Any of the WP boys been to training for any of the latest news?Anybody injured,not shown up,stars on the track.Heard an interview with HOG Munns about him being sole captain now that Blackie has stepped down but otherwise very quiet.In fact this whole site is quiet.Normally it’s buzzing with news especially with scratch matches around the corner.Too much Xmas cheer?
Ok, can tell you that the night games fixtures has not gone down well with the blokes I hang around with. I don’t like it. Anyway we will see what happens. It looks like there are more departures than newbies, do we have enough reserves in the tank, bloody hope so. I may sound pessimistic but the night games and the lack of recruiting worries me.
Must admit I’m not convinced about the night games from an economic point of view. The theory might be right and it’s good to try something different but unless it’s well supported the bums on seats just won’t be there and that equates to a lot less money in the bank.I doubt non WP supporters will be flocking to the games so only the diehards are likely to show up.Hope I’m wrong but unless a lot of promotion by the club and the WAFL(HA!!) occurs I am concerned about it’s success.
On the recruiting front it’s pretty quiet but it’s a double edged sword.Do you go with a bunch of talented kids who over the last 2 seasons have reached grand finals in both colts and reserves or do you recruit to plug holes and upgrade the list with proven but likely older players.Given that Salecic has coached and been involved with the former category it looks like they’ve decided to run with the youngsters and give them a go.There certainly is talent there but what that strategy equates to is patience.In other words they are not likely to be premiership contenders until the dues are paid.There is still enough talent in the squad to be in finals this year but going deep might be a problem.Winger I don’t think this year will be wasted - just a step in the right direction.
Your lower grades have excelled in the last couple of years so there should be sufficient quality to plug any holes in what is still a good list. You blokes finished last year in a rush, so as much as it pains me to say it, I expect you will definitely be in the hunt for finals.
Hope you are right with your prediction about my mob SS - time will tell. I’ve got your side finishing top 3 but I dare say EF and EP might have you covered.A lot of your fellow Subi posters are lamenting the loss of Clarke but with his body now slowing down he may have reached his use by date.No disrespect to the man- he was an excellent player and one of the dominant ruckmen in the competition.However history shows the last 2 years premiers didn’t have a dominant ruck.Last year McGuire/Dixon led the EF ruck and neither would be classified as world beaters- good honest contributors for sure.And the year before my mob’s ruck was led by Yukich who gave us good service in ruck contests but around the ground……well something about bulls and tits comes to mind.Even so he did his job and they can’t take away his premiership medal-he deserved it.So SS a good competitor is all you need.
Yukich’s job was to, just bring the ball to the ground, nothing more. At the three quarter break interview, Harro said, Yukich is doing a great job, i couldn’t fathom that statement until I was told what the strategy was. It basically took Eastman out of the ruck.
Yeah certainly not having a go at the guy mate.He would be the first to admit his ball skills are limited but he did a great job for us in 22 and was an important cog in winning the premiership.Those tactics obviously worked as a premiership medal around his neck shows.
Rotham works at the Eagles, they have a policy that if you work at the Eagles you cant play for any other club. This directive came from Nisbett. I suspect the club will be chatting to Pyke in relation to their restraint of trade policy so the man can play for the Falcons.
I forgot to bring that up when you mentioned it the other day Winger about Rotham playing at Whitfords.Typical WCE bully boy tactics riding roughshod over the WAFL.Sounds like a restraint of trade issue which maybe an industrial lawyer might have fun with.Unfortunately it will never get to that because (a) it would be too expensive to go to court and (b) the spineless wimps at WAFC will rubber stamp anything WCE want to do.Another player lost.
I’d expect WP to play finals. Really good crop of 21-25 year olds that have already played senior footy and will be better again this season.
It’s good to finally see acknowledgement from opposition supporters that Perth’s zones are shit since most don’t rate us a chance of playing finals despite recruiting a number of A grade recruits in areas of need and one of the most experienced coaching line ups seen in modern times in the WAFL, yet most still pump up the chances of other clubs being serious challengers despite significant losses and in WP’s case, a first year inexperienced coach.
So don’t let me hear sarcastic comments about how we keep blaming our zones.
And while I’m at it I’m going to have a crack at some of you 91.3fm commentators who we know are deeply rooted in EF and SF territory. The way you have interviewed Peter German and Mark Stone in the last 12 months, the way you keep asking the question, WHY Perth? Almost stuttering in disbelief the way you ask WHY did you choose Perth? Wayne Clarke sounded absolutely dumbfounded the other day when he asked Mark Stone that very question.
In other words what were you thinking, you could have taken your pick at any other club, WHY did you choose Perth?
Firstly I think most posters would agree that P zones need a long due overhaul to create some parity in both current player numbers and growth continuation.As has been mentioned to death though how the WAFC will pull their fingers out and finally do something is anyone’s guess.Don’t want to start a discussion on that subject again- just my opinion.
Your other point though DD is interesting.I listened to the Mark Stone interview and two things stood out.Firstly,Adrian Barich seems to be doing a power of work behind the scenes(and there has been other examples of this in recent times) and Stone has vast experience as we all know- especially when he mentioned his task was to “ unlock the potential in players that they didn’t even know they had”.
Finally,I see your point about some of the condescending manner in the way the questions were asked but I’ve listened to Clark before and that’s a bit of his interview ‘ style’.Not condoning it just saying.
Thought this was a WP thread, hence why people are discussing WP’s chances this season and why nobody has mentioned Perth…
The Rotham situation is appalling, hope the right solution is made quickly and he’s back at WP where he belongs.
Thanks Feds good to hear some honest acknowledgment from an opposition supporter. I think when the WAFC try to do something they get a lot of pushback from the clubs that surround our zones, namely East and South Fremantle. Hence why they are always paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for so called “independent reviews” which I don’t believe are followed through.
Anyway that’s all I’ll say don’t want to upset TT.
Hey DD…if your zones are so bad, how do you explain your colts missed winning a flag last year by less than 2 straight kicks? just asking…
[quote=“BC post=233475 userid=892”]Hey DD…if your zones are so bad, how do you explain your colts missed winning a flag last year by less than 2 straight kicks? just asking…
[/quote]
How often do we even make finals in the colts BC? Once in a blue moon. Lets see if it’s a new trend in the right direction or just an out of the blue good batch of kids that came through.
The loss of Sam Rotham might get WP fans riled up. Appalling from WC. Getting a job in football would be very attractive to a delisted player, and WC are able to offer jobs and salary that WAFL clubs can’t compete with. I understood there to be a clause preventing WC from using employment as a means to attract recruits. I assume they would argue they are not getting Rotahm to play for them, they are simply not allowing him to play against them while working for the club. The distinction is spurious - they are still using their financial clout to weaken a rival club.
Appalling behaviour again by the WC bully boys. The reason given is they don’t want him playing against some work mates!!
How many on the WCER list actually have jobs with the WC admin? Players have been playing against mates and work colleagues since the comp started, such a lame excuse to expand their arrogant attitude of doing everything in their power to destroy our comp. Joondy supporters have every right to be pissed off. The next game between the 2 clubs will be a bit more spicy I think, especially if it’s up at Joondy.
Ted riled up is an understatement.We have seen many instances of WC arrogance and thorough disdain for the WAFL competition but this just about takes the cake.Reading the West article on the subject (and quickly I don’t have necessarily full confidence on accuracy most of the time but we’ll take it on face value) some interesting points were made.The article said WC have a “ new rule” and “principle “ about employees playing against their workmates.Bullshit!(Your point SS).When Rotham started in January 22 I presume this was not in his employment contract - paperwork which contains duties and conditions under which he is offered the job.So this change in principle would have required a new contract (I must be delusional - I just put principle and WC in the same sentence).Brayshaw and Waterman left faced with the same “ new rule “ but their situation was different in that their roles were nowhere near as involved and career oriented as Rotham’s is.He has clearly made the decision that he has a future in the football industry and this a great stepping stone towards that.No criticism of his decision.Another point is that in effect WC are encouraging him to break the contract he has with WP but that doesn’t mean much to WC.I wonder if all this “new rules and principles “ have anything to do with not getting as many recruiting concessions as they had hoped.Grrrrrr!
I ‘ll stop ranting now but the annoying thing is that nothing will come of it. Rotham is caught between a rock and a hard place.If he was of a mind to fight the issue legally (with WP’s help) it would be expensive and what are the chances he would keep the job. Morally this is crap - but then again what would we expect from WC.