Wildcats Icon Preaches Patience

Perth legend Ricky Grace has preached patience to panicked Perth fans on the future of the Wildcats.

Grace won four championship titles and two Grand Final MVP awards during his time with the Wildcats, and he's urged Perth fans to "believe in the system" after a 4-5 start to NBL23.

“John Rillie has been a successful coach; all of those players have been successful players at a very high level. You just have to believe in the system,” Grace said on The Dribble podcast.

“It’s always interesting because every year is different. You may have the same players, but the year and the season is different. That’s always the challenge. It’s figuring out that particular puzzle.

“I just think we need to be patient, let the boys find their own identity, find their niche, that’s from ownership, to management, to the players, I’m very confident that they’ll be where they want to be in the end.

“I’m still quietly confident they can get the job done."

The Wildcats currently sit seventh on the ladder entering the FIBA international break, having recently lost five straight games for the first time in almost two decades.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WILDCATS WIN!<br><br>Back on the winners list. ? <a href="https://t.co/fwU5aRAQ18">pic.twitter.com/fwU5aRAQ18</a></p>&mdash; Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats/status/1588846128107511808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

With the Wildcats’ new ownership, management and players this season, Grace suggests the club’s success will be a slow burn.

“I’m sure with the new ownership, the new management, the new players, the only thing that’s consistent is the great fans, it’s going to take these guys time to find their way it’s a whole new regime,” Grace said.

Grace also commented on import Brady Manek’s 25-point performance last weekend against Adelaide, hoping it will help the under-fire import become more aggressive.

“My first year with the Wildcats was my first year out of college (like Manek), when you’re in college you’re playing in a system, you get drummed in your head to play within that system,” Grace said.

“When you’re a professional and when you’re an import, yes, you have to play that system but there’s an expectation to be the best.

“Now as a professional athlete and particularly an import, you are expected to deliver the goods, you have to be super aggressive, and your team will actually benefit from you being aggressive.

“Hopefully by him being aggressive, he will make the other team players around him better.”