Making moves: Wildcats lure another 36er west
Mayen, a 206cm South Sudanese-Australian, is set to add flexibility to the Wildcats as they continue to build their roster for the post-Bryce Cotton era.
The 26-year-old said he was 'super excited' to be heading west for what will be his third stop in three seasons, having begun his NBL journey at Cairns.
'With four of my oldest brothers living in Perth, it's going to make it a smooth transition,' Mayen said.
'I'm very excited to play for 'JR' (John Rillie) and in front of the Red Army instead of up against them.
'Perth will bring new challenges that I'm ready to take on.' Lat Mayen going up against the Wildcats in 2023. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images
Mayen and Dech join import duo Kristian Doolittle and Dylan Windler as well as veteran Jesse Wagstaff and reserve guard Elijah Pepper as the beginning of the Wildcats' core ahead of next season.
Perth general manager Danny Mills said he was thrilled to bring in Mayen, who averaged 5.4 points and almost four rebounds per game at Adelaide last campaign.
'Lat is a gifted athlete who has great positional size which continues to add to the versatility we are building our NBL26 roster with,' Mills said.
'Over his three seasons in the NBL he has shown flashes of the two-way impact he can have on the court which is something that really excites us.
'We're confident that in our player-development focused environment here he will take the next step in his game and be a consistent contributor.'
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The Advertiser
27 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Tigers stalwart has no regrets about keeping the faith
If things had gone differently late last year, Nathan Broad could easily have been lining up against Richmond on Sunday. The triple-premiership defender was almost swayed by an offer from North Melbourne. But while Liam Baker, Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton and Jack Graham left the battling Tigers, Broad stuck fat with the club that gave him a chance as a mature-aged recruit in 2015. "It was a no-brainer at the end of the day," Broad told AAP. "This club showed faith in me, and I've returned the faith. "Now I'm just going to try and leave a legacy with this footy club and (leave it) in a better place than when I got here. "I think we're on the right path. Our leaders are doing a great job but our kids are really eager to learn. So it's a really good environment at the moment and I'm loving it. Now 32, Broad is relishing teaching the youngsters around him, hoping to help Richmond rise back up the ladder quickly. "When you're winning and you're on top and you're winning premierships, it's easier to be a leader," he said. "But when you're really challenged and things get tough, you find out more about yourself. "This footy club's really done an amazing job, really leaning into getting better, and we're not making excuses. "We want to win games of footy and we're on the right track." The Tigers (5-16) fell short by four points against St Kilda last week but are desperate to make amends against the Kangaroos (4-1-16) in Hobart on Sunday. "We're growing. We have five wins, five more than anyone thought we would. Unfortunately, (the Saints game) was one that probably slipped away," Broad said. "But if we win next week, and then finish off the year strong, it's going to be very exciting for the next few years. "It is important, winning, and you've got to find ways to win too. "The more we can win, the kids learn how to win. Sometimes you get caught in the rut of losing. "So the more we can just put our kids in these scenarios where they're in the game towards the end, it's just a valuable lesson." Broad also hopes a personal accolade can come for long-time defensive teammate Nick Vlastuin, who has starred down back this season with a league high 164 intercept possessions. "If he doesn't get an All-Australian blazer, well, jeez, I don't know what else he needs to do," Broad said. "He's top of intercepts for the whole comp, he just stands up every single week and his form's been unbelievable. "He's been stiff not to have one before, but I really, really do hope they give him one this year because he deserves it. "He's been an absolute star of the competition in general." If things had gone differently late last year, Nathan Broad could easily have been lining up against Richmond on Sunday. The triple-premiership defender was almost swayed by an offer from North Melbourne. But while Liam Baker, Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton and Jack Graham left the battling Tigers, Broad stuck fat with the club that gave him a chance as a mature-aged recruit in 2015. "It was a no-brainer at the end of the day," Broad told AAP. "This club showed faith in me, and I've returned the faith. "Now I'm just going to try and leave a legacy with this footy club and (leave it) in a better place than when I got here. "I think we're on the right path. Our leaders are doing a great job but our kids are really eager to learn. So it's a really good environment at the moment and I'm loving it. Now 32, Broad is relishing teaching the youngsters around him, hoping to help Richmond rise back up the ladder quickly. "When you're winning and you're on top and you're winning premierships, it's easier to be a leader," he said. "But when you're really challenged and things get tough, you find out more about yourself. "This footy club's really done an amazing job, really leaning into getting better, and we're not making excuses. "We want to win games of footy and we're on the right track." The Tigers (5-16) fell short by four points against St Kilda last week but are desperate to make amends against the Kangaroos (4-1-16) in Hobart on Sunday. "We're growing. We have five wins, five more than anyone thought we would. Unfortunately, (the Saints game) was one that probably slipped away," Broad said. "But if we win next week, and then finish off the year strong, it's going to be very exciting for the next few years. "It is important, winning, and you've got to find ways to win too. "The more we can win, the kids learn how to win. Sometimes you get caught in the rut of losing. "So the more we can just put our kids in these scenarios where they're in the game towards the end, it's just a valuable