Australia men's national wheelchair basketball team

The Australia men's national wheelchair basketball team is the men's wheelchair basketball side that represents Australia in international competitions. The team is known as the Rollers. Australia took the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games and 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

 Australia

IWBF zone	Asia Oceania
National federation	Basketball Australia
Coach	Craig Friday
Nickname(s)	Rollers
Paralympic Games
Appearances	15
Medals	Gold: 1996, 2008 Silver: 2004, 2012
World Championships
Appearances	12
Medals	Gold: 2010, 2014 Bronze: 2006, 2018
Home Away

Australia has competed at every men's wheelchair basketball tournament at the Paralympic Games except 1964.[1][2][3] Kevin Coombs was Australia's first captain of the men's wheelchair basketball team.

The Rollers qualified for the 2016 Summer Paralympics by winning the 2015 Asia Oceania Qualifying Tournament and finished sixth.[4]

Competitions

Summer Paralympics

Year	Position	W	L
1960	?	?	?
1964	Did Not Compete
1968	9th	?	?
1972	5th	?	?
1976	10th	?	?
1980	13th	?	?
1984	11th[5]	?	?
1988	10th	?	?
1992	8th	?	?
1996		7	1
2000	5th	5	3
2004		6	2
2008		7	1
2012		7	1
2016	6th	5	2
Total	14/16	?	?

Performance in Gold Cup / World Championships

• 1973 – did not participate
• 1975 – did not participate
• 1979 – did not participate
• 1983 – 11th
• 1986 – 10th
• 1990 – 6th [6]
• 1994 – 6th
• 1998 – 4th
• 2002 – 4th
• 2006 – Bronze
• 2010 – Gold
• 2014 – Gold
• 2018 – Bronze

Past Paralympic Games Rosters

Australian wheelchair basketballer Orfeo Cecconato takes on a Great Britain defender in the final of the men's wheelchair basketball tournament at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games

1960 Summer Paralympics

• Team members – Men – John Turich (captain), Roger Cockerill,[7] Kevin Coombs,[8] Chris O'Brien,[8] Kevin Cunningham,[8] Gary Hooper,[8] Bill Mather-Brown,[8] Bruno Moretti,[8] Frank Ponta[9]

Results included: Israel d Australia 22–5 ; Australia d Belgium 26–0 ; United States d Australia 32–10. Results may be incomplete.[7]

1964 Summer Paralympics

Australia did not field a team at the 1964 Summer Paralympics.[10]

1968 Summer Paralympics

Finished 9th among 13 teams.

• Team members – Kevin Bawden, Peter Burt, Brian Chambers, Kevin Cunningham, Kevin Coombs, Bill Mather-Brown, John Martin, Robert McIntyre, Bruno Moretti, Frank Ponta, Noel Simmons, Dom Watts

1972 Summer Paralympics

Finished 8th among 9 teams.
In the preliminary rounds, Australian results were: United States 85 v Australia 29; Israel 101 v Australia 36; France 74 v Australia 53. Australia finished 8th in the tournament.[11]

• Team members – Brian Chambers, Kevin Coombs, Terry Giddy, John Martin, Robert McIntyre, Hugh Patterson, Frank Ponta, Victor Salvemini
  [11]

1976 Summer Paralympics

'Finished 10th among 21 teams
Australian results: Sweden 79 v Australia 51, Belgium 43 v Australia 30, United States 93 v Australia 34, Australia 57 v Japan 42. Australia did not qualify for the finals.[11]

• Team members – Kevin Bawden, John Kidd, Stan Kosmala, Ray Letheby, John Martin, Robert McIntyre, Richard Oliver, Frank Ponta, Eric Russell, Victor Salvemini Coach – Les Mathews.[11]

1980 Summer Paralympics

Finished 13th among 17 teams

• Team members – Rene Ahrens, Robert Augustine, Kevin Bishop, Peter Burt, Kevin Coombs, Len Ettridge, Erich Hubel, Robert McIntyre, Brian McNicholl, Kevin Munro, Richard Oliver, Fred Pointer

