Looking back on the 2013 season we did improve, winning ten games. This is the first time this has been done since 2004. However there are still some big holes in our squad that need to be filled before the start of the 2014 campaign.
Roughly this is how we lined up for majority of the season.
B: Sincalir, Risol, Tedesco
HB: Jacobs, Kane, Sketcher.
C: Florio, Hodge, Morton
HF: Reimers, Tunbridge, Leeson
F: Bevan, McInnes, Stack
R: Eyres, Moody, Bateman
INT: O’Sullivan, Ransted, White, Leyendekkers, Hunt, Boyle
Player losses for 2014
If they were to stay as they are then:
Simon Tunbridge (West Coast)
Fraser McInnes (West Coast)
Brant Colledge (West Coast)
Ash Smith (West Coast)
Sam Butler (West Coast)
What we need for 2014
In my opinion we need the following.
1. A tall key position forward capable of kicking 50 plus goals for the season and being able to provide a target other than Stack and Bevan.
2. A tall key position defender. Currently we have Risol and Kane performing in these roles. Risol has been a superb pick up however I think Kane is more suited to playing on a third tall. Every time we play teams with two or more dominant key tall’s like East Perth (Johnson, Smith, Lycett), Swan Districts (Geappen and Lammie and Hansen when they had them) and Claremont (Seaby, Andrews, Jones), one or two of those players always seem to dominant us and we appear to not have an answer. Another tall key back with WAFL experience would be nice and then this would allow Kane to play on either a third tall or in front of the opposition’s key forward.
3. A ruckman. I have been impressed with Eyres this season. After a solid start he really had a purple patch of about five games in the middle of the season were he showed that he can step up when needed. However he can’t do it all by himself. Leyendekkers is a promising young key position player. He stood up against East Fremantle when Eyres was out and had 31 hitouts. He is still young though and will continue to develop over the next 2-3 preseason’s while getting another 30-50 games under his belt. His athleticism for a big man surprised me this year. Sandilands if you speak to some of the players is regarded as a very good tap ruckman. Like Leyendekkers probably needs another 2-3 preseason’s in the gym and on track honing is skills and abilities. Is still young and I am looking forward to seeing how he progresses next season. Back to the topic and I think that we need another big bodied ruckman that can take the pressure of Eyres and give him a spell every now and then. Andrew Ruck would be lovely or even a Mark Seaby but players like that cost points and money. Can we get a decent back up ruckman that is playing at another WAFL club and maybe looking for more opportunities? Is there one out there?
4. Midfielders with either pace, clean skills or both. Our midfield lacks the polish of the teams above us, simple as that. We need to find some players who make better decisions and can use the ball better. The amount of times we butchered the ball this season. ARGHHHHHHHHHHH! Our midfield seems to be a little on the slow side as well. We didn’t seem to have anyone that can break the lines and get the ball in our forward 50 as quick as possible. I would like to see players like Boyle and Leeson play through there more often next season as I think they have a little bit of pace about them and could help us in that area.
Players Already at the Club
Besides the area’s in need of strengthening we have some players who have played some league football this year and look to be able to fill a role in the team when need be or look to be good young players trying to work their way into the senior side. Rather than try and make two categories I’ll just group them all together.
They are, Tyler Chrimes, Callum Collard, Joel Houghton, Kieran Hug, Jarrad Irons, David Johnston, Cameron Manuel and Joel Kalajzic.
Some players at colts level to keep an eye on are Scott Doncon, Brent Edmonds, Sam Garstone, Jordan Leeson, Karl Merson, Alex Moreno and Clem Smith.
It would be interesting to see what others think about whom the club should target and which positions need strengthening? Should we draft from interstate or are we able to get some players from other clubs?
Should make for an interesting discussion.