THE BOB MANN JUNIORS BASKETBALL REUNION

After 35 years it's time to come together for a celebration

Join us on
June 7th, 2025

For what will be a great night of celebrations, memories, stories and fun.

It’s hard to believe, but 35 years ago, in 1990, Bob coached his first basketball team. Since then, he has gone on to coach hundreds of teams, probably thousands of kids, formed clubs and Associations, and coached at the introductory, elite, and every other level in between.

In that journey, he has built players, earned respect, and, yes, he has created the odd enemy along the way. It’s been a 35-year journey that has seen passion, competitiveness, drive, humour, emotion, innovation, ambition, challenges, regrets, and, amongst it all, a fair degree of success. Most importantly, it has created memories and friendships.

Bob’s teams were known for their competitiveness, teamwork, punching above their weight, and hard work, but for those who made up those teams the bonds within them, the comradery and how close-knit they were. Now after 35 years, we want to bring as many of them to celebrate all those years of being a Bob Mann Junior.

This page contains some details on the major clubs and programs Bob has built and worked for over the past 35 years. Check out your club and get in the mood for June 7th by booking your tickets for this great night.

BMBA Templar Warriors
BMBA Templar Warriors
Oakleigh Warriors
Oakleigh Warriors
BMBA Templars
BMBA Templars
McKinnon Cougars
McKinnon Cougars
Caulfield Grammar
Caulfield Grammar
Melbourne University
Melbourne University
Hawthorn Magic
Hawthorn Magic
Maccabi Warriors
Maccabi Warriors
Keysborough Cougars
Keysborough Cougars
Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE

In memory of a good friend

A celebration for a good cause

Bob, like so many of us has had his life impacted through the loss of good friends to Mental Health Issues. The last of those was a former player of his Jason Collie who himself helped Bob out during some dark times of his own.

Bob has predominately coached junior boys and young men throughout his 35-year coaching tenure and he enters what he expects to be his final decade in the sport he wants to establish something that will help address this issue.

Bob will achieve this by taking several steps towards raising funds and donating them to a Male Mental Health fund/program nominated by Jason’s family who has tragically lost two sons to this issue. It’s an issue largely avoided by many in our community unless you have been touched by it, so Bob wants to take steps to raise awareness through fund-raising and conducting forums for men and boys to discuss these issues and in doing so know that there are people within their circles that they can turn to for support, just as Jason supported Bob through some of his dark times. These first steps will include:

  • Fifty per cent of funds raised from this reunion night will go towards the fund nominated by Jason’s family.
  • Inspired by the great Tom Hafey, Bob will look to be hosting a Christmas breakfast for all of his past players with all funds raised going toward the same Mental Health cause.
  • Once Bob establishes his own venue, a court will be named after Jason and all profits from that court will be allocated once again to the nominated cause/fund.

Finally, Bob and the BMBA through other community groups will be looking to conduct regular forums for men and boys to come together to talk about issues that they may face in the course of life and how to navigate them with the support of others.

So this night isn’t just about a celebration its about raising some funds for a wonderful cause and remembering those we have sadly lost along the way.

Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE

The nights events

Throughout the night there will be several events happening at the magnificent social rooms of the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron.

  • Firstly there will be a cocktail night with 9 servings of food which is included in the ticket price.
  • A Fully licensed bar facility with an extensive choice of beers, wines and spirits at reasonable prices.
  • We will recognise several of Bob’s past players, as well as some BMJ all-star teams and awards.
  • We will be conducting an auction night to help raise funds
  • Photos and videos will be on display
  • Plenty of speeches, fun stories and a lot of laughter and fun are sure to be a part of the night.
As we progress towards the night, there will be more announcements and updates. so make sure you register for our regular newsletter by completing the online form listed on this page.
Sean Madonald - Oakleigh
Sean Madonald - Oakleigh
Owen Odigie - McKinnon
Owen Odigie - McKinnon
Corey Maynard - McKinnon
Corey Maynard - McKinnon
Sean Macdonald - Oakleigh
Sean Macdonald - Oakleigh
Owen Odigies McKinnon
Owen Odigies McKinnon
Shawn King - McKinnon
Shawn King - McKinnon
Tom Burns - McKinnon
Tom Burns - McKinnon
Andrew Kaban - Oakleigh
Andrew Kaban - Oakleigh

