TOPIC:

East Fremantle's win at Joondalup on Saturday has opened up a 2 game gap between the top 4 and the rest. Assuming that ( barring a disaster) East Perth, Swans and Subiaco have all pretty much booked their ticket to September action and Perth, South, Claremont and Peel are too far behind, it is down to the Falcons and the Sharks for the final spot.
Even though West Perth are behind at the moment it is not an insurmountable gap. The two teams play once more in the season ( round 20 at Joondalup) and it is reasonable to assume that West Perth would probably have to win this game to have a chance of making the finals. Comparing the draw of both teams it is remarkably similar. Apart from the match against each other both teams play 4 games against the 3 top sides and 4 games against each of the bottom four teams. The only difference is that East Fremantle play Subiaco twice and West Perth have two games against Swans. so any win either team can get against the top 3 will be invaluable. In East Fremantle's case they would still be eyeing a top 2 spot as they are only 2 games behind Swans. Conversely any slip up against one of the bottom four teams would change the landscape completely for either team, especially West Perth.

The only team that has a finals berth booked is EP mikeh.....TBH SD and Subi don't want to get to complacent because EF will be wanting to sneak away from WP and seek sanctuary in a top two spot, whilst WP will be chasing hard for EF tail and a quick sand sinking SD or Subi if that was to happen....

losing Geappen and Jukes could be a worry for SD.....they have done marvelously well to cover their losses from last year....but Jukes and Geappen have kicked over 40 plus goals between them which will be hard to replace.....puts extra pressure on Cary to stand up.....though Davis does knows how to kick a goal or three. Subi are getting a few back from injury, but if they lose to EF next week, that means they are only 1 game ahead of them.....could Foxtel commitments be WP achilles heel, like it was for EF last year in the end.....

one can hope WCE have a shed load of injuries to slow EP down, they were hammered by WP when the WCE shelves needed restocking.....all to play for....and still a lot to play for with over half a season left.....no game will be a gimmee......should be an interesting run into the finals, hopefully the finals won;t be an anti climax with EP strolling to the flag....

Freezin wrote: The only team that has a finals berth booked is EP mikeh.....TBH SD and Subi don't want to get to complacent because EF will be wanting to sneak away from WP and seek sanctuary in a top two spot, whilst WP will be chasing hard for EF tail and a quick sand sinking SD or Subi if that was to happen....

losing Geappen and Jukes could be a worry for SD.....they have done marvelously well to cover their losses from last year....but Jukes and Geappen have kicked over 40 plus goals between them which will be hard to replace.....puts extra pressure on Cary to stand up.....though Davis does knows how to kick a goal or three. Subi are getting a few back from injury, but if they lose to EF next week, that means they are only 1 game ahead of them.....could Foxtel commitments be WP achilles heel, like it was for EF last year in the end.....

one can hope WCE have a shed load of injuries to slow EP down, they were hammered by WP when the WCE shelves needed restocking.....all to play for....and still a lot to play for with over half a season left.....no game will be a gimmee......should be an interesting run into the finals, hopefully the finals won;t be an anti climax with EP strolling to the flag....

Relax boys, the 4 is set already. We have been pretenders all season and we have a group of blokes (very similar line up to the GF winning team) that are still just happy with our Flag, Premiership hangover if I have ever seen one.

No disrespect Freeze but EF won't make a dent in the Finals, you guys are slow and panic too much, WP are a tad behind your boys. But, if you make it, you just never know !

LEEDY - a little sad that as a supporter you have given up already on the 'season'??

'Yes' I agree we have not been up to expected standard by any means and that 'yes' there are players on the park at this time that don't give their all on the day and in many ways haven't all season (up to now)
I stand by my observation that several of the group are selfish players that from this point may not even show any more growth in their own football abilities and careers and have possibly settled into a 'this is good enough' syndrome, a couple I think are already thinking of the homing pigeon syndrome and are heading east after contract finish, but my underlying question is still that we lack a leader in the same ilk as Jason and his on field 'follow me' ability. WP are not 'deed by word' - we are 'deed by action' ... We need more statements on the field .

I do not see that in the reserves as a team and maybe the boot should be centred more harshly in the league and some given the slippery ride down - such as 'Chooky' - great in front of goals, lovely guy but sadly not a head over the ball player and wants the ball given to him a little too much. My head tells me he'll move on next year.

