I have openly said here that we do have weaknesses in our squad that haven't been filled or have tried to been filled (JAMES SELLAR) and haven't.
That being said last year everyone wrote us off at the beginning of the season. The facts are we had our best season in ages, winning 10 games and spending 75% of the season inside the top four after clearing out roughly 30 players from the 2012 side. Yes we capitulated in the second half of the season and didn't make the finals and I like everyone else was left feeling angry and disappointed that yet another opportunity had passed us by.
You blokes make me laugh by saying that Ali Smith left because of a certain coach. If by what I heard over last season is correct that ‘coach’ is no longer there. Also Swan Districts were trying to offload Wes Lammie before the June 30th cut off. From what I have been told they approached Perth and wanted to trade Wes for either Ali or Brennan Stack. This of course did not eventuate.
There were question marks if you remember about Ali playing in 2013. He decided to stay and didn’t have the same impact he did in 2012. Ali I am pretty sure is currently working on the farm or doing something with farming. This is obviously something he is keen about pursuing post football and as a WAFL player it requires a lot of your time for very little reward financially. He has gone back to his original club Federals and while I would have loved for him to stick around this year it is simply not the case. Still young enough though to come back in 2015 if he wants to have another crack.
Let’s look at the losses and gains for Perth in 2014 going off the rumours and innuendo that people have posted on OzFooty over the off season.
LOSSES
Jackson Sketcher – Had a very good debut season with the club but decided to go back home to Victoria. I think his partner couldn’t find work over here.
Ali Smith – As spoken about above didn’t have the same impact last season as he did in 2012. A big loss as on his day his one of our best midfielders.
Kyle Reimers – Kyle was extremely frustrating last year. Everyone knew he was talented but we just didn’t see it often enough. Had his most consistent performance against South Fremantle in the last game of the season. I was surprised to see that he kicked 26 goals for the season.
Fraser McInnes – Talented, yes but didn’t show the improvement I thought he would have last year. In my opinion needs a breakout year this year otherwise he may find himself in trouble come the end of the season after three years on an AFL list.
Brandt Colledge – Doesn’t turn 20 till October so is still very young and raw.
Simon Tunbridge – Out of the Eagles players listed Tunbridge is the most promising. He can play at either end of the ground or through the middle. I prefer him playing up forward and really like how he runs in straight lines and isn’t afraid of the contest, although that has gotten him into trouble in the past.
Matt Tedesco – Matt has twice finished top three in our B&F and if the rumours are true has taken time off from the game and will not be playing at the club in 2014.
Julian Jacobs – The rumours are that Julian’s work will prevent him from playing this season. Finished third in the 2011 B&F and offers great support through the middle of the ground or when he goes down back. Has played 56 league games now and being in his mid 20’s should be coming into the prime of his career.
GAINS
Mitch Morton – Mitch is a great pick up. Great by foot and by hands and is capable of kicking goals and plenty of them. That said Mitch reckons he has been played out of position his whole career and wants to play in the midfield or of half back. If he is able to use his great skills by hitting up targets in our forward line and by giving us scoring opportunities then I am happy with that as well.
Cale Morton – I don’t know what to make of Cale. Had a pretty good first 2-3 years in the AFL system and then seemed to drop off the radar. Played mostly in the backline in 2013 and averaged 19 disposals and 5 marks a game. Not bad stats but from games I watched on TV and when Perth played East Perth a lot of them seemed to be easy possessions. Is a tall running player and is pretty good by foot. If we are able to get him into space on the wide expanses of Lathlain Park then he might go all right. I’ll make more of a judgement on him by having a look at his performances in the preseason games and the opening rounds of the home and away season.
Chris Billings – You know what you get with Chris and that’s a solid defender, if he can stay out of the umpires bad books haha. Having Jarod Risol down there to take the number one key defender should take the pressure off Chris and if either and at this stage is still a big IF, David Johnston or Joel Houghton are able to do a job and share the responsibilities then we could be ok for key talls down back. Still a big IF and will have to see how they go in the preseason and the early rounds of the home and away to get an idea of the preferred set up down back.
Sean Lynch – State 16’s in 2010, State 18’s in 2011 and 2012 shows that the kid obviously has some talent. How many kids though are talented juniors and don’t progress into league ranks. I know nothing about Sean but am keen to see how he goes in the early parts of the season.
Blake Borrett – State 18’s in 2011 and played 21 games in the reserves last year at East Perth, averaging around 15 hitouts a game. Kicked 12 goals last year as well. Is listed at 192 cm and 93 kg’s. Hasn’t played any league football yet but people over at East Perth reckon he has potential. Again will have to wait and see how he goes in the preseason to see whether he plays more as a back up ruckman or as a tall down forward.
Rohan Brookes – Heard yesterday from a bloke with East Perth connections that he has now signed with Perth. The East Perth bloke said that he is a medium half forward who takes a good mark and kicks well. Was a member of the 2010 State 18’s and almost got drafted. Has played 18 league games for East Perth and kicked 30 goals in the reserves last year averaging 6.2 marks a game. Can he make the step up? Who knows but according to this East Perth bloke he has potentially just needs to have more exposure at league level.
Gerald Ugle - Spent two years at GWS. Don't know much about him but he has returned to his original club. Was a member of the State 16's in 2009 and State 18's in 2010.
Tim Hunt – Has he signed pr hasn’t he? Was a member of Collingwood’s VFL side for a couple of seasons. Two-time Warrnambool premiership player and a Maskell Medalist. He is described as a ball magnet. Looked through a couple of reports from the Magpies VFL side in 2009 and in one game he had 22 disposals and kicked three goals.
Players to step up/continue in their development
Matthew Boyle, Callum Collard, Matthew Hunt, Kieran Hug, Michael Sinclair, Mitch Leyendekkers, Joel Leeson, Joel Kalajzic, David Johnston, Jarrad Irons, Cameron Manuel, Michael Mather.
All players have been exposed to league football either last year or over the last couple of years. Some of these players are coming up to around 50 games played in the reserves and roughly 10 or more games of league football. Now is the time for some of these players to step up and play 12 or more games of league football.
I’m by no means saying that we are going to make the top four but we did win 10 games last year and like every club at this time of the year you hope that your recruits can perform for your side and with the youngsters already at the club, natural progression can see 10 wins increase and put the club in a position to play finals in 2014. But like I said every other club is hoping and wishing that at this time of the year.