Register for our newsletter to keep up to date.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE
Click here

The McKinnon Years - 1990 to 2009

From five boys in a backyard to a representative club that punched above its weight with numerous Victorian Championship teams and saw three of its juniors go on to play in the NBL. The transition was incredible and it was a journey taken truly as a family club where many firsts were accomplished. The work of Bob and his magnificent group of volunteers built the foundations of the current yet vastly different McKinnon Basketball Association that exists today. 

Bob had outstanding support in building the Association most notably Russell and Julie Brookshaw and he enjoyed the support of Stalwarts like Tom Burns and Shawn King who helped to build not only the McKinnon Junior program but the pathway between that junior program and the open age BIG V program. A pathway often talked about by clubs but very rarely achieved. In his twenty years at McKinnon, this was Bob’s proudest achievement, one that sadly doesn’t exist today.

In those twenty years, there were plenty of notable personalities starting with Ben Artz and Aaron Sinclair who led their McKinnon Invincibles to several domestic and rep titles and built an amazing reputation for what was then just a domestic club. This baton was picked and run with by Leigh Rainey, Hayden Putz, Lee Mason, Tom Burns and Co who were the best team Bob coached never to make the Victorian Championships back when only twelve teams from across Melbourne qualified. From those heady early years, the club just kept producing teams that despite the Associations small size just kept punching above their weight. Efforts from players such as Chris Dawes, Fraser Thompson, Corey Maynard, Sam Ayre, Cal Role, Brady and Darby Walmsley, Craig Brookshaw Phil Poon and too many others to mention made the McKinnon Cougars of the 1990s and 2000s one of the great sporting clubs to be a part of.

McKinnon Lakers

Originally the club was formed at the McKinnon Lakers, as its initial members were predominately recruited from the McKinnon Cricket Club whose colours were purple and gold, the same colours as the LA Lakers.

McKinnnon Cougars

In 1995 the club took the bold step to transition into an Association after it secured access to the new court at McKinnon Secondary College.

This photo was of all our rep teams in our second season of rep basketball.

Victorian Champs

Despite its small size, the Association produced several Victorian Championship teams in just eight years. This was at a time when this division was much harder to qualify for than it is today.

Corey Maynard led this U16 VC team before going on to play USA college basketball and then in the NBL.

2007 Under 16 Boys
VJL1 Champs

This 2007 Under 16 Cougars team won the VJL1 title before going on to Vic Champs the next year. The team was led by future  NBL player Owen Odigie.

2008 Under 18 Boys
VJL1 Runners-Up

This 2008 Under 18 team punched well above its weight making the Grand Final of the prestigious Adelaide Tournament before going on to also make the VJL1 Grand Final.

McKinnon
Girls Teams

While never coaching a McKinnon Girls rep team directly, Bob coached many of them at training, through domestic competitions and as a fill-in coach when others couldn’t.

A Bob Mann Time-out

Bob talking strategy with his 2008 Under 16 VC Boys in their Adelaide Tournament Grand Final against Sturt.

BIG V Men

Bob delivering his pre-game address to his McKinnon BIV Men’s team before their game One match in their Grand Final series against Darebin in 2007.

Passion Plus

From that same 2007 Grand Final game, Bob dips into his reserves of passion to motivate his young troops.

Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE

Register for our newsletter to keep up to date.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE

The Oakleigh Years - 2009 to 2016

The results delivered by Bob and crew at Oakleigh were simply stunning. From a standing start of no rep teams, no junior competition, and no committee, they built an Association of 500+ members, formed over 100 domestic teams in a variety of competitions, had six teams qualify for Victorian Championships in just five years, and were building a competitive BIG V program.

To top it all off Bob had recruited former McKinnon Junior Shannon Malone to coach the girl’s program and she had laid the groundwork for the girl’s program to achieve similar results to the boy’s program.

