The first time the Tasmanian JackJumpers got together they went apple picking. Willie Smith’s Cider garden hosted and the newly assembled NBL squad learned what it meant to instill the hard-working values needed to thrive in a beautiful but unforgiving environment.
Since the club’s founding, players have spent the first day of each pre-season training with one of its commercial partners. They gain insight into the lives of factory workers and truck drivers, creating a renewed appreciation for their lives as professional athletes while fueling a desire to represent the island of Tasmania and its people.
Relating to: No rush to sell Tasmanian JackJumpers after ‘fairytale’ NBL victory
On Sunday, in just their third season, the JackJumpers defeated Melbourne United to claim their first NBL title. Two extraordinary women, president Keryn Nylander and CEO Christine Finnegan, lead the club and, days later, are still trying to measure success.
“The club literally started in my living room during Covid in Victoria and it has been such an amazing journey to see what has happened,” says Finnegan. “It was very hard work, but it paid off very well. “Fairy tales are not often heard in sport, but I believe this club has been a fairy tale since day one.”
You only get one chance to make a first impression and starting an expansion club is a very risky business. Getting the right people involved is key, and hiring Scott Roth as head coach was a masterstroke. He quickly identified the team as being from the state of Tasmania, a state with a rich sporting history but one that is consistently overlooked.
Before a player was signed, Roth traveled the state for three months, riding shotgun with Jack the JackJumper as a coach and mascot. They visited schools, local clubs and communities to raise awareness. The first game was sold out and Sam McDaniel, the team’s only Tasmanian-born player, scored the first points in the double overtime win. Since then, all games have sold out.
It’s easy to see why. When you step into MyState Bank Arena you will be greeted with an explosion of Tassie pride. An immersive sound and light show creates an energy that sends the crowd into a frenzy, and the home team feeds off this celebratory symphony.
The players feel it. They clearly admire everything from championship series MVP Jack McVeigh to talented young development players. After winning the championship, American star import Milton Doyle told SEN: “The whole of Tasmania is behind us and you see what you are playing for. It’s not just basketball; There’s more to it than that, so it’s easy to get passionate.
This is all part of a clearly defined strategic plan. “Everyone who came here knew what they were here for,” Finnegan says. “The two pillars by which we measure our success are growing the game of basketball and engaging with the community. “We needed a coach who would embrace that, and players are contracted to spend a certain amount of time in the community, and they do so with humility and authenticity.”
They feel a real bond between fans and the club’s mantra of “defend the island” is reflected in the team’s refusal to surrender, no matter the circumstances. Finnegan says these are not just three words on the wall, but an ethos that is at the core of everything the club does. Essentially, they want to make the Tasmanian people proud.
They did it throughout three seasons of NBL competition. In 2021-22, the JackJumpers qualified for the championship series in their first season. A year later they came third. Their record places them firmly in the conversation around Australian sport’s most successful expansion club.
Roth once said it took him 58 years to find Tasmania, but now he’s home. He sees himself as a leader and mentor rather than a coach, and he creates unwavering self-confidence in his team. To win the title, the JackJumpers won series-deciding games in Perth and Melbourne, two of the toughest challenges in Australian basketball.
Today’s Tasmania is emerging with a courage and confidence that shows its people are tired of playing the underdog and being looked down upon. What makes this possible is the cultural richness and innovative spirit that NBL owner Larry Kestleman believes in when others think the market is too small.
Seven thousand fans packed their stadium on Monday to salute their title-winning heroes. Street art murals commemorating the victory are popping up across the state, and families decked out in JackJumper green are everywhere.
In the coming weeks, Roth will be on the road again, taking the trophy to Tasmania. Participation in the JackJumpers is non-negotiable, as Finnegan discovered on Sunday when he broke a self-imposed rule not to enter the locker rooms after the game after a phone call telling him to join the party. “This was very special to me,” he says.
With a state-of-the-art, high-performance center and plans to increase the capacity of their field, the ants are marching towards an inspiring future.