swannies
Brownlow Medallist
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Armchair Endzone Minor Comp Winner
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Well folks, the new season has finally dawned upon us, with some great match ups for the first round. This is a new decade, so will that break Subi's stranglehold on the white goods, er I mean competition? 
Last year saw a strong growth in attendances at the WAFL, for the first time since 1987, hopefully that continues again this year. With it costing approx $1.8M to run a WAFL club (based on Swans financials last year) these days, it means continued growth is required to ease the burden of operating costs.
Anyway, on to more exciting aspects of the season, the games.
Sowfs v Royals. Kicking off the season on a Friday night at Freo Oval is Souths v East Perth.
2 kids on the Bullies bench that I am looking forward to seeing are Collica and Carter. Interesting to see Phillips on the wing, with Gugliamana, making it the shortest centreline in the business. Be interesting to see how that works out? At least JON should be able to outmark his opponent! Wirrpanda suiting up for this hit out, 1 of the 5 or 6 he'll play for the year.
Roberton making his debut for the Royals, and other Docker's interest will also be in Shepheard and Clarke. Whilst Hams, from Souths and Oakley-Nicholls, Royals, will pique the interest of the Eagles observers. This should be a cracking match between the reigning premiers and a team tipped as being on the rise.
Sowfs just, for me.
Peel v Tigers. Two very youthful sides on display in this one, both with new coaches and both coaches coming from their respective clubs' colts system.
Harley Bennell and Rhett Mason playing off HBF, with Kieran Butcher on the wing, there's some excitement sure to happen there! Bennell and Butcher being touted as going high in this year's draft, so well worth getting down to watch. Swift and Laurie playing HBF for Claremont will also be worth a look, along with Fyfe on the wing and Babazon, recently back from Sydney, on the HFF. Watch out for about the 10th Mitch Brown to play the game, in the FP for Peel, Saints were supposedly super keen last year?
Weedon, Broome and Sibosado starting in the reserves for the AFL clubs, obviously coming back from injuries.
Again, should be a very good match, with the home side jsut getting up.
Falcons v Swans. Usually good matches, well for the past 2 years, between these 2 sides.
The enormous shadow of Darling looms over this contest, as he prepares to go on to AFL duties next year. He's named on a HBF, but I can't see Fleay playing CHF and Darling HBF, someone's having a lend, surely! That will mean that at some point in the afternoon, Conan the Barbarian will come up against the might of Tony Notte. Should be an intriguing duel.
Swans line up, on paper, looks stronger than WP, without Seaby, Campbell (nothing missed there, IMO), LeCras. At least Keunen gets a longer stretch in the 1s, as I think he has a bit to offer. Walters on the wing, feeding the ball to Spencer or Geappen, looks mighty nice. Davis and Krakeouer on the left forward flanks has a fair bit of dash.
Sorry Cardies fans, but even my unbiased eyes can't see you having a hope in hell!
Demons v Sharks. Demons are another looking to push up the ladder in season 2010, with Jarman having his second year in charge and sorting the wheat from the chaff. The Sharks have the propensity to churn out AFL players but not build a charge at the WAFL flag.
Haven't seen the team sheets yet, but expect more young talent on display here, as both have a host of AFL listed, and potential, players on their hands. One point of interest will be the FF who swapped from Sowfs over summer. Can Cooky, Armstrong, Moody and Thornton, along with Smith, Elari, and other youngsters keep the Sharks with MacNamara, Warren (ex Clmt), Bucovacz (if ready), Spangher, Stevens, Fasolo at bay?
Should be a good match, with the Dees getting the early points.
I'm a bit rusty with some of the players names so far, but I'll get into the swing of things shortly, so go along, especially you AFL watchers, this weekend, have some fun and enjoy watching some great footy!
Last year saw a strong growth in attendances at the WAFL, for the first time since 1987, hopefully that continues again this year. With it costing approx $1.8M to run a WAFL club (based on Swans financials last year) these days, it means continued growth is required to ease the burden of operating costs.
Anyway, on to more exciting aspects of the season, the games.
Sowfs v Royals. Kicking off the season on a Friday night at Freo Oval is Souths v East Perth.
2 kids on the Bullies bench that I am looking forward to seeing are Collica and Carter. Interesting to see Phillips on the wing, with Gugliamana, making it the shortest centreline in the business.
Be interesting to see how that works out? At least JON should be able to outmark his opponent! Wirrpanda suiting up for this hit out, 1 of the 5 or 6 he'll play for the year.Roberton making his debut for the Royals, and other Docker's interest will also be in Shepheard and Clarke. Whilst Hams, from Souths and Oakley-Nicholls, Royals, will pique the interest of the Eagles observers. This should be a cracking match between the reigning premiers and a team tipped as being on the rise.
Sowfs just, for me.
Peel v Tigers. Two very youthful sides on display in this one, both with new coaches and both coaches coming from their respective clubs' colts system.
Harley Bennell and Rhett Mason playing off HBF, with Kieran Butcher on the wing, there's some excitement sure to happen there! Bennell and Butcher being touted as going high in this year's draft, so well worth getting down to watch. Swift and Laurie playing HBF for Claremont will also be worth a look, along with Fyfe on the wing and Babazon, recently back from Sydney, on the HFF. Watch out for about the 10th Mitch Brown to play the game, in the FP for Peel, Saints were supposedly super keen last year?
Weedon, Broome and Sibosado starting in the reserves for the AFL clubs, obviously coming back from injuries.
Again, should be a very good match, with the home side jsut getting up.
Falcons v Swans. Usually good matches, well for the past 2 years, between these 2 sides.
The enormous shadow of Darling looms over this contest, as he prepares to go on to AFL duties next year. He's named on a HBF, but I can't see Fleay playing CHF and Darling HBF, someone's having a lend, surely!
That will mean that at some point in the afternoon, Conan the Barbarian will come up against the might of Tony Notte. Should be an intriguing duel.Swans line up, on paper, looks stronger than WP, without Seaby, Campbell (nothing missed there, IMO), LeCras. At least Keunen gets a longer stretch in the 1s, as I think he has a bit to offer. Walters on the wing, feeding the ball to Spencer or Geappen, looks mighty nice. Davis and Krakeouer on the left forward flanks has a fair bit of dash.
Sorry Cardies fans, but even my unbiased eyes
can't see you having a hope in hell!Demons v Sharks. Demons are another looking to push up the ladder in season 2010, with Jarman having his second year in charge and sorting the wheat from the chaff. The Sharks have the propensity to churn out AFL players but not build a charge at the WAFL flag.
Haven't seen the team sheets yet, but expect more young talent on display here, as both have a host of AFL listed, and potential, players on their hands. One point of interest will be the FF who swapped from Sowfs over summer. Can Cooky, Armstrong, Moody and Thornton, along with Smith, Elari, and other youngsters keep the Sharks with MacNamara, Warren (ex Clmt), Bucovacz (if ready), Spangher, Stevens, Fasolo at bay?
Should be a good match, with the Dees getting the early points.
I'm a bit rusty with some of the players names so far, but I'll get into the swing of things shortly, so go along, especially you AFL watchers, this weekend, have some fun and enjoy watching some great footy!
