WAFL, Round 22, 2010

[swannies]

It's the penultimate round of the WAFL this weekend and we still have 4 clubs vying for the last 2 finals spots. The Royals v Lions is virtually an elimination final and if Subiaco miss it will be the first time in around a decade they have missed. Of course, if the Falcons and Sharks win, they could cement their finals berths and other results won't matter.

Don't forget, there is a big double header at Bassendean on Saturday, with the Tigers playing the Falcons early and Swans trying to recover some form in the normal 2:15pm timeslot.

Royals v Lions - Massive match for these 2 teams as it will keep the finals' hopes of the victor flickering and douse the other's. The Royals have left their surge late, again, whilst the Lions' form has been slipping in the past month.

The Royals look to still be without Zach Clarke and Luke Shuey (that's the big blow), but should have McKinley. If Beeck is back, that will counter Clarke's loss, to a degree. The midfield battle, plus holding Broadhurst, will be critical in this match. Can Pickering, Wulff, Glancy, Swan, JON, Macauley, Sweet, Eastwell provide enough supply to Prior, McKinley and the other forwards to prevail? Who goes to Broadhurst, will be a pivotal and interesting decision? Does Hancock run with Broady?

The Lions best last week were their aging stars, Read, Webb and Pickett. That is the problem. They need the likes of Blechynden and Kerr, who I've seen playing some good football this year, pushing up this time of year for them to make finals. Is there enough support from Cossom, Keevers, Hilde, Bristow, Pickett jnr, to get enough of the ball midfield? Will Campbell turn up to help shoulder the load with Broadhurst, or leave him as the only player you need to negate to have a good chance of beating the Lions? Parker's been in good form, it seems, Rumble will always provide a contest and Randall is a very good defender, so this is not their problem area.
This is going to be a close tussle and Pacey's betting post will be interesting to see where the odds are, because I can't decide. Royals should win on form but you can't ignore the aging champs!

Teams

Royals
B: B Dobson L Sampey A Sweet
HB: B Lee B Hancock J Oakley-nicholls
C: T Howlett J Keath C Wulff
HF: M Swan B Mckinley L Webster
F: M Seal A Prior D Macaulay
Foll: Z Beeck J Eastwell C Glancy
I/C: J.Birrell, D.Stirling, A.Pickering, J.Lalich, N.Blee, A.Fraser, M.Deaves
Emg: Nil
In: B.Mckinley, Z.Beeck, M.Deaves, N.Blee, A.Fraser, J.Lalich
Out: Z.Clarke, L.Shuey, J.Delborrello

Lions
B: J Bristow D Rumble R Kerr
HB: B Broadhurst A Parker B Randall
C: B Keevers K Horsley S Hildebrandt
HF: C Cossom A Campbell M Webb
F: A Pickett J Adamson-holmes P Read
Foll: M Rix P Hassett R Blechynden
I/C: A.Cockie, S.Douglas, D.Headland, S.Martin, R.Muller, A.Pickett, S.Worthington
Emg: Nil
In: A.Pickett, J.Bristow, S.Martin, A.Cockie
Out: A.Davey

 

[swannies]

Falcons v Tigers (Basso) - If the Falcons win this one, then their finals spot is assured, given they play Perth in the final game. Will the tigers continue their rampage? The Falcons were good enough to give up their home ground advantage for this important game, so the double header could be played at Bassendean.

The Falcons midfield is going to be the key in competing and winning or getting blown away (see Swans last week). With the Tigers you must put constant pressure on their midfield and force them to think about defending, not just running forward. You can't have all your mids run one way (again, see Swans last week) and expect to compete. Salecic, Guadagnin, Bewick, Rice, Chambers, Bartholomew (will be critical), Black will be the keyholders. Tsalikis, Darling, Saylor and LeCras will keep their defenders honest. Hunt, Tedesco, Gobbels, Lasscock will be working hard, but they are up to it.

No C Jones, it didn't look good last week, but Crawford or Franz or Billy Bob or supporter A from the grassy banks will still get enough of the ball to be dangerous. Looking at the midfield of Blackwell, Murphy, Brabazon, Foster, Neates, Schammer (if back), Browne, Mitchell, Ninyette, Rudeforth - there's a big job in front of the Falcons mids. Laurie, Derrickx, Walton, et al have been terrific down back. Somehow you've got to stop the run.
Will be closer than many think, but Tigers should get across the line.

Teams

Falcons
B: M Tedesco D Hunt D Burns
HB: T Crossland D Fleay S Bewick
C: R Bewick J Pearce L Harvey
HF: A Saylor B Lecras C Shadbolt
F: J Salecic A Tsalikis J Darling
Foll: M Andrews R Bartholomew J Tindall
I/C: M.Guadagnin, C.Keunen, A.Black, C.Lasscock, J.Rice, C.Chambers, J.Gobbells
Emg: Nil
In: M.Tedesco, L.Harvey
Out: Nil

Tigers
B: B Anderson D Ross J Laurie
HB: S Starling B Franz C Rudeforth
C: T Ayton L Blackwell I Rowe
HF: A Foster D Crawford A Browne
F: A Ruck B Wilkes R Neates
Foll: T Derickx N Chidgzey K Mitchell
I/C: J.Mcallister, I.Richardson, R.Walton, T.Willett, M.Orzel, J.Murphy, A.Holt, J.Ninyette
Emg: Nil
In: J.Laurie, J.Mcallister, T.Willett, M.Orzel, A.Holt
Out: R.Brabazon, C.Jones

 

[swannies]

Swans v Demons - Last time they meet the Dees won their second match of the season. Can't see Dawson letting that happen again, although this is another danger game with the AFL listed players out.

