Match preview: Gleeson era to open against Hawks at the Blitz

Supporters will get their first look at the Adelaide 36ers under new head coach Trevor Gleeson when the side takes on Illawarra at the Code Sports NBL Blitz tournament in Bendigo on Thursday night.

Gleeson arrived in the off-season after the departure of Mike Wells, and the five-time NBL Championship winner has set about putting his own stamp on the side.

He has already promised to build a strong defensive backbone and he says the Blitz will give him a chance to experiment a bit with his line-up.

The Sixers confirmed on Wednesday that Matt Kenyon will miss the Blitz through concussion protocols and new signing Bul Kuol won’t play for some weeks as he finalises his rehabilitation from an ACL injury.

But Gleeson says that will give him the chance to try some other new faces, along with experimenting with the line-up.

“You're going to get two guys – (Development Player) Deonte Williams out there, and we just signed Jacob (Rigoni) as well,” he said.

“We're going to throw them against the heat, see how they go against the big smoke.

“And really, just like our combinations in there, you know, we're going to throw a little bit of different combinations out there.

“We might have Zylan (Cheatham) playing on the wing and we go to a big lineup so let's see what works.”

The Sixers have an impressive record against the Hawks, having won eight of their last nine against the NBL25 Champions, though they lost in their most recent meeting after eight straight wins.

On that occasion, the Hawks, playing at home in Wollongong, came from nine points down at the final change to win by one point, with Sixer Bryce Cotton missing an open three-pointer, and Flynn Cameron unable to finish a put back after an offensive rebound.

The sides also played in last season’s Blitz in Canberra with the Sixers winning comfortably by 21 points even without six-time NBL MVP Cotton, Kenyon and Isaac Humphries.

On that occasion Isaac White top scored with 20 points to go with six assists and four rebounds, while Ben Griscti impressed with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes of game time.

Griscti will make his return in Sixers colours on Thursday night, following a neck injury suffered while training at the Blitz 12 months ago.  

The Hawks are a very different side heading into NBL27 with eight new faces and the departure of key players like former NBA man JaVale McGee and import QJ Peterson.

In comes experienced NBL heads Kyle Adnam and Milton Doyle along with the returning import Darius Days and former Euroleague forward Kelan Martin, who also has NBA experience.

The 36ers will then face Cairns on Saturday night.

All games at the Code Sports NBL Blitz will be available to watch on ESPN via Kayo or Disney+ as well as being streamed on 9Now.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS vs ADELAIDE 36ERS
Red Energy Arena, Bendigo, Thursday 3 September, 7:30pm ACST
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+ or on 9Now

OVERALL
Played 142, Adelaide 84, Illawarra 58

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Feb 5, 2026 – Hawks 100 def 36ers 99 at WIN Entertainment Centre
Dec 20, 2025 – 36ers 84 def Hawks 78 at WIN Entertainment Centre
Nov 19, 2025 – 36ers 97 def Hawks 85 at AEC
Nov 2, 2025 – 36ers 90 def Hawks 88 at AEC
*Aug 27, 2025 – 36ers 104 def Hawks 83 at AIS Arena, Canberra (*Blitz)
Jan 13, 2025 – 36ers 91 def Hawks 88 at AEC