Posted on 11 December, 2018

Justin Schueller has re-signed to lead the Kilsyth Cobra Men for their debut season in the new Victorian Elite State League (official name to be announced).

Schueller returns for a third season at Kilsyth, following a standout 2018 campaign which saw him establish the Cobras as one of the SEABL’s top-flight teams. Schueller led Kilsyth to a league-best 15-5 regular season record (tied with Nunawading and Hobart), with the Cobras falling just short of a grand final berth following a heartbreaking loss to the Spectres in a road preliminary final.  While their season ended in disappointment, Schueller is eager to build on the Cobras success of 2018 and go one step further in 2019.

“It’s exciting to be heading into another year at Kilsyth and continuing to build on the foundation we have set,” Schueller said.

“Personally, I want to finish what we have started and win this thing. The way we ended last season wasn’t acceptable to us and we will do what ever we can to replicate – and improve – on our success of 2018.”

2018 was a busy one for Schueller, who won an NBL Championship as a member of the Melbourne United coaching staff and led the Under 17 Australian team to a sixth-placed finish at the FIBA World Championships in Argentina. The year ahead promises to be just as big for Schueller, who anticipates having most of last season’s Cobra team back on board to embark on a new journey as members of the Victorian Elite State League. With the majority of teams from the now-defunct SEABL joining Kilsyth in the new league, Schueller believes his team’s chemistry and continuity from 2018 positions the Cobras for success in the year ahead.

“The most exciting part is having the bulk of the group return, and we feel that the key pieces we have added will help us move one step closer to our goal,” Schueller said.

”Joining the new league is also an exciting factor – with some new teams and new energy injected into it, the competition promises to be a great showcase of basketball talent.”

Further details on the new league’s official name and competition structure – in addition to Cobra player signings – will be announced soon.