Swans have Potente and Robinson returning through the reserves. Hinkley out means Perth have one less player on the field. Although Roach also approached those levels last week, being caught a number of times and making poor execution decisions. The midfield put little to no pressure on last week, but Roberts, Krakouer, Roach, Wolfenden, Richardson, Riggio, Pratt, Fleay, van Groningen will need to lift this week, they're up against a pretty fair midfield. Coniglio, award an AIS scholarship this week, looks likely to line up on the HFF and L Adams, from colts, is leading the ruck.

The Demons have Houghton, Sibosado, Ruffles and Sullivan out. The midfield of Young, O'Sullivan, McLeod, Fiegert, White, Siekerka, Mzungu stack up really well against Swans. McDougall, Moody, Armstrong provide some good targets forward. Whilst in defense Ferguson, Thornton, Hodge and Vidot are a problem for any side. Coupled with a reasonable record against Swans, this could be a problem match.
On paper the Demons look a better side, IMO, but expect the professor to have Swans up and firing.

Teams

Swans
B: T Casserly T Ames B Wolfenden
HB: G Jetta M Riggio J Simpson
C: L Pratt J Roberts T Roach
HF: S Coniglio T Notte T Geappen
F: C Garlett M Spencer A Hansen
Foll: L Adams P Richardson A Krakouer
I/C: S.Parry, W.Twomey, S.Fleay, B.Van groningen
Emg: D.Ipaviz, B.Robinson, J.Menegola
In: L.Adams, S.Coniglio, S.Parry, D.Ipaviz, B.Robinson, B.Van groningen
Out: L.Spaanderman, B.Colreavy, C.Hinkley, C.Pearce

Demons
B: C Vidot M Ferguson D Robinson
HB: T Mzungu A Thornton B Hodge
C: L Della-bosca J Fiegert D White
HF: M Moody H Busher M Florio
F: S Armstrong A Mcdougall A Elari
Foll: S Horner R Young A Mcleod
I/C: S.Clifford, L.Smith, D.Venditti, J.Eades, M.Rogers, K.Lang, M.Mather
Emg: Nil
In: S.Clifford, L.Della-bosca, J.Fiegert, L.Smith, A.Mcdougall, A.Mcleod, M.Rogers, C.Vidot
Out: B.Davis, J.Houghton, C.Mclernon, T.Ruffles, W.Sullivan

 

[swannies]

Thunder v Sharks, Sunday - Well, this looked a monte for the Sharks, until their outs were announced tonight. Should shape as a very interesting match, with a heap of youngsters given a go on both teams.

Thunder will be buoyed by the fact they won the last game and got off the bottom of the WAFL ladder. J Jones was named on an extended interchange for the Eagles, but has been named in the centre for Peel? Bennell has another chance to show his wares, Kieran Butcher is another young player I rate, then Luff, Filo, Mason, Brown are other youngsters with bright futures.

The Sharks have lost most of the prime moving midfield from last week, with Houlihan, Masten, Palmer, Dodd all out. They still have Monteath, McGough, Macnamara and watch young Fasolo, Cripps. In defence they have Weller, Teakle, Brennan, Chidlow and Stephen to make the Peel forward's lives tough. Ricciardello, Kyanga have a chance to run into some form, while Dunn should excel.
Sharks to win a relatively tight one.

Teams

Thunder
B: B Gillam L Meyers M Holmes
HB: C Luff T Clarke A Payrits
C: R O'brien J Jones M Ware
HF: C Collard H Mcleod K Butcher
F: J Bennell M Battye H Bennell
Foll: J Williams M Green B Jones (c)
I/C: M.Brown, M.Brown, B.Filo, M.Giumelli, R.Mason, L.Padwick, D.Murray, R.Beswick
Emg: Nil
In: R.Beswick, M.Brown, M.Brown, B.Filo, D.Murray, L.Padwick
Out: B.O'brien

Sharks
B: J Brennan L Weller J Venturini
HB: D Chidlow L Teakle A Stephen
C: C Leslie M Mcgough S Horsburgh
HF: J Mcnamara A Ricciardello C Davidson
F: R Dunn J Perham A Kyanga
Foll: R Young L Fasolo K Monteath
I/C: J.Sgherza, M.Griffiths, A.Fasolo, R.Cooyou, J.Cripps, L.Foster, K.Green, J.Simpson
Emg: Nil
In: A.Kyanga, J.Simpson, L.Foster, J.Venturini, R.Cooyou, L.Fasolo, M.Griffiths, A.Fasolo
Out: T.Houlihan, S.Dodd, R.Palmer, C.Masten, S.Lee-steere

 

[curry23]

Stevie had 26 touches and kicked 2 goals on debut, I nearly jizzed myself tbh.

 

[Spearhead]

Stevie had 26 touches and kicked 2 goals on debut, I nearly jizzed myself tbh.

That makes 2 of us!! ..the kids only 16 as well so GC cant pick him up this year so will be with the Ducks in 2011 unless GWS have a say!