That’s another season gone and must say, I’m a bit underwhelmed with how it panned out after a pretty solid 2023. Injuries played their part for sure, but we just don’t have the depth to cover losses to key players like Giro, Hayden, Lockyer, Braut, Clark, Foley and Mayo.
I also thought we were out-coached at times which cost us games in close one’s. Upside is the continued improvement of Schofield, the Hickmotts, Alone, Bellouard, Kelman, Shearer but can’t see too much else coming through.
We need a big recruiting drive in the offseason with a ruckman our number 1 priority closely followed by a couple of key backs and forwards. Hopefully those long term injuries will be back and firing otherwise I think we’ll be in for a long and painful 2025.
Interesting assessment BC, will be fascinating how the comp emerges after this year, finals regulars like Subi , SF and WP and filtering into a bit of abeyance not a bad thing to mix it up a bit, SF obviously had the points drama but this year drifted out of later and failed to match top teams.
Alone can look good at times but his stat’s are not great. Not a lot of possessions. He’s got some terrific strengths but is perhaps one dimensional. Something to work on there. Not linking up much perhaps.
On the money with that assessment BC , I thought Jacob Evitt showed a bit earlier in the season before fading out late. A ruckman MUST be our first priority for the recruiting staff. Everything starts there and we are continually behind the eight ball and chasing from there. Our key position stocks back and forward have been weakened and that should be our second priority. Strength and conditioning is something we can look at with the inability to run out and finish most games a stark contrast to years gone by. Not sure what we have coming up from colts and reserves but some selective recruitment is needed.
Ruckman & Full Back priorities!
Ressies got the jump on the tigers and there were some real good performers who I thought wouldn’t look out of place at league level. However, Beau’s address at quarter time must have been inspiring as they just hung on in the second then went AWOL in the second half ?.
I liked the look of Lachlan O’Keefe. Evitt started on fire but disappointed later. Some great efforts by Ash. Good dash by Morgan.
Enjoyed the post game speeches. We will miss people of the calibre of Kitch.
Gus’s comments make you realise how important a club like Subi can be to so many people.
At least the colts and ressies won their respective qualifying finals. Hamish Duff had 28 hit outs in the ressies. At 197cm and 110kg, he could help to solve our ruck and/or KPP problem if we can’t find decent recruits. He’s only 21 but looks to have some potential.
Ef reserves had some quality league players who normally blitz subi, so I was slightly encouraged by our performance today. Some young kids looked pretty neat. Golding seemed to be the stand out for me, when I got there late in the 3rd. Promising for next year. Bartlet kicked s clutch goal. He’s pretty talented.
Surprised by that margin in all honesty…though not the result, as the last 2 matches between the sides, has been by less than a goal, with Subi on the winning side.
But 80 pts is a huge turnaround by both clubs. Subi looked very disinterested and flat…perhaps made EF look better than what they are. Big test v Cl next week, but like anything in life, you got to be in it to win it.
[quote=“BC post=237971 userid=892”]Yes, agree DG. The ressies beat EF only a couple of weeks ago, so to go down like that was very disappointing.
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Big clean out needed imo BC. We don’t need half arsed weak minded players, no one does. This lack of mental toughness should not be tolerated. The leaders in that department for the best part of 20 years. I just can’t get my head around it
Saw the last quarter. Was a bit surprising. Not sure what the fault lay. Kingsway might have some our players. On the other hand, at least the colts and reserves made the preliminary and the league did that last year. Can’t be all bad.
Ef have Bigger problems. Next week might be the last East fremantle game ever played. I sincerely hope not.
Watched the last half of the Colts which was a really good game to watch despite the result, SD just had a bit more pace and poise in the end. The ressies was a disgrace to the club, too many just going through the motions, the game was done and dusted halfway through the second qtr and too many of the boys looked like they knew that and played accordingly. Apparently Wardman addressed the players the players at 3/4 time and tore them a new one. Golding gave his all, Big Duff in the ruck tried hard but is still very raw, not much else really. EF had Maguire and big Blakiston in the ruck so we were totally out gunned in that department, a familiar result for the club in that area.
The club must recruit well over the off season, it’s all been said before but please get a quality big bodied experienced ruckman who can mentor our young talls, a key backman after the loss of Gus and Heal in the last 2 seasons, a key Forward to help out Borch and mayo given Sok has retired and another experienced mid to cover the loss of Kitch. You only need to look at Swans recruiting to see what a difference top shelf mids can make to a team. Have to live in hope that Hayden and Giro come back fit and firing and stay that way to bolster the other mids in Clark, the Hicks, Schoey (who will be better with a full pre-season which he missed tis season) Alone etc and Golding must come in, his form in the ressies has been terrific.
SS, Blakiston is eligible to play in the finals, but isn’t due to a torn bicep mate…young Wills was supporting RMcGuire in the ruck…
SD mids played every H&A game don’t forget, that continuity can only be dreamed of. Sadly 2 dropped out at the wrong time, highlighting the depth wasnt there to replace them. Subi just need that same sort of luck with Schofield, Giro, Hayden and Clark in 2025.
[quote=“Demons Forever post=238047 userid=981”]Complete review required Subi.
You got beat by Perth in all 3 grades this year.
And that was just round 1.
Good luck with your recruiting.
lol8
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As a Perth supporter I am embarrassed to read this post. Seriously DF. What Subiaco did to us second time around at Leederville led to Peter German going off his nut, the players boycotting the player awards and German resigning. Colts lost too.