TOPIC:

www.waflfootyfacts.net/season/players/all.php?Season=1968

Was this the best side to take the field for the club, at least since 1945? Interesting, for moi, that the club had Eakins, Balme, Young, plus other older stars, and could not get passed fourth. This was certainly, on paper, a better side than Smith had in '73 when he won it.

Reasons

Credit to the PFC and the other clubs
Under performance

If one put the PFC's side up, I think most people on here would pick the Subi side to win, never mind sides from other clubs. It demonstrates, once again what a great job the PFC did in the sixties and seventies.

The other thing I would say about our side is that the stats make very interesting reading. Bunton, and the late Blakemore had,virtually the same or more possessions than Cable and Walker, we had the state full back and the state full forward, and yet, we barely made fourth.

stats are from Ric's great site as always

we played the sides above us ten times and lost every single game

I was only a young lad AR and 1968 was my first year barracking for Swans ( check their record that year!)
I remember the first time I saw Subiaco I had the impression that they were the classic team of champions rather than a champion team. Also because they hadnt won a flag for so long at that stage I think they had a inferiority complex against the better teams and that "underdog" status persisted until Ross Smith came along

mikeh -- thanks for your thoughts, for me the historical record shows how right are your remarks. Bunton seems to have gotten away with it a bit too, because the club finished last the previous year; also, they were possibly too Robertson conscious in their play; the PFC got a lot of goals from its rovers, such as Cable and Benett, whom kicked three times as may goals as Bunts and Cammie Bl.

just one win mikeh, for your beloved black and whites that year?

you actually won less games then Subi in the sixties, but the three flags to compensate when you did have a good side.

I rate the '73 team as a better more even team with real strength across all lines plus some real stars in Fitzpatrick, Smith, Watt, Robertson, Blair, Metro and Randall. Goals were more evenly spread, less reliance on the Great Austin Robertson with Keith Watt a regular multiple goal kicker, 4 in the GF, Metro & Randy along with Bayens and Mick Malone. Burton was a more than handy back up for Fitzy and Sierakowski added some muscle and mongrel at CHF, The backline lead by Blair and anchored by Williams was as solid as a rock, super close checking and miserly with guys like Crouch, Davenport & Paterson. The real key was the Ross Smith game plan that converted a good team put together by Bunts into a single unit, all playing off the same song sheet, which was smothering very physical defence then quick breakaways using guys like Feathers, Watt, Dick manning and the like to deliver to the forwards. The team never lost focus under Smith, even though WP had our measure all season including the 2nd semi, they always believed they had the players and the plan to win.

SS -- thanks yep the players you mentioned in the premiership side were bloody good. It is interesting that there were no tassie or sandovour medal winners comparred to the other side. I think Featherby did win the Simpson in the 73 state game?

Given some of the stats of Bunton and Cammie B, it demonstrates what nonsense it really was that no Subi player won the Sandovour from 41 until god knows when.