WAFL Round 16, 2009

[swannies]

I know I've said the past 2 rounds were critical, well this round is the most critical so far. Swans and Souths can get a game up on Subi at the top of the table, whilst West Perth and East Perth can hold them at bay and keep the competition in a tight huddle. Peel and East Freo are just about on their last chances to stay in touch.

Friday night - Freo Oval, Sowfs v Royals - yes folks, remember this one is Friday night, cold, wet miserable night but there'll be some heat in this contest. The Royals need to bring the passion with which they have played against Subi to this game. Souths should be similar to last week's team and the question being posed over the last 2-3 weeks is who can stop Callum Wilson. Stratton has big wraps down at Royal land as a very good defensive stopper so I guess he'll get a crack at either Wilson or Murphy at some stage. Then there's Bell, what do you do with him? Will Hutchings run with him? Pretty good learning curve for the kid. Then there's McGrath, Ugle, Hams x 2, Graham in the ruck, Adams, Farmer. On the other hand the Royals have Hutchins, Humm, Hancock, Duncan, Merrington, Noakes x 2 to worry about. Should be a very good match but I see Souths as having too much staying power.

Peel v Tigers - expect the Tigers to come out firing after being sent to the bottom of the ladder last week. Didn't have the same spark and zip as the past few weeks, whilst Peel had the week off. Peel should unveil Luff and Wilson in the league team this week, 2 of the victorious U18 team members. Morabito will be back in action, who along with Rosa, Ware, Haines, Bloxsidge, Schofield, Robins, Arrowsmith will make it a difficult day at the office for Swift, Crabb, McGinnity, Jones, Thomson, Ruck, Franz & co. Should be a cracking match this one and I think Peel will just get over the line.

Perth v East Freo - Should be a game where Perth can prove last week's win wasn't a fluke, although the Sharks will be desperate to arrest a 4 game losing streak, back to the Foundation day derby. Sharks need to re find some passion, much like Perth did last week I guess. May get some help from the AFL teams this week plus some promising U18 players should also pull on the league jumper. Cook, K-T, Moody, Ferguson, Thornton, Krueger, Sullivan, Armstrong, Young should be good enough to take it up to McNamara, Green, McCarrey, Dalby, Bongiascia, Davidson, Lucas, Sheppard, Fasolo, Young. Big test for both sides, particularly the Sharks and I expect them to bounce back in this televised game.

Swans v West Perth - normally these games cause a great amount of trepidation for myself, because boy do I like the boys from Basso beating West Perth, but given the Falcons form over the last few weeks I am more nervous than ever. Both teams like to rise for the occasion against each other, especially given the Falcons are only holding on to 4th spot by default, because no one is willing to take it off them. Swans may lose Hansen, but this gives Notte and Geappen the chance to shine, and possibly lose further by regaining Hinkley , but the Falcons could lose Seaby. Either way, Salecic, LeCras, Keunen, Tsalikis, Strijk, Bartholomew with their backs against the wall is a tough, tough ask. Reminds me of a game a couple of years back, wet, windy day where WP had to win to get into finals and keep Swans out and they did it by 11 points. Hopefully it's not a pointer of things to come, but this will be a cracking match. Swans......just!

Either way people, rug up and keep warm on the weekend and cheer your team on loudly! Have a good one.

 

[Forrest Gimp]

Dammit, I was going to go to the souths game, but now I can't being that it's a friday night.

 

[hevey]

Dammit, I was going to go to the souths game, but now I can't being that it's a friday night.

Can any1 please tell me how a few tassie boys are going over there this year.

Brett Robinson?

Mitch Andrews?

Nathan Street?

Tim Geappen?

 

[reggie]

Robinson and Geappen have been outstanding, Robinson is one of the favourites for the Sandover.

Street is struggling to get a game.

Andrews didn't do much when I saw him, not sure if he's still in the league team at West Perth or not.

 

[swannies]

^^, what reggie said.

Can any1 please tell me how a few tassie boys are going over there this year.

Brett Robinson? Gun. Started slowly, gradually built into some sensational form, culminating in playing for WA against SA. Runs his guts out all day and quickly.

Mitch Andrews? Was bigger than the second coming out Joondalup way but has hardly been sighted.

Nathan Street? Souths are a pretty strong side but I haven't seen much of him.

