Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cst)

[The_Wookie]

Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont Tigers

Date: Saturday 11th June 2011
Time: 4:05pm local time (AEST)
Venue: Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
Curtain-raiser to Gold Coast Suns v North Melbourne

Broadcast: 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Match Centre: here
Weather: A few showers. min 4, max 16

Foxtel Cup Round 1 Results
Claremont 14.18 (102) def. Clarence 4.7 (31)
Northern Bullants 19.9 (123) def. GWS Giants 5.4 (34)

Local WAFL/VFL Results
Claremont - 9-2 (11 played) WAFl 1st
Bullants - 6-2 (8 played) VFL 3rd

Most Recent Match
Claremont (1st) d Subiaco (7th) by 46 points
Bullants (3rd) d Collingwood (9th) by 46 points

Brief Analysis

This may well be the match of the series so far, at least on paper. Both teams performing well, coming off near identical wins, and playing at a neutral stadium, both teams having to fly to Queensland for this match in another one of the Cups quirky fixtures.

Just as last week, this will be a major test of the VFL/AFL aligned clubs versus the standalone state league club, which last week saw the Western bulldogs aligned Williamstown take the honours over a gallant West Adelaide by 3 goals. Claremont will have to overcome what is essentially the Carlton reserves side on the Gold Coast.

Both teams have enjoyed near indentical wins, Claremont flogging Clarence in Tasmania, and the Bullants smashing through the fledgling GWS side at the MCG. Both teams had good wins in the state leagues last week with 46 point wins over Subiaco and Collingwood. Both teams will be full of confidence going into this match, sadly there can only be one winner.

As a Carlton supporter, I have to confess to bias here when I say that I expect the Blues to win. For the good of the competition, Id like to believe Claremont need to win, but I do expect the Bullants to lineup with more than a few players with AFL credentials who could arguably be in the senior Blues team this week, and this will be somewhat problematic for Claremont to overcome. 15 AFL listed players to 4 may be more than they can handle.

I predict the Bullants by 14 points in what shapes up to be a wet match at Metricon.

This match also throws up an odd guerney issue, many bullants players may be slightly disorientated by their opponents wearing a very similar jumper design to the Carlton Senior side. The Bullants jumper is a lot different.

From left to right: Carlton, Claremont, and Bullants Jumpers.

Teams (AFL listed players in bold, experienced players underlined)

Claremont Tigers

FB: Jesse Laurie, Brandon Franz, Lewis Stevenson
HB: Blake Anderson, Eric Mackenzie, Clay McLemon
C: Ian Richardson, Luke Blackwell, Ian Rowe
HF: Andrew Browne, Trinity Handley, Jake Murphy
FF: Alry Gilligan, Matt Orzel
Fol:Tom Lee, Kane Mitchell, Ryan Brabazon
Int: Byron Schammer, Beau Wilkes, Lewis Broome, Bradley Nesbitt
Em: Gerrick Weedon

AFL Listed players (4)
WCE AFL Listed Players: Weedon, Mackenzie, Broome
Fre AFL Listed Players: Schammer

Jumper:

Northern Bullants

FB: Pat Mcarthy, Matthew Watson, Marcus Davies
HB: Adam Iacobucci, Andrew McInnes, Aaron Joseph
C: Rhys O'keefe, Jarrod McCorkell, Kane Lucas
HF: Waydbe Twomey, Mark Austin, Rohan Kerr
FF: Ahmed Saad, Ashley Arrowsmith, Ryan Houlihan
Fol: Robert Warnock, Jaryd Cachia, Brock Mclean
Int: Joseph Dare, Andre Gianfagna, Adam Marcon, Nick Meese
Em: Tyson Thomas

AFL Listed Players (15): MCarthy, Watson, Davies, McInnes, Joseph, Lucas, Twomey, Austin, Kerr, Houlihan, Warnock, Mclean, Cachia, O'keefe, Dare,

Jumper:

 

[mighty tiges]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Nice job again Wookie. I agree the Bullants will be favourites but if there's a chance of an upset it'll be this week. Definitely has the potential to be the best game of the comp. so far.

The sash is back on the Claremont jumper isn't it?

