Rillie averaged 7.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 24.7 minutes per game, shooting 64-for-148 from the field (44.2%), 42-for-105 on three-pointers (40.2%), and 33-for-39 at the free throw line (84.6%), while adding 10 total steals, 5 total blocks, and 27 total turnovers across 28 appearances.
Rillie’s role grew in 1993-94, when Gonzaga went 22-8 overall and 12-2 in conference to finish first in the WCC regular season, and he played all 30 games while producing 12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 48.4% shooting, including 91 made three-pointers on 200 attempts (45.5%) and 35-for-42 at the line (83.3%), with his season totals also including 370 points, 102 rebounds, 59 assists, 32 steals, and 7 blocks.
During Rillie’s three seasons (1992-95) with the Bulldogs, he helped lead the team to a NIT appearance in 1994 and the schools first berth in the NCAA Tournament in 1995.
As a senior in 1994-95, Rillie started all 30 games and led Gonzaga in scoring at 15.4 points per game while averaging 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists, and his full-season totals included 461 points, 109 rebounds, 93 assists, 28 steals, and 96 made three-pointers on 217 attempts (44.2%), with shooting splits of 139-for-305 from the field (45.6%) and 87-for-99 at the free throw line (87.9%) as Gonzaga finished 21-9 overall, won the WCC Tournament, and earned the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance.
In the run-up to that 1995 NCAA bid, a Seattle Times feature noted Rillie went 20-for-28 from three and 22-for-24 at the line across three games while averaging 32 points over that stretch, and Gonzaga’s season ended in the Round of 64 on March 16, 1995, when the Bulldogs fell 87-63 to Maryland in the West Region as a No. 14 seed.
Across his three Gonzaga seasons combined, Rillie’s college totals were 88 games with averages of 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, alongside shooting marks of 46.3% from the field, 43.9% from three, and 86.2% at the free throw line.
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