Chris Goulding: no return timeline from Melbourne United coach Jacob Chance. "Chris has been out for a while now." Asked if new bodies explain the inconsistency, Chance said "we've been pretty consistent with our rotation," and those in it have played well lately.
"You guys are in Illawarra's ass all week, getting after them on an 8-day break. Not good enough, 1-6. They read all that, they're fueled." Melbourne United coach Jacob Chance after losing by two to the Hawks, the third time they've lost after a shot at the buzzer to win.
Tom Wilson says his extra minutes for Melbourne United have come "more out of necessity than anything" with players out. He sees his role as short bursts of energy to match the opposition. Coach Jacob Chance: "his day-to-day is unbelievable. He's a pro."
"I've got more bounce than him and they always say I do, so I won't let him hear that." Jensen Bradtke wears his dad's No. 50 for Melbourne United, the number in the rafters. He says this was the first time he'd ever sat down and watched his dad's highlights.
Development player Jai Fa'ale isn't counting on game minutes with Melbourne United: "If I can get some minutes, I can get some minutes. But yeah, ultimately just make the team better in practice, help them out." He says joining was the way to be "best ready for college."
Shea Ili sat the second half under his management plan. "He didn't get injured, which is pleasing," said Melbourne United coach Jacob Chance. A couple of others are on plans; two days off "will be big" for them. Asked if one half was always the plan: "I won't disclose that."
Josh Oduro played 30 minutes for Melbourne United, and for about 10 second-half possessions the offence ran through him. "That was the play call wherever we needed it," said coach Jacob Chance. He added: "He kicked my ass in the G League, so I'm glad that he's here with me now."
Austin Shelley got the start of the third quarter for Melbourne United with Shea Ili sitting out the second half under his management plan. "I throw him in the fire there at the start of the 3rd quarter, but he has no fear," coach Jacob Chance said.
Sam Waardenburg is "back to the best version of him right now," Melbourne United coach Jacob Chance said on 10 October. A preseason injury slowed Waardenburg's start to the season, but Chance feels that is now behind him.
Josh Oduro is "a monster for us around the rim," Melbourne United coach Jacob Chance said, and he wants more of him: "hopefully we can keep him on the floor longer than 18 minutes and we'll get more out of him."
Shea Ili missed Melbourne United's first game against Adelaide. Now he's available to guard Bryce Cotton. "Yeah, it's certainly a luxury," coach Jacob Chance said. From United's media availability: Cotton will see a rotation of defenders, Cole Anthony among them.
"We lost the game in 5 minutes." Jacob Chance says Melbourne United's group to start the fourth quarter "was disappointing. We'll have to go back and look at why." Up 12 late in the third, they were outscored by 14 over four minutes and conceded 35 in the fourth.
Shea Ili is back in Melbourne United's lineup. From the club's media availability on 2026-10-03: "getting Shea Ili back ... was awesome for us and just great to see him healthy." He played, getting a game under his belt.
Fabijan Krslovic captained Melbourne United for the first time, and did it against his former club, Tasmania. Speaking postgame, Krslovic said he was "pleasantly surprised" when coach Jacob Chance gave him the news after shootaround.
Melbourne United's Jacob Chance on giving up 18 offensive rebounds: "You're not going to get every defensive rebound." He named Dakota Mathias and David Johnson as the shooters who punish those second chances, and said Melbourne were better in the second half.
Melbourne United's Jacob Chance, after a reporter recited the 18 offensive rebounds conceded and missed first-half free throws: "Is that a question or a statement?" On whether the night would be hard to digest: "It's not that hard. It's basketball."