The public have spoken and the votes are all in. Mackay Basketball is proud to announce its McDonald’s Mackay Meteors ‘TEAM OF THE DECADE’ for 2010 to 2019.
STARTING FIVE
Backcourt – Braydon Hobbs – 2012 & 2015
Braydon joined the McDonald’s Meteors in 2012 from Bellarmine University in Kentucky, where the Point Guard had a brilliant college career, including being named the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year.
Whether he was throwing a no-look pass to an open teammate, or knocking down trifectas from all over the floor, ‘Hobbsy’ became an instant fan favourite at the Crater.
In his first professional season, he would average an impressive 13.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while leading the league in 3-point shooting at 44%. Hobbs played a key role in the 2012 QBL Grand Final, helping the Meteors secure their second consecutive title against the Rockets in Rockhampton.
After international playing stints in Spain, Hungry and Germany, Hobbs would return to the red & black in 2015, capping off another stellar season with the Meteors, helping guide them to a 3rd QBL championship, while taking home Grand Final MVP silverware and All League Team honours. In 18 games for the Meteors in 2015, he averaged 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
As a reflection of how well Hobbsy was liked by teammates, he was also recognised with the 2012 & 2015 McDonald’s Meteors Players’ Player awards.
Backcourt – Chris Cedar – 2015 to 2019
Following solid QBL stints in Townsville (2007-2013) and Rockhampton (2014), Cedar made the move to Mackay for the Meteors 2015 campaign. Making an immediate impact, Cedar helped the Meteors finish in first place on the ladder at the conclusion of the 2015 regular season, earning a 15–2 record and moved straight into the semi-finals. There they faced a resurgent Toowoomba Mountaineers team, but with a 104–92 win, the Meteors moved on to the grand final series for the second straight year. They faced the Brisbane Capitals in the best-of-three decider, eventually winning the series 2–1, with Cedar scoring 16 points in the decisive Game 3. With the victory, Cedar helped the Meteors win their third championship in five years, while the guard would take home club MVP honours after averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game, appearing in all 21 games.
2015 was the first of a 5-year stretch that would see Cedar compete in the Meteors red & black. In that time Cedar would play 97 games for the Meteors averaging 18.4 points, 5 rebounds & 4.2 assists while winning club Players’ Player (twice) & Best Defensive Player Awards (once).
Cedar’s most memorable performance for the Meteors may have been the 2017 QBL Grand Final series, where he dropped 50-points in Game 3, against the Townsville Heat.
Frontcourt – Todd Blanchfield – 2010, 2014 & 2018
A proud local, Todd is well known to the Macktown faithful. He started the decade in 2010 averaging 18.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists across 21 games for the Meteors as an 18-year old, helping the side reach the QBL grand final for the very first time.
Blanchfield wouldn’t feature again for the red & black until he returned home for the 2014 QBL season, where he dominated, earning Club MVP and Players’ Player awards, while also being named to the QBL All League team after averaging 19.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 18 games.
In 2018, Blanchfield returned to the McDonald’s Meteors for his 3rd season of decade and averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4.3 assists on 47% shooting, which saw him voted League MVP and a member of the QBL All-League Team. Todd would also be recognised as Club MVP for a second time in 2018.
Frontcourt – Brad Rasmussen – 2010 to 2019
The McDonald’s Meteors all-time leader in QBL games played with 246 has rightfully earned his spot on the Team of the Decade.
‘Rassy’ played in every season over the 10-year period and is one of just a handful of guys who played in all 3 Meteors QBL championship winning teams (2001, 2012 & 2015).
With his versatility at both ends of the floor, it could easily be said that Rassy was the glue that brought the success together.
The decade saw Rassy play a multitude of positions in the black & red and the veteran looked comfortable when both starting or sparking the team off the bench. The only numbers Rassy cared about were in the wins & loss column, however statistically, the 35-year old was his most productive in 2019, where he averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds, starting all 19 games.
The ultimate club man, Rassy earned the QBL ‘Commitment to Community’ award in 2012, while also taking home the Coaches Award in 2019.
Frontcourt – Cameron Tragardh – 2017 & 2018
Recently ranked by the Courier Mail as the 3rd best QBL player of all time, Cameron ‘Trigger’ Tragardh rounds out the McDonald’s Meteors ‘Team of the Decade’ Starting 5.
Tragardh joined the Meteors as player-coach in 2017, making an immediate impact up front for the black & red. In his first season in Mackay he would average 16 points and 6 rebounds across 22 games, playing a pivotal role in helping the side reach the QBL grand finals.
Trigger backed that performance up with a solid 2018 campaign, averaging 12 points & 6 rebounds, leading the side to top spot on the ladder at the end of the regular season with an impressive 15 & 3 record.
It was not only on the court where Trigger made an impression, he was proactive with school engagement across the region, earning him the club ‘Commitment to Community’ Award in 2017.
Meteors Coach of the Decade – Grant Kruger – 2011 & 2012
When it comes to coaching success in the QBL, it’s hard to look past the achievements of Grant Kruger.
Before tackling the McDonald’s Meteors QBL Head Coach role in 2011, ‘Krugs’ was already on the right track as a coach leading the Under 23 Mackay Meteors to the 2010 Tropical Youth League title.
12 months later he mentored the McDonald’s Meteors to the QBL title, the first men’s senior state league championship in club history.
It wasn’t all easy going though, after starting the 2011 season with a 1 & 3 record, the Meteors would win 16 straight games taking them all the way to the grand final, where they dominated Rockhampton 100-82.
Fast forward a year and 2012 would bring the exact same result, back-to-back QBL titles for the Meteors with Kruger at the helm, Mackay beating the Rockets again in the decider, 72-58.
Krugz would complete his 2-year Meteors coaching tenure with a remarkable 32-wins & just 7-losses, a phenomenal win percentage of 82% cementing his position as one of the greats with the clipboard.
BENCH FIVE
o Backcourt – Shaun Bruce – 2016 & 2017
o Backcourt – Rhys Martin – 2010, 2011 & 2015
o Frontcourt – Clint Steindl – 2014 & 2015
o Frontcourt – Bryce Washington – 2019
o Frontcourt – Luke Harvey – 2011 to 2013 & 2015 to 2017
