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BC wrote:

I'm not sure what to make of that given we were still missing 10 from last year's GF although Claremont had more missing. We were beaten through the middle and their transition from defence into their forward half was much better than ours. We were slow and overused the ball whereas Claremont were much cleaner and more direct. Aaron Heal was superb, Dela, Kitch, Giro and the Hickmott's had a crack, Sokol and Borchet were starved of opportunities but still managed to kick a few. Jordan Lockyer got towelled up by House which was very unusual and some of our young blokes struggled. I thought young Breman tried hard and Corey Robinson had his moments. 0-2 for the first time for 20 years so hopefully it won't be 0-3 next week against the jerkers. On another note, I spoke to Jack Mayo at qtr time and he confirmed he's gone for the year with another ACL. Terrible news for the young bloke. On the bright side, Michael Braut said he hopes to be back next week. With a bit of luck we'll also get Dewar and Stainsby back from Covid protocol as well. It's fast looking like we need our best 22 on the park to be competitive so fingers crossed they start getting up in the next few weeks.

BC, was talking to a Subi friend who is close to the team and he confirmed Mayo's gone for 2022, did his other knee this time, Kennedy sounds like he copped a head knock in the scratchies and has some bleeding on the brain which is pretty serious so no idea when he'll be back, Marsh could be another 3 weeks with a hip, I think he said, on the plus side, Chad Harris, Rhode, Dewar and possibly Braut will be back for the Joondy game. no news on Atkinson though.

I thought we started very well with a 4 goal to 1 qtr but that was it apart from maybe 10 mins in the last when we closed to 6 points. Cl were super fast and precise, their ball movement was first class as was their decision making which for such a young group was commendable. As said we would have lost by a lot more if not for heal's efforts, Locks looked lethargic and was unusually out muscled by a very good player in House, locks should be far better for the run, if he's coming off covid, same applies to the Hickmonts who were just ok, I think Wardman sent Will to tag the dominant Elliot but had no impact at all, Elliot put on one of the better midfield performances I've seen in recent years, along with Lim and Edwards they towelled us up in the mids plus the 2 indigenous lads showed class and pace when ever they went near the pill. I liked what I saw from Eaton, certainly shows a bit more up and go than Putt, still rough round the edges but has a prodigous leap and can take a mark, definitely worth persisting with. Looks like LaFontaine is done for the year with what looked like an ACL, Kitch, Giro and Dela Toiled hard all day but we looked disconnected and hap-hazard, the Tigers put us under pressure after 1/4 time and out numbered us time and again at contests, given the outs, this display of their considerable depth is a bit scary. We failed to continue the intensity and quick ball movement we had v Souths and appeared sluggish, lacking any real system.

Massive challenge v Joondy next week, if we play like we did yesterday, we will be 0 & 3, unknown territory for us in the last 20 years.

Thanks SS.  insightful comments. Terrible news about Kennedy. You'd think the intensity would be down in a scratchy. Club should proceed with absolute caution with that. Sounds like a bad concussion. I hope he recovers well. 

Was good to see some indigenous talent in the wafl yesterday. It's been missing. 

I really feel for young Jack Mayo copping two full knee recons at such a young age. I'm not sure whether it was just wretched bad luck or he has some structural issues with his knees but it must be devastating for him given how he came on towards the end of last year and wasn't far off BOG in the GF. I noticed he was helping with the forward group last Saturday so at least he's not lost to the club or the WAFL. Fingers crossed he can come back from this latest setback as he's a real talent.

I also notice Hayden Kennedy has been taken off the senior playing list on the club's website which is a fair indication he's not continuing this year at least.  All the best to him and hope he recovers soon as a brain bleed is a very serious matter if that is indeed what he is suffering from.  Hayden has been a terrific servant of the club and a fantastic player so hopefully he'll come back when he gets better. 

Agree BC, re kennedy i received that info second hand so will stand corrected if someone else has more up to date info. We have lost Powell to severe concussion and must have been close to losing Walters in that horrendous head clash last year, it would be a tragedy to lose Kennedy as he's a leader at the club, so influentual attacking from the backline and a really good bloke, but his welfare trumps everything else, i wish him a speedy recovery.

The backline which has been our strength for many seasons, will be much better this week with Locks second game back, he should be much more switched on, Dewar and Rhode and perhaps Braut, plus Chad Harris has finished his 2 week "holiday" and will be raring to go. Joondy will likely get that midfield trio back after H & S protocols and maybe Keitel as well, if he's back our backs will really need to be on top of their game, plus our mids need to really pressure their mids delivery into their 50 or Keitel will have a day out.

Does anyone have any mail on Atkinson, is he injured or Covid, the way he finished '21, he looked like having a big year in '22.

On another issue, nice to see Greg Clark looking like getting a run with the Weags now he's over his shoulder, he was the WCER best last week with 27 disposals and 7 tackles, normal day at the office for GC, so hope he can carry that form into the next level.

I saw Atkinson in the crowd at dog shit park on Saturday and he looked ok so hopefully he's not too far away either. Braut was hopeful of being available this week but if not, I'd say the week after for sure. Mind you, the medicos may play safe and keep some of these guys like Marsh and Braut in cotton wool until after the bye. I haven't seen Maxy at any of the games either so not sure what is happening there.

Hopefully with Maxy its just Covod protocols keeping him away.

I thought the club might say something about Kennedy's situation. I suppose there might be privacy concerns, but it is a concerning matter. He plays the game so hard. 

Nick Martin was excellent for Essendon yesterday, as was Erasmus for Peel. 

You have to wonder about both local AFL clubs passing up a player of Martins talents. I think he is at a good club for a young bloke, they are at the start of re-building so he will grow with them and maybe looking at finals in a couple of years, something WC wont be looking at for at least 4-5 years imho. Erasmus is a gun, but Freo are pretty strong at the moment their mids are solid and Fyfe still has to come in, but if he continues to play like he did v Joondy he wont be far away from a regular spot in the circus.

I've been really surprised by Martin's success. Wardman used him as a hit up forward whereas Essendon run him up through the middle of the ground. If you watch his running patterns closely, he's a bit like Menegola moving up and back through the corridor. Obviously Essendon saw something in him that Wardman didn't.

To be successful in that type of role you need a big tank and the fact he hasn't had a full AFL pre-season under his belt is testament to Subi's training regime which delivered him in pretty good nick to the Bummers. Good for him and I hope his growth as a player continues.