JackJumpers playing list continue to make themselves at home in Tasmania

The Tasmania JackJumpers are scheduled to have all their Australian players on the ground, ready to start training together and getting out into the Tasmanian community, in the coming weeks.

Versatile forward Jarred Bairstow is the latest to settle into his new home, and acclimatise to the Tasmanian winter.

“It’s a bit of a change of weather from where I’ve been but it’s really nice. I’ve been getting out and about, went for a run around on Sunday morning to check out the place and just the natural beauty is pretty awesome” Bairstow said.

Bairstow joins former Wildcats teammates Clint Steindl and Will Magnay on the ground in Tasmania after travelling from low-risk States, as well as Jack McVeigh and some familiar faces in the coaching staff.

“It’s a big opportunity to establish a new culture. Having Scott [Roth] and Jacob [Chance] here helps a lot, they’re guys that I’m familiar with and they know what they want to bring to it.

“It’s a great group of guys and hopefully we can build something that Tasmania and the NBL is really proud of.”

6’7 Bairstow played an important role in the Wildcats’ charge to the 2020/21 Grand Final series. He joins the JackJumpers on a three year deal.

“[I’m] definitely defensively minded, sort of tough-nosed, not going to back down and going to do the nitty-gritty dirty work and do whatever the team needs to get hopefully get across the line and get a win”.

It’s that tenacity that made the 28 year old a key recruitment target for Head Coach Scott Roth.

“He’s a tough-minded kid that’s going to bring a lot of energy, a lot of intangibles that people hopefully will recognise. He’s going to be a scrapper out there, doing all the little things. He’s not going to be scoring 20 points or 15 rebounds but he’s going to impact the game with his energy and his hustle and getting those 50/50 balls” Roth said.

Sam McDaniel and Jarrad Weeks are expected to complete their mandatory 14-day quarantine period this weekend, while the remaining Australian players are scheduled to travel to Tasmania and begin their quarantine period in the coming days.

“We’re very lucky to hopefully this weekend, have all eleven of our players in market, that are local. It’s exciting to see every time a player comes in” Roth said.