By Lachlan Mitchell
The Casey Cavaliers are set to impress for an all new NBL-1 women’s season campaign.
The Cavs are set for a blistering time ahead with the appointment of inaugural NBL-1 head coach Alex Palazzolo for the season.
Palazzolo has coached at the highest level in Australia for over 30 years.
The seasoned veteran has coached in the WNBL as well as the FIBA Women’s World League as an assistant coach.
The side’s pre-season campaign has been hampered by players having other commitments leading into round one.
“It’s been pretty disruptive to be honest, in all my years of coaching it been the worst preparation I have experienced,” Palazzolo said.
“Players not being available through WNBL commitments and AFLW…so it’s been pretty tough.
“We will have seven players for training today, which will be our best turnout.”
The women’s side has brought in a host of big name talent including ex-Southside Flyer Monique Conti.
Conti also represented Richmond in the AFLW and was selected in the 2022 All-Australian side.
“She is a WNBL championship player,“ Palazzolo said.
“She has been a dominate junior player coming through the ranks.
“She has incredible foot speed as well as her ability to create her own shot and score.
“That really helps us; we have seen that in the last two weeks.
“In the early practice games her foot-speed is elite…the roster we are putting together will really push the opposition teams.”
The Cavaliers interrupted 2021 season, due to the pandemic, interfered with pre-season.
“It was a really interrupted season, there was a lot of stop starts with Covid,“ Palazzolo expressed.
“We didn’t get to have a finals campaign, and then straight into pre-season.
“We have a great strength and conditioning coach, it was just a little disjointed.
“Some of our players were doing pre-season with us, while others were doing pre-season with the WNBL and Conti doing her work with the AFLW.
“Since we got back in January, it’s been full steam ahead.
“I’m pretty confident with where our fitness levels are right now.”
The Cavaliers women’s recruitment drive has been in full swing this year, with a number of key signings and returning internationals making up the roster.
“We have got a young girl Taylah Giliam,” Palazzolo explained.
“She has been a part of the Southside Flyers development side over the past few years and she’s only in her early 20’s.
“This gives her the opportunity to develop in the point-guard position because that’s what she needs to do to give her exposure and experience in that role.
“With Conti and Giliam in the side, they are both super quick and can flip it around in that point guard position.
“Our import Rachel Bell, who we imported last year, we have moved her into the small forward spot, and we are experimenting a few other things with her that is looking pretty good.
“We have also brought in Louise Brown from the Bulleen Melbourne Boomers, who played in their championship team and who is a former Australian junior player.”
The Cavs women are ready to set the court alight on Friday April 22, at Casey Stadium, in their round one clash against the Melbourne Tigers.
