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David Barlow, Craig Moller join Boomers for home qualifiers
By Roy Ward
Melbourne United forward David Barlow will return to the Australian Boomers for the first time since 2013 while former AFL player Craig Moller will make his debut in two FIBA World Cup qualifiers this month.
Barlow has been recalled to the Boomers side alongside his Melbourne United teammate Moller and Brisbane Bullets guard Cameron Gliddon for qualifiers against Iran and Qatar at Margaret Court Arena on November 30 and December 3.
The 35-year-old Barlow is a born and raised Victorian, who came up with the Sandringham Sabres, making his recall for two Melbourne-based qualifiers even more special.
With two wins the Boomers would lock in their place at next year’s FIBA World Cup in China and one win could also see them safely in depending on other results.
NBL form has been the driver for all three selections as the Barlow and Gliddon among the most consistent performers in the NBL in the opening five weeks of the season while Moller has regularly given Melbourne reliable defence and hustle off the bench.
Barlow returns to the Boomers after a long break but previously he played in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and the FIBA World Cups in 2006 and 2010 with his last Boomers appearance coming in the 2013 Oceania Series against New Zealand.
Melbourne United's David Barlow returns to the Boomers after a five-year break.Credit: AAP
He played more as a small forward in his previous stints with the Boomers but returns as a stretch power forward, who will shoot the three-point shot and look to expose less mobile big men.
Earlier this month, Barlow said he would love to have any chance to return to the national team after he was named in the extended selection squad.
"It’s always an honour to be anyway involved in that sort of thing," Barlow said.
"I’m very fortunate to have been heavily involved in the Boomers earlier in my career and if I can get back to that I would be on top of the world."
Moller played in the NBL All-Australian side that toured China earlier this year and played at last year's World University Games so has been on the path to national selection, the selection caps a rapid basketball rise since ending his AFL career in 2015.
His elevated comes at the expense of Chris Goulding who will rest during the international break after returning recently from a knee injury.
Gliddon was involved earlier in this qualifying campaign and has starred with the Bullets after moving from Cairns Taipans during the off-season as he is third in NBL scoring with 19 points per game.
Melbourne guard Mitch McCarron will continue to play a leading role for the Boomers, while Warrnambool-raised guard Nathan Sobey, who plays for Adelaide, joins Barlow as the Victorians in the squad.
Perth’s Angus Brandt has been named despite recent ankle injury, the Boomers expect he will be fit for November 30, but can bring in a replacement from the selection squad if they withdraw.
Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis said he looked forward to again leading the side into two home internationals.
"I say this every time we name a team, but it’s such a luxury having this depth of talent available to select from in Australian basketball," Lemanis said.
"I’d like to recognise all players in the broader squad and again highlight that each one of them contributes to the success of the Boomer program over time – the team is fluid and everyone contributes in different ways at different times.
"The absolute commitment to acting in the best interests of the team is a trait that we should all be extremely proud of in our players."
Iran and the Boomers are battling for top spot in their group with the top three sides going through to the World Cup while the fourth-ranked team could also make it since China has automatic entry as home nation.
"Playing in front of our home fans is always such a special buzz and proud moment for everyone involved in the team," Lemanis said.
"There is no better feeling in sport."
Boomers squad: David Barlow, Todd Blanchfield, Angus Brandt, Jason Cadee, Cameron Gliddon, Matt Hodgson, Daniel Johnson, Nick Kay, Mitch McCarron, Craig Moller, Mitch Norton, Nathan Sobey.
The Boomers play FIBA World Cup qualifiers against Iran on November 30 and Qatar on December 3 with both games at Margaret Court Arena.