Tyrepower Profile: Chris Goulding

After penning a three-year contract extension back in July, Chris Goulding has been impressed by the progress his teammates have been making during what has been a rather unorthodox preparation.

“Pre-season has been a little different,” he told Melbourne United Media.

“It would have been easy for people to say, “I didn’t have a gym, I didn’t have a basketball court, we were told to stay inside”, there was an easy excuse there, but not one person has used it. Everyone has come back in good shape.

With the team required to alter training methods to accommodate for restrictions put in place due to the pandemic, Goulding and his teammates have been taking full advantage.

“Normally this time of year we’d be one or two games into the season, so to be able to focus just on individual skills is interesting.”

Goulding has been focusing on improving his shooting, and touch around the basket – talents that all Melbourne United fans will no doubt be looking forward to in NBL21.

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Intent on not using Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown as an excuse, the Melbourne United players have been going the extra mile in 2020 to ensure they stay in shape. It is that effort that is becoming evident now that contact on-court training has resumed.

Goulding said several of his teammates in particular, had caught his eye.

“Jo (Lual-Acuil Jr) looks really good. He’s so much stronger than last year. Combine that with his athleticism, he’s a handful right now.

“Shea (Ili) looks great, Mitch (McCarron) looks good and I’ve been really impressed with Jack White too, he’s come in seamlessly and been a vocal presence.”

With the city now out of lockdown and restrictions easing, Goulding said he is excited by the possibility to play games once again at Melbourne Arena.

The fan-favourite applauded the NBL’s decision to push back the decision in order to ensure more fans would be able to attend games.

“I’m hanging out (to play games in front of United fans),” he said.

“We’ve delayed the season as a league to give ourselves the best chance to play home games in front of fans and that’s one of the things I love about Melbourne, our crowd is amazing.

“There may be some extended time away if the borders don’t open, but I’ve got my fingers crossed every day to play a chunk of our home games in front of fans – I can’t wait for that.”