Doyle back in the red and black

Heading into the 2019 NBL1 season, Adam Doyle was a person that most Eltham members wouldn’t have known much about, with only those who passionately follow the NBL having a full appreciation of how good the Adelaide 36er was.

The coaching staff, however, knew what they were getting and instantly, Doyle became a much-loved Wildcat of the club.

He has now returned to Eltham for the 2021 NBL1 South season. 

Regarded as one of the best Australian point guards outside of the NBL, the South Australian Doyle is ready to continue helping the Wildcats transition and build in the elite NBL1 competition.

"Back in 2019, the guys were excited," Doyle said.

"Through the club, they’d been elevated to a new standard, but nobody including myself knew just how good NBL1 was going to be on the court, but also off it.

"The marketing, the live streaming quality, the game day experience, everything went through the roof and I am not sure there was a team nor a club more ready for 2020 than we were at Eltham."

Doyle returns to Eltham with a young protégé behind him in local Christian Yammouni, who he is excited to play with.

"He dominated Youth in 2019, so he got some time and a taste of NBL1 back then, but my role in mentoring and helping him is something I take seriously,” he said.

But it isn’t there where Doyle’s mentoring of young players stops.

"Adam set a high standard of coaching with our junior Wildcats," Eltham CEO Greg Jeffers said.

"We’ve got kids lining up for his sessions again, having missed out in 2020.

"He will also take on the coaching role with the Eltham High School Year 8 basketball academy in 2021 with the vision for him to be involved in more programs.

"A goal of our NBL1 is to find the balance between having our local graduate players, combined with elite-level talent who’ll have a positive impact on our community.

"The likes of Adam Doyle are exactly the individuals whom we want a part of the Wildcats."

The Eltham season tips off at home on Saturday 17 April against Ringwood, a club of whom a rivalry has built over the last five years through hotly contested matches.