DrinkWise Preview: NBL26 - Round 18, Game 2 v Perth Wildcats

We are set to celebrate a huge milestone on Sunday afternoon when we take on the Perth Wildcats on the road, as Chris Goulding suits up for his 500th career NBL game.

This will be Goulding’s 71st matchup against the Wildcats, the most of any player in NBL history, as the team looks to continue building momentum and register a third consecutive victory.

For the Wildcats, a fifth-straight win on Thursday evening has the team rolling heading into a matchup that will decide who holds fourth spot on the ladder to close Round 18.

WHAT’S THE WORD?

Ahead of the crucial road game, Head Coach Dean Vickerman talked about the shift that he has seen within his group over the last few games that has helped the team string together back-to-back wins.

“There’s been a different mindset the last few weeks,” Vickerman explained.

“I think when you dig a hole for yourself you can get out of it quickly and sometimes there’s a struggle and we got in the struggle and lost some close games.

“There was a lot of learning for us as a group to get people in the right spots but really it was just about the intensity of defence, playing more people and playing people a little bit less to keep the intensity of the game up.”

Perth Head Coach John Rillie likewise commended his group, breaking down his confidence in what his team is capable of.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to really see where we’re at and how we continue to grow in these moments,” Rillie said.

“I think I demonstrated the ultimate trust last week when I said ‘we’re rolling with who we’ve got’. I trust these guys… They’re the ones who have been putting in the work, they’re the ones with the scar tissue as a group.”

WHO’S HOT, WHO'S NOT

All eyes will be on Chris Goulding come Sunday, as the league-legend becomes just the 15th player in NBL history to reach 500 career games.

Across his career, Goulding has demonstrated his mastery over the three-point shot, ranking third all-time in long range makes (1,377).

Long considered one of the deadliest marksmen in the competition, Goulding ranks third on threes made per game in NBL26, his 19th season in the league.

Looking to match Goulding for the Wildcats will be the trio of Elijah Pepper, Kristian Doolittle and Dylan Windler, who combined for 13 threes on Thursday night.

DETAILS

Who: Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats

Tip-off: 4:30pm AEDT, Sunday 25 January, 2026

Where: RAC Arena, Perth

Watch: ESPN & Channel 10

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