WAFL Round One 2005

[Ben_Stinga]

Fixtures
Subiaco v East Fremantle at Leederville Friday March 18 6.30pm

South Fremantle v East Perth at Fremantle Friday March 18 7.00pm

Swan Districts v Peel at Steel Blue Oval Bassendean Saturday March 19 2.15pm

Claremont v West Perth at Claremont showgrounds Saturday March 19 6.30pm

Bye: Perth

 

[HitEmHardFreo]

Who looks good this year, Ben?

And was there a pre-season comp? The Emu Export Cup or something?

 

[royaldave]

The top 3 for me at this stage -

Subi looking as good as last season despite the loss of Smith, although his loss may yet be felt when the season starts proper.
East Perth have improved and have had a very solid pre-season. Should get back into the finals on this form.
Swans should do a bit better than last season with a couple of recruits to bolster an already good side. Will be interesting to see if the Maguire deal goes through and what impact it has.

The rest of the ladder I'm struggling to decide upon -

Claremont - everyone's talking about their quality youth, but ultimately the experience they've lost should discount them as a finals choice.
East Freo should get off the bottom but difficult to imagine them as serious contenders.
South Freo look bad at this early stage - lost too many good players.
West Perth and Perth may surprise but I doubt it.
Peel - maybe win a couple more games than last season.

 

[Ben_Stinga]

Yep, very difficult to pick with so many new players coming into the competition this season.

Most teams look like they have improved except for South Fremantle and Claremont who have lost some importatnt players.

Both clubs have good youngsters coming through but do they have enough to replace what they have lost?

The closer it gets to round one, the more I think South may slip and West Perth may move into finals calculation.

The Claremont v West Perth game at Showgrounds is set to be a blockbuster with over 8000 fans expected to witness the Tigers' first tentative steps into their proposed new ground.

 

[Port1978]

Who looks good this year, Ben?

And was there a pre-season comp? The Emu Export Cup or something?

No, no preseason cup, just some practise matches.

 

[wellsy]

Well the season is about to start again this Friday night with a couple of games. One annoying thing though is the game between South Fremantle and East Perth is just the league game and no reserves game on before hand as i understand it, which is a bit annoying as i wanted to watch our reserves aswell. Both colts and reserves will be played on Saturday in front of a meager crowd to say the least.

Peel will push for a place in the 4 but will fall short again although a much better year out of them. The lose of Dean Buszan will be a big one for Peel but in Cameron Gauci they have a gun player on their hands. Will be aiming to be the top of the bottom half of the table this year but cant see them pushing into the 4.

East Fremantle will struggle this year if recent signings dont get up to standard and gel as a unit. If they dont gel as a unit then i cant see them being a force this year and instead will be battling for the spoon.

Perth have had a huge change in personal this year with quite a few recruits from Victoria and through their zones but without a key forward like Chris Maguire then i cant see them kicking too many goals. I dont know too much about their new signings so i could be wrong.

West Perth, well what can i say about that mob! I reckon they will struggle this year with some key players moving on and retirements hindering them. Fewster has stayed on but it will be a question of whether he can stay injury free. Going to have to bleed some youngsters and new recruit Dan Hunt(played with him at school) is already out for 6 weeks. Never know if they perform well as a unit they could do an Everton but looming like a long year for the garlics.

Swan Districts have recruited very strongly and will be looking to go from one strength to another this year. Had a great year last year and will be looking to better that this year. Would be aiming for a top 3 berth and if they can get Chris Maguire from Perth they will have a strong forward line. Some great midfielders with Beros leading the line and looking for another Sandover. Strong contender and definetly will be up there in the top 4.

Subiaco and East Perth will be battling it out for a top spot this year. Subiaco have lost Brad Smith but they are too good and will cover his loss with ease. Strong in the midfield and down back but doubts on Broadhurst with his back as he hasnt even done a pre-season this year and after looking like a player to watch might have to spend some time on the sidelines this year. Plenty of talent in the Subi side with Priddis, unlucky not to get drafted last year, leading the line with little Ali Pickett.

East Perth will be looking to become the first club to win a premiership in their centenary year. The new strip looks good and we will be looking to be having a big year this year. We have blooded quite a few youngsters in the pre-season hopefully giving them valuable time in the league side. We have quite a few youngsters and a couple of players returning to the club. Looking for a big year but with Andrew Merrington out till round 3 it will be time for Zac Beeck, Matthew Selby to step up and take that CHF role. A few injury worries especially with Matthew Mills still not getting a game having done his knee a second time in as many years but will still hang around the club. Prize recruit this year Gary Jones has also done his knee and will be out for the season. Amongest all these injuries there are some good signs and hopefully the club can step up after a poor year last year and get their hand on the prize!

