Flyers secure trio of Development Players

The Southside Melbourne Flyers announced on Thursday that Madison Ryan, Marianela Fakalata, and Lucy Cochrane would be joining the club as Development Players, pending League approval.

Ryan, 17, joins the club following a successful NBL1 South season with the Sandringham Sabres, averaging 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game across 14 appearances. She also starred for the Australian Gems in their recent FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup triumph, being named to the tournament’s All-Star Five.

Cochrane also enjoyed a strong year at Sandringham alongside Ryan, averaging a near double-double of 10.2 points and 9.5 rebounds, along with 2.5 blocks per game.

Fakalata rounds out the trio, having averaged 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game for the Dandenong Rangers. At just 16 years old, the young guard has plenty of room to grow in Sam Mackinnon’s new-look Flyers outfit.

The Flyers will begin their WNBL27 season when they take on the Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on Friday at 7pm AEDT.

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