Former Taipans DP signs with Marlins

The Studio Pilates Cairns Marlins have reeled in Tad Dufelmeier for their 2023 NBL1 North campaign, with the former CQUniversity Cairns Taipans development player signing up for his first season in the aquamarine blue. 
 
Dufelmeier originally joined the Taipans as a development player in 2019 before being signed as the injury replacement player for Majok Deng in the following year. Across 21 games, he averaged 6.0 points, 2.7 assists and 2.4 rebounds.
 
He went on to join the Adelaide 36ers in the 2021-22 season, where he averaged 4.3 points, 2.2 assists and 2.0 rebounds.
 
The 27-year-old has previously played with the Canberra Gunners, Hobart Huskies and Darwin Salties in the NBL1; and has now chosen the Cairns Marlins and Cairns Basketball pathway in his bid to return to the NBL.
 
Marlins Head Coach Kerry Williams said that the talented point guard has a point to prove. 
 
“Tad has been in Cairns working out and has expressed his desire to be part of our program again. He’s got a chip on his shoulder, and we like that. He wants to get back to the NBL and the Marlins have a good track with the Taipans over the years – Lat Mayen, Ben Ayre, Mirko Djeric, Nate Jawai, Anthony Fisher to name a few,” said Williams. 
 
“He’s athletic for his size and I like how explosive he can be. He’s going to take some time to warm up to our team and our style, but we see him as our main playmaker that will get our scorers the ball.” 
 
Dufelmeier joins Jonah Antonio on the roster, with a number of other familiar FNQ faces in the squad including Curt Ahwang, Aaron Farmer, Sam Ellis, Nick Gamble, Jaylon Beecroft and Tyson Crees.