Sport
5 September, 2025
Bendigo Spirit in town next month
BENDIGO Spirit will take on the Geelong Venom in a highly anticipated pre-season clash at Warrnambool Stadium on Saturday, October 4.
This event will bring elite women’s basketball to the heart of Victoria’s southwest coast.
The game will be accompanied by a series of community activities designed to inspire and engage local youth.
The event marks a significant opportunity for young boys and girls in the region to witness professional female athletes in action, reinforcing the importance of visibility and representation in sport.
Dan Jackson, general manager of Bendigo Spirit, said the team was excited to connect with the Warrnambool community.
“We’re thrilled to bring Bendigo Spirit to Warrnambool. It’s more than just a game - it’s a chance for young people to see what’s possible,” Dan said.
“When kids see professional female athletes competing at the highest level, it plants a seed. It shows them that they can dream big, regardless of gender.
“With both us and the Venom being based in Victorian regional centres, we can see the impact that having a professional sports team based locally has on the community, so we hope we can bring a little bit of that influence to Warrnambool and the surrounding communities when we visit.”
The Spirit will also deliver a variety of community engagement activities throughout the day, including basketball clinics, school visits, and meet-and-greet sessions with players and coaches.
Warrnambool City councillor, Richard Ziegeler, welcomed the event as a milestone for the city.
“Basketball is huge in Warrnambool; the Seahawks and Mermaids are institutions of the city, and participation at a junior level is strong so we’re really excited to be working with Warrnambool Basketball to bring the reigning WNBL champions to the city,” he said.
“It’s a real privilege to host a team of this calibre. The Bendigo Spirit has multiple Opals among its ranks, and we hope their visit encourages more women and girls to get involved and stay involved in sport.
“Off the court, there will be a coach the coach session suitable for coaches of any sport, and we are also hosting a business lunch.”
It’s shaping up to be a big few months for basketball, with the Spirit visiting in October and the 3x3 Champions League tournament in December.
“These are both great partnerships and both terrific additions to our events calendar in the lead up to the summer peak season,” Cr Ziegeler said.
Warrnambool Basketball Association president Paul Barker spoke of his excitement to be hosting WNBL action, and involving them in the community.
“Warrnambool Basketball is thrilled to have entered into an agreement with Bendigo Spirit to bring its team down to Warrnambool for a preseason game against Geelong,” Mr Barker said.
“With Bendigo being the reigning WNBL champions, this is a great opportunity for south west basketball fans to come out and witness a quality of women’s basketball not often seen in our region.
“We are also super excited that we will be conducting a community kids’ clinic as well as an elite specialised training for female athletes.”
Mr Barker said that with players of the calibre of Kelsey Griffin and Marianna Tolo in attendance, who have both represented Australia at international level, this was a fantastic opportunity for players in the region to rub shoulders with some of the best in the business and further develop their skills.
“We hope our community gets right behind these events because we hope to develop an on-going relationship with Bendigo Spirit where regular events can be held as well as a pathway for our elite basketballers to a higher level of competition,” Mr Barker said.
Tickets for the game will be available through Warrnambool Basketball’s website and at the venue if not sold out prior.