1.Subiaco
2.East Perth
3.Swan Districts
4.South Fremantle/Claremont
5.Claremont/South Fremantle
6.Peel
7.Perth
8.East Fremantle
9.West Perth

 

[wellsy]

Well we got flogged by South Fremantle tonight in drizzly conditions. Overcast on the way in and it drizzled for awhile in the 3rd but basically our lack of skills in the wet and our handling of the ball were our main let downs. We couldnt mark the ball, our decision making was bad always kicking to a player outnumbered etc etc. Lucky for the 2nd quarter when we kicked 6 goals i think to get us right back into the game through some generous umpiring but other then that it was basically all South Fremantle. Souths played reasonable in the conditions but just negated our players never allowing us a to get a free man and Souths held their marks and ran well through the midfield at times. Souths suited the conditions more then us we played poorly but thank christ it is only round one! Lost by about 40+ points if anyone is interested...

Subiaco beat East Fremantle by 80 points in the other game tonight.

 

[wozzie]

Subiaco off to a good start, beating East Fremantle by 80 points. Dominant midfield with Sam Larkins and Lachlan Oakley up forward with 5 goals each. Matt Priddis another BOG effort.
Not all doom and gloom for East Freo, lot of new youngsters playing, did well, should win a few as they gain experience.

 

[Ben_Stinga]

Full results from the WAFL page for Round One:

ROUND 1
Leederville Oval Friday March 18, 6:30 pm
Subiaco 3.5 7.5 13.11 19.13 (127)
East Fremantle 3.3 3.7 5.9 6.11 (47)
Subiaco
Goals: S. Larkins 5, L. Oakley 5, D. Robbins 2, M. Priddis 2, T. McKenna 2, A. Pickett 1, C. Hayes 1, B. Keevers 1
Best: M. Priddis, C. Hayes, S. Matheson, C. Cossom, D. Rumble, S.Larkins
East Fremantle
Goals: R. Webster 1, L Teakle 1, R. Tregenza 1, D. Jordan 1, D. Chidlow 1, M. Clark 1
Best: N. Chidgzey, D. Chidlow, D. Jordan, L. Teakle


Fremantle Oval Friday March 18, 7:00 pm
South Fremantle 3.4 7.6 11.8 12.15 (87)
East Perth 0.2 5.3 7.5 7.6 (48)
South Fremantle
Goals: M Cornell 3, M Clucas 2, B Bootsma 1, K Ugle 1, R Smithers 1, C White 1, A Siegert 1, A Hay 1, P Duffield 1
Best: D Gilmore, T McGrath, J Vinci, J Graham, R Smithers, K Hams
East Perth
Goals: A Merrington 2, P Ridley 1, B Cowell 1, R MacKenzie 1, K Jeavons 1, D McConnell 1
Best: B Cowell, M Ainley, R MacKenzie, M Swan, M Clark


Steel Blue Oval Bassendean Saturday March 19, 2:15 pm
Swan Districts 6.3 13.4 15.8 18.11 (119)
Peel Thunder 2.1 3.4 9.6 13.9 (87)
Swan Districts
Goals: C.Maguire 7, D.Wulf 2, D.Casson 2, C.Callaghan 2, J.LePlastrier 1, S.Beros 1, W.Kestel, G.Taylor 1, C.Hampson 1
Best: Beros, G.Taylor, A.Lange, C.Maguire, T.Ames, D.Casson
Peel Thunder
Goals: K.Walker 2, J.Williams 2, M.Battye 2, R.Hillier 2, J.Klummp 1, P.Travers 1, M.Rosa 1, B.Cunningham 1, Q.Bolton 1
Best: J.Williams, R.Hillier, K.Walker, P.Travers, D.Butler, M.Rosa


Claremont Showgrounds Saturday March 19, 6:30 pm
Claremont 1.3 2.7 5.9 10.10 (70)
West Perth 1.3 3.5 6.8 10.9 (69)
Claremont
Goals: Crawford 3, A Jones 2, Loxley 1, Nelli 1, Wilkes 1, Swift 1, Carlon 1
Best: Kowal, Crawford, Crabb, Delaney
West Perth
Goals: LeCras 2, Pearce 2, Duckworth 2, Lasscock 1, Anderson 1, Guadagnin 1, Tsalikis 1
Best: Leithhead, Lasscock, Gilhome, Duckworth, Smith, Gieschen


Bye:
Perth

 

[gytre]

Wow, a one point win. Now there's a good way to start a season! What sort of crowd did they get at the Showgrounds?

 

[Ben_Stinga]

The crowd at Showgrounds was very good.

Naturally there were some people there for the West Coast Eagles function and a few of those left before the league game, so it was very hard to tell exactly how many come through the gates officially.

I would guess about 7000 but the official figure will be published on Tuesday.

I'll post it here as soon as I find out.

 

[masai]

Duckies doing well, although Peel showed some guts to fight on in the second half.

Maguire looked pretty good, but the delivery helped. The Duckies accountants would be happy over his transfer, money well spent.

