The Townsville Crocodiles face the Adelaide 36ers as part of the NBL’s Heritage Round with a number of former Townsville Crocodiles and Suns suiting up as the Townsville Legends team who will face a number of Townsville’s most talented junior players.
One of the most popular players on the Crocodiles team during his career. Andrew Goodwin was able to help Townsville record some of its most successful seasons, however, he retired in 2004 holding the NBL record for the most games played without a championship, with 431 games played (191 spent in Townsville).
Goodwin won the NBL Most Improved Player whilst playing for Townsville in 2000 after averaging 18 points and 6 rebounds. Throughout his career, he was a solid inside scorer who was on of the first true big men to be effective from the three-point line.
Keiron took the court with the Townsville Suns in their inaugural season alongside import stars Ricky Jones and Rimas Kurtinatis. One of the original locals who inspired hundreds of local kids to pick up a basketball. He was a hero to “short kids” all across Townsville as he notched up 103 NBL.
Greg is one of the few true 7 footers that have laced up the boots for the Suns/Crocodiles. Vanderjagt played 209 games for the Crocodiles, ranking him fifth in most games played for the club behind Peter Crawford (292 games), Robert Rose (258), Kelvin Robertson (243) and Michael Cedar (219).
Greg is also ranked 9th in most rebounds for the club, 9th in blocks and 7th in offensive rebounds and his 10 years of NBL experience continues to help him guide the Croc’s current squad to NBL success.
Chris Hall and Carl Ward will make up the remainder of the Suns/Crocodiles Legends Line-up.
| Townsville Tenure | |
| Chris Hall | 1996-1998 |
| Carl Ward | 1995-1996 |
| Keiron Mitchelhill | 1993-1998 |
| Andrew Goodwin | 1998-2004 |
| Greg Vanderjagt | 2003-2008, 2012-2015 |
These Legends will face a team consisting of Queensland U20’s players which include;
Chris Kann
A 6’2″ pass-first point guard who has been training with the Crocodiles as a development player for three years. Last season he played 3 NBL games for the Crocodiles and hopes to be a part of the NBL squad next season.
The brother of current Townsville player Harry, he has been showing state coaches that he is on his way to becoming one of the premier young big-men in the country. A recent growth spurt should see the 6’9″ big man match up nicely against Vanderjagt and Goodwin down low.
A current Crocodiles Development Player who is a legitimate 7 foot tall and has been performing well in the QBL for the Rockhampton Rockets.
A 6’7″ swingman currently a development player for the Crocodiles
Ryan Vines.
5’10 point guard who has been a member of the South West Metro Pirates since 2008.
It should be fun and exciting, and hopefully, it will help draw a larger crowd to tonight’s game in Townsville.
Make sure you head down to ‘The Swamp’ this tonight as the Crocs take on the Adelaide 36ers.
Tip-off is at 6:30 pm with the Legends taking to the floor at 6 pm
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.
