The New NBL
On 11 May 2009 the Tigers made a short lived decision that they would sit out a year of the new NBL competition, due to poor financial management from Basketball Australia, with McPeake stating that his concerns were with "Governance and the TV deal." The Tigers had been the most profitable and well run club in Australia, stringing together five consecutive profitable seasons. With no naming rights sponsor for the league and a poor television deal, the financial forecast was poor, and the Tigers made the decision to sit out one year.
On 28 May 2009 the Tigers reversed their earlier decision, after receiving assurances from Basketball Australia on the television deal.
On 10 June 2009 the Tigers announced their first two signings, Mark Worthington and Chris Anstey, and confirmed that they would commence the new season with no imports for the first time in club history. It was further reported that they had let Stephen Hoare go, and Tommy Greer would pursue options elsewhere, likely with the Cairns Taipans. The Tigers are waiting on Sam Mackinnon to be passed fit by doctors, with youngster Jesse Wagstaff as a backup option. Nathan Crosswell may have played his last game for the Tigers, as they look to secure Nathan Herbert's signature. On 17 June 2009 the Tigers announced they had resigned Darryl Corletto, as well as newcomer Ryan Bathie. On 18 June 2009 they announced they had resigned David Barlow and Luke Kendall. On 19 June 2009 they announced they had resigned Daniel Johnson and Matt O'Hea, meaning that three spots were remaining on the roster. Tommy Greer and Sam Mackinnon are understood to have been offered contracts, with Stephen Hoare awaiting their decision. On 23 June they announced the resigning of Sam Mackinnon, meaning that two spots remain. On 26 June they completed their roster, securing Tommy Greer, despite offers from Cairns, and resigning Nathan Crosswell, after apparently missing out on Nathan Herbert. On 21 July it was announced that David Barlow would play in Spain this year, meaning that the Tigers would need to look for a replacement.
In the off-season of 2010, the Tigers roster was dismantled after the departure of Julius Hodge, Mark Worthington, Nathan Crosswell as well as the retirements of NBL greats Sam Mackinnon and Chris Anstey. The Tigers announced the signing of American import guards TJ Campbell and Eric Devendorf. They then landed the signature of Wollongong Hawks superstar Cameron Tragardh. The Tigers would then sign big men Matt Burston, Wade Helliwell and Luke Nevill. They capped off their roster with the signing of Big V forward Lucas Walker. Along with Bennie Lewis, Daryl Corletto and Tommy Greer, who had stayed in Melbourne, the Tigers completed their roster for the 2010/11 season.
The season started disastrously for the Tigers losing their opening game at home to their rivals, the re-vamped, Sydney Kings. The Tigers would proceed to start the season on a 7-game losing streak. After the 6th loss, Melbourne fired point guard TJ Campbell and signed 2009/10 NBL MVP, Corey 'Homicide' Williams as their new point guard. After showing positive signs in the loss against reigning champions Perth, the Tigers finally broke the shackles and won their first game when the defeated the Gold Coast Blaze on the road. Throughout the season the Tigers claimed big scalps including a victory against Perth, in Perth, that ended in controversy with Corey Williams and Eric Devendorf taunting the crowd. In early February, the Tigers released centre Luke Nevill, in an agreement that would let him play in Russia. They also released import Eric Devendorf leaving them with only 1 import. Daryl Corletto and Matt Burston were promoted to the starting line-up and stayed there for the rest of the season. After the terrible 7-game-losing start to the season, the Tigers would finish with a 10 - 18 record and 7th place on the ladder.
In the off-season of 2011, the Tigers were the most active club at the beginning of Free Agency. They secured the signature of NBL Coach of the Year, Trevor Gleeson as their Head-Coach on a three-year deal. On the first day of Free Agency, Melbourne announced the signing of Australian Forward Liam Rush, who would be returning to the NBL after stints in Europe. They, on the same day, announced the addition of exciting young guard Daniel Dillon as their second free agent signing of 2011. After just a week of Free Agency, Melbourne announced the final 3 positions on their roster had been filled after they re-signed Forward Lucas Walker as well as the huge signings of the exciting import duo Ron Dorsey and Ayinde Ubaka who had both starred for the Cairns Taipans in season 2010/11, helping them to their first Grand Final appearance. In January 2012 Seamus Mcpeake, after a terrible loss to the Gold Coast Blaze gave the players an unprofessional spray in the locker room allegedly abusing several players with offensive language and sacking fantastic point guard Ayinde Ubaka on the spot.
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