Match Preview: Sixers set for season opening “dog fight” against United

The Adelaide 36ers will be looking to start the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 season on a high when they travel to John Cain Arena to face Melbourne United on Saturday night.

Both sides have new coaches with Jacob Chance taking charge of United and his former mentor Trevor Gleeson in charge at the Sixers.

Gleeson is a five-time NBL Championship winning coach in his previous stint with Perth and will hope for more success at his new club.

But to start the year with a win, Gleeson’s outfit will have to do it without the injured Isaac Humphries (knee) and John Jenkins (back) and defy recent history. The Adelaide 36ers have won only one of their last 10 season openers and that was last season’s win over Brisbane at home.

The last time the sides met, the Sixers started strongly, and after 14 lead changes, held on to win 87 to 76 at John Cain Arena, breaking a run of five straight losses there.

Nick Rakocevic top scored that night with 20 points to go with 12 rebounds and two assists, while Zylan Cheatham had 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

But it is a very different United outfit this time with heavy recruiting in the off-season, bringing in a number of new faces including Cole Anthony, Joe Ingles, Luke Travers and Josh Oduro, who each played in the NBA last season.

The Sixers’ off-season could not be more contrasting, with the bulk of the roster remaining.

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Head coach Trevor Gleeson confirmed the absences of Humphries and Jenkins on Friday before the side departed for Melbourne, but said it would open up opportunities for younger players to hit the court.

Six-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton says his side is looking forward to a big test to start the season.

“They’ve got some pieces,” Cotton said during his weekly segment on SEN SA drive.

“Obviously having Jacob Chance over there as the new head coach, he’s going to have them as a well-oiled machine.

“It’s going to be a dog fight, and what a great test to have to start your first game of the season on the road with the team that has as much hype as they do.”

It is a quirk of the fixture that with the teams meeting four times during the regular season, they’ll play each other twice in the first four rounds and three times in the first nine.

Adelaide has only been the home side on 21 out of the 47 meetings between the sides, with 23 games between the two played at John Cain Arena.

Saturday night’s game gets underway at 7:00pm ACDT.

You can watch it live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+, or live and free on 9Go and 9Now.

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MELBOURNE UNITED vs ADELAIDE 36ERS

John Cain Arena, Saturday 19 September, 7:00pm ACST / 7:30pm AEST

Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Disney+, and on 9Go and 9Now

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OVERALL

Played 47, Adelaide 16, Melbourne 31

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At John Cain Arena

Played 23, Adelaide 4, Melbourne 19

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LAST FIVE MATCHES

Feb 7, 2026 – 36ers 87 def United 76 at John Cain Arena

Dec 12, 2025 – 36ers 114 def United 105 at AEC

Oct 26, 2025 – United 81 def 36ers 80 at John Cain Arena

Jan 4, 2025 – 36ers 100 def United 81 at AEC

Nov 17, 2024 – United 113 def 36ers 93 at John Cain Arena

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KEY STATS

• The home team has won seven of the last eight games between Melbourne and Adelaide.

• Melbourne has won 16 of its last 19 games against Adelaide at John Cain Arena.

• The home team has won each of Adelaide's last 10 games.

• Adelaide has lost the fourth quarter in each of its last eight season openers.

• Adelaide has won the second half in 11 of its last 12 away games after trailing at half-time.

• Adelaide has lost nine of its last 10 season openers.

• Adelaide is 6-1 in its last seven games decided by a margin of three points or less.

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