WAFL State Squad

[Underdog]

So the initial state squad has been announced to play the NEAFL later this month.

I've tried breaking this list down. Please excuse positional or physical mistakes, I'm going off my memory and dodgy internet info...

DEFENDERS
Tallan Ames - Full Back 193cm 88kg
Lachlan Delahunty - Key Defender 194cm 91kg
Thomas Howlett - Key Defender 188cm 85kg
Justin Simpson - Key/Medium Defender 187cm 87kg
Steven Dodd - Medium Defender 191cm 82kg
Jordan Jones - Medium Defender 190cm 94kg
Chris Phelan - Medium Defender 186cm 83kg
Andrew Stephen - Medium Defender 182cm 81kg
Wayde Twomey - Medium Defender 185cm 82kg
Laine Rasmussen - Small Defender 180cm 81kg
Brock O’Brien - Small Defender 181cm 80kg

MIDFIELDERS
Luke Blackwell – Midfielder 179cm 78kg
Blaine Boekhorst – Midfielder 185cm 68kg
Ryan Cook – Midfielder 188cm 90kg
Brad Dalziell – Midfielder 184cm 84kg
Jamie McNamara – Midfielder 184cm 87kg
Shane Nelson – Midfielder 176cm 73kg
Rory O’Brien – Midfielder 172cm 80kg
Jay Van Berlo – Midfielder 186cm 83kg

RUCKMEN
Paul Johnson – Ruckman 199cm 103kg
Chris Keunen – Ruckman 199cm 90kg

FORWARDS
Ben Saunders - Full Forward 190cm 80kg
Tony Notte - Key Forward/Utility 194cm 75kg
Paul Bevan - Medium Forward 184cm 84kg
Ryan Davis - Medium Forward 188cm 85kg
George Hampson - Medium Forward 188cm 80kg
Kody Manning - Medium Forward 184cm 84kg
Ashton Hams – Utility 174cm 73kg
Haiden Schloithe - Forward/Utility 181cm 78kg
Chris Deluca - Small Forward 179cm 86kg


What are people's thoughts?

It's a pretty well balanced squad except for the forwards IMO. Saunders is basically a lock for FF, Notte for CHF and probably Bevan as a third marking forward. Notte is generally a relief ruckman but given the lack of size up forward, I suspect he's selected as purely a CHF and we'll be playing two ruckman. Personally I would name another tall forward and play Johnson in the ruck supported by Notte and drop Keunen.

Ames should have FB wrapped up but CHB will be an interesting battle. I would imagine Simpson would have to be there as CHB or third tall.

 

[swannies]

Haven't seen a lot of the others Underdog, but can't believe Ugle (I know, I wouldn't have said this last year) is not in the squad.
My problem is, having watched the EF midfield the last 2 weeks, that there are so many of them in the squad. Yes, can run all day, but can't hit the side of a barn with a handful of rice. Also one paced. Too many similar types in that midfield, with Boekhorst the only different. I usually don't rate PC as high as others, but this looks a lot too similar. Anyways......

 

[Underdog]

Well, I am gobsmacked as rumour suggests that Justin Simpson has been cut from the state squad. Unbelievable. He can play CHB and HBF equally as well and is averaging 25.25 disposals (9th total disposals) and 8.37 marks (1st total marks) a game in 2014. He's been brilliant.

To rub salt into the wound, West Perth's Nick Rodda has been added to the squad as I'd suggest a replacement.

Additionally, named as captain is East Perth Eagles' Brendan Lee who has played a grand total of 2 games in 2014. Meanwhile the vice captains include AFL premiership player and 129 gamer (+45 WAFL games) Paul Bevan and 200+ game Swan Districts captain Tallan Ames who leads his team at the top of the ladder.

You really wish when it comes to state selection that coaches would be above picking favourites. There have been some absolutely mind boggling decisions.