Didn't know they had wheelchair access to the Basso Oval ................... as Travis Edmonds was playing.

 

[gytre]

Thanks a lot for that, Ben.

Duckies doing well, although Peel showed some guts to fight on in the second half.

Maguire looked pretty good, but the delivery helped. The Duckies accountants would be happy over his transfer, money well spent.

Didn't know they had wheelchair access to the Basso Oval ................... as Travis Edmonds was playing.

LOL. That's a good one. Edmonds is a marvel. I must say I've never seen Swans called the "Duckies" before...

 

[masai]

Thanks a lot for that, Ben.


LOL. That's a good one. Edmonds is a marvel. I must say I've never seen Swans called the "Duckies" before...

You've obviously never been duck shooting, swans = black ducks.

 

[cos789]

Wow, a one point win. Now there's a good way to start a season! What sort of crowd did they get at the Showgrounds?

8500 !

 

[Ben_Stinga]

8500 !

Cos is that the estimate or pretty much the official figure that will be issued on tuesday?

 

[jmain14]

any news on how benny anderson (west perth) is shaping up ben_stinga or any of you other boys from wa?? saw a pic of him on the w'end - looked a bit of a different benny to me as he has shaved his hair. the reports were that he originally went for a bit of a mohawk at the back half of the scalp but he soon got rid of that and now has a couple of ratsies at the back instead. apparently it looks absolutely ridiculous but he did it for charity reasons so that has to be admired I guess.

 

[WCL]

According to the WAFL website, there were 7,800 spectators that attended the day at the showgrounds. The combined first round attendance was 13,880 which is the highest since round 1 1994 and was 4,000 better that last year. Are we finnally seeing fans return to the grassroots level, are they sick of the AFL corporate style. Or are just more people getting out to see footy in general.

 

[David Votoupal]

According to the WAFL website, there were 7,800 spectators that attended the day at the showgrounds. The combined first round attendance was 13,880 which is the highest since round 1 1994 and was 4,000 better that last year. Are we finnally seeing fans return to the grassroots level, are they sick of the AFL corporate style. Or are just more people getting out to see footy in general.

I'd love to think so as well- let's see what'll be the turnout for the first round of SANFL games and see if it's indeed a trend. It could be a combination of those above factors but I get a good feeling that 2005 will see some great crowds in the local leagues, perhaps the best in years.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Could somebody tell me who the coaches and captains are for all the 9 clubs please?

 

[cos789]

Cos is that the estimate or pretty much the official figure that will be issued on tuesday?

8500 was the figure in the "West Australian" but it was an approximation .
Good to see some good promotion getting results . The showgrounds are a great venue and are going to be further improved with a new grandstand .
Hopefully the light will be added to as the pylons are sufficient to carry more .
I've seen a few junior games there and think it's a win/win situation .

 

[gytre]

According to the WAFL website, there were 7,800 spectators that attended the day at the showgrounds. The combined first round attendance was 13,880 which is the highest since round 1 1994 and was 4,000 better that last year. Are we finnally seeing fans return to the grassroots level, are they sick of the AFL corporate style. Or are just more people getting out to see footy in general.

If only that was the case, but far more likely is that the Showgrounds game was a special one-off event that drew a big crowd for that reason. Plus there was a big Eagles function on that Claremont cashed in on (and good on them). Also, it was a weekend without any AFL matches played. What really annoyed me is that the TV news was at Lathlain Park to watch Eagle Andrew McDougall play in a bloody scratch match, and that coverage received a higher billing than the WAFL season proper. The WAFL continues to get a raw deal from the TV media in WA in particular.

 

[Streaker]

Could somebody tell me who the coaches and captains are for all the 9 clubs please?

Subiaco
Coach: Peter German
Captain: TBA

Claremont
Coach: Ashley Prescott
Captain: Jaxon Crabb

SWan Districts
Coach: Steve Turner
Captain: Joel Cornelius

South Femantle
Coach: John Dimmer
Captain: David Gault

East Perth
Coach: Warren Mahoney
Captain: Dean Brennan

Perth
Coach: Stan Magro
Captain: Andrew Glover

West Perth
Coach: Darren Harris
Captain: Todd Curley

Peel
Coach: Garry Hocking
Captain: Grant Welsh

East Femantle
Coach: David Dunbar
Captain: Damien Gaspar

 

[masai]

What really annoyed me is that the TV news was at Lathlain Park to watch Eagle Andrew McDougall play in a bloody scratch match, and that coverage received a higher billing than the WAFL season proper. The WAFL continues to get a raw deal from the TV media in WA in particular.

Agreed.

I thought some vision of the WAFL games from that day would have been more appropriate. eg. Chris Maguire kicking a bagfull of goals.

Anyway the ABC still gives the WAFL a good run.

 

[Port1978]

Subiaco
Coach: Peter German
Captain: TBA

Subi's captain is Marc Webb