McKinnon Basketball Association runs junior and senior domestic competitions in Melbourne's south east, alongside the Cougars representative program. Junior Cougars play in the VJBL and the senior program competes in Big V.
Written by Cameron James, founder and head coach at Liddicoat Basketball. Coaching juniors in Victoria for nearly a decade.
Last updated August 2026.
McKinnon Basketball Association sits in Melbourne's south east and runs both domestic club competition and a representative program called the Cougars.
It's a mid sized association rather than one of the giants like Dandenong, which has an upside for a lot of families. Your child is less likely to be a number, and it's easier to get someone on the phone who knows which team they're in.
The representative side is the Cougars. Juniors play VJBL, which is Friday night basketball against other associations across the state, and it requires a tryout rather than a registration.
Future Cougars is the development program for players building toward that. If your child is keen on rep but not there yet, that's the door rather than waiting for October.
Domestic is the open entry competition and is where most children start. There's no tryout, and new teams can register through the association's online form.
If you don't have a team, contact the association and ask which clubs have room in your child's age group rather than trying to assemble one yourself.
McKinnon publishes registration through an online form, and runs an active presence on Instagram and Facebook as @McKinnonBBall, which is generally the fastest way to see what is currently open.
The association also publishes resources for referees and coaches, which is worth knowing if you end up volunteering, and most parents eventually do.
The Cougars. Junior Cougars play in the VJBL, and the senior program competes in Big V.
Yes. Future Cougars is the development program aimed at players building toward a representative tryout.
New team registration is handled through an online form on the association website. If you don't have a team, contact the association and ask which clubs have room in your child's age group.
Junior age groups running through to U20, plus senior domestic competition.
Other associations in Melbourne's south east
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