In this episode, I’m joined by Marial Machar — founder of the Eastside Rams Basketball Club, now Rams Sports Group.

What started as a team of friends playing in a local carnival, quickly grew to an interstate road trip and well attended trial saw the Rams grow by 80 literally over night

At 18, while studying law, Marial formally founded the Rams — becoming one of South Australia’s youngest CEOs.

Today, the organisation supports hundreds of young people, has expanded into Queensland, and operates under a powerful for the youth, by the youth model led by peer educators and lived-experience mentors.

In July, the Rams will partner with the Adelaide Junior Basketball League (AJBL) to host the South Sudanese Australian National Basketball Association (SSNBA) Classic at St Clair Recreation Centre — another example of community and culture coming together through the game.

Marial is currently overseas as a recipient of the Winston Churchill Fellowship — specifically the Donald Mackay Churchill Fellowship — exploring global responses to antisocial behaviour and gang issues affecting East African youth.

I really enjoyed not only hearing more about the beginnings of the Rams but getting to know Marial himself. This impressive young man is different — thoughtful, intentional, and deeply committed to creating opportunity for others.

This is a conversation about leadership, purpose, and what can happen when you see a gap and decide to step into it.

I hope you enjoy this catch-up as much as we did.

☕ Courtside Coffee Catch-Up | Episode 18

In Episode 18, Kerry sits down with Michelle Cosier — current WNBL referee, former WNBL Champion, wife, mum, and long-time role model.

Affectionately known as Muss, Michelle’s journey has taken her from a quiet country upbringing in Bairnsdale to the highest levels of Australian basketball.

She debuted for the Sapphires at the 2003 World Championships, earned a call-up to the Opals squad ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics team selection, and was named DEADLY Female Sportsperson of the Year in 2004.

Across her career, Michelle has contributed years of continuous service to the WNBL — from 243 games as a player with the Dandenong Rangers, Sydney Flames, and Canberra Capitals, to more recently reaching the milestone of 50 games officiated as a referee.

With a friendship that spans decades — from teenage years in Melbourne to flatting together in Sydney — Kerry and Michelle share an open and at times vulnerable conversation covering basketball, body image, starting a family, culture, and life beyond the game.

🎙️ An honest, thoughtful, and deeply personal catch-up — minus the coffee, but very close to the courtside.

Our guest for Episode 17 is Coach Joey Wright

Best known as a 3-time NBL Coach of the Year Winner, 2007 NBL Championship winning coach of the Brisbane Bullets and past Adelaide 36ers Coach (7 seasons 2013-20).
It was great to chat with Joey about his growing Transition Sports Adelaide Academy and plans for the new ShootHQ Notting Hill facility he has recently opened with former player and now friend Adam Gibson.

I loved hearing where his love of the game started but also the bumps and bruises along the way that shaped him into the man he is today.

We covered basketball, family, relationships, connection, and the power of a shared love of the game.

Venturing out of the studio for a true courtside catch up was something new, apologies for the audio but hope you can appreciate the quality of the conversation.

I hope you enjoy this catch up as much as we did.

Shoot HQTransition Sports

Our guest for Episode 16 is Lara Somfai.

Returning to Adelaide for summer break to spend some quality time with her family, it was such a pleasure to meet Lara’s Mum and Dad before sitting down for this catch up.

Between completing her first quarter at Stanford University and heading home she made a stop at the Nike Skills Academy, rounding out a huge 10 months.

Graduating from High School but not before winning a National Championship and becoming only the Third Australian to be named to and play in the McDonald's All-American Games behind Ben Simmons and Josh Green. Attending the Nike Hoop Summit where she represented Australia on the World Select Team and we can’t forget the Jordan Brand Classic.

I loved learning more about Lara’s background and untraditional pathway ahead of her first of four years at college which I have no doubt will see her achieving everything on her vision bord and more.

I hope you enjoy the catch-up as much as we did.

Our guest for Episode 15 is Kerryn Mitchell.

It was so great to catch up for a coffee and officially welcome my former teammate Kezz to the City of Churches ahead of her debut as Head Coach of the New look Adelaide Lightning.

Kerryn Owens (maiden name) played her first of ten WNBL season under Coach Lori Chizik for Nunawading at the age of 17 before moving to Canberra to play 4 seasons with the Caps.

The Mum of 3 and Primary School Teacher transitioned from player to coach when her youngest started playing ather own Junior Club Frankston. It didn’t take long for Kerryn to use her experience, knowledge and connections to not only improve the local program but have success at a statelevel for Victoria while leading the launch and growth of The Flinders Basketball Academy | Flinders Christian Community College.

Ahead of the 2026 Adelaide Lighting Season Launch next month it is easy to see why she was the perfect choice to leadthe team into this exciting new chapter.

I hope you enjoy the catch-up as much as we did.  

