'Unleashed' McKendrick earns player of round

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• He's back, baby! Jacob Rigoni puts Panthers to sword
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Round 4 flipped the script across NBL1 Central, with every team now on the board, ladder positions starting to take shape, and one dominant force separating from the pack.

🎧 Listen Below

The Lead Story: West Adelaide’s Early Season Domination

West Adelaide is the headline — and it’s not close.

• +43 net rating and No. 1 defensive team in the country
• 55-point demolition of South Adelaide (109–54)
• 32 points from turnovers vs just 2 conceded

This isn’t just winning — it’s systemic dominance.

Chloe Hodges confirmed the identity:

• Defence-first mindset driving transition offence
• Elite depth — multiple scoring threats every possession
• Strong culture and “vibes” fuelling cohesion

Round 4 Trends: What We Learned

1. The League Has Levelled Out

• Every team has now won at least one game
• Early “form lines” are messy — fixture strength matters
• Several teams (Forestville, South, Central) still sorting identity

2. Upsets — But Not True Shock Results

• Southern over Eastern
• Sturt over Forestville (men)
• North Adelaide women bounce back

Team Takeaways

West Adelaide Bearcats

• Three players with 20+ points
• Defensive pressure forcing chaos
• Championship-level execution already

Sturt Sabres (Women)

• 4–0 start
• Elite defensive identity
• Best backcourt in the league (Matthews + Stamatelopoulos)

North Adelaide Rockets (Women)

• 95-point explosion after poor start
• Maddie Freer: 20 pts │ 7 reb │ 13 ast

Southern Tigers (Women)

• Frontcourt dominance (55 combined points)
• Paint-first identity working

South Adelaide Panthers (Women)

• Lost by 55 at home
• 27 turnovers, 30% shooting

Central Districts (Women)

• Wild inconsistency (119 one week, 38 another)

Players of the Round

Women

Mollie McKendrick (Southern Tigers)

• 38 points │ 6 rebounds │ 12-of-13 FT

Men

Jacob Rigoni (Sturt Sabres)

• 26 points │ 8 rebounds │ 3 steals

Final Word

This episode makes one thing clear: West Adelaide (women) and Sturt (men) are setting the pace — everyone else is chasing identity.

The competition has parity, but not equality — and Round 5 will start to expose which teams are real contenders and which are still figuring it out.

🎙 What To Expect from Unleashed This Season

NBL1 Central Unleashed will continue to deliver:

• Weekly ladder predictions
• Insider roster discussion
• Player interviews
• Honest assessments (even when uncomfortable)
• The best analysis in the league

If you follow NBL1 Central closely, this is your weekly must-listen.

🎧 Tune in above and stay across all NBL1 Central coverage at basketball.com.au

About NBL1 Central Unleashed Hosts

Chris “Caldi” Caldicott is a long-time basketball lifer and co-host of NBL1 Central Unleashed. Having been involved in South Australian club basketball since 1993 and previously serving as an assistant coach in NBL1 Central, Caldi brings decades of experience and strong relationships throughout the league. His insider perspective helps the podcast deliver fast-paced conversations, behind-the-scenes insight, and relatable stories about the players, coaches, and clubs that make NBL1 Central one of Australia’s most passionate basketball communities.

Jake “Burf” Burfitt is the co-host of NBL1 Central Unleashed and one of the lead play-by-play commentators for the NBL1 Central league in South Australia. Having represented the state as a commentator at the NBL1 National Finals, Burf brings a professional broadcasting perspective and deep understanding of the game. With strong connections across all 10 clubs in the league, he delivers accurate insight and informed analysis on the players, teams, and storylines shaping the competition. Known for his calm, factual approach, Burf provides the perfect balance to co-host Caldi’s explosive energy, helping drive thoughtful and engaging basketball conversations each episode.