Had the OBA been left alone as they should have been, then the sky was the limit for the Oakleigh Warriors. A predominant person highlighted throughout Bob’s Warriors is Sean Macdonald who has now gone onto the NBL where he won his first Championship last season. Other notable juniors include Naoum Lazis and Nic Gabsch who both went on to play at a higher level. Oakleigh warrior Stalwarts like Guy Vadas, Sam Callahan, and Perry Stamatakos. Cal Morgan and a host of others contributed to the Warrior’s success. 

Patty Suhodobnik’s contribution as a coach helping to build the Warriors in their early years shouldn’t go without an honourable mention. It was only a short six period, but the results achieved at Oakleigh were nothing short of outstanding.

Warrior youngsters

After being kicked out of the McKinnon Basketball Association, these Under 10 boys went down to Sandringham to take out their much tougher Under 10 A Grade competition. 

Adelaide Glory

In Oakleigh’s first year of representative basketball, this Under 14 boys team set the standard for the success that was to follow by travelling to Adelaide and winning that tournament.

VC success

In 2011 the Warriors U12 Boys were our first team to qualify for Victorian Championships. Not only did they make VC they made the top ten cut-off and in this photo are celebrating beating the Number # team in the state in that age group Bullen, on Bulleen’s home court.

Under 14 VC

In 2012 our Under 14 Boys followed the Under 12 Boys and made VC again. This team featured future NBL star Sean McDonald and future AFL star Hayden McLean.

Back To Back VC

In 2013 Bob had his U14’s qualify for VC again. They also qualified for the top ten in the Victorian Championships. Sadly they were devastated by injury in that period.

VJL1 Champions

In 2015 Bob’s U/16 Boys just missed out on VC but rebounded quickly to win the VJL1 competition.

2015 Under 16 VC

Bob’s best season at Oakleigh was when his Under 16 boys qualified for the Victorian Championships. Despite having a team full of guards the boys played some tremendous basketball to be unlucky not to make the top ten cut.

2015 Under 18 VC

Bob is probably the only coach to have had two teams make the Victorian Championships in the same season, not once but an incredible three times. 

He accomplished this with an outstanding effort from his Under 18 Boys, who leapt from the Metro 2 competition in VC, where they also made the top ten cut-offs to only miss the finals by one win. 

Bob remains adamant that had they made the finals, this team could have delivered him his first State title.

Oakleigh BIG V

It took Bob five years at McKinnon to mould McKinnon Juniors into a BIG V force. He was well on his way to repeating that effort at Oakleigh, fielding competitive teams made up predominantly of Oakleigh juniors coming through the ranks.

Had the sad events of 2016 not happened, he strongly believes they would be in the State Championship competition by now and winning the competition.

Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE

The Keysborugh Years - 2018 to 2019

In 2018 and 2019 Bob helped out good mate Nathan Vought at Keysborough by coaching their Youth League teams in those years. In return Nathan allowed Bob to coach his remaining boys team from the Oakleigh Warriors through the Keysborough Junior Program. It was an arrangement that benefited both. Bob’s boys went on to win consecutive junior rep titles through Keysboorugh and established the BMBA Warriors through the Sandringham domestic competitions where they made three Grand Finals, winning one. It was an intriguing experience for the first time to have a first-hand look at a rep club that he wasn’t in charge of.

U14 Boys Champs

Bob took a number of his Oakleigh U14 Boys with him across to Keysborough. Where they enjoyed success in their first season, winning their rep divisions and making a tournament final.

Back to back champs

The same group went on to win their Under 16 competition the following years, defeating his old club, McKinnon in the final.

Youth League

In his two-year stint at Keysie Bob coached their youth League squads in the BIG V competitions and had them extremely competitive in both seasons.

Other Teams

Caulfield Grammar 2017

 Bob enjoyed coaching this team as they were stacked with talent and went through their school season undefeated.

Caulfield Grammar 2018

Another successful season, with a squad with not as much talent but just as much desire. Only two losses for the season, both close ones to the same opposition.

Hawthorn Magic 2022

Bob answered the call of his old mate Shawn King and coached this Hawthorn team in the midst of COVID-19. Struggled with sickness and injury, but it was still an enjoyable season.

Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE

Melbourne Uni 2021 to 2022

Bob took on the head coaching job at Melbourne University in 2020 just as COVID-19 hit our shores. Over two years Bob had to manage building probably the youngest and most inexperienced team ever to take a Division One Men’s court in the BIG V. Despite this, over two years when he could finally get his University boys onto the court he had them playing competitive basketball against veteran teams. Despite not winning any games they had several chances and Bob considers this season as one of his best as a coach. He also was Melbourne University’s inaugural coach for the new Univerity Basketball League competition.

Register for our newsletter to keep up to date.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE

The BMBA Templars - 2017 to present

Bob’s current passion and the one that is giving him the most excitement from everything he has already done in the sport is his BMBA basketball program. BMBA is the acronym for Bob Mann Basketball Academy and it’s a basketball business set up in the same manner as a club, but without the politics that have devastated two of his clubs previously. Since 2017 Bob has fielded his BMBA teams across several competitions and tournaments enjoying notable success. In just the last twelve months Bob’s teams have made four tournament Grand Finals and three domestic ones. Sadly they lost all of them but one, but to make so many in a single year was outstanding and sets up the program for future years for even further success. 

Another development recently in the past year has seen Bob secure court access at the state-of-the-art stadium at Stonnington Sports Centre next to the Chadstone Shopping Centre. At the completion of 2025, Bob’s Academy will have access to six quality indoor courts to conduct both training and matches. This time without the inhibition of club politics to mess things up the sky’s the limit for building a quality basketball program.

Sandy Domestic

The BMBA started by competing impressively at the strong Sandringham domestic competitions. Making and winning several finals. This despite playing against vastly bigger clubs, which as usual didn’t stop Bo’s teams from competing and winning. 

Ballarat Success

These boys built on that domestic success through tournaments. winning the Ballarat tournament in 2017 and then being runners-up in 2018.

Eltham Grand Final

In 2020 before COVID-19 hit Bob took a brand new bunch of boys into the very strong Eltham Dandenong tournament where they once again made another Grand Final.

Holiday Camps

After COVID-19 Bob had to rebuild from the ground up which he did through visiting 25+ schools conducting FREE clinics for over 5,000 students. 

From those school clinics, Bob ran holiday camps to create interest in forming domestic Teams

The relaunch

After what was effectively a three-year pause due to COVID-19 Bob relaunched his BMBA domestic program in 2022 with 3 boys’ teams and one girls’ team

Boys Teams

Over two years, Bob’s boy’s team competed in a magnificent fashion making four Grand Finals and winning one.

Warrior Girls

Bob also had the unique challenge of coaching U10 Girls for the first time. The girls made finals in their first season and were very competitive in the second despite no previous game experience.

Tournament #1 2024

We entered a U12 boys team in the Eltham-Dandenong tournament that relied on some fill-in players recruited days before the tournament began.

The boys turned around a 25-point loss in the lead-up games to defeat the same opponent on the buzzer in their semi-final, before going down in the Grand-Final.

Tournament #1 2024

The BMBA also fielded an Under 18 Boys team in the Dandenong Tournament which also had four ring-in players to achieve that. Yet again despite this Bob had the boys playing great basketball from their first game going into their Grand Final undefeated.

Sadly, like the Under 12’s despite a tight affair, the boys just came up short.

Tournament #2 2024

We then entered our Under 12 boys again with a more settled team, but still only had six players. Despite this, the boys dominated in their lead-up games before winning their semi-final.

The boys played an outstanding game in their Grand Final but fell just short of what would have been a great win.

Tournament #3 2024

Then finally Bob took a full squad into a strong Ballarat tournament competition. Yet again Bob’s boys took all before them in the lead-up games before winning an exciting semi-finally just the 1 point.

In the Grand-final despite giving away size and age the boys took it right up to their opponents to only lose by a few baskets.

Under16/18 Boys team

Throughout the 2022-23 post-COVID-19 period, Bob was proudest of his achievements with this squad. After a clinic at Westall Secondary College Bob formed a U16 squad of absolute beginners who not only had no skills but no idea about the game or its rules. 