⚡️Adelaide Lightning Head Coach

🖤 NZL Tall Ferns Assistant Coach

🏀 Flinders Basketball Academy Special Advisor

🏀 NBA Academy Next Generation Camp Assistant Coach

🏆 2024 WNBL Championship - Ass Coach Southside Flyers

🏀WNBL Southside Flyers Assistant Coach, 2022 - 2024

🏀 Sandringham Sabres NBL1 Head Coach

🏀 Victorian Women’s U20 State team Assistant Coach, 2019 - 2021

🏀 Frankston Blues YLW Head Coach 2021

🏀U20 Victorian Women's State team, Head Coach 2022

🏀 Basketball Australia Elite Female Coach Advancement Program 2021

🏀 Bendigo Spirit WNBL Melbourne based individuals coach 2020

🏀 3 years playing in Europe as an import

🏀 10-year WNBL player

💙 Canberra Capitals

• ​Club MVP 1995
• ​Club Captain 1996, 97
• ​Club Defensive Player of the Year 1995, 96 & 97
• ​Club Most Assists 1996
• ​Club Most Steals 1996

🏀 National and VIC State Junior representative

Our guest for Episode 14 is Courtney Schild.

Currently on Maternity Leave from her role as Events and Logstics Manager, it was great to hear about her new and most import title of Mum.

And also recap the amazing experience she had last year as the inaugural recipient of the She Hoops and Seattle Storm Administration Fellowship

I loved having the opportunity to not only hear about Courtneys experience in Seattle but more about her passion and value for genuine connections.

I hope you enjoy this catch-up as much as we did.

Our guest for Episode 13 is Atem Atem

As you will hear, the excitement for this catch-up was real!

I first met Atem during his time as an Adelaide 36ers Development player, so it was great to hear more about both his personal and basketball journeys.

From fundraising to help his Uncle Build a School back in South Sudan to taking the time to encourage kids of all ages and backgrounds to play basketball. Atem continues to contribute to every community he is a part of.

Currently working as a cultural liaison officer at his former high school St James College in Brisbane, Atem was recently named as one of five coaches selected for the inaugural Basketball Australia Multicultural Coaching Scholarship Program.

I hope you enjoy the catch-up as much as we did!

If you would like to know more or are interested in supporting Atem's vision for the Brisbane Panthers Basketball Club / Academy, you can check them out on Instagram @brisbane_panthers

Our guest for Episode 12 is Lizzy Williamson

Growing up courtside as the youngest member of a South Australian Basketball family. It was never a questions of if, but when she would find her love of the game.

A 6 foot 5 legitimate centre, Lizzy made her debut at 16 years old with Sturt in what was the Premier League at the time. She was also a member of the Rachel Sporn Lightning Academy before being recruited to Utah State University.

As well as enjoying team success, she has earned honours on and off court along the way, most recently graduating with a Masters of Education from NC State.

A combination of COVID and Injuries will see Lizzy return for her 7th and final year of college, transferring to the Oregon State Beavers, where her experience and versatility will be valued on and off the court.

I really enjoyed hearing more about Lizzy’s journey to date and am genuinely excited to see not only the impact she can have at Oregon State but what lies ahead because the world is truly her oyster.

I hope you enjoy the catch-up as much as we did!

Our guest for Episode 11 is Magok Manyang,

Born in South Sudan, Magok and his family have called South Australia home since he was 5 years old. The eldest of 8 siblings, he is proud to be the first in the family to obtain his college degree – a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology

It was an absolute pleasure to not only get to know more about Magok’s background and upbringing but his introduction to Basketball and rapid development via the Adelaide Warriors, Trinity College and The Centrals District Lions.

Returning from his 4th and final year of College in the states, the immediate focus was locking in a place in the 2025 NBL1 Central Finals Campaign with his tightknit team that includes younger brother Deng and childhood friends and team mates.

I hope you enjoy the catch-up as much as we did.

Our guests for Episode 10 are Vicki Daldy and Kaylee Stuart (nee Elsdon).

The junior and state league rivals turned teammates were members of SA State Teams, Australian Junior teams, and the inaugural Adelaide Lightning WNBL team in 1993.

Inaugural WNBL Life Members,

• ​Kaye-Lee was the first woman to play 200 WNBL games after making her debut at 13 years old with her junior club West Adelaide Bearcats. She then went on to play with the Adelaide Comets and Adelaide Lightning where she ended her WNBL playing career with 226 games played.

• ​Vicky played 247 games, debuting with her junior club North Adelaide Rockets where she won her first Championship in 1990 before joining the West Adelaide Bearcats for one season before they merged with the Comets to become the Adelaide Lightning where she won her second championship as a player. She finished her WNBL playing career at the completion of the 1996 season with the Dandenong Rangers.

Both "bossy point guards" naturally transitioned from playing to coaching. Kaye-Lee initially as a player-coach with the Noarlunga City Tigers, and Vicky took the reins of The Norwood Flames Women in the Australian Basketball Association (ABA) Central conference.

They eventually teamed up again, but this time as coaches at The West Adelaide Bearcats, where they won the 2022 NBL1 Central Women's Championship.

This season (2025) they have led the Woodville Warriors women to their first finals appearance since 2015 and would love nothing more than to deliver the team’s first Championship in its proud history.

I hope you enjoy this catch-up as much as we did.