I wouldn't change a thing: Adelaide coach

Adelaide 36ers coach Joey Wright says he always believed he would be cleared of a striking charge stemming from a post-game melee with the Perth Wildcats.

Adelaide 36ers coach Joey Wright says he wouldn't change a thing about his involvement in a fiery NBL fracas.

But Wright says he hates that the melee happened, and is now trying to forget all about Perth Wildcats assistant coach Adam Tatalovich.

Wright and Tatalovich were found not guilty by the NBL judiciary on Monday after being charged for their roles in the scuffle after the February 14 clash of the competition pacesetters in Perth.

"I hate that it happened but I don't think I would change anything," Wright told reporters on Tuesday.

"We are playing a competitive sport and when the sport stops, sportsmanship starts. And there is no need to try and intimidate someone physically."

Wright was cleared of a striking charge and Tatalovich was exonerated of two charges - making physical contact with the 36ers' coach and also abusing him.

"I didn't even know he was an assistant," Wright said of Tatalovich.

"So I didn't know who he was before and I'm trying to forget who he is now."

Perth Wildcats star James Ennis was last week found not guilty of a striking charge stemming from the melee.

Both clubs were found guilty of breaching the NBL's code of conduct, though avoided immediate sanction - the league fined each club $5000, then suspended the penalty for 12 months.

Wright had to wait 10 days for his judiciary hearing, with the initial hearing scheduled for last Friday postponed because a judiciary member was unavailable.

"I thought it would go the way it did, to be honest with you," Wright said of his hearing.

"I was happy just to get it out the way and get it out of the public's eye and get back to doing what I like to do best."

The ladder-leading Wildcats next meet second-placed Adelaide on March 14, the last round before the finals.

But Wright said there was no lingering ill feeling, saying Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson was a close friend.

"I talked to him a couple of hours after the incident and the next day as well. There is no angst or animosity there at all," Wright said.

"Trevor and me have been friends for a long time. Trevor lived with me for six months in the US at one time. So we're good friends and we'll continue to be."


3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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