So down to Moss St we travel to do battle with a team that had a lot of folk predicting much for the season but then folk made the same predictions for EP and look where we are in the scheme of things. Many have said that there is a lot to look forward to with players coming back, depth in the reserves to bring in and that we just not as bad as we were last week.
Yes we can look forward to Robertson coming back but seriously for how many weeks, he has to concentrate on being the footballer we know he can be and stay away from being attacked and retaliating, the back 6 have down their work in the 2 games so I cannot see much changing there, Jonesy needs do more, AJ just needs to play for more minutes. If need be bring Hayden in as cover for any injuries.
Matthew Young was VG and set an example abt trying and staying involved. Perhaps Furlong could come in a forward pocket and crumb to Kuek as long as both stay in the 50 metre arc close to the goals (that might give us something to kick to), Thursday will see what is happening.
The reserves are going for 14 straight and I think we may be a little strong.
The game of the day will be the colts game with a lot of talented boys running around, I am really looking forward to this game.
Tough ask for EF colts to get within 5 goals of EP youngsters I reckon Grump…can see EP going match day 2/0 in the reserves…reckon the league game will be match of the day at Moss St…Strnadica has started the season hot, but true test v Jones and AJ on Sat…Robertson killed EF from memory last year, so he will be a big in for EP…EP can’t afford to go 0/3 on Sat…so should be a good contest me thinks. EF futures to do the job over EP…2/2 on the day I reckon.
I’ve just noticed that East Perth’s best player, Jackson Ramsay, is missing for the Young Easts-Old Easts clash.
Ramsay’s absence (presumably thru’ injury -Grump will likely know) makes an already difficult task even more challenging.
I’m sure the boys will want to put last Saturday’s shocker behind them.
On the one hand, the Sharks comfortably beat Peel who massacred the Royals, suggesting a one-sided contest looms on Saturday.
Yet both EF and EP produced almost carbon-copy performances against Subi, with both starting well before falling away in the last quarter.
This unpredictability and uncertainty keeps us interested in our great game.
Freez, you could well be right about 2/2 on the day.
Archie, I have no idea why Ramsay and Robertson are not in the team, the reserves selections did not answer many questions other than it seems Luke Furlong might make his debut, great for him and pretty good for us, he has an enormous enthusiasm for the game.
And now I know, Ramsay injured ankle and Robertson concussed at wednesday night training
i would think even with a better attitude this week that we are up against it without ramsay and robertson.interesting to see what the final team looks like.jack cooley will be a given to replace ramsay .i suspect it will be either furlong or mckenzie for one spot.as for a tall forward i think either simpson or merritt need to come in and keuk out..i would like to get some league footy into keuk but at the moment he needs to be our third tall.which means we will need drop a small forward from our team.with watts being injured i wouldn’t mind both fullgrabe and hayden coming in but we would have to drop someone.i can’t see north playing full back at 188cm he is too short.
The ins for us are very good choices Fullgrabbe from swans, a backman who shows poise and a level head, he will compliment an already good back 6. Nicholas Merritt originally from Peel, played state 18’s disillusioned with Peel, played in Mandurah, went to Kal and came back to EP. His form in the ressies meant he was logical choice to replace Kuek who has not done much so far but will be good for EP in the long term
[quote=“Freezin post=203282”]Tough ask for EF colts to get within 5 goals of EP youngsters I reckon Grump…can see EP going match day 2/0 in the reserves…reckon the league game will be match of the day at Moss St…Strnadica has started the season hot, but true test v Jones and AJ on Sat…Robertson killed EF from memory last year, so he will be a big in for EP…EP can’t afford to go 0/3 on Sat…so should be a good contest me thinks. EF futures to do the job over EP…2/2 on the day I reckon.
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EF Futures did the job on the combines SW boys. well done
The colts game was one of the best games i have watched in many years. Very good skills, great endeavour from both sides and the result still open til’ the end of the game. 2 forwards that should further, Williams was the difference at the end but Jye Amiss showed why he will definitely be a league player either here or elsewhere. I always go away from exhibitions like this feeling good abt WAFL football and the future if we can keep players in the game.
The reserves did not fare well with the changes made (although the players going up deserved their opportunity) with players coming in just not doing the job required. EF were frankly more hungry, desperate and adept in their skills. Not sure who picked the best players on the WAFL site but apart from Boules I must have been watching a different game. Kuek was not even close and Furlong ran hard tried hard but surely Young, Cooley and Sparks contributed more to the effort.
And now we have the league. EF were just better and for the best part of the game showed our deficiencies up and capitalised on them with great skill. Some will say the last quarter was ok even good but it ain’t mush point if the game is lost. Hugh Dixon is a player in front of goals and around the ground, big, strong and skilled.
The injury to Jordan Hayden is a worry and we will have to wait and see the extent of it.
Hugh Dixon was excellent and looks like a great pick up- he took 10 marks, many of those big clunks in packs.
I thought EP wasted many chances in the 1st Q into the breeze that they’d be kicking themselves. Kick straighter there and who knows. At least the white flag didn’t go up Grump and something to take into next week
Grump, I know you were focusing more on the EP colts efforts, but what did you make of EF ruck Kobe McMillan…he is late birthday so turned 17 post season last year…Seems to get a fair few taps and possessions as well…his numbers so far have been impressive…but yeah EF colts success depends on what Williams does up front…glad to hear the game was a goodun
[quote=“Freezin post=203832”]Grump, I know you were focusing more on the EP colts efforts, but what did you make of EF ruck Kobe McMillan…he is late birthday so turned 17 post season last year…Seems to get a fair few taps and possessions as well…his numbers so far have been impressive…but yeah EF colts success depends on what Williams does up front…glad to hear the game was a goodun
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Looked at both sides but the FF are always a position I watch with interest, EF lad won the ruck duel with Della Franca due to the take aways, it was his centre taps that allowed the EF boys to take it away, good duel and added to the games high quality,
We were always going to struggle going into a match without our 2 best on ballers and best key defender in Watts,against a team who although finished last season in a lowly position,were quite competitive in a lot of games,and have since gone on a bit of a recruiting spree.We may be comforted by the fact that we won a reserves flag,but the reality is some players are great at reserves level,but can’t translate that performance at league level and we cannot afford to have quality players out given the dearth of our recruiting,but i’m very confident of over turning yesterdays result in our return clash with the inclusion of Robertson,Ramsay, Watts and last years recruit Schumacher who always appears to be injured.
100% agree with you that good players at reserves level often struggle to make the transition to senior footy, royallucky.
One day I might research just how many (or how few) clubs have won a reserves premiership one year and followed up with a senior flag the following year.
Re Corey Watts, he’s a very handy defender but I believe Nathan Blee is comfortably our best key-position backman.
And therein lies the problem - Blee, like most of our defence, is undersized.
The likes of Tim Bockman (though not that tall), Hugh Dixon and Jono Marsh were far too good in the air for our defenders on Saturday.
I’ll feel a lot more optimistic about our prospects once Jackson Ramsay, Nick Robertson and Angus Schumacher are back on the paddock again, while Watts is certainly in our best 22 because of his size.
And hopefully Tom Edwards-Baldwin is back on deck soon after one of his old Subiaco teammates did a number on him in Round 1.
I’m not sure if TEB’s major problem is concussion or a buggered shoulder as a result of THAT tackle.
Well played by the Sharks on Saturday, but I’m confident we’ll put up a far better fight against them at Leederville on July 3.