1984 Summer Paralympics

Finished 11th among 18 teams

• Team members – Michael Callahan, Kevin Coombs, David Gould, Erich Hubel, Ch. Ikstrum, Michael McFawn, Nick Morozoff, Richard Oliver, P. Peterson, M. Pope ; Coach – Bruno Moretti[11]

1988 Summer Paralympics

Finished 10th among 17 teams

• Team members – Troy Andrews, Sandy Blythe, Stuart Ewin, David Gould, Michael Haughey, Gerry Hewson, Erich Hubel, Michael McFawn, Richard Oliver, Christopher Sparks, Stephen Trestrail, Michael Walker

1992 Summer Paralympics

Finished 9th among 12 teams

• Team members – Troy Andrews, Sandy Blythe, Michael Callahan, Stuart Ewin, David Gould, Gerry Hewson, Errol Hyde, Timothy Maloney, Richard Oliver, Troy Sachs, Stephen Trestrail, Michael Walker ; Coach – Michael Tucker Official – Graham Gould (escort)

1996 Summer Paralympics

Finished 1st among 12 teams.
The team beat Great Britain for the gold medal with a final score of 78:63.[12][13]

• Team members – [14] Troy Andrews, Sandy Blythe, Orfeo Cecconato, Ben Cox, Stuart Ewin, David Gould, Gerard Hewson, Timothy Maloney, Nicholas Morris, Richard Oliver, David Selby, Troy Sachs ; Coaches [14] Mark Walker (Head Coach), Evan Bennett (Assistant Coach) Graham Gould (Mechanic/Operations)

Detailed Results – Wheelchair basketball at the 1996 Summer Paralympics – Men

2000 Summer Paralympics

Finished 5th among 12 teams

• Team members – Troy Andrews, Sandy Blythe, David Gould, Shaun Groenewegen, Gerry Hewson, Adrian King, Michael McFawn, Nick Morris, Brad Ness, Shane Porter, Brook Quinn, Troy Sachs Coaches – Bob Turner (Head), Michael Walker, Richard Oliver Officials – Fred Heidt (Manager), John Camens, Graham Gould

Detailed Results – Wheelchair basketball at the 2000 Summer Paralympics – Men

2004 Summer Paralympics

Finished 2nd among 12 teams.
The Australian's were beaten by Canada 53:70 in the Gold Medal match.

• Team members – David Selby, Grant Mizens, Campbell Message, Brendan Dowler, Brad Ness, Adrian King, Daryl Taylor, Andrew Flavel, Shaun Norris, Tristan Knowles, Troy Sachs, Justin Eveson ; Coaches – Bernard Treseder (Head), Alan Cox (Assistant), Craig Friday (Assistant Technical) ; Officials – Kelvin Browner (Manager)[15][16]

Detailed Results – Wheelchair basketball at the 2004 Summer Paralympics – Men

2008 Summer Paralympics

Finished 1st among 12 teams.
The team beat Canada 72:60 in the Final

• Team members – Justin Eveson, Tige Simmons, Grant Mizens, Michael Hartnett, Brendan Dowler, Dylan Alcott, Adrian King, Brett Stibners, Tristan Knowles, Troy Sachs, Shaun Norris, Brad Ness ; Coaches- – Ben Ettridge, Craig Friday (Assistant) ; Officials – Kevin Browner (Section Manager), Ian Lowther (Physiotherapist)[17][18]

Detailed Results – Wheelchair basketball at the 2008 Summer Paralympics – Men

2012 Summer Paralympics

Finished 2nd among 12 teams.
The team was defeated by Canada 58:64 in the Gold Medal match.

• Team members – Justin Eveson (4.5), Bill Latham (4.0), Brett Stibners (4.0), Shaun Norris (3.0), Michael Hartnett (1.0), Tristan Knowles (4.0), Jannik Blair (1.0), Tige Simmons (1.0), *Grant Mizens (2.0), Dylan Alcott (1.0), Nick Taylor (2.0), Brad Ness (4.5) ; Coaches – Ben Ettridge (Head Coach), Matteo Feriani (Assistant Coach), Tom Kyle (Assistant Coach)[19]

Detailed Results – Wheelchair basketball at the 2012 Summer Paralympics – Men

2016 Summer Paralympics

Finished 6th among 12 teams.

