TOPIC:

Just did some reading of the Budget from Saturday.
In the preview of the season it mentioned that PFC had been allocated 130 points over a list of 55 as part of a equalisation effort.
I have criticized the WAFL for lack of action in this area for some time.
Having said that it prompted me to evaluate our position.

There are 35 players listed in the budget under the league list
Total points is 55 points.
Not one repeat not one 10 point player.
I assume the other 20 players are the Colts (?) and I would imagine they are 1 point each.
That's a total of 75 points.

Have we missed the boat?
Does that mean we have 65 unused points?
After bleating for some sort of equalisation?

Subi for instance have 4 10 point players.
They have 80 points listed on their League list.

Don't get me wrong I am happy with the game on Saturday.
I just think we have missed the boat leaving 65 points unused in the middle of an equalization effort from the WAFL.

Can't imagine them just giving us extra points.
We must have asked for them?

Maybe I have missed something.

Our failure to recruit any marquee players over last two years has been well documented DF.

Yes we haven’t been able to recruit any marquee players but it’s allowed us to play our own boys from within our zone. This has seen those boys get games under their belt and will allow for more specialist recruiting in the future rather than just getting ‘name’ players for the sake of it.

There are genuine reasons that we have had no marquee players.
Both the points cap and resources as well as the lack of the types of recruits that we need.
This last off season no WAFL club has recruited what you might class as a marquee player. Even poor Subiaco were unable to find a marquee ruckman so what were our chances.
In the past we have carried 10 point players who have not been up to WAFL standard let alone being marquee. Papertalk comes readily to mind. In too many instances we have carried these players and left no room for anyone worth the points.
But, the lack of resources has also stifled us at every turn and we have been outbid by other clubs, mainly Subiaco when opportunities arose..
As alluded to by Mr AFL, we have been able to give our own young talent game time to develop and now we have a very solid base to work with as was evidenced on Saturday..
With the redevelopment of our ground we are now at a stage where our financial position is being consolidated and will see consistent growth from here on.
Then with renewed resources and a freed up points cap we will expect be more active, judicious and competitive in the marquee market going forward.
IMHO

I tallied our points from the Bouncedown magazine and it seems we have used only 89 this season, out of a possible 130. Subi, by contrast, have used 116 out of 120. Funny how the WAFL gave us an extra points cap concession, then conducted a review into our performance which recommended a focus on home grown talent rather than recruiting... Hopefully this year will involved a finals placing that will allow top players to view us as a destination club. We will need to replace Jones next year at the very least. As much as I like the way our list is developing, there is no avoiding the fact that to challenge for the flag we need at least 2 or 3 elite players, and we will have room in the points cap to get them.

I agree Ted. However, I believe that as part of the WAFL equalisation plan PFC have now been allotted extra points which means we can easily pursue three marquee players. Only the salary cap to worry about.
And, yes, I think that we can place ourselves as a destination club. No matter how well we develop our own talent, and we must continue to do that, there will always be a need for a marquee player to fill a specific void in the list.