lesson." Broad also hopes a personal accolade can come for long-time defensive teammate Nick Vlastuin, who has starred down back this season with a league high 164 intercept possessions. "If he doesn't get an All-Australian blazer, well, jeez, I don't know what else he needs to do," Broad said. "He's top of intercepts for the whole comp, he just stands up every single week and his form's been unbelievable. "He's been stiff not to have one before, but I really, really do hope they give him one this year because he deserves it. "He's been an absolute star of the competition in general." If things had gone differently late last year, Nathan Broad could easily have been lining up against Richmond on Sunday. The triple-premiership defender was almost swayed by an offer from North Melbourne. But while Liam Baker, Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton and Jack Graham left the battling Tigers, Broad stuck fat with the club that gave him a chance as a mature-aged recruit in 2015. "It was a no-brainer at the end of the day," Broad told AAP. "This club showed faith in me, and I've returned the faith. "Now I'm just going to try and leave a legacy with this footy club and (leave it) in a better place than when I got here. "I think we're on the right path. Our leaders are doing a great job but our kids are really eager to learn. So it's a really good environment at the moment and I'm loving it. Now 32, Broad is relishing teaching the youngsters around him, hoping to help Richmond rise back up the ladder quickly. "When you're winning and you're on top and you're winning premierships, it's easier to be a leader," he said. "But when you're really challenged and things get tough, you find out more about yourself. "This footy club's really done an amazing job, really leaning into getting better, and we're not making excuses. "We want to win games of footy and we're on the right track." The Tigers (5-16) fell short by four points against St Kilda last week but are desperate to make amends against the Kangaroos (4-1-16) in Hobart on Sunday. "We're growing. We have five wins, five more than anyone thought we would. Unfortunately, (the Saints game) was one that probably slipped away," Broad said. "But if we win next week, and then finish off the year strong, it's going to be very exciting for the next few years. "It is important, winning, and you've got to find ways to win too. "The more we can win, the kids learn how to win. Sometimes you get caught in the rut of losing. "So the more we can just put our kids in these scenarios where they're in the game towards the end, it's just a valuable lesson." Broad also hopes a personal accolade can come for long-time defensive teammate Nick Vlastuin, who has starred down back this season with a league high 164 intercept possessions. "If he doesn't get an All-Australian blazer, well, jeez, I don't know what else he needs to do," Broad said. "He's top of intercepts for the whole comp, he just stands up every single week and his form's been unbelievable. "He's been stiff not to have one before, but I really, really do hope they give him one this year because he deserves it. "He's been an absolute star of the competition in general."
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Cricket Australia pays tribute to Bob Simpson
Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird has led the tributes to former Test captain and coach Bob Simpson, who has died aged 89. The Australian team, who is playing South Africa in the T20 decider in Cairns, will hold a momen't silence and wear black armbands at the Cazalys Stadium on Saturday. "Bob Simpson was one of the greats of Australian cricket and this is a sad day for anyone fortunate to have watched him play or who benefited from his wisdom. "As a brilliant opening batter, incredible slips fielder and handy spin bowler, Bob was a mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader across the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and as a coach. "Bob's decision to come out of retirement to successfully lead the Australian team during the advent of World Series Cricket in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation for a golden era for Australian cricket. "On behalf of Cricket Australia, I would like to express my warmest condolences to Bob's family, friends, teammates and all those touched by his vast contribution to cricket." Simpson was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the first to pay tribute to Simpson. "Bob Simpson's extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations. As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest standards for himself and the champions he led," Albanese wrote on X. "He will be long remembered by the game he loved. May he rest in peace."
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Cricket Australia pays tribute to Bob Simpson
Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird has led the tributes to former Test captain and coach Bob Simpson, who has died aged 89. The Australian team, who is playing South Africa in the T20 decider in Cairns, will hold a momen't silence and wear black armbands at the Cazalys Stadium on Saturday. "Bob Simpson was one of the greats of Australian cricket and this is a sad day for anyone fortunate to have watched him play or who benefited from his wisdom. "As a brilliant opening batter, incredible slips fielder and handy spin bowler, Bob was a mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader across the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and as a coach. "Bob's decision to come out of retirement to successfully lead the Australian team during the advent of World Series Cricket in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation for a golden era for Australian cricket. "On behalf of Cricket Australia, I would like to express my warmest condolences to Bob's family, friends, teammates and all those touched by his vast contribution to cricket." Simpson was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the first to pay tribute to Simpson. "Bob Simpson's extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations. As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest standards for himself and the champions he led," Albanese wrote on X. "He will be long remembered by the game he loved. May he rest in peace."
