I had hoped the EF loss was a bad day, but the harsh reality is that we are not in the same league as C, EF or SF. We were out bodied and out muscled pretty much all over the ground especially JPC. Surely Stone could have put Schlensog or Scoble on Cowrire, or at least played a spare in defence to double team him_ JPC was just outclassed all day by a better player. The WAFL is as uneven as it always is, with the top 3 a class above everyone else. The bottom 3 also seems set, with S, SD and WCER. That leaves Perth batting with EP, PT and WP for 4th or 5th. That being the case, we can’t afford to lose 15% in one game as we did today. If WP win tomorrow, they will be just one game behind us with a significantly better %.
I got to Claremont too early. Watched the Ressies- but couldn’t shake the bad feeling I had about the league game. I left very early.
Because of that I can’t stay anything about the game.
What I do know about footy though is that these sort of games happen. I always talk about the 60+ point thrashing SNESA received in the 97 Second semi against Innaloo only to beat them by 20 in the GF two weeks later @ Fremantle oval if you don’t mind. (E grade ammo’s).
Someone mentioned our backline no good today. Besides the great players he mentioned. Tails and Sing have been fantastic this year and PC has done very well albeit he is not fast. Sound like all three were done on form after some very consistent performances.
Bryne had a fractured cheek coming into the game and may have been off too.
What happened to McLean and Poole today. As in why didn’t they suit up for either League or Ressies?
McLean played ressies. TV commentators said Poole was a late withdrawal with illness.
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I know Poole was a late out due to illness Thorne came in for him. Heard Micale say after the game how Claremont just have bigger bodies. How about this stat. All Claremonts’ list in today’s budget are 1 point players. Perth had 12 players out there totalling 60 points, the rest 1 point players and we still got thrashed by 67 points.
What a luxury Claremont have.
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Hey Guys,always follow this forum -some good stuff,anyway very disappointed with the result, really couldn’t believe when Parff got floored by Eastland and no one flew the flag-That is damning and and indictment on our players and our Team mentality.I’m Jack Pooles old man so very invested - i hope the boys look at what they stand for - they are better then that..
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Gowdie is built and moves like Charlie Curnow. How does he not kick 7 every week. I couldn’t believe his size today. Absolutely destroyed us
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I was optimistic going into this game and thought with our best team on the park we could beat anyone above us. That’s clearly not the case and Claremont have stamped themselves as being right up there with the top 3 sides.
We need to keep the wolf from the door being Peel and WP. Vital we chalk up wins against the Eagles at home next week and Swans away but neither of them will be easy.
Then after the bye it’s SF(A), EF(H) and EP(A).
Hi Mike your lad is a great young kid I often have a chat with. We missed him today down back.
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Based on what I saw at Bassendean today your guys should comfortably account for both the Eagles and Swans. Claremont are arguably the best team in the competition at the moment
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The most disappointing thing for me today was that the first half was a cracking half of footy. Both teams gave their all and there were some stunning passages of play. The stage was set at half time for a thrilling second half. Claremont were brilliant after half time and we simply couldn’t keep up. Still vast improvements and a lot to be optimistic about but a lot of hard work still to be done.
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Agree with you Mikeh. Claremont are an example to the rest of the competition.
Physically strong, very skillful and have that magic touch…footy smarts. And they enjoy their footy when they play us.
In comparison we do not belong in this league. We complain each season about zones and anything else we can think of but nothing has changed in almost 50 years. Back in the sixties we had the best junior setup of any club and produced so many players that won 5 flags over 12 years. We were trend setters. Why are we where today?
I have done an analysis of our current senior group of 55 players.
Our 8 key recruits are 15% of the total. They are very good recruits but as we saw today take out a couple like Parfitt and Constable we fall apart and no-one stands up.
The next group are players from other zones or clubs, 22 of them, 40% some good but too many cast offs who cannot get a game with other clubs.
That leaves the home grown from our metro and country zones…45% just 25 players.
We have complained for far too long. It is time to face facts that we just not do enough with identifying and developing talent that we have and until we address this with vigour nothing is going to change.
We have seen some green shoots this season but that is not even near enough.
We are nowhere near competing with the likes of Claremont and the Sharks & Bullies.
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Interesting stat about Claremont´s 1 point players. It’s almost enough to make you think they have strong zones. Lucky we have a collection of rocket scientists on here to assure that it is all, in fact, down to hard work. That’s right, Perth just haven’t worked hard for almost 50 years. SD are strange - they work hard occasionally, like in 2010 or last year, then slack off again. There has been a growing realisation, even among Subi fans who until recently were part of the good management, hard work, school of thought, recognise that, for all but the privileged few, the WAFL is a season by season recruiting game.
TFAF, this was not just one of the games. We have twice been found badly wanting against the best. 4th or 5th is our ceiling. We should be happy enough with that, coming off 4 consecutive 9th placings.
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An interesting side note to today’s game. There were several Geelong players at Claremont Oval today including Mitch Duncan and Tom Stewart and ex Cat Harry Taylor. I assume they were there to catch up and watch a few former team mates playing for the Dees.
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Bit of perspective.
While yesterday was disappointing we are coming off a 4 win season. I think if told at the start of the season that we would be 5 and 3 we would have thought that was a fantastic start.
I think Stone will just be viewing yesterday as part of our progression but having said that we need to resign Shlensog, Clarke, and Constable to make sure we don’t slip back next year.
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One positive is Simpson played his 5th game of the season yesterday already passing his tally of 4 games last season. Came off with a sore neck/back got some treatment and played out the game strongly. Seems to be building some continuity in his body.
Clarke is coming too far up the ground he should be our stay at home full forward. I’d consider bringing Quartermaine in and play him higher up the ground. We need some muscle in the lineup. Adds flexibility.
Full credit to Claremont. Clean skills all day. Upped the workrate after half time, we didn’t go with them. Bolton amazing around stop plays in that third quarter.
Yep, bigger bodies, more experience playing together, broken tackles etc. We need another key forward.
Godees, I agree with what you say. I would be very happy with just making finals. The disappointment of yesterday and the loss to EF is that we are still so far off the pace. It is hard to see how we could have recruited much better. We have used up our points and I would imagine all our salary cap but have no realistic hope of winning a flag. I can’t see how we can add to the list. If the ES guys go home after a couple of years, we have to do it all over again, and it’s not sustainable. Some years you are going to be left with a Brayden Ainsworth as your marquee player. It is going to be very difficult to continuously have 4 or 5 A grade ES players, but few have to go after these guys because we don’t have the quality coming through locally.
Next week, I think we drop TBH and bring in Poole. We don’t need to tag against WCER, but I think we should consider Gray in the second half of the year, both as a tagger and to protect a guy like Parfitt. Parf is being targeted and needs someone to clear a path. Or get Randall to play that role.
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Yes surprised Gowdie hasnt been drafted was he in state squads?
Good call Clarke needs to stay deep in the forward line they were very competitive first half just fell away second half all is not lost.
Perth need to keep the Geelong or Geelong Falcons players coming to play if one goes replaced with another would have 4 or 5 of them every year in the squad.
Make it ongoing the salary cap needs to be kept as is bring the other clubs up in level not decrease Perth’s salary cap.