Edwards excels as Melbourne United storm past New Zealand Breakers in home opener

Written by Lachlan Sherriff

Photo: ESPN

Back with a vengeance following their heartbreaking end to the 2024-25 season, Melbourne United returned to John Cain Arena for their first home game in the 25/26 season against the New Zealand Breakers. 

Of course, it was far from the same team that United had in their locker room 182 days ago during the game five loss to Illawarra. All five starters from that game didn’t feature for United today, with Jack White, Matthew Dellavedova, Marcus Lee and Ian Clark all having departed Melbourne over the offseason, while Chris Goulding is currently on the sidelines with a quad injury.

Instead, Tyson Walker, Milton Doyle, Jesse Edwards and Finn Delany, who all started on Thursday against Tasmania, were all given their second start with Melbourne United. Meanwhile, Shea Ili, who was once a New Zealand Breaker, was given his first start of the season against his old team, replacing Tanner Krebs. 

But despite a starting five of mainly new faces, chemistry barely seemed to be an issue for United, who were the better team from start to finish, winning 114-82.

Jesse Edwards is proving to be exactly who United expected him to be. Following a debut game in Tasmania which saw him post ten points and ten rebounds, Edwards excelled on that today with 22 points and six rebounds. Edwards versatility gives United a post option they haven’t had in recent seasons, with the Dutchman proving to be especially valuable on the pick-and-roll or an alley oop.

Milton Doyle will get a lot of credit for United’s success in the backcourt, which he fully deserves, but the impact of Tyson Walker has to be mentioned. Walker’s presence defensively proved to be a difference maker for United early on. He guarded full court from the first tip off and never gave the Breakers ball handlers room to breathe - exactly what you’d want from a guard on defense.

As for Doyle, it seems like he’s fit into United’s system flawlessly. Coming off a monster 22 point performance against Tasmania, Doyle put up another good statline, with fifteen points, six assists and three rebounds.

Perhaps the biggest compliment you could give Doyle, however, is his maturity. After getting two fouls called against him in the first quarter and a third in the second quarter, Doyle managed to go the whole game without getting called for another foul, keeping him in the game for as long as possible. Replacing Matthew Dellavedova was never going to be an easy task, but Doyle seems to be up for it. 

Photo: Kelly Defina

"He does a great job with putting little wrinkles on what I put out there and finding better ways. And they're the fun guys to coach when they're trying to make your system better from what they see. He's been able to coach it in a way and sell it to his teammates that they get on the same page."

- Dean Vickerman on Milton Doyle

But it wasn’t just the starters who excelled for Melbourne. United’s bench scored 59 points, compared to New Zealand’s 26, in a dominant display from the entire second unit.

Tanner Krebs may have started on Thursday, but he might just be suited to a role off the bench as he scored a season high sixteen points. Kyle Bowen and Fabijan Krslovic played their role to perfection with a combined fifteen rebounds, while Dash Daniels starred at both ends of the court with fourteen points and two steals.

Daniels only played eight minutes on Thursday against Tasmania, but he proved tonight that he can also step up if plunged into the deep end.

"It’s always just next man up. You’ve got to be ready for your moment. I put all my trust in the coaching staff and my teammates. So whatever they feel is best for the team and what's going to help us win, I’m all for that."

- Dash Daniels on taking his opportunity

Melbourne United will return to John Cain Arena next Thursday, to take on SEM Phoenix in the first Throwdown of the season.