Perth Wildcats a smash hit with South West yet again during pre-season tour

Even hours before last Friday’s NBL club pre-season clash between the Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers at the Eaton Recreation Centre, you could feel magic in the air. Both teams emerged from a pre-game shootaround at the venue mid-morning and were all incredibly relaxed. Several players from each team warmly embraced each other, with smiles a common theme. One man who was especially beaming from ear to ear was Wildcats vice-captain Mitch Norton. Born and raised in Townsville, Norton is naturally a big supporter of bringing pre-season games to regional areas of Australia. “I think it is very important,” he said. “It gives everyone in this region something to strive for — as I did in Townsville. I love being back in small towns and it does make me feel like home.” Prior to his side’s 98-87 win over the 36ers on Friday night in front of a stoked sell-out South West crowd, Norton believed having a full squad available during the pre-season was working wonders to enhance player chemistry and set-play execution. “This is something (near-complete roster available in pre-season) that we have kind of struggled with in the past, so that is going to be handy. “It will be another game environment where we get to go out and play someone else, but at the end of the day, the main focus is about us.” On Saturday morning, scores of Wildcats supporters flocked to Sportspower Bunbury on Sandridge Road, for a meet and greet with Wildcats trio Bryce Cotton, TaShawn Thomas and Todd Blanchett. Despite plenty of people queued up, all three players were more than accommodating with fans of all ages. Prior to heading back to Perth for the second game of their pre-season series with the 36ers on Sunday in Joondalup, the Bunbury Herald understands the trio had planned to stop by the Bunbury Farmers Market — due to the positive recommendations they had received from their loyal South West fans.