#VALUE!

MELBOURNE TIGERS
2004/05
After being eliminated by Brisbane in the 2003/04 playoffs, Melbourne entered 2004/05 with Thalo Green, David Smith and Luke McMillan exiting the team, while Andrew Gaze, Mark Bradtke, Lanard Copeland, Dave Thomas, Stephen Hoare, Darryl McDonald, Daryl Corletto, Neil Mottram and David Donaldson returned for coach Lindsay Gaze.

After completing a personal three-peat with Sydney, David Stiff (via Sydney) joined Melbourne, with Greg Blake, Glen Barlow and Gerard Leonard also added to the roster before Rashad Tucker later arrived mid-season after being released by Perth.

Melbourne opened the season with a 88-96 road loss to Wollongong before edging Cairns 99-96 at home, beginning an uneven year where the Tigers remained strong at the State Netball and Hockey Centre but struggled to win consistently away from home.

Stiff (6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds across 34 games) moved into Melbourne’s frontcourt rotation, giving the Tigers another veteran big body behind Bradtke, Hoare and Thomas as the club tried to make one final run with the Gaze, Bradtke and Copeland core.

Melbourne finished sixth with a 17-15 record, ending the regular season in a three-way tie with Brisbane and Perth before the final playoff spots were decided by head-to-head results.

Gaze (20.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) remained Melbourne’s leading scorer in what would become his final NBL season, while Bradtke (17.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) was named to the All-NBL First Team.

Thomas (16.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals), Copeland (13.1 points), Hoare (9.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists), McDonald (7.5 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals), Corletto (7 points), Stiff and Tucker (5.8 points) rounded out the Tigers’ main contributors.

Melbourne opened the elimination finals at the State Netball and Hockey Centre, defeating Perth 108-88 to keep the Tigers’ season alive and move into a second elimination final against Townsville.

The next game moved to Townsville, where Melbourne’s season ended with a 100-112 loss to the Crocodiles, marking the final game for Andrew Gaze and Lindsay Gaze after 22 seasons together with the Tigers.

2005/06
In 2005, the Tigers were forced into rebuilding mode as Mark Bradtke (to Brisbane), Lanard Copeland (to Brisbane), Andrew Gaze (retired) and head coach Lindsay Gaze (retired) all exited the team. Dave Thomas, Darryl McDonald, Rashad Tucker, David Stiff, Stephen Hoare, Daryl Corletto and Neil Mottram all returned as assistant Al Westover took over as head coach.

By a stroke of luck, Australian Boomers centre Chris Anstey (via UNICS Kazan) had decided he wanted to return to play in Australia after three seasons in Europe and began talking to the Tigers, who were now the only NBL team in Melbourne. With Anstey on board, the Tigers finalised their roster by adding Tom Greer, Braith Cox and Matt O’Hea to help usher in a new era of Tigers success.

The Tigers opened the season with a huge win over Wollongong at home (102–61), then reeled off wins against Perth (115-105), Brisbane (85-83) and Perth again (91-73) to start the season 4-0 before suffering their first loss to Sydney (88–95).

Stiff (7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds across 37 games) moved into a steady frontcourt role alongside Anstey, Hoare, Thomas and Tucker, giving Melbourne size, rebounding and passing as the Tigers moved away from the Gaze, Bradtke and Copeland era. Stiff also finished the season as the league leader in field-goal percentage at 57.3 percent.

Anstey (22.5 points, 10 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 blocks) led Melbourne in scoring, rebounds, blocks and minutes played, and was named the Philips Most Valuable Player of the 2005/06 Philips Championship season.

Thomas (16.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals) and Tucker (15 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists) became the primary beneficiaries of the exits of Gaze and Copeland, with Tucker emerging as the team’s second option on offence after struggling in the rotation the previous season.

McDonald (13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2.2 steals), Corletto (11.2 points), Hoare (9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds), Mottram (8.2 points and 5.1 rebounds) and Stiff rounded out the Tigers’ main contributors.

McDonald led the NBL in assists and steals and was named All-Star Game MVP, while Thomas and McDonald were both named to the All-NBL Second Team. Westover was named Coach of the Year, Hoare won the NBL Best Sixth Man award and Anstey was later named Grand Final MVP.

The Tigers finished the regular season with the best record in franchise history (25-7), including a almost unbeatable home record (15-1), but still finished second behind Sydney (26-6).

With Melbourne and Sydney earning automatic entry to the semifinals, the Tigers awaited the winner of the play-in tournament and faced Perth after the Wildcats eliminated Brisbane and Wollongong.

Melbourne opened the semifinals at the State Netball and Hockey Centre with a 94-78 win over Perth, taking control of the series behind Anstey (28 points and 11 rebounds) and Tucker (10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals), while Redhage (17 points and 9 rebounds) was Perth’s best.

