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I couldn't get to the game but it sounds though we were reasonable ?
Wouldn't want to get my hopes up before the season proper but I was thinking we would finish 5th but hopefully we can have a sniff at finals footy ???
I never worry too much about scratchies though - unless we're getting flogged.

As I said on a previous thread I think we need more pace through the mids and it seems by all accounts that was an area lacking today ???

Ben besides Buddy who else out of the young fellas could have a run through there -
I would like to see if Daye is a chance ??? But which ex-colts ???

Well, D Sheed came into the side today and he would be a certainty - worked his way into the contest after half time. Hoskins is a prolific ball winner but not that quick. Good player though. Saw him get 43 disposals in a colts game once. I'm sure he will come under consideration when fit. Wohling can play midfield also and is quick but he often plays back pocket. Le Fanu is fairly quick.

JKT will add some pace.

So some options.

Probably the guy I forgot with pace who will come in and make a difference is Tristan Gum.

Cheers - We don't seem to have a mid that can match the better sides for speed but in saying that I suppose there aren't too many road-runner super quick on ballers in the WAFL at the moment?

I would hope that if we can't get someone with speed through the midfield we at least get someone in who knows how to find it ?
What's the story with Gum - injured ? I hope he is quick but he's not young is he?

I see K-T didn't play today - Foot injury and Forrest no action after half time.
Any news on either of those 2 plus our other injuries?

It was good to see a few back playing ressies today.

Ben I notice Marty Smith still in the players photos on the club's web page -
He's definately retired is he? Also good to see we finally got rid of big Rixy's photo on the promo page - That was cruel us still having to look at the big champ when he wasn't playing for us all last year !!!

Chopper wrote: Cheers - We don't seem to have a mid that can match the better sides for speed but in saying that I suppose there aren't too many road-runner super quick on ballers in the WAFL at the moment?

I would hope that if we can't get someone with speed through the midfield we at least get someone in who knows how to find it ?
What's the story with Gum - injured ? I hope he is quick but he's not young is he?

I see K-T didn't play today - Foot injury and Forrest no action after half time.
Any news on either of those 2 plus our other injuries?

It was good to see a few back playing ressies today.

Ben I notice Marty Smith still in the players photos on the club's web page -
He's definately retired is he? Also good to see we finally got rid of big Rixy's photo on the promo page - That was cruel us still having to look at the big champ when he wasn't playing for us all last year !!!

Marty hasn't been at training as far as I know.

Yeah worried why Forrest didn't reappear. Hope it's not another serious injury for the poor bloke.

I guess we have to accept that there are a lot of players in the squad with a history of serious injuries and that it's unlikely that they will get through an entire season unscathed.

One thing about pace is that a team looks a lot quicker and sharper when they don't double handle the pill as we did.

Luckily for us Claremont kept jumping into us or collecting us high when we fumbled which caused a few Monts people to question the umps but they seriously weren't good tackle attempts.

I've been looking at a lot of old footage and that is one thing you notice that is different today. Nowadays when a player is trying to pick up the ball an opponent will inevitably crash into him high or fall on top of him.

Back in the 70's/80's footage I've been watching one player would try to pick up the ball and so would his opponent without the hip or the knees touching the head. Alternatively, the opponent would grab the jumper of the player trying to pick up the ball but would not fall into him or contact the head. It was a smarter way to play.

Yep no doubt for us this year if we can keep a good side on the park we are a chance at the four. Same could have been said at the start of last season and it didn't happen after a positive start.

I think we look fairly well balanced but the mids are of concern as will be the ruck if Sinclair gets called up for higher duties or injured.

Looking forward to the season propper as the comp might tighten up a bit more than I first thought ???

Depth,discipline and fitness are the 3 areas of improvement I noticed last night and should see Subi highly competitive this year.Well done coaching staff.Claremont are a slick outfit and will be hard to beat for the flag again. Their midfield of Blackwell, Murphy and Bradshaw carved us up. Matt Davies and Hugo Breakey are promising players for them. Randall and Sinclair were outstanding for us. Bristow worked hard but needs more midfield support. Perhaps give Pickett and Deluca quick bursts in the middle to get the ball going forward. They are