Twelve months later the boys won their first domestic Grand Final, and eighteen months later they made their first tournament Grand Final.

Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE

Into the future

Going into what he considers will be his last decade in the sport, Bob as usual has some big plans for his BMBA program. Here is a quick summary.

A new headquarters

By the end of 2025, Bob has the potential to secure six courts within the Stonnington LGA area. Crucially it gives him the chance to recruit enough players to build both a player and financial base to launch even bigger BMBA projects in the future. 

New Competitions

A major goal of the BMBA is to provide innovative competitions for juniors that promote player development, embed exciting new concepts into those competitions and most importantly provide families and players much better value.

"Strength, Honour and Unity"

The BMBA way!

At the BMBA the Latin motto in our logo above is “Fortitudo, Honor, Unitas” which means “Strength, Honour, Unity”. That motto is at the core of everything that we do both on and off the court.

CHECK IT OUT IN FULL – CLICK HERE

Growing the Brand

Bob wants to build on what’s been achieved by his BMBA program, just in a much larger way. If Bob can maximise his court space it could generate significant turnover and profit for the program.

A BMBA Stadium

Once the BMBA has established all of this it will move to have its own stadium that is dedicated to BMBA training programs and competitions only.

Our most important ambition

At the BMBA there are two major sayings. Our first is “Strength, Honour and Unity” which is outlined above. The second is “Building Better Players, Mentoring Better People” with an emphasis on mentoring better people. As so many of his juniors would attest to Bob built genuine family clubs. While most clubs talk about this, Bob’s clubs delivered on it and Bob plans on doing it again in an even better fashion through several initiatives that he has planned. 

This starts with this year’s reunion and fund-raiser for both the BMBA and Men’s Mental Health also outlined above. So book your tickets, come along, relive past memories, meet old friends, witness some great awards and help us raise funds for some great causes. 

Register for our newsletter to keep up to date.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE

A personal invitation from Bob

To every former Bob Mann junior and player

Dear players, both past and present,

I would like to warmly invite you and your families to my 35 reunion for all of my former players. While the night is to look fondly back on 35 years of basketball experiences, achievements, challenges, triumphs and defeats, we will also be using it to raise funds for the good causes outlined on this page.

Sport is one of the greatest endeavours that we can undertake and very much reflects the human experience. In sport as in life we go through emotions, friendships, accepting differences and working towards common goals, resilience in overcoming the turbulence that life will through at you and doing your best to help others where you can.

In that journey, just as in life, there will be laughter and tears, joy and sadness, triumph and failure, endeavour and surrender, teamwork and selfishness, sacrifice and ambition.

Friendships will be formed and sadly enemies will be made. Through my 35 years, I’ve experienced all of this and much more with many of you and through it all many stories were made and many memories created, and whether they were good or bad, when combined they made the journey so very worthwhile. They were worthwhile because of all of you, the players that I coached and the families that supported you. Without you, the things we achieved in 35 years in the sport of basketball would not have been possible, any success I achieved as a coach was because of you my players. I was always proud of you all and so vert grateful for your efforts, but on so many occasions didn’t have the chance to express wither that pride or gratitude. On this night I hope to rectify that.

I would like all of you to know, whatever you may or may not think of how I went about things, you all played a very special part in both my basketball experience and more importantly my life. Whenever I was asked about how many kids I had, always responded with the answer “A couple of hundred”, which always brought a a quizzical look from those who asked. Through all of the clubs that I built, it certainly felt that way and in my journeys at other clubs outside of McKinnon and Oakleigh, I have never experienced what we brought together in those years. Looking back now it was so very special and even though we cannot come together as a club, we can come together as a basketball family to celebrate all of that history.

For those that can make it, I look forward to seeing you all again, for those that can’t just know how special you all are to me. To those who I may have offended, I hope you can forgive me and that I am more than prepared to meet with you to look to mend any bridges that need mending.

Whatever happens, June 7th will be a very special event that will establish future similar events and if nothing else will help raise funds and efforts for some very special causes. Ensure you are a part of it.

Yours sincerely

Bob Mann

Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE

Help us celebrate the past while helping to build the future!

Book your tickets for this wonderful night by CLICKING HERE