Tim Geappen? Gun. Whenever Swans are a little bogged down and need a steadying goal he's the go to man. Been in beautiful form this year, kicked quite a few bags of 5. Looking forward to a GF berth, I hope, so he can get back the ordinary final he played last year.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Peel V Claremont has got to be the game of the round. If Swift does not play for the Eagles then Swift and Morabito would make this an exciting game, im sure Morabito will further add to his draft stocks in the second half of the WAFL season.

Duncan and Hutchings getting senior games into them will be a good move and i wonder how quickly Lucas will get a callup.

 

[wce_all_da_way]

Draw between Swans and Cardies... Sounded like a cracker. Seaby with the drawing goal and big mark. Can't wait for Swannies wrap up.

 

[swannies]

EH, if there's one thing you should know it's that any match of the round is going to involve Swans particularly with a desperate, wounded sparrow as their opposition.

There's one thing that today reinforces for me and it's RESPECT towards the red and blue. As much as I dislike them, as much as I hate to lose to them they are a team that when their back is to the wall they come out and play. Indeed today was one of those days which emulated a good, old fashioned battleground. No quarter was given, or asked by either side.

The first quarter displayed all the signs that this was going to be a humdinger of a battle, with WP getting off to a good start. Seaby started the day, much as he finished it, dominating the ruck. The mosquito fleet from the Falcons were given an armchair ride and Swans, quite frankly, were lethargic in their response. At 1/4 time addresses Daws holds up a white board with KPI's on it. The top indicator is tackling, Swans had 3 for the first quarter.

In the second Swans heeded the words of the professor and started to move the ball a bit more quickly, with Notte providing a focal point in attack and taking some terrific contested marks, just to remind his teammates that he, number 28, should be looked for and not number 19, as they looked for in the first. Anyway, the second goal was from a terrific mark on the HFFm but aided by a bit of Wolfenden Oscar inspiration, or Longmuir stupidity in the back pocket - yes, at the other end of the ground, Notte was marched 50m to directly in front. After this piece of niggle in the back pocket the bayonette's were sharpened by both sides. Swans held themselves together the best and went in at half time 3-4 goals up.

At half time the Falcons were rumoured to watch Gallipoli and drink the blood of young virgins because they came out as if their season was on the line. By the 15 minute mark they had erased the deficit and were threatening to march away with the match. They were still driven by the forgotten Eagle in the middle and his mosquito fleet. Swans kept the potent forward line at bay most of the day, but they couldn't quell big Seabs or his runners. Swans managed to get a goal back late in the quarter to go in at three quarter time a point down. However, again the tackle KPI looked a little sick, standing at 18 for the first 3 quarters for the Swans and again in the final plea from his players the professor had to turn Notte around and say "boys, this is the number we're looking to kick it to, he's at least a foot taller than the other blokes you're kicking to." He then turned and engaged the look of the hulking beast that is no. 28 and said "Notte, you've got to present for the boys this quarter, like you have never presented in your life".

As the frenzied rollercoaster that was the last quarter kicked off the Swans players displayed they had not taken enough Vitamin B during the week, simply forgetting their instructions to kick it to Notte. He was running up and down the field presenting until he fell exhausted 2 minutes from time, with only about 3-4 balls finding their way to him. In the first 10 minutes Swans drew level and got out to a goal lead, only to find themselves 13 point behind 5 minutes later. Why Lange conceded that point from 10 metres out, well it's anybody's guess. The quarter was stopped for a very long time halfway through as 2 player's epitomised the desperation and spirit of both teams. Roberts and [insert unkown courageous WP player's name here] were going for the ball in the centre square, heads down and BAM the ball was rocking back and forth on the ground in the middle of the 2 spreadeagled players. The WP player didn't move, after 1-2 minutes Roberts hand slowly reached out, he got to his knees and staggered to the boundary. The WP player was carried off on a stretcher and I think taken to hospital - so I hope they are well.

The Falcons responded by kicking the next 2. Then some Lewis Jetta magic (and didn't he need to do it) with a piercing run and penetrating kick to Walters to goal, evened up the score. Then Davis spoiled an attempted short kick in, knocked it to ground and handballed over to Robinson to goal, put Swans a goal up. Then Lange comes on and it's batten down the hatches boys, play boundary side and hang on. But WP had different ideas and there was a mark on the 50 by no. 11?, who's kicking had been woeful all day, but he got the ball on target to the goal square and the BFE (Big Forgotten Eagle) took a screamer in the goal square, sending WP supporters into raptures. There was 1 more ruck knock but that barely cleared the centre circle before the siren sounded.

