Bendigo Braves eye Grand Final return as key signings reshape finals push

The Bendigo Braves are making a late-season charge toward the NBL1 South finals, with club officials pointing to a revamped roster as the key to snapping a two-year absence from the postseason. The Braves, who have not reached the grand final since 2022, currently sit fourth in the conference standings with eight regular-season games remaining.

New faces, fresh energy

Coach Ben Harvey said the arrivals of import guard Marcus Johnson and local centre Liam O'Connell have added depth the squad lacked in recent campaigns. Johnson, a 27-year-old American who previously played in Germany's ProA league, leads the team in scoring at 19.4 points per game. O'Connell, a former Bendigo Pioneers junior, returned from a stint in the Victorian State League to bolster the frontcourt.

The Braves have won six of their last nine games, a stretch that began after a 1-4 start to the season. Harvey attributed the turnaround to improved defensive chemistry. “We were giving up 92 points a game early on,” he said in a club statement. “Now we’re holding teams to 78. That’s finals-level defence.”

The team’s home venue, Bendigo Stadium in Kangaroo Flat, has seen average crowds of 1,200 this season, down slightly from 1,400 in 2024 but still among the top five in the NBL1 South. The club has not released official attendance figures for the current season, but gate revenue remains a critical funding stream alongside sponsorship from local businesses including Bendigo Bank and the Shamrock Hotel.

Pressure down the stretch

Standings across the NBL1 South are tight. The top five teams are separated by just 2.5 games, meaning every result carries outsized significance. The Braves face a crucial road trip to Frankston on July 19, followed by a home fixture against ladder-leaders Mount Gambier on July 25. Both games are expected to draw sell-out crowds.

Last year Bendigo finished seventh, missing the finals by three wins. This season, the club aimed for a top-four berth from day one. “We set a target of 16 wins to guarantee a home final,” Harvey said. “We’re on 12 with eight to go. It’s achievable, but the margin for error is gone.”

The NBL1 South finals begin on August 7, with the grand final scheduled for August 22 at Dandenong Stadium. Should the Braves qualify, their path would likely go through either Mount Gambier or Frankston, both of which have beaten Bendigo this season. Harvey said his team has focused on closing out tight games, having lost three contests by single digits.

For now, the focus remains on the immediate fixture list. Training sessions at the Bendigo Stadium courts have been extended by 45 minutes as staff review game film. The club has also launched a “Finals Push” membership drive, offering discounted tickets for the remaining home games. The response so far, the club says, has been strong.