Game two moved to Challenge Stadium, where Melbourne defeated Perth 106-101 in overtime behind Anstey (29 points and 6 rebounds), Thomas (18 points) and Tucker (9 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists), while Bailey (30 points) and Burston (17 points) led Perth. Hoare also grabbed the rebound after Tucker’s missed free throws and put up a off-balance shot as time expired, forcing overtime before Melbourne swept the Wildcats and moved into the Grand Final.

The Grand Final series opened in Sydney, where Anstey (24 points and 12 rebounds) and Thomas (23 points) led Melbourne, while Smith (20 points) was strong for Sydney as the Tigers took game one 100-93.

Game two moved to Melbourne and proved even tighter, with Anstey (30 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Thomas (23 points and 13 rebounds) leading the Tigers, while Barlow (22 points) and Smith (16 points) kept Sydney close before Melbourne won 103-99 in overtime.

Game three saw Melbourne complete the sweep against the defending triple-champion Kings, with Anstey (16 points and 10 rebounds), Thomas (13 points) and McDonald (13 points) leading the Tigers, while Smith (20 points) and Bruton (15 points) were best for Sydney in a 88-83 win that delivered Melbourne its third championship and Stiff’s fifth NBL championship.

2006/07
After winning the 2006 NBL championship, Melbourne lost Neil Mottram (to Italy), Braith Cox and Gerard Leonard, while Chris Anstey, Dave Thomas, Rashad Tucker, Stephen Hoare, Darryl McDonald, Daryl Corletto, David Stiff and Tom Greer all returned for coach Al Westover.

The only roster changes saw Nathan Crosswell, Alex Dench and Liam Norton added to the team, with Dench returning to Australia after playing overseas in Portugal as the replacement for Mottram.

The Melbourne season began under mild controversy when the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority announced Tucker and Perth’s David Bailey had returned positive tests from in-competition samples. Both players were fined $5,000, with Perth cutting Bailey while the Tigers chose to stand by Tucker after Melbourne majority owner Seamus McPeake said, “We’ve given him a severe warning, and we have notified him of a breach of contract, but I think he’s had his punishment. A second offence is an automatic two-year suspension, so if he wants to continue his career, he can’t offend again”.

The Tigers opened the season with a 94-86 home win over Cairns and started the year strongly at 5-1, looking set to repeat as champions before Brisbane emerged as their biggest threat after adding CJ Bruton, Ebi Ere, Dusty Rychart and Dillon Boucher alongside Sam MacKinnon and Mark Bradtke.

Stiff (7.6 points and 3.8 rebounds across 30 games) continued in Melbourne’s frontcourt rotation, giving the Tigers another veteran big body alongside Anstey, Hoare, Thomas and Tucker as the club tried to win back-to-back championships.

Anstey (19.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.8 blocks) again led Melbourne in scoring, rebounding and blocks, while Thomas (16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals), Tucker (14.2 points, 8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists), Hoare (12.5 points and 6.7 rebounds), McDonald (10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.7 steals) and Corletto (10.4 points) all scored in double figures.

Crosswell (7.8 points), Dench (7.6 points and 3.7 rebounds) and Stiff rounded out the main rotation, giving Melbourne depth across a roster that again finished near the top of the league.

Anstey and Thomas were named to the All-NBL First Team, Tucker was named All-Star Game MVP after delivering 21 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists for the World All-Stars, and Hoare won the NBL Best Sixth Man award.

Brisbane and Melbourne were clear title favourites from start to finish, with the Bullets finishing first at 28-5 and the Tigers finishing second with a 25-8 record.

Melbourne opened the semifinals against Cairns with a 100-87 win, with Dench (18 points) leading the Tigers in scoring as Anstey (5 points) struggled to find the basket and stay out of foul trouble.

Game two moved to Cairns, where Melbourne completed the sweep with a 95-87 win behind a balanced attack from Anstey (16 points and 9 rebounds), Hoare (15 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), Tucker (15 points and 12 rebounds), Corletto (15 points), McDonald (10 points) and Crosswell (10 points), while Darnell Mee (23 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks) led the Taipans.

The Grand Final series opened in Brisbane, where Thomas (19 points) and Anstey (21 points and 9 rebounds) finished with big numbers, but the Bullets proved too strong and won game one 98-95 behind Stephen Black (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists), while MacKinnon (18 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists) narrowly missed a triple-double.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where Anstey (31 points and 8 rebounds) led the Tigers to a 105-91 win and evened the series before it shifted back to Brisbane.

Game three saw Brisbane claim control of the series with a 113-93 win, behind Black (22 points), MacKinnon (19 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals) and Brisbane’s frontline keeping Anstey (9 points) quiet.

Game four became do or die for Melbourne and the Tigers held a slight 52-51 lead at half-time, before Brisbane reeled off a 27-15 third quarter and went on to defeat Melbourne 103-94. McDonald (17 points and 4 assists) and Tucker (17 points and 12 rebounds) were best for the Tigers, while CJ Bruton (22 points and 7 assists) and Dusty Rychart (21 points) came up big for Brisbane as MacKinnon was named Finals MVP.