I felt sick to my core, gutted and disappointed at the result, but it was a cracking match of football and well done to both teams.

 

[Demons09]

EH, if there's one thing you should know it's that any match of the round is going to involve Swans particularly with a desperate, wounded sparrow as their opposition.

There's one thing that today reinforces for me and it's RESPECT towards the red and blue. As much as I dislike them, as much as I hate to lose to them they are a team that when their back is to the wall they come out and play. Indeed today was one of those days which emulated a good, old fashioned battleground. No quarter was given, or asked by either side.

The first quarter displayed all the signs that this was going to be a humdinger of a battle, with WP getting off to a good start. Seaby started the day, much as he finished it, dominating the ruck. The mosquito fleet from the Falcons were given an armchair ride and Swans, quite frankly, were lethargic in their response. At 1/4 time addresses Daws holds up a white board with KPI's on it. The top indicator is tackling, Swans had 3 for the first quarter.

In the second Swans heeded the words of the professor and started to move the ball a bit more quickly, with Notte providing a focal point in attack and taking some terrific contested marks, just to remind his teammates that he, number 28, should be looked for and not number 19, as they looked for in the first. Anyway, the second goal was from a terrific mark on the HFFm but aided by a bit of Wolfenden Oscar inspiration, or Longmuir stupidity in the back pocket - yes, at the other end of the ground, Notte was marched 50m to directly in front. After this piece of niggle in the back pocket the bayonette's were sharpened by both sides. Swans held themselves together the best and went in at half time 3-4 goals up.

At half time the Falcons were rumoured to watch Gallipoli and drink the blood of young virgins because they came out as if their season was on the line. By the 15 minute mark they had erased the deficit and were threatening to march away with the match. They were still driven by the forgotten Eagle in the middle and his mosquito fleet. Swans kept the potent forward line at bay most of the day, but they couldn't quell big Seabs or his runners. Swans managed to get a goal back late in the quarter to go in at three quarter time a point down. However, again the tackle KPI looked a little sick, standing at 18 for the first 3 quarters for the Swans and again in the final plea from his players the professor had to turn Notte around and say "boys, this is the number we're looking to kick it to, he's at least a foot taller than the other blokes you're kicking to." He then turned and engaged the look of the hulking beast that is no. 28 and said "Notte, you've got to present for the boys this quarter, like you have never presented in your life".

As the frenzied rollercoaster that was the last quarter kicked off the Swans players displayed they had not taken enough Vitamin B during the week, simply forgetting their instructions to kick it to Notte. He was running up and down the field presenting until he fell exhausted 2 minutes from time, with only about 3-4 balls finding their way to him. In the first 10 minutes Swans drew level and got out to a goal lead, only to find themselves 13 point behind 5 minutes later. Why Lange conceded that point from 10 metres out, well it's anybody's guess. The quarter was stopped for a very long time halfway through as 2 player's epitomised the desperation and spirit of both teams. Roberts and [insert unkown courageous WP player's name here] were going for the ball in the centre square, heads down and BAM the ball was rocking back and forth on the ground in the middle of the 2 spreadeagled players. The WP player didn't move, after 1-2 minutes Roberts hand slowly reached out, he got to his knees and staggered to the boundary. The WP player was carried off on a stretcher and I think taken to hospital - so I hope they are well.

The Falcons responded by kicking the next 2. Then some Lewis Jetta magic (and didn't he need to do it) with a piercing run and penetrating kick to Walters to goal, evened up the score. Then Davis spoiled an attempted short kick in, knocked it to ground and handballed over to Robinson to goal, put Swans a goal up. Then Lange comes on and it's batten down the hatches boys, play boundary side and hang on. But WP had different ideas and there was a mark on the 50 by no. 11?, who's kicking had been woeful all day, but he got the ball on target to the goal square and the BFE (Big Forgotten Eagle) took a screamer in the goal square, sending WP supporters into raptures. There was 1 more ruck knock but that barely cleared the centre circle before the siren sounded.

I felt sick to my core, gutted and disappointed at the result, but it was a cracking match of football and well done to both teams.

Good report their Swannies, would of been nice if you could of pulled it off for Perths sake, Perth looked gone after qtr time, but we slowly worked into in the second qtr, and after half time it was a procession i dont think we can make the finals but as long as we keep putting good performances from now until the end of the season i'll be happy, Afl clubs couldn't do any worse than rookie listing Ross Young or drafting him, he is a gun.