Taking your thread swannies!
No Swans this week.
Perth are gonna struggle without Butler.
Houlihan 15
McNamara 17 to 3 quarter time.
At least I have a relaxing weekend ahead, with no stress on Swans to win, although we could still drop to third after the weekend. Is this the weekend that Subi finally establish their superiority, which they have struggled to do most of the year, and will East Freo and Peel make up for the one that slipped away last week?
Tigers v Falcons - Falcons need to win this one to stay even with Swans and keep ahead of East Freo and Peel. Tigers are looking to be gaining some form and want to get off the bottom. AFL ins and outs will strongly affect this game, if Seaby is out for the Falcons then the contest is evened up, or if McGinnity, B Jones or Wilkes are out for the Tigers then the pendulum swings back in the Falcons favour. Wet and windy days are never any fun at Claremont Oval, which will turn into a mud pie quicker than if you said Warren Ralph's name. It usually has a howler running to one of the ends as well. It was a damp, depressing day last year that the sublime skills of Chris Yarran were put on notice at this oval, but I digress. Strangely enough, I would back the Tigers in a wet slugfest, with a fleet of runners, led by Jaxon Crabb, suited to the task. On the other hand there is a formidable forward line to quell but with Handley, B Jones and Thomson they have the personnel to stop them. I'm shivering with cold just thinking about Claremont Oval in the wet, but this should be a cracker.
Sharks v Royals - well the ground doesn't get any less boggy at this fixture and the Sharks have a platoon of mudlarks. In fact, it's probably the only thing that will slow Houlihan down, unless he can also walk on water! The sharks started well against the tiges last week, but gave up a lead and the Royals played well in the blustery surrounds of Margaret River. Will McKinley remain for the Royals? Has Clarke been given the nod for a debut for Freo? With Merrington back last week, we at least saw Noakes given some support, at last. Hardingham would probably take Noakes and I'd use McCarrey on Merrington, but then who on McKinley? If Spangher is back, question answered. In the middle there is Green, Basile, Houlihan, Hall, Davidson, Bongiascia, McLeod, Dunn, Monk against Wulff, Brennan, Hutchins, Travers, McAulay, Byrne, Seal, B Noakes, Mills, Pickering. Fairly even contest I would suggest, although I will lean slightly towards the home side.
Demons v Bulldogs - If the demons really want to play finals football then they need to start winning, now. Souths will be bitterly disappointed by the result against the Lions and I expect them to come out hard at Perth, who I hope are expecting it, otherwise it will get ugly. They were lacklustre in the first half last week but worked a lot harder in the second half against Swans, but alas the damage was done. K-T and Young got a mountain of the ball, but really didn't do any damage with their possessions. The most damaging was Butler and if he is recalled to the eagles then the Demons are in some strife. Cook's hardness was really missed and so was Bell's for the Bulldogs. Moody against his original pre-draft side should be interesting. Will Jarman swing the changes or go with the same and expect a better result from them? I have no doubt Dimmer will have his charges up and about, so sorry Demons fans, I think Souths will get up in this one.
Lions v Thunder - Lions have started asserting their superiority lately and the Thunder have fallen away under pressure. Peel, who are a game behind East Freo, must make a stand this weekend otherwise with only 7 games after this weekend (they have 2 byes) they may find themselves having to make up 3 games on the top 4 sides. Can Peel maintain the pressure on Subi for a whole game, as that is what's required to topple them. Deny them the ball, deny them space and time otherwise Read, Hildebrandt, Cossom, Keevers, Cockie, Pickett, Randall et al will carve you up. So can Ware, Bloxsidge, Schofield, Haines, Howlett, O'Brien, Rosa, Arrowsmith, Battye carry this out? They look to have the players capable, and Subi have been a little up and down (by their lofty standards), so they're a chance, depends how much they want finals games? I'm leaning (rather heavily) towards the Lions in this one.
Try and stay warm this weekend, take your thermos and enjoy some good wet weather football.
No Swans this week.
Perth are gonna struggle without Butler.
Houlihan 15
McNamara 17 to 3 quarter time.
