Melb. Utd eye rivals with star shooter still out

Melbourne United will face cross-town rivals South East Melbourne Phoenix in their upcoming NBL match without injured sharpshooter Chris Goulding, who is sidelined with a low-grade quad injury. This game marks the first Throwdown of the season and will be held at John Cain Arena.

In Round 1, despite Goulding's absence, Melbourne United secured two consecutive wins against Tasmania and New Zealand, introducing seven new players to the team. American guard Milton Doyle and Next Star Dash Daniels were among those who performed notably well in key moments during these victories.

Goulding is confirmed to miss the Thursday night clash with the Phoenix and is also in doubt for the exhibition game against the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans on October 3. While there is hope for his return by United's next NBL assignment against the Sydney Kings on October 8, the team must first focus on the immediate game.

Melbourne United leads the all-time head-to-head record against South East Melbourne with 19 wins to 9. However, coach Dean Vickerman expressed caution about the Phoenix, who scored a league-high 114 points in their season-opening win over the Cairns Taipans, with seven players, including new imports John Brown III and Hunter Maldonado, reaching double figures. Vickerman highlighted their pressure and turnover creation as strengths and emphasized the importance of a packed arena and fan support.

The Throwdown opens a significant weekend of sports in Melbourne, featuring the NRL preliminary final between the Storm and Cronulla on Friday and the AFL grand final between Geelong and Brisbane on Saturday. Vickerman shared his allegiances, supporting the Storm and hoping for competitive matches across the events.