Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
The second ever Weber WBBL Draft will take place next month and Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland has peeled back the curtain on his club’s excitement, strategy and some key targets.
Copeland has revealed his passion for all things NFL and NBA, along with a long history as a proponent of NRL Supercoach, has helped him think outside the square as he works alongside Thunder WBBL coaches Lisa Keightley and Michael Klinger and CNSW Head of Female Elite Cricket, Leah Poulton, in building a strategy.
“I’m actually feeling really excited,” Copeland said.
“This is the stuff that I live and breathe. American sports, the draft and asset management for trading picks, trading players. To be honest, I’m excited because the Thunder WBBL is in such a good place. Our list is really strong. The vibes around the place are great.”
The club’s research and preparation has been meticulous.
“We’ve got a cap sheet which runs a depth charting process on top order batters, middle order batters, wicketkeepers, spin bowlers, left and right hand skills matrix stuff, and then we’re looking two, three years down the track on the cap management, how much players are getting paid, who’s going to go up in salary, and what does that mean for the bottom of the list when it comes to draft.
“We’re just looking, how can I give myself a cap space to go nuts on an overseas signing as a pre-draft, but then still be able to get a platinum draft pick. And what are our greatest needs?”
And without revealing the club’s entire hit list, he said two players stood out as the type of people the club would love to have on their books this season.
“You look at someone like Chamari (Athapaththu), you look at someone like Heather (Knight).”
See the full interview with Trent Copeland below.
