TOPIC:

Without a doubt our biggest test so far this season though we have shown we can beat sides such as SF and Claremont who are highly fancied. A win really puts us in the box seat for a first finals series since 1997 and a fair dinkum crack at a top two finish. A loss puts us in danger of slipping to 4th the following week when Claremont face Swans and they have a superior percentage than us.

I just hope we are competitive. The wetter the better for us I think, although if we play like we did against EF it will be a thrashing regardless of the weather. Hopefully Colledge and Bennell are back, probably for Hansen and Horan. A big test for players like M.Jones and Langdon in our forward line to apply pressure to the subi backs.

Interesting Michael Bennell playing ressies.

Looking at the sides I am confident that if we come to play it will be a good game.
Quietly confident.
Drought breaker far too long overdue.

Final selection would have to depend on weather. Leederville is not a ground which copes well with the wet and the forecast on Saturday is for the rain to set in during the afternoon. That points away from tall players. I have been critical of Dennis this year but he may be a good size for the wet. For the same reason I would lean towards Hendo instead of Nicholas. He could also put a tag on Horsely. Wet weather footy should be simple: go in hard and just hack the ball forward at every opportunity. We should have enough big-bodied players to take it up to Subi.

Dennis, Henderson and Colledge have all come into an extended squad of 25.

There is no longer any need to be intimidated by "bigger bodies".
We have some of our own.
Just need to come to play.
A big day on Saturday.
A chance for us to be taken seriously.

With the weather the way it is, I agree Dennis should probably come back in. His skills have let him down recently but his desire and effort hasn't. After being dropped back this game might be a perfect opportunity for him to prove himself. I would like to see Marshall Jones dropped for Colledge and that would be the only changes I would make for this game.
Ayres is looking tired and the bye can't come quick enough for him.

Bryan playing reserves.

PD, I think Hansen should make way for Colledge. That is not a knock on Hansen, who has been ok, but he is a skinny teenager who might find it pretty tough against Subi in the wet.

I don't know how Bennell can go from playing state football to reserves in 3 weeks.
Maybe some other issue there.