I have a personal belief in the remaining players though and their desire for Team pride to take us forward - stumbling or not - and with the hope that Bill will be able to alter the team structure positively over the next two games to set them straight.
Not alter it too much during a single game (a personal dislike of mine if not effective)But I cant have everything

It'll be interesting to see what happens to all the WCE aligned players if EP makes the finals and WCE doesn't. How many will be released to play in the WAFL I wonder?

It was a huge win for East Fremantle on Saturday playing away. The win will give them a good confidence boost. From how it stands at the present time, Subiaco and Swan Districts are the only 2 definite teams to remain in the top four. West Perth have the ability to bounce back because the season is only just over half way. It's going to be an interesting second half of qualifying rounds I think.

BC wrote: It'll be interesting to see what happens to all the WCE aligned players if EP makes the finals and WCE doesn't. How many will be released to play in the WAFL I wonder?

BC my understanding is that the minimum qualifying number of 5 games still applies if the parent AFL team does not make the finals. On this basis there are 15 Eagles players ( not including rookies) who have already qualified for the WAFL finals. AS well as this two players ( Mark Hutchings and Will Schofield) require 2 more WAFL games to qualify. This is extremely depressing for the other 4 teams in the running for the finals but it is not really a surprise is it?

mikeh wrote:

BC wrote: It'll be interesting to see what happens to all the WCE aligned players if EP makes the finals and WCE doesn't. How many will be released to play in the WAFL I wonder?

BC my understanding is that the minimum qualifying number of 5 games still applies if the parent AFL team does not make the finals. On this basis there are 15 Eagles players ( not including rookies) who have already qualified for the WAFL finals. AS well as this two players ( Mark Hutchings and Will Schofield) require 2 more WAFL games to qualify. This is extremely depressing for the other 4 teams in the running for the finals but it is not really a surprise is it?

Sorry BC I reread your post and I may have misunderstood your point. The Eagles may not allow all those 15 to play especially if they need surgery or are rested. That could be a possibility but I think East Perth will still be too strong unfortunately

Leedy wrote:

Freezin wrote: The only team that has a finals berth booked is EP mikeh.....TBH SD and Subi don't want to get to complacent because EF will be wanting to sneak away from WP and seek sanctuary in a top two spot, whilst WP will be chasing hard for EF tail and a quick sand sinking SD or Subi if that was to happen....

losing Geappen and Jukes could be a worry for SD.....they have done marvelously well to cover their losses from last year....but Jukes and Geappen have kicked over 40 plus goals between them which will be hard to replace.....puts extra pressure on Cary to stand up.....though Davis does knows how to kick a goal or three. Subi are getting a few back from injury, but if they lose to EF next week, that means they are only 1 game ahead of them.....could Foxtel commitments be WP achilles heel, like it was for EF last year in the end.....

one can hope WCE have a shed load of injuries to slow EP down, they were hammered by WP when the WCE shelves needed restocking.....all to play for....and still a lot to play for with over half a season left.....no game will be a gimmee......should be an interesting run into the finals, hopefully the finals won;t be an anti climax with EP strolling to the flag....

Relax boys, the 4 is set already. We have been pretenders all season and we have a group of blokes (very similar line up to the GF winning team) that are still just happy with our Flag, Premiership hangover if I have ever seen one.

No disrespect Freeze but EF won't make a dent in the Finals, you guys are slow and panic too much, WP are a tad behind your boys. But, if you make it, you just never know !

I am also saddened by WP's form this year, that first game against us was, I thought, an indication that you were still on the money and more than capable of being very competitive against the ERT.

It seems that WP have a habit tho' of premiers one year to not quite the next and I though Billy had fixed it.

Next year with a little judicious recruiting could see you back up the tree (just not with any EP ressies players I hope).

Four of the fifteen have played reserves nearly all year I can't see them figuring. Also can't see Hutchings and Schofield coming back with a few injuries occurring. That has the number at 11 which probably would reduce somewhat probably 9 or ten. But if that includes Lycett and Sinclair EP would be hard to beat. I have noticed a severe lack of killer instinct at EP this year I could see them rolled come finals time, but would that be a good thing for the competition. Perhaps the quickest end to this alignment model is a massive EP grand final win.