• Team members - Josh Allison (d), Jannik Blair, Adam Deans (d), Tristan Knowles, Bill Latham, Matthew McShane (d), Brad Ness, Shaun Norris, Tom O'Neill-Thorne (d), Shawn Russell (d), Tige Simmons, Brett Stibners ; Coaches – Ben Ettridge (Head Coach), Luke Brennan (Assistant), Tom Kyle (Assistant Coach), Jeremy Synot (Video Coach) ; Program Manager – Leigh Gooding ; Health Coordinator & Team Physiotherapist – Jesse Adams[20]

Detailed Results – Wheelchair basketball at the 2016 Summer Paralympics

Past Gold Cup / World Championships Games Rosters

World Championships from 1973 to 2002 known as Gold Cup.

1983 Gold Cup

Finished 11th

• Team members – Kevin Bishop, Ron Burgers, Michael Callahan, Kevin Coombs (Capt.), Erich Hubel, Errol Hyde, Charles Ikstrums, Robert MacIntyre, Michel McFawn, Richard Oliver, Peter Petersen, Mark Pope ; Coaches – Bruno Moretti (Head Coach), Charles Ryan (Assistant Coach)[21]

1986 Gold Cup

Finished 10th

• Team members – Kevin Bishop, Michael Callahan, David Gould, Erich Hubel, Errol Hyde, Eric Klein, Michael McFawn, Robert McIntyre, Michael Nugent, Richard Oliver, Chris Sparks, Steven Trestrail ; Coaches – Charles Ryan (Head Coach), Kevin Bawden (Assistant Coach)[21]

1990 Gold Cup

Finished 5th

• Team members – Troy Andrews, Sandy Blythe, Michael Callahan, Stewart Ewin, David Gould, Gerry Hewson, Steve Lazarakes, Tim Maloney, Richard Oliver, Chris Sparks, Paul Stitt, Michael Walker ; Coach – Michael Tucker[21]

1994 Gold Cup

Finished 6th

• Team members – Troy Andrews, Sandy Blythe, Orfeo Cecconato, Michael McFawn, David Gould, Gerry Hewson, Tim Maloney, Nick Morris, Richard Oliver, Dion Reneti, Troy Sachs, Stephen Trestrail ; Coach – Michael Tucker[21]

1998 Gold Cup

Finished 4th

• Team members – Troy Andrews, Sandy Blythe, Orfeo Cecconato, David Gould, Gerry Hewson, Tim Maloney, Mick McFawn, Campbell Message, Nick Morris, Brook Quinn, Troy Sachs, Steve Trestrail ; Coaches – Bob Turner (Head Coach), Richard Oliver (Assistant Coach)[21]

2002 Gold Cup

Finished 2nd

• Team members – Troy Andrews, Sandy Blythe, Brendan Dowler, Justin Eveson, David Gould, Shaun Groenewegen, Adrian King, Grant Mizens, Brad Ness, Troy Sachs, David Selby, Darryl Taylor ' Coaches – Murray Treseder (Head Coach), Alan Cox (Asstant Coach), Craig Friday (Assistant Coach)[21]

2006 World Championships

Finished 3rd

• Team members – Justin Eveson, Brett Stibners, Tristan Knowles, Shaun Norris, Andrew Flavell, Darryl Taylor, Adrian King, Tige Simmons, Jace Claree, Shaun Groenewegen, Brendan Dowler, Brad Ness ; Coaches – Murray Treseder (Head Coach), Mal Keene (Assistant Coach) ; Officials – Kelvin Browner (Manager), Ian Lowther (Physiotherapist).[22]

2010 World Championships

Finished 1st

• Team members -Justin Eveson (4.5), Bill Latham (4.0), Brett Stibners (4.0), Shaun Norris (3.0), Michael Hartnett (1.0), Tristan Knowles (4.0), John McPhail (1.0), Tige Simmons (1.0), Grant Mizens (2.0), Dylan Alcott (1.0), Jeremy Doyle (1.0), Brad Ness (4.5) ; Coaches – Ben Ettridge (Head Coach), Craig Friday (Assistant Coach), Tom Kyle (Assistant Coach) ; Officials – Leigh Gooding (Manager), Jesse Adams (Physiotherapist), Jo Vaile (Physiologist)[23]

2014 World Championships

Finished 1st

• Team members – Joshua Allison, Jannik Blair, Adam Deans, Justin Eveson, Michael Hartnett, Tristan Knowles, Bill Latham, Brad Ness, Shaun Norris, Tom O'Neill-Thorne, Luke Pople, Nick Taylor; Coaches – Ben Ettridge (Head Coach), Craig Friday (Assistant Coach), Luke Brennan (Assistant Coacch) ; Officials – Leigh Gooding (Team Manager), Jesse Adams (Physiotherapist), Jo Vaile (Recover Specialist)[24]

2018 World Championships

Finished 3rd

• Team members – Michael Auprince, Jannik Blair, Steven Elliott, Tristan Knowles, Bill Latham, Matthew McShane, Shaun Norris, Tom O'Neill-Thorne, Luke Pople, Kim Robbins, Brett Stibners, Sam White ; Coaches – Craig Friday (Head Coach), Brad Ness (Assistant Coach), Grant Mizens (Technical / Specialist Coach) ; Officials – Jesse Adams (Physiotherapist), Peta Forsyth (Physiologist), Priyanka Karunakaran (Team Manager)[25][26]

See also

• Australia men's national basketball team
• Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team

References

1. Kevin Coombs, Basketball Australia
2. Kevin Coombs Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
3. Easy Win In Basketball At Paralympics., The Age, 21 September 1960, Google News Archive
4. "Heartbreak and Elation for Gliders and Rollers at AOZ qualifying tournament". Basketball Australia. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
5. Sporting resume – David Gould Archived 21 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, starwin.com.au
6. Armand Thiboutot, Philip Craven (1996). The 50th Anniversary of Wheelchair Basketball: A History. Waxmann Verlag. p. 80. ISBN 3830954417.
7. "Basketball Win to Australia at the Paralympics". Canberra Times. 21 September 1960. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
8. "The Original Wheelchair Basketball team honoured". Australian Basketball Association. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
9. "Australian paralympic hall of fame". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
10. Labanowich, Stan; Thiboutot, Armand. "Team Rosters:Paralympic Games (Men) 1960–1980" (PDF). Wheelchairs Can Jump. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
11. "Paralympic Games 1960–1980" (PDF). Wheelchairs can jump : a history of wheelchair basketball. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
12. "Event Guide: wheelchair basketball". ABC. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
13. "1996 Atlanta Paralympics Men's Wheelchair Basketball Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
14. Xth Paralympic Games Atlanta U.S.A. August 15–25 1996 : Australia : team handbook. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 1996. p. 74.
15. Media Guide – Athens 2004 (PDF). Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2004. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
16. Results – ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games – Wheelchair Basketball – Men, International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
17. Media Guide – Beijing 2008 (PDF). Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
18. Results – Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games – Wheelchair Basketball – Men, International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
19. , International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
20. Media Guide Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (PDF). Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
21. "Gold Cup / World Championships (Men) 1973*/1975 – 2010" (PDF). Wheelchairs Can Jump. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
22. "Basketball Australia Annual Report 2006" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
23. "Rollers World Championship team named". Basketball Australia website. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
24. "Rollers claim 2014 IWBF World Championship". Basketball Australia News, 14 July 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
25. "Australian Rollers select team for World Championships". Basketball Australia website. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
26. "Rollers earn bronze at the World Championships". Basketball Australia. Retrieved 26 August 2018.

• IPC Historical Results Database – General Search, International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
  • The information from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) website is based on sources which does not present all information from earlier paralympic games (1960–1984), such as relay and team members. (Per 5 March 2011)
• Paralympics – Results, International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF)

External links

• Rollers, at Basketball Australia