Short by name, not by stature

Sam Short is the second new player signing to the Eltham Wildcats NBL1 Men’s team. Well known as a Ballarat boy at heart, the Eltham Wildcats are pleased to welcome him on board for 2022.

Sam has been around the NBL scene for a few years now with Melbourne United and just last week signed with the New Zealand Breakers as a replacement player. When these experiences are coupled with his 5 years at the NBL1/SEABL level for Ballarat, Sam is ready to be a leader, an experienced head to help bring a new group together.
 
On signing with the Wildcats Sam said; “I’ve loved the Miners. I grew up in Ballarat and played all my basketball there. When I spoke with Eltham and Sam (Whelan), I had that similar country and community feel, but also a desire from those involved that they wanted to set some new standards for the Men’s team.”

With partnerships with Eltham Leisure Centre and RMIT University, the players at the Wildcats have access to the facilities they need to take their game to the next level. Head Coach Craig Stratford said, “Eltham Leisure Centre has the gym fit out and aquatics needed for an athlete like ‘Shorty.’ RMIT has a medical area for our players, plus their own gym facilities, so for players emerging and aspiring for the NBL or WNBL, we believe we’ve brought something together that gives players a genuine chance to put in the work and elevate their game over winter.”
 
CEO Greg Jeffers said: “We’ve seen the growth of Sam through his junior career which has blossomed into stints in the NBL including a Championship with Melbourne United and most recently signing for New Zealand Breakers. We always considered Sam as out of reach as a Ballarat boy, but with the age demographic within our playing group, his on-court demeanour and professionalism off court, we jumped at the chance to bring him to Eltham.”
 
“Early on, Sam indicated he wanted somewhere that felt like a club, where he could get to know people and potentially grow there in the years ahead. Whilst as a player he fit our needs, his attitude and wanting to be part of something bigger than just a single basketball team was appealing to us and fits our club culture.”
 
Whilst Eltham is a new club for Short, not everything is new, having grown up playing with and against Sam Whelan through his junior career, the two having developed a good relationship in the Victoria Country High Performance programs. “Sam and his Maffra team always took it to us at Ballarat. I also had the chance to play at nationals with him, so his assurances about the club, that we could play together again and how good Craig (Stratford) was as a coach confirmed everything for me. I want to continue to get better personally, but we’ve put together a young and talented team which has a clean slate and we’re going to move this club’s NBL1 team forward!”

Stay tuned for more player announcements to come and how to grab your 2022 NBL1 Wildcat membership.
 
The NBL1 represents the highest level achievable for players, coaches, technical officials and game day staff in the Eltham Wildcats pathway. It provides individuals in the north-east of Melbourne with a chance to be exposed to the national leagues. The Eltham Wildcats aim to have teams that strongly represent the north-east of Melbourne and players who’ve come through the Eastern Districts Junior Basketball Association (EDJBA).