BIO: Peter Jeffrey Hooley was born in Hahndorf (SA) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Norwood basketball program.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Peter Hooley made his NBL debut with the Melbourne United at 25 years of age. He scored five points in his first game.

2017 saw the beginning of the ‘Dean Vickerman’ era with the former Sydney assistant coach replacing Dean Demopoulos, who had struggled to fit in with the playing group during his tenure. Vickerman signed on for two seasons, and shortly after, the team re-signed David Barlow and imports Josh Boone and Casper Ware. Vickerman also brought in forward Craig Moller (via Sydney) as a replacement for the departing Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra) and added Casey Prather (via Perth) as the team’s third import. Melbourne won their season opener against Adelaide (99–97) with Prather (20 points) leading the team offensively. Despite United’s hot start, they would win only five of their first ten games.

On December 16, Prather went down with a dislocated elbow in the second quarter of Melbourne’s win over Illawarra (84–78) and was subsequently ruled out for a minimum of eight weeks. While United searched for an injury replacement, development player Felix Von Hofe was elevated into the team until they signed former NBA talent Carrick Felix. Felix joined the team in December, and with his addition, the team sparked a strong run home, finishing 15-3 for the remainder of the season.

Peter Hooley (2.0 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) was a reliable contributor off the bench, stepping in when needed during a championship-winning season. His most notable performances included his 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists against the New Zealand Breakers and his 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists against the Adelaide 36ers. Though his minutes were limited, Hooley’s consistent play provided a steady presence in the backcourt and contributed to Melbourne’s overall depth.

Melbourne finished in first place (20-8) during the regular season, before going on to meet fourth-seed New Zealand in the semifinals. In game one, Prather (15 points) led the team in scoring despite starting on the bench and led United to an 11-point win (88–77). Prather (12 points) then helped Melbourne win game two in overtime (88–86) and progress to the Grand Final. On the opposite side of the bracket, the Adelaide 36ers eliminated the reigning champions Perth in two games as well.

The opening game of the Grand Final saw Casper Ware (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) start strong before leaving the game with a hip injury. United’s sharpshooter Chris Goulding then stepped up with an impressive shooting display (26 points) to give Melbourne the victory (107-96) at Hisense Arena. Daniel Johnson (18 points) led the 36ers in scoring, with Mitch Creek (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) also contributing.

In game two, Adelaide came out firing behind Majok Deng (18 points), Mitch Creek (17 points), and Ramone Moore (17 points) to tie the series with a 15-point win (110-95). Melbourne was led by Casey Prather (20 points) and Chris Goulding (19 points), who kept the game competitive. However, Adelaide’s win came at a cost, with import Josh Childress (13 points and 8 rebounds) going down with a shoulder injury that would remove him from the remaining games.

The series returned to Melbourne for game three, where tensions exploded at the end of the first half as Adelaide’s Nathan Sobey clashed with Casey Prather after the United import hit a three-pointer on the stroke of halftime. Sobey was ejected, and further drama ensued after the final buzzer, leading to penalties and fines. Melbourne ultimately secured a narrow victory (101-98) after Adelaide’s Majok Deng missed a game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds. Casper Ware (25 points), Prather (23 points), and Chris Goulding (15 points) were key contributors.

Game four saw Adelaide swingman Nathan Sobey (16 points) lead the charge, but Melbourne couldn’t match Adelaide’s intensity, losing (90-81). Johnson (29 points and 10 rebounds) and Prather (23 points) topped the scoring for their respective sides.

In the deciding game five, Melbourne claimed victory (100-82) to win their first title since rebranding from the Melbourne Tigers. Goulding, Ware (both 23 points), and Prather (19 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 steals) led the way. Shannon Shorter (20 points) was Adelaide’s top scorer, while Chris Goulding was named Finals MVP after averaging 16.6 points and 3.6 rebounds over the series. Prather also made history by becoming the first player to win three straight NBL titles in his first three seasons.

2018/19
Melbourne entered the 2018/19 season looking to defend their championship. They were able to retain their core group, first re-signing team captain Chris Goulding (two-year deal) and David Barlow (one-year deal) before securing Josh Boone (one-year deal) and Casper Ware (one-year deal), who were a challenge to bring back due to strong interest from multiple overseas teams. The team also added DJ Kennedy (via Turkey), Mitch McCarron (via Cairns), and Alex Pledger (via New Zealand) to further strengthen their lineup.

During the pre-season, Melbourne United faced off against NBA teams Philadelphia (84-104) and Toronto (82-120). While United lost both, they gained valuable experience competing against some of the best teams in the world.

Peter Hooley (2.3 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) played a limited role during the 2018/19 season but made the most of his opportunities when called upon. His best performances included 9 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists against Illawarra, 7 points and 2 assists against New Zealand, and 6 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals against Cairns.

Hooley provided solid playmaking and shooting in limited minutes, offering stability when the team required an extra ball-handler or shooter. Though his role was limited, his contributions were valuable in maintaining the depth needed for a title-contending team.

Mid-season, Melbourne added Venky Jois (2.2 points and 0.7 rebounds), who had been playing in Japan, to provide additional cover for injuries and strengthen the roster for the playoffs.

Dean Vickerman’s leadership earned him the NBL Coach of the Year award as Melbourne finished second in the regular season (18-10), setting up a semifinal clash against the Sydney Kings.

Hooley saw limited minutes during the semifinals and Grand Final series, where Melbourne ultimately fell short of winning back-to-back championships, losing to Perth in four games.

Hooley’s contributions, though modest, were important in maintaining depth and providing a steady presence off the bench for Melbourne United.

Peter Hooley played two seasons the Melbourne United. He averaged 2.3 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1 assists in 66 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (833 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.