An Open Letter to Supporters from Club CEO Tommy Greer

To all supporters of our club,

I write to you following the NBL24 campaign, reflecting on the season that was, and looking ahead to our next opportunity on the court. 

I want to update you on the thorough review process we have been embarking on to ensure we improve our performance in NBL25 and beyond.

But before we address the review process, I wish to highlight the significant successes we have achieved as a club off the court this season. NBL24 has undoubtedly been the club’s most successful season (off-court) since our inception. 

We achieved our highest average attendance in our five years with a remarkable 37% growth, placing us first in the league for attendance growth. We saw full houses at two of our John Cain Arena fixtures and we sold out every game at the State Basketball Centre and the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium. To all the fans who turned up, thank you. 

We set ourselves a target of 4,000 members by the end of the season, a goal we surpassed by round one, ultimately finishing the season with just shy of 4,500 members. I would like to personally thank the fans who signed up and let you know that you’re now a part of the Phoenix family, and we look forward to having you back next year.

We proudly opened the State Basketball Centre this year, thanks to the Victorian State Government and Knox City Council. The $132M facility is arguably the best basketball facility in the country, providing players and staff a high-quality basketball-specific space to work together in for the first time in the club’s existence. This was a project five years in the making, and on a personal front, it’s one of the things I’m most proud of.

Our commercial partners continue to be a great source of support for the organisation and simply put, we wouldn’t be able to function without them. So, to our major partners GOAT, Tyrepower, Tradie, Victorian Metal Traders, Mills Oakley, Jinding, Ringwood MG and The a2 Milk Company, we thank you for helping us put on a show every week. 

Finally, I would like to make special mention of our captain Mitch Creek who had an incredible year despite the adversity we faced. Mitch carried the team with aplomb and never wavered in the face of the fight, so he deserves to be commended. His inclusion in the NBL Second Team and his fifth club MVP is just reward for the season he had, so congratulations Mitch.

After a strong and confident start to the season, we were once again derailed by a slew of injuries, many of which were impact injuries, notoriously difficult to prevent. These injuries led to what can only be described as a disappointing result at season’s end. However, they did afford us a great opportunity to give invaluable experience to our young talent.

As part of our review process, we are exploring all avenues to find ways in which to minimise our risk of lost games due to injuries. This includes, but is not limited to, our recruiting processes and targets, medical checks, and our preseason requirements. Heading into NBL25, we will be looking to adjust the structure of the performance department to ensure that we are resourced for success. 

As we continue to build this franchise on and off the court, our primary objective remains steadfast: to bring championship glory to South East Melbourne.

In the meantime, stay up to date with all things Phoenix in the off-season at semphoenix.com.au and through our various social channels as we gear up to what will no doubt be a huge NBL25 for the Phoenix.

Kind Regards,
Tommy Greer

#WeWillRise