 

[The_Wookie]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

yeah I think it is, which means that part of the article is again redundant

 

[Rob]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

I'd be amazed if Claremont go close. I hope they win, but they're up against a heap of full time professional footballers, and the Bullants have at least a couple of others that have been on AFL lists before. The 5 hour v 2 hour plane trip wouldnt help either - if it was in Perth they'd be a chance.

The strength of the VFL is that it's got so many AFL listed players running around. It's no coincidence that the only VFL team to get rolled so far had very few of them. It's a bit of a shame for the comp actually.

 

[The_Wookie]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Port Melbourne lead the VFL ladder, undefeated in 2011 - and are unaligned with any AFL club. The funny thing is, the only other non aligned VFL club is Frankston who sit at the bottom and are 1-7 this season.

For this reason, Id love to see Port Melbourne take on some of the other clubs from SA and WA, I reckon they'd be quite competitive.

 

[davo99]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

So were not playing a foward pocket for Claremont it would be a bit closer if Jones got up and played but Bullants to prove to strong tipping them by 20 after a close half theyll pull away

 

[Rob]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Port Melbourne lead the VFL ladder, undefeated in 2011 - and are unaligned with any AFL club. The funny thing is, the only other non aligned VFL club is Frankston who sit at the bottom and are 1-7 this season.

For this reason, Id love to see Port Melbourne take on some of the other clubs from SA and WA, I reckon they'd be quite competitive.

Competitive? They'd probably s**t it in.

The VFL, even sans AFL players, would still be a bloody strong league. I'd imagine that Port Melbourne can attract some of the best talent outside the AFL, purely on the basis that they're not going to get dropped because their affiliated AFL side pulls the strings. Frankston would struggle, mainly because, well, they're based in bloody Frankston.

 

[The_Wookie]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Competitive? They'd probably s**t it in.

The VFL, even sans AFL players, would still be a bloody strong league. I'd imagine that Port Melbourne can attract some of the best talent outside the AFL, purely on the basis that they're not going to get dropped because their affiliated AFL side pulls the strings. Frankston would struggle, mainly because, well, they're based in bloody Frankston.

Its no coincidence that St Kilda have struggled since they moved to seaford (its the suburb right next door)

 

[The_Wookie]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

So were not playing a foward pocket for Claremont it would be a bit closer if Jones got up and played but Bullants to prove to strong tipping them by 20 after a close half theyll pull away

I found the lack fo a forward pocket to be odd, but thats the side listed on the foxtel cup site lol

 

[Rob]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Looks i've well and truly underestimated the WAFL and overestimated the VFL....

Half time:
Claremont 10.6
Bullants 3.1

Looks to be all over.

 

[Righteo]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Heh, 15 AFL listed players up againt Byron Schammer and a handful of Eagles rookies. No contest

 

[The_Wookie]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Looks i've well and truly underestimated the WAFL and overestimated the VFL....

Half time:
Claremont 10.6
Bullants 3.1

Looks to be all over.

Good lord. Well thats the last time i talk about depth this year.

 

[The_Reaper]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Expected Claremont to win the competition but not to dominate by this much.

Opens up the possibility for an all WAFL final- which would have to be held at Subi

 

[The_Wookie]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Claremont 13.12.90 d Bullants 7.2.44 - 36 points.

Theres some AFL level players pushing for senior Carlton spots that had a very ordinary day and need to take a good hard look at themselves.

Kudos to former Blue, Luke Blackwell with a match high 20 disposals, and well done to Claremont who performed over and above many of our expectations.

 

[Rob]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Expected Claremont to win the competition but not to dominate by this much.

Opens up the possibility for an all WAFL final- which would have to be held at Subi

Be interesting to see where the 2 semis are held. Claremont obviously deserve a game in Perth, but there are no Saturday games at Subi on either of the 2 semi final dates.

 

[VolgaBoatman]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Fantastic win by the Tiges ! Could win the "Double" this year !

I read (I think in the West Australian) that East Perth v Williamstown will be a standalone match at Etihad, as Foxtel are covering games in Launceston and Gold Coast that day

Who knows where the Tigers vs (Port or North Adelaide) will be played as there are no games in Perth that weekend, and the Adelaide game is on Friday night covered by Channel 7.

