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Great day out at MRP, very pleasant watching the game from the outer terraces.
We started well getting plenty of the footy but still didn't convert well enough with 4.6, but it seems that northern end is hard to score at, Perth followed up with 1.6 in the second, had the ball in their 50 for long periods but out defence stood up pretty well, Heal makes a massive difference generaling the backs. Horse seems to be able to keep the mids minds on the task at hand, i think the team feels far more confident when he's on the field. Breman and Hickmont did not look out of place at all, Breman is a good mover and should be persisted with for the last two games. Sok had a shocker but credit to the bloke you played on him, scragged him pushed, pulled, played him very close and shut him down. I did think Sok could have got a few frees but then again he should have run harder to create some space and the other forwards didn't block for him. Atkinson was BOG, big body, massive kick, fast and super aggressive, a real prospect if he can continue in that vane, Maxy was a close second, worked his arse of, and finished with 3 goals, he's in great form. Braut was good again, coped a very nasty and very dangerous hit in the back when the Perth bloke jumped into him very late with no intention for the ball, Braut was hurt but got up and kicked the goal after a double 50. Didn't see what the second one was for, assume it was out of the mellee or some mouthing off.

Dela did ok in the ruck against the usual much bigger bodies but cleaned them up around the ground.

Good team effort with much more aggression and focus throughout the game, still a long way off SF, CL & WP. EF will be no pushover they have gone close against very good teams the last 3 games so they will give themselves a chance next week. We firstly must win and then hope to win well, would think we will get Marsh and Kennedy back but not sure on Gus.

One final point on an otherwise excellent venue at MRP, what the phark is going on with the scoreboard, a postage stamp sized electronic toy stuck on the back of a ute FMD what a disgrace. Second season after the redev and still no proper scoreboard, makes the one at leederville look positively 5 star!!

SS Atkinson would you believe is a former Perth player, played in Rob Wiley junior development squads right through to colts and I think a few reserves games. I don't recall him but was chatting to his mum. He had a knee injury at colts/reserves level and she said the club cut him off the list. He some how ended up playing footy in Boulder and that's where Subi swooped.

Big lad but she said he wasn't always built like that but has always been a very good runner. So looks like one we let slip through our fingers but good luck to him.

Re: scoreboard. I was told it is the WCE responsibility to put it back up as it was taken down due to the redevelopment of the ground. Apparently it's going to cost a fortune for the footings and the Eagles have balked at it but it is in the wrong spot anyway. It gets hard to see late in the afternoon from 2.15 starts. It should be ideally on top of the new outer gate but maybe that doesn't have the structural strength to withstand the wind.

So I would have it in front of the Westral banners hanging off the fence just to the left of the outer gate as you are looking at it.

Best one I've seen is Claremont's. Nice and big and easy on the eye. I agree with you it's a joke two years running now a makeshift electronic scoreboard on the back of a ute and some kid has to sit out there all day in the weather.

I came in from that gate yesterday and had a chat to the kid doing the score. I said I thought someone was doing it from the grandstand? He said yes we did at first last year but we would lose signal and couldn't update the score. Amateur stuff really. The Perth GM needs to put the heat on the WCE.

Cheers DD. Next 2 weeks are nail biters for both teams. Both should win next week then we play 1 & 2 respectively. You are in the box seat with the 4 points in hand and we have to roll Joondy up at Arctic park, I think that EP loss will come back to haunt us.

Strong win, a fair amount of skill errors though. Horse made a big difference but I recon he's still struggling a bit, he didn't want to go long so much. Atkinson played a great game big strong lad with pace

On that note I remember Bill Valli being awesome for us struggling with groin issues big time, the master of bouncing the ball just before being tackled

DG wrote: Strong win, a fair amount of skill errors though. Horse made a big difference but I recon he's still struggling a bit, he didn't want to go long so much. Atkinson played a great game big strong lad with pace

I watched the replay last night and noticed Atkinson looked to have a hammy twinge after running into a goal late in the last. They had him on the stationary bike after that, hope he's ok for EF who will be no pushovers after being super competitive in their last 3 outings.

I saw that SS and thought it was more cramp than anything. If it was a hammy surely he would have been iced up and not turning over a bike.

Good point. he's really looking the goods plus Breman and Hickmont were more than useful on saturday. fine day forecast for next saturday so no excuses for a great game v the gummies.

cant remember the last time i did, but I'll be hoping Swans have a big win saturday

Yeah looked more like cramp to me too