TOPIC:

Well it wasn't the greatest of preseason's lets just hope that it is not an idea how the rest of the season will go and that the boys turn up on Saturday full of hunger, heart and determination to get the four points.

Claremont are a much weaker side than they have been over the last 5-6 years after loosing some very important players. I still think they have a good enough midfield though and have the quality in their squad to push most teams and be in contention for the top four come the end of August.

After seeing/hearing about who played where during the practice games I thought I'd have another crack at how we might line up come 2:05pm Saturday.

B: Kane Risol C.Smith
HB: J.Morton Borrett Bateman
C: Florio M.Morton C.Morton
HF: Boyle Houghton Leeson
F: Bevan Billings Stack
R: Eyres Moody White
INT: Leyendekkers Ugle O'Sullivan Irons

It's a solid side but one where we can't afford any passengers and will need 22 contributors come game day. A genuine tall forward and tall back would be nice but if Billings and Houghton are able to take some marks and hold the ball in our forward line then we have enough crumbing players like Bevan, Stack, Boyle, Leeson, Moody and M.Morton that should be able to but scoreboard pressure on. A lot of big if's though and the performances in the first couple of rounds will shape the season.

The way I see it is it's a massive first 6 weeks. If we can break even or potentially be 4-2 then we will be in a good spot. After that we have 2 games at home, the state game and then another two at home.

Bring on round one and carn you Redlegs!!!!!!!

Billings at FF?
Why do some of you rate this guy?
He's a spud, who would not get a game at another club
Borrett at chb?
Good grief.
Houghton to chb and go with a small forward line is probably what will happen.
In Damian we trust

Swedgen wrote: Billings at FF?
Why do some of you rate this guy?
He's a spud, who would not get a game at another club
Borrett at chb?
Good grief.
Houghton to chb and go with a small forward line is probably what will happen.
In Damian we trust

Yep Billings at FF god help us if he's the best option,he is a foot soldier that toils at best in the back line,certainly his best footy is well behind him.
Houghton imo is not mentally or physically strong enough to hold down a Key Position reguarly.
Borrett at CHB you can say ??????? that again.

Good sides have good spines,ours is not strong.

With what we have i think he has to roll the dice with one of the Mortons at CHB,probably Jarryd.
I'd try Leyendekkers at CHF for height and try and pluck another ruckman from the lower grades to assist Eyres.
Ugle i'd play as a small forward,Tim Hunt as a 10 point player has to play,he is still with us isnt he??

All in all another typical year where last seasons shortfalls will still exist and cost us.

Irons needs to do more for an ex-AFL player he hasnt done much to date.

No Michael Sinclair is he injured or left? Notice no Simon Donovan or Michael Mather any more?

Perhaps Mitch Morton at full forward.

The coaching dept is a disgrace, Williams, Liddlelow and Lang, what is it the 3 Stooges, with Master Mcmahon overseeing them....

Whats happened to Rowan Brookes??

The game on the weekend was summed up with Brad Keast missing a goal from 12 metres out on a slight angle, what the hell do they do at pre season training???

demons2013 wrote: Irons needs to do more for an ex-AFL player he hasnt done much to date.

No Michael Sinclair is he injured or left? Notice no Simon Donovan or Michael Mather any more?

Perhaps Mitch Morton at full forward.

The coaching dept is a disgrace, Williams, Liddlelow and Lang, what is it the 3 Stooges, with Master Mcmahon overseeing them....

Whats happened to Rowan Brookes??

The game on the weekend was summed up with Brad Keast missing a goal from 12 metres out on a slight angle, what the hell do they do at pre season training???

They all run aimlessly around the oval getting footballs kicked over there heads in all different directions practising the game plan...lol.

Swedgen wrote: Billings at FF?
Why do some of you rate this guy?
He's a spud, who would not get a game at another club
Borrett at chb?
Good grief.
Houghton to chb and go with a small forward line is probably what will happen.
In Damian we trust

That squad was just based on were players have been playing in the practice matches Swedgen.

If Busher is fit I would have him in to replace Billings in the forward line.

And yes I have missed out Michael Sinclair. He would be an inclusion as well. Tim Hunt has only played one reserves game I think and might still be getting his training workloads up to scratch. He had a week or two before Christmas at training and I don't think he returned to Perth till mid-late January.

From all reports he is an outside midfield with plenty of pace so maybe stick him on a wing and play Cale Morton elsewhere.

Risol, J.Morton, M.Morton, Busher, Bevan. IS that a better spine boys?

Mr AFL wrote: And yes I have missed out Michael Sinclair. He would be an inclusion as well. Tim Hunt has only played one reserves game I think and might still be getting his training workloads up to scratch. He had a week or two before Christmas at training and I don't think he returned to Perth till mid-late January.

From all reports he is an outside midfield with plenty of pace so maybe stick him on a wing and play Cale Morton elsewhere.

Risol, J.Morton, M.Morton, Busher, Bevan. IS that a better spine boys?

Its ok but not great is it,its probably the best we can come up with.

Still no genuine height in the forward key posts,Bevan in a good team would not be playing FF,Busher injury prone and i wouldnt trust getting double figure games out of him,J.Morton is there because theres noone else,M Morton...does he have the tank to play in the centre??

It just has me stuffed why a KPP forward wasnt recruited.
In fact i think our whole recruiting off season was poor,we certainly did recruit to our weaknesses.

There is enough talent in there to win against Claremont in round 1 - it comes down to whether the fire & will to do it is present ..... teamwork will play a huge part in this - but again it comes down to the 22 on the paddock on the day lads

Exactly Southerner team work, commitment, heart and dedication from the 22 in every game played will go a long way to deciding the result on the day.

I agree that the recruiting of a couple of big names would have been nice, especially a key forward, ruckman or a back. In saying that though recruiting is very hard and is not as easy as some would seem.

For instance from what I believe James Sellar was pretty much signed before he did a 360 and landed at the port.