Gazing on glory: Inside Melbourne Tigers title bid

• How to watch every NBL1 game LIVE and FREE
• The Melbourne Tigers are coached by Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze
• The Tigers play the Sandringham Sabres at 7.30pm on Saturday, August 16, 2025

The historic Melbourne Tigers could bring home a championship back to MSAC on Saturday, August 16, 2025, which would be the first men’s title since the 2009 Big V championship.

Since rejoining the SEABL in 2016 and moving over to NBL1 in 2019, the Tigers haven’t gotten close to the ultimate success.

“It would be bloody emotional for Andrew [Gaze] if we get up because it would just mean so much to him,” Melbourne Tigers forward Felix Von Hofe told basketball.com.au.

“I think he’d make this personally up with some of the most amazing things he’s done in his career.

"It would be really special.”

Australian basketball and Melbourne Tigers legend Andrew Gaze has been the leader of the NBL1 men’s program since 2022. When this season comes to a close, he could join his father Lindsay, who’s birthday is on Saturday, as Melbourne Tigers’ championship winning coaches.

“The most important thing about the Tigers getting this win on Saturday would be for Andrew Gaze to be listed as a Melbourne Tigers championship coach alongside his dad Lindsay,” Von Hofe said.

“There is not a single retired athlete that puts in the amount of work, the amount of hours, the amount of emotional effort and passion that Andrew Gaze puts into the Melbourne Tigers Basketball Club.”

The way Melbourne even got to the final is remarkable.

Finishing the NBL1 South season in sixth place, they beat Ballarat comfortably in the elimination final. Then went on to have a 13-2 comeback on the road at Kilsyth in the semi-finals and thanks to a Jack Purchase three against Knox have come from the clouds to make the Grand Final.

“You look at the crowd that came out to that game against Knox. That was probably one of the most special moments that the club, the Melbourne Tigers club has had since they left the NBL,” Von Hofe said.

“You don’t win games like this, these sort of comeback last minute wins, never say die sort of stuff if you’re creating a new roster every year. Because everyone trusts everyone. Everyone loves everyone, there’s so much chemistry in this group.”

Von Hofe, like many others a part of this Tigers roster has played for them all through juniors. While he hasn’t stepped on court that much this season, he says the common bond has created a strong culture for the club.

“It’s unbelievable and it’ll really galvanises the whole group and they do stress that and that’s what the Tigers is. It’s a family and once you’re a Tiger you’re always a Tiger. That’s one thing Andrew Gaze stresses as well. Someone like Tommy Wilson who plays juniors at the Tigers, he goes off and plays footy, and he comes back and he’s always welcome here.”

A Tigers’ junior who would be hoping for a different result on Saturday is Dane Pineau who will be lining up for Sandringham. Pineau played alongside Von Hofe in juniors and later played for them in their first year of NBL1 basketball. Winning defensive player of the year.

He along with his father Brad, who coached them in 2019 and 2021, are Tigers through and through.

“I hope [Brad] gets some recognition and Dane Pineau is on that side. Brad put in some hard yards in those days where we were getting absolutely smacked. I’m going six for 20 and Brad’s coaching while working a full-time job as well. There’s been a lot of effort from a lot of different people over the years, but it would be special,” Von Hofe said.

If the Melbourne Tigers are the family club, the Gaze family is the family of the family club. Andrew’s son Mason is starting in the team while also coaching the club’s junior programs. Daughter Courtney has been playing, coaching and running the team’s social media and marketing.

“That family has done everything for this club. It’s hard to put into words what people don’t see behind the scenes of just how much this would mean to Andrew and to us for Andrew to get this one done,” Von Hofe said.

The Tigers exited the NBL in 2014 and even though their banners and retired numbers hang in John Cain Arena at every Melbourne United home game, they are not the same club.

It may not be soon, but Von Hofe believes there is still a place for them back where they should rightfully be in the NBL.

“The way that basketball is growing in this country I think there’s room for a third Victorian team. In this decade there’s a chance for one to come in and it would be fantastic for a lot of people.”

“It would be, in my opinion, the cherry on top of the cake for ‘look how far the NBL has come that we’re bringing this one back. It’s in such a healthy and strong position that we’re bringing this one back.”

The Tigers play the Sandringham Sabres in the NBL1 South Grand Final on Saturday at the State Basketball Centre at 7:30pm.