 

[Ljp86]

Final squad is as follows,

Claremont – Luke Blackwell
East Fremantle – Steven Dodd, Thomas Howlett, Jamie McNamara, Andrew Stephen
East Perth – Brendan Lee (c)
Perth – Paul Bevan (vc)
South Fremantle – Ryan Cook, Ashton Hams, Ben Saunders, Haiden Schloithe
Subiaco – George Hampson
Swan Districts – Tallan Ames (vc), Blaine Boekhorst, Ryan Davis, Tony Notte
West Perth – Jay Van Berlo, Jordan Jones, Chris Keunen, Kody Manning, Shane Nelson, Laine Rasmussen, Nicholas Rodda

Coach – Bill Monaghan
Assistant Coaches – Gavin Brown, Aiden Parker, Craig Smoker.
Chairman of Selectors – Ross Parker


The squad is a complete joke, West Perth having seven players in the team is a disgrace with Monaghan clearly favouring players from his own club.

The game itself begins at 10am WST tomorrow at Blacktown International Sportspark. You can watch the game live online at the following link,

Please also note that the ABC is not telecasting this game.

 

[Underdog]

The top 3 teams in the league have 6 players in total, West Perth have 7.

The inclusion of Rodda and non-inclusions of Rory O'Brien and Simpson are absolute jokes.

Hell, even the leading goal kicker in the league Ricky Cary can't get a spot in the squad let alone final team! He's got 1 more goal than Saunders and 8 more than Hampson. They're the only players selected from within the top 10 goal scorers in the league.

 

[Underdog]

Game starts in minutes and I can't see a single spectator and why would there be any there? Playing in Sydney as a daft amalgamated squad up against a local AFL game.

 

[Ljp86]

Three quarter time

NEAFL 5.10 (40)
WAFL 13.16 (94)

 

[Ljp86]

Schloithe goals after a horrible kick-in from NEAFL. He's been very good today.

Q4 5 mins

NEAFL 5.10 (40)
WAFL 14.17 (101)

 

[Ljp86]

Rodda kicks a goal from a set shot 45 metres out.

Q4 7 mins

NEAFL 5.10 (40)
WAFL 15.17 (107)

 

[Ljp86]

Hampson slots his first from the goalsquare after a 50 metre penalty.

Q4 11 mins

NEAFL 5.10 (40)
WAFL 16.17 (113)

 

[Ljp86]

Davis crumbs a goal after a big contest in the goalsquare.

Q4 13 mins

NEAFL 5.10 (40)
WAFL 17.17 (119)

 

[Ljp86]

Boekhorst tries to take mark of the century but recovers to take the crumb and kick another goal for the WAFL.

Q4 24 mins

NEAFL 5.11 (41)
WAFL 18.18 (126)

 

[Ljp86]

Hampson kicks his second from the goalsquare after a good pass from Paul Bevan.

Q4 27 mins

NEAFL 6.11 (47)
WAFL 19.18 (132)

 

[Ljp86]

Full Time

NEAFL 6.11 (47)
WAFL 19.18 (132)

 

[pull ya soxs up]

Full Time

NEAFL 6.11 (47)
WAFL 19.18 (132)

The NEAFL tried hard today , they never threw the towel in. That would be their claim to fame in this match. WA was far superior in teamwork and game plan. But any of the 9 WAFL clubs individually would beat the NEAFL. The commentary was farcical. The camera work wasn't much better. Best players for WA : Schloithe,Notte,Hams,Ames,Boekhorst, Cook,Blackwell,Saunders. WA's side was nowhere as strong as last year. Some 6 or 7 players could have been in this 2014 team.

 

[Underdog]

Yeah, the commentary early was pretty awful, lots of incorrect names and statements. Having said that, I'm prepared to give them slack given they wouldn't know the players and actually provided coverage unlike the WAFL. The Claremont General manager joining them was worthwhile.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Never seen the point of NEAFL play a State Squad

 

[Underdog]

Never seen the point of NEAFL play a State Squad

I don't mind it. It hasn't been state if origin for a long time. It's basically comp vs comp.

I also see it like world cricket. We'd love to play England and South Africa all the time but you've got to give the West Indies and Zimbabwe a go at playing decent opposition to aid development.