HOOPLA: Coenraad out to mark 300-game milestone with upset win

"Maybe if I play a couple more years and the NBL switches to an 82-game season," Coenraad jokes. "Other than that I think he's pretty safe."

Such a shift in the draw is highly unlikely, as is anyone ever reeling in Saville's mark of 527 game for the Hawks. With 524 games to his name, Mat Campbell is pretty safe to.

Still, Coenraad's mark of 299 games and counting is nothing to be sneezed at. He'll notch game number 300 for the club against Sydney on New Years' Eve.

The figure puts him comfortably in third spot on the club's all-time list and - the way the NBL has changed - possibly in the same safe territory as Saville and Campbell.

For his part, no one's ever been happier to run third.

"What those two guys did for the club was amazing, they were really the pioneers of this thing," Coenraad said.

"They were names, they were the faces of the club and to be even part of a conversation sitting behind those two is an absolute privilege.

"I know them both professionally and personally and they're amazing ambassadors and what every team strives for in their Australian players."

After 11 seasons in varying on-court roles, Coenraad falls in the same category. He falls in another that's shrinking rapidly - the one-club player.

Even among the five names hanging in the WEC rafters, only Campbell is a member. Given that fact, Coenraad's regularly approached milestones that treats largely the same.

"I guess this one was something I knew was coming this year but it's just another step in playing a lot of games and a tremendous career with the Hawks," he said.

"It's something you don't really know how to treat, especially with the season we're having at the moment. It feels almost wrong to celebrate the fact because we're not doing as well as we'd hoped.

"The biggest thing I take away is that I've been able to play the game I love for 300 games and 11 seasons. It's not something a lot of people get to do.

"It's had its ups and downs, I haven't quite got the prize I wanted at the end of the year, although I've come close a few times.

"I've met a lot of really good people on the way, it's let me provide for my family and a lifestyle I've really cherished. It makes me appreciate what I've been given."

'Given' probably undersells the professionalism its taken to remain in the league for over a decade. One could easily make the argument that, as a "zone buster" in the four spot, he's contributing as much as he ever has.

He also made a Boomers debut last year and could add Olympian to his career resume given the impact he's made for Australia in the 3x3 format. Little wonder he's not thinking about retirement any time soon.

"I still feel good, I'm not missing games, I'm not missing practices, I still feel like I've got a lot to give to the game," he said.

"I know there's a spot for me somewhere, I suppose there's always going to be a spot left for someone who's been around this long whose body's still not letting them down.

"I always tell the young guys to look after the body. It's your tool, it's your money-maker. If I hadn't started looking after it five or six years ago, I don't know if I'd still be able to play at the level I'm capable of."

It's also fitting that his 300^th game should come against the Hawks fiercest rivals.

No one knows more about the big brother-little brother dynamic that pervades the league's longest running rivalry, but it's never been more profound heading into Tuesday's clash at the WEC.

Sydney are flying high at the top of the ladder with a star-studded roster, even with some notable names sidelined, and relishing the 'salary cap sombrero' jibes often directed at their NRL cousins the Roosters.

The Hawks are running last amid and injury crisis that sees them banking their chances on a crop of exciting youngsters - and few wily veterans. Outside of finals basketball, the stakes are never higher.

"I remember my first year coming in people would say 'we don't care what you do this season you just have to beat Sydney'," Coenraad recalls.

"I know the people here cherish the rivalry and it's kind of touted as the production room versus the showroom, David versus Goliath sort of thing.

"Sydney's really making a run this year and I know they're going to be looking to find some form this week after going down to Perth in Sydney.

"They're a bit of a crossroad now with where their season's going and they're going to want to bounce back against us. With us sitting at the bottom of the table they've probably chalked this one up already."

Flipping that script to set up a strong finish to the season remains the priority for Coenraad despite the personal milestone

"More than anything I just want to finish the season the right way because, especially my position, you never know when its going to be the last one," he said.

"I want to keep playing but you never know what's going to happen. For me these games are starting to become a bit more flavourful because you never know when the ends going to come.

"I'm looking forward to it, I'm looking forward to just getting out with the boys. There doesn't need to be massive celebrations, I just want it to be a game that we're highly competitive in and try to get a win."

GRIDA THE FORGOTTEN MAN

It was great to see Dan Grida finally get some time against the Phoenix on Saturday, finishing with 10 points in 15 minutes on the floor.

The club's approach to Grida this season has been a strange one to say the least. He played for the Boomers with Emmett Naar last year and was a Rookie of the Year candidate, but he's had bugger all time on the floor this season.

Coach Matt Flinn has spoken frequently about his desire to give his young crop an opportunity, but Grida has been a conspicuous exception to the rule.

Much of the talk in the preseason around Grida was that he'd be given time in the two spot to work in tandem with, and not just as a back up to, Todd Blanchfield.

The way he's been utilised seems to mostly be as a straight-up perimeter shooter which, as much as he can shoot, is not his primary go.

If that's your only chance to contribute, and the shots aren't dropping, there's few other areas to get confidence from.

He's off-contract this year and, unless something changes dramatically over the latter part of the season, he's being given little incentive to stay.

Should he leave there's no doubt he can have a big impact elsewhere. If that happens, you can bet Hawks fans won't look to kindly on how he was used this season.