Possibly a standalone game in Adelaide or somewhere completely random !

 

[The_Reaper]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Fantastic win by the Tiges ! Could win the "Double" this year !

I read (I think in the West Australian) that East Perth v Williamstown will be a standalone match at Etihad, as Foxtel are covering games in Launceston and Gold Coast that day

Who knows where the Tigers vs (Port or North Adelaide) will be played as there are no games in Perth that weekend, and the Adelaide game is on Friday night covered by Channel 7.

Possibly a standalone game in Adelaide or somewhere completely random !

Expecting it to be held at Traeger Park

 

[The_Wookie]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

well given claremont v bullants was held on the gold coast, they've shown these matches can and will be played wherever they like. they've played them in tasmania with no matched afl game, so theoretically it could be in perth

 

[gytre]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

It was indeed a fantastic win by the Tigers today. Some of our skills were scintillating. The commentators were saying our next game will likely be in Adelaide.

And yeah, Claremont's going to win the double!

 

[pablo668]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Feeling very proud of my Tiges tonite.
Great effort and a good win. Perhaps the Bullants just took them too lightly.

A bit of historical background because I think this thread needs it.

The WAFL and SANFL in their heyday were able to produce teams that could on their day match VFL teams and even beat them. Granted the VFL and Vic footy in general were the strongest and best most of the time but the other two big footy states weren't as far behind as is thought gospel.
(I watched Claremont play and beat Hawthorn, Geelong and Carlton when I was a kid)
Now the old VFA is the new VFL with a heap of AFL listed players and affiliated teams but it's still mostly the old VFA (as far as I know).
Up until fairly recently a VFA representitive side was never able to get close to a WAFL rep side. That changed with the VFA becoming the VFL and the WAFL going through a weak phase. Some of the WAFL's recent state game outings have been embarrassing to say the least.

My point? Actually I'm not sure anymore. Here goes. The WAFL is still a good league and should be at least the equal of the VFL and SANFL....if things are as they should be. The State leagues are weaker than the AFL but perhaps not by as much as we all think and AFL listed players don't always dominate the way most think they should.
Yeah something like that.

 

[gytre]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Great post, pablo. And yes, these things should be said. There was one year (1980 I believe) when Claremont got through to the semi-final of the Escort Cup (that was back in the good old days of cigarette advertising).

Claremont had a mighty team in that era. Do names like Graham Moss, Allen Daniels, Warren Ralph, the Krakouer brothers, Steve Malaxos, Darrell Panizza, Wayne Blackwell, Ross Ditchburn, Ken Hunter, Barry Beecroft ring any bells? So, yes we could compete with the VFL teams.

The following year (1981) Claremont won the WAFL flag and we also played in the '82 and '83 WAFL grand finals.

 

[pablo668]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Great post, pablo. And yes, these things should be said. There was one year (1980 I believe) when Claremont got through to the semi-final of the Escort Cup (that was back in the good old days of cigarette advertising).

Claremont had a mighty team in that era. Do names like Graham Moss, Allen Daniels, Warren Ralph, the Krakouer brothers, Steve Malaxos, Darrell Panizza, Wayne Blackwell, Ross Ditchburn, Ken Hunter, Barry Beecroft ring any bells? So, yes we could compete with the VFL teams.

The following year (1981) Claremont won the WAFL flag and we also played in the '82 and '83 WAFL grand finals.

Yeah remember that era well. I lived (and still do) about a hundred or so metres down the road from Claremont oval. I can hear them training at night. The Krakouers used to live on the next street and a couple houses over, I'd often see them (the whole mob) kicking the ball to eachother in the park.

This is why I always scratch my head when the leagues back then that weren't Victorian are always talked down or ignored.

 

[Rob]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

Interesting fact: If Claremont have to travel east for their semi final, they'll have done more travel in 2011 than Collingwood will.

 

[reggie]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

And Melbourne but it makes a better story if you say Collingwood hey?

 

[2010premier]

Re: Foxtel Cup Round 2 Preview: Northern Bullants v Claremont (Sat, June 11th, Metricon St., Gold Cs

The standard of football that Claremont produced last night would have been pretty competitive against the Suns me thinks. They were terrific and better than any VFL team I have watched.