2007/08
After losing the 2006/07 Grand Final to Brisbane, Melbourne entered 2007/08 with Rashad Tucker (to Cairns), Axel Dench, Liam Norton and Braith Cox exiting the team. Chris Anstey, Dave Thomas, Stephen Hoare, Darryl McDonald, Daryl Corletto, David Stiff, Nathan Crosswell and Tommy Greer all returned for coach Al Westover, while Westover added David Barlow (via Sydney), Martin Müürsepp (via Tartu Ülikool), Adrien Sturt, Matt O’Hea, Derrick McDonald and Boden Westover.

The Tigers opened the season with a 117-94 road win over Singapore and remained unbeaten through their first five games, quickly returning to the top end of the ladder behind Anstey, Barlow, Thomas, Hoare and the Tigers’ veteran core.

Stiff (4.6 points and 3 rebounds across 37 games) continued in Melbourne’s frontcourt rotation during what would become his 15th and final NBL season, playing behind Anstey, Hoare, Thomas and Barlow while giving the Tigers another veteran big body off the bench.

Müürsepp (9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 14 games) had arrived with a major international profile as a former NBA first-round draft pick, the first Estonian to play in the NBA and a former FIBA Europe League Finals MVP, but his Tigers stint never settled due to ankle trouble and poor form.

Melbourne released Müürsepp in December and replaced him with Sean Lampley (via Spain), a former NBA forward who quickly gave the Tigers another scoring option. Lampley (16 points and 6.5 rebounds across 23 games) debuted against the South Dragons after arriving only days earlier, then became a key part of Melbourne’s championship push.

Anstey (21.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 2 blocks) led Melbourne in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, winning the NBL Most Valuable Player award, Defensive Player of the Year, earning All-NBL First Team honours and later claiming Grand Final MVP.

Barlow (16.6 points and 4.9 rebounds), Lampley and Thomas (11 points and 5.8 rebounds) rounded out Melbourne’s primary scorers, while Hoare (10.1 points and 4.9 rebounds), Corletto (9 points), Crosswell (7.3 points and 4.4 assists), McDonald (7.3 points, 4.1 assists, and 1.7 steals) and Stiff gave the Tigers depth across the rotation.

The Tigers finished second with a 22-8 record, but Sydney’s dominant 27-3 season kept Melbourne from finishing on top of the ladder for a third straight year.

Melbourne opened the semifinals at the State Netball and Hockey Centre with a 116-98 win over Brisbane, with Lampley (17 points), Barlow (17 points), Anstey (14 points and 6 rebounds) and Thomas (14 points and 6 rebounds) leading the Tigers, while CJ Bruton (29 points) and Dusty Rychart (20 points and 11 rebounds) were best for the Bullets.

Game two moved to Brisbane, where Melbourne completed the sweep with a 115-112 overtime win behind Anstey (26 points and 13 rebounds), Thomas (26 points) and Lampley (23 points and 7 rebounds), while Bruton (19 points), Ebi Ere (19 points) and Craig Bradshaw (19 points) led Brisbane.

The Grand Final series opened in Sydney, where the Kings took game one 95-74 behind Mark Worthington (35 points), while Barlow (14 points) and Anstey (12 points) were Melbourne’s best.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where the Tigers answered with a 104-93 win behind Barlow (24 points), Lampley (21 points) and Anstey (21 points and 9 rebounds), while Dontaye Draper (17 points), Isiah Victor (14 points) and Worthington (13 points) led Sydney.

Game three shifted back to Sydney, where Melbourne won 89-87 behind Anstey (27 points and 15 rebounds), Barlow (16 points) and Thomas (14 points), while Worthington (22 points), Ian Crosswhite (18 points) and Jason Smith (16 points) led the Kings. Melbourne watched a 78-66 three-quarter-time lead disappear before Lampley hit the late three-pointer that turned a 86-87 deficit into a 89-87 win with 12 seconds remaining.

Game four returned to Melbourne, where Sydney produced the biggest last-quarter comeback in NBL Grand Final history to win 90-87. Victor (23 points and 9 rebounds) and Draper, who scored 8 points in the fourth quarter, sparked the Kings, while Anstey (33 points and 8 rebounds) carried Melbourne in the loss.

Game five was played in Sydney in front of a sellout crowd of 10,244 and doubled as Darryl McDonald’s final NBL game, with Stiff playing more minutes than he had in any other game of the series and providing a calming frontcourt presence in the decider.

Anstey (21 points and 12 rebounds) and Thomas (21 points) led Melbourne, while Worthington (17 points) and Victor (16 points and 8 rebounds) were best for Sydney as the Tigers won 85-73 and Stiff won his sixth NBL championship.

Stiff sits equal first for most individual championships in league history (six) alongside CJ Bruton, Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff.

David Stiff played sixteen seasons across five NBL teams. This included the Hobart Devils, North Melbourne Giants, Sydney Kings, Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers. He averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 490 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 18th in total games played.
– 22nd in total rebounds
– 42nd in total steals
– 10th in total blocks

HIGHLIGHTS: