This year is shaping as a really exciting battle for top 5 with 8 teams still in it and no obvious premiership favourite at this stage. Early season pacesetters Claremont and South Fremantle have come back to the pack and really if any team can get some momentum going in August/ September, they could win the whole thing, it is that even.
The Tigers have had a poor month and the bye has come at the right time for them. I think they will reset and make the top 3.
Peel will be very hard to stop, especially if the Dockers stay relatively injury free.
East Perth are the sleeping giants, their form has fluctuated a lot in the first few months of the season but if they can get players back and firing, they will be there when the whips are cracking.
Perth are a great chance I reckon. The way they recovered after that setback at Bassendean a few weeks ago to win their next 2 games, shows a resolve that hasn’t been there for many years. A Perth flag would be great for WA footy given they haven’t won it since the 70s
South Freo I’m not sure about. They have the talent to go back to back but I wonder about their desire and attitude.
East Fremantle have recovered after their injury crisis and put together some good wins. They might just sneak in you never know. The game against Subiaco this week will be pivotal.
Subiaco have been unlucky in that they have lost a number of close games. They have also suffered injuries to key players. If they can beat the Sharks this week and Swans the week after they will be well and truly in the mix but I worry about their depth when they lose some of their prime movers.
West Coast have certainly been a lot more competitive under Horsley but I don’t think they can win enough games as their depth will be tested in coming weeks with injuries starting to mount at the AFL level.
Swans and West Perth can still have an influence on the make up of the top 5 by causing an upset or two.
I think you have covered it pretty well. Comes down to availability of any teams best 23. East Perth have been hit by injuries to two of their best, Hamish Brayshaw and Christian Ameduri who both look likely to miss the rest of the home and away season. But they recently got Tedesco back and I think Raykos is due back.
Claremont are struggling with a few a bit banged up so maybe that points to not having as much depth as we are used to. SF as you say seem to have issues around senior players commitment but they’ve got Hamish Free returning and backup ruckman Solomon James.
My team Perth finally strung 2 wins together. We haven’t had the services of Blake Schlensog all season and when he returns remains a mystery. Indi Kirk has been missing since round 4 and most likely the rest of the season though I believe they are hopeful his back might come good sooner.
Apart from those two we are pretty healthy and some young kids are doing well. Can’t afford season ending injuries to anymore of our recruits.
Peel as you say are the juggernaut due to the strength and health of Fremantle. Subiaco I think rounds out the top 5 but probably lacking the depth to go too far but have improved out of sight under Schofield.
Good summary Mike. For mine the Chunder are a real danger as I can’t see that big log Darcy forcing his way back into Freo any time soon and with just about a full list available with the exception of Sam Sturt, think they’ll be hard to beat towards the pointy end given most of the aligned players would have qualified for WAFL finals even if Freo goes out in straight sets.
If Freo goes deep into September, FART will have a full complement of reserves to choose from.
The maximum number of Fremantle players Peel can play is 12 I’m pretty sure. Don’t think that changes regardless whether Freo are playing finals or not.
Then they can have their own stand alone WAFL reserves side just like West Coast and play as many as they like. It’s a luxury they enjoy being aligned with a WAFL club and using their home ground. They don’t have the right to be given anymore favours.
Still plenty of time for a lot of scenario’s to happen, winter upon the comp, injuries still presenting for all clubs…at both WAFL and AFL level….mid July will provide a better perspective of where a lot of teams sit…..still only 3 wins between SF and WP…anyone’s guess for a final 5 prediction I reckon……footy is a funny ole game at times
Time to reflect at this time of the season where every side has played 10 games. Not sure I can remember such an even competition where only two wins separates top spot down to 8th.
I recall last season supporters of clubs struggling near the bottom were predicting the top 5 was already settled probably earlier than this round.
Peelmantle has been the big bolter and spreading fear in the comp obviously due to Fremantle’s healthy list. Maybe East Perth should have agreed to Fremantle playing 20 of their players for Peel, those bottom 5 are probably not as good as Peels top 3 to 8 best players. Food for thought perhaps?
Even Swans are only 2 wins off 5th spot sitting in 9th though ask their supporters and they’ll say they are way off. At the moment the only team you can probably tip with a bit of confidence is Peelmantle but wasn’t long ago everyone was thinking Claremont 1st, daylight 2nd.
Probably the biggest grinners coming out of yesterday are Subi supporters who had just about given up to suddenly feeling optimistic going forward.
And of course WC are no easy beats this year and a top 5 contender.
Plucking The Stevie Miller Band from Claremont’s ruck garden (sun hardened out at Quairading), has re-filled our optimism cup.
yes, depth is concerning, but better its tested in June than September.
Peel look very hard to beat at this point. I take solace from VFL experience that the non-aligned TEAM seems to more often beat the AFL reserves in grand finals?
