BIO: Anthony Petrie was born in Tenterfield (NSW) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Tenterfield basketball program. He attended Sir Henry Parkes Memorial Primary School and Tenterfield High School, graduating in 2000. He is married and has 3 daughters and 1 son. One of his daughters Emma has stepped in her fathers footpath and plays basketball as well.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Anthony Petrie made his NBL debut with the West Sydney Razorbacks at 24 years of age. He scored 12 points in his first game.

By the 2007/08 season, the West Sydney Razorbacks were facing severe financial difficulties. Under new ownership, the team opted not to re-sign coach Cal Bruton, who had taken the reins mid-season previously, and instead appointed Rob Beveridge, a young, untested coach with experience leading the junior men’s national team. Due to financial instability, the Razorbacks lost key players, with top scorer James Harvey and long-time team member Scott McGregor both signing with the Gold Coast. In response, Beveridge recruited former junior players Damian Martin and Matthew Knight, both University of Loyola Marymount alumni. Liam Rush was named team captain, and imports Darnell Hinson and Troy De Vries were added to bolster the roster.

A pre-season injury to Damian Martin forced him to miss the first half of the season, shifting much of the offensive load onto Hinson (20.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.1 steals) and De Vries (16.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists), who both had to step up in ball-handling and scoring responsibilities.

Despite a largely inexperienced roster, the Razorbacks had some standout performances that led to memorable wins, like their victory over the South Dragons (116-106), where De Vries scored 31 points, Hinson 26, and Knight added 23 points and 14 rebounds. In back-to-back wins, Hinson shone with 32 points and 8 rebounds against Gold Coast and then scored 31 points against the Cairns Taipans. However, consistency remained a challenge for the young team.

The promising frontcourt duo of Knight (12.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) and Julian Khazzouh (11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) helped the team double their win total from the previous season, moving from 5 to 10 victories. Anthony Petrie also impressed in his rookie season, appearing in 28 games and averaging 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists.

WOLLONGONG HAWKS
2008/09
The following season, the Wollongong Hawks saw the return of star forward Glen Saville after a brief stint with the Sydney Kings, who had financially collapsed and left the league. Alongside Saville, the Hawks added new players Anthony Petrie, Rhys Martin, and Dusty Rychart, as other key players like Cam Rigby, Aaron Trahair, and Ben Castle exited the team.

Saville delivered an outstanding season, averaging 15.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks, ranking him fourth in defensive rebounds, tenth in total rebounds, and fifth in steals league-wide. New addition Rychart (15.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) led the team in scoring, while the reshuffled lineup impacted others, including Mat Campbell (9.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists), Lindsay Tait (8.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists), and Larry Davidson (6.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks), who each saw declines in scoring by 3-4 points per game, impacting the team’s ability to compete offensively against stronger teams.

Petrie’s contributions (12.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) provided valuable support, but the Hawks ultimately struggled and finished in seventh place with an 11-19 record.

GOLD COAST BLAZE
2009/10
In 2009/10, Anthony Petrie joined the Gold Coast Blaze, where he averaged 11.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists, playing a pivotal role in helping the Blaze to a strong third-place finish in the regular season with a 16-12 record.

2010/11
In the 2010/11 season, Anthony Petrie delivered a strong performance for the Gold Coast Blaze, averaging 15 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. His efforts on both ends of the court were vital in helping the Blaze secure a sixth-place finish with a 13-15 record.

2011/12
In 2011/12, Petrie continued to be an integral part of the Blaze squad, averaging 10.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. His steady contributions supported the team’s successful campaign, leading them to a strong third-place finish with a 17-11 record. Petrie’s experience and consistent play proved essential as the Blaze made a significant impact in the regular season standings.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2012/13
Adelaide and head coach Marty Clarke finished last in the NBL standings for the second consecutive year, posting an identical 8–20 record as the previous season. The 36ers endured another eight-game losing streak, matching their longest losing streak from the season prior. After dealing with import challenges, from injuries to performance issues, the team refocused on strengthening their Australian talent. Adelaide signed three former Gold Coast Blaze players following that franchise’s disbandment, bringing in Adam Gibson (who had nearly signed with Melbourne), Anthony Petrie, and Jason Cadee on multi-year contracts. The team also added promising young forward Stephen Weigh from Perth. To give their core Aussie players more developmental opportunities, the decision was made to play with only one import, signing local player CJ Massingale.

Daniel Johnson (16.2 points, 8.1 rebounds) cemented himself as Adelaide’s franchise player, leading the 36ers in scoring and topping the league in rebounds. During the first 12 games, the emergence of fan favorite Mitch Creek (5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.5 assists) excited fans with his energetic play until a season-ending Achilles injury against Townsville on December 15 halted his progress.

Petrie ended the season with averages of 11.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. At the season’s conclusion, coach Marty Clarke was not re-signed, with the 36ers hiring NBL championship-winning coach Joey Wright as his replacement.

2013/14
The 36ers’ acquisition of coach Joey Wright proved transformative, as he guided the team from two straight wooden spoon finishes to the NBL Grand Final against the Perth Wildcats. The 36ers retained their core Australian talent, including Daniel Johnson (19.2 points, 6.8 rebounds), who again led the team in scoring and rebounding. Alongside Johnson, returning players Adam Gibson, Jason Cadee, and Petrie provided stability and experience.

The return of Mitchell Creek and Luke Schenscher—both previously sidelined with injuries—boosted the team. Creek overcame a career-threatening Achilles injury, while Schenscher was back after elbow surgery. Additional roster enhancements included BJ Anthony (via New Zealand), 2011 MVP Gary Ervin (via Townsville), and new import Jarrid Frye, solidifying a competitive lineup.

The 36ers started strong, sitting at 7–2 by Round 7 with Ervin and Johnson leading the charge. A five-game win streak included both a double win against the defending champions, the New Zealand Breakers, and a win over the then-undefeated Perth Wildcats (91–86) in front of the largest Adelaide home crowd (6,585 fans) since Brett Maher’s final game in 2009. By December, Adelaide’s 9–4 record had already surpassed their previous season’s eight-win total.

In February, Adelaide released Jarrid Frye (8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists) following a persistent ankle injury and performance issues, signing local guard Rhys Carter as his replacement. Adelaide finished the regular season in second place (18-10), with Petrie appearing in 34 games and contributing 10.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

In the semifinals against Melbourne, Gary Ervin’s 27 points and 7 assists led Adelaide to a Game 1 victory (101-85). Melbourne responded in Game 2 with Chris Goulding scoring 37 points in a (98-87) win to tie the series. Adelaide dominated Game 3 (102-63), holding Melbourne to just 27 points at halftime and winning every quarter convincingly to secure their spot in the Grand Final.

The Grand Final series saw the second-seeded Adelaide face first-placed Perth. Despite James Ennis’s dominant performance (30 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists) in Game 1, which led Perth to a 92-85 win, Adelaide responded in Game 2. In front of 8,127 fans, the 36ers evened the series (1-1) with a hard-fought 89-84 win behind Ervin’s 23 points and Gibson’s all-around performance (18 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists).

In the decisive Game 3, Perth’s experience shone through as they defeated Adelaide (100-82) in front of 13,498 fans, clinching their sixth NBL title. Petrie (20 points) put up a valiant effort but received limited support from Adam Gibson (8 points) and Daniel Johnson (9 points). Johnson was awarded his third straight club MVP and was named to the All-NBL First Team.

2014/15
In a bid to strengthen their backcourt, the 36ers parted ways with Gary Ervin (to Wollongong), Jason Cadee (to Sydney), and Rhys Carter (to Europe), signing import guards Jamar Wilson (via Cairns) and Daequon Montreal (via Europe). Rising star Brock Motum, a member of the national team, joined the team, expected to be a central offensive player.

Wilson (20 points, 5 rebounds, 3.1 assists) led the team in scoring and was twice named NBL Player of the Week, first after scoring 22 points against Melbourne (Jan 10) and then after a 25-point game against Townsville (Feb 1). Motum (17.5 points, 7.1 rebounds) topped the rebounding charts for the team, while Creek (11.2 points, 4.4 rebounds) continued to improve, becoming the team’s third-leading scorer. Petrie also contributed, averaging 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.

The 36ers finished the season in third place (17-11) but were swept in the semifinals by the eventual champions, the New Zealand Breakers. Wilson’s strong season earned him the Mark Davis Trophy (club MVP) and All-NBL Second Team honors.

2015/16
Prior to the 2015/16 season, the 36ers revamped their roster, signing import guards Kenyon McNeail and two-time NBL champion Ebi Ere. With Brock Motum moving to Europe and the decision not to re-sign Luke Schenscher (who joined Townsville), Adelaide signed Lucas Walker and young guard Nathan Sobey, who had been a training player with Cairns. Sobey’s potential was recognized by coach Joey Wright, who offered him a contract based on his impressive workouts.

Johnson (15.5 points, 9.3 rebounds) continued his reliable form as the team’s leader in scoring and rebounding. However, McNeail’s season was cut short after he suffered a shoulder injury, prompting the 36ers to find a new import. They brought in Jerome Randle, who quickly made his mark, despite being considered “too small” for the NBA. Wright’s blunt coaching style motivated Randle, who felt “at home” under Wright’s guidance, reigniting his passion for the game.

Randle (23.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists) scored 30 or more points in four games, including a 40-point game against Perth, finishing as the league’s top scorer and becoming the first Adelaide 36ers player to lead the league in scoring. Randle earned the inaugural NBL Australia Post Fan’s MVP award and was named to the All-NBL First Team.

Petrie contributed an average of 9.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists alongside Randle and Johnson. Despite Randle’s individual brilliance, Adelaide narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing fifth with a 14-14 record. Johnson earned All-NBL Second Team honors as the 36ers concluded a season filled with individual accolades but team challenges.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2016/17
In the 2016/17 season, Anthony Petrie played a crucial role in the Brisbane Bullets’ rotation, providing solid experience and stability off the bench. Petrie averaged 7.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, contributing as a reliable option in the team’s frontcourt. Despite his efforts and consistent play, the Bullets struggled with consistency throughout the season, ultimately finishing in eighth place with a 10-18 record.

2017/18
The 2017/18 season marked Petrie’s final year in the NBL, where he continued to offer valuable minutes off the bench for the Bullets. Petrie averaged 6.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, bringing leadership and experience to the floor. Despite Petrie’s contributions, the Bullets faced a challenging season and ended in eighth place with a 9-19 record. His steady presence and veteran impact were instrumental in supporting the team’s younger players as he closed out his professional career.

Anthony Petrie played eleven seasons across five NBL teams. This included the West Sydney Razorbacks, Gold Coast Blaze, Wollongong Hawks, Adelaide 36ers and Brisbane Bullets. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 268 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (832 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.