7 am for a 7.15 start in the Bill Walker room at Subi (Gate 5) this morning. Probably about 300 or so corporate guests (middle-aged businessmen, chardonnay-sippers - yeah, go for it. I'll drink you under the table then tell you why Sydney, Fremantle, Bulldogs, St Kilda and just about the rest of the competition would want it).
Woosha spoke well as ever, but being the professional, excused himself from the breakfast at 8 am to set up. Just about a player on every table (not sure how many tables - 35, 40?).
Summary of the season so far - very encouraging, have improved, more to go. Praised the players in the WAFL who are doing everything right, just need an opportunity. All the players were really disappointed with the defeat at Essendon, but not a bad performance. No really bad performances this year, though we were disappointed with our performance against Hawthorn away as they didn't play well.
It's no longer acceptable to lose to anyone. Set ourselves to win against the Bulldogs and Brisbane before the bye. Consistency and intensity of our play and our attack on the football must be maintained or we can lose to a lower-ranked side, for example, one of our physically hardest games was at home to Geelong.
Good breakfast & company. Marketing department has really lifted its game since the "ochre" phase.
Greg Harding then interviewed 3 players and came over as pretty amusing actually - I was surprised.
1. Daniel Chick - gave us the story of the finger, sounded a bit as if the Hawks medical staff left the injury too long, but he says it's far less painful without the finger, odd though it looks and hard though it is to pick stuff up (like loose change). Very happy with the transition back to WA.
2. Damian Adkins talked about coming over from Vic, staying positive despite the ankle injuries that have plagued him since and the hardness of pre-season training in the heat. Felt that the players at WCE & Perth had helped out a lot.
3. Paul Johnson is a big lad, enjoyed his first game, training to be a teacher at a primary school (Woosha really encourages players to study or do something while they're playing, possibly a legacy of David Parkin who had a similar philosophy? Don't know.) Also had positive words to say about the Swans as well as Eagles.
Then David Hart's turn as compere, also did a good job.
1. Ashley McIntosh - confirmed that his knees (both now) are really playing up and that this would be his last season, much as he'd like to play on. Felt (and I agree with him) that there wasn't much more he could do against Lloyd last week with the quality delivery. Replied tactfully to the question about the turnaround in the club by responding that the players were a couple of years older and that Woosha's hard but fair approach had really put the discipline back into the playing group.
2. Phil Read was a bit quiet as he's obviously disappointed at picking up an ankle injury (bone bruising, just takes a while) after recovering from 2 knees. Said how he'd dreamed of coming back and playing in a big game and really enjoyed the Derby. Apparently his Mum's moved to Lombok in Bali, so he's pretty happy with the surf on those visits.
3. Michael Gardiner wouldn't be drawn into the Brownlow betting or give us any horse tips and seemed pretty determined to press on with his form and the team's for the rest of the season.
Time to go. Players went to change out of suits and into playing gear and went in to the ground. Back to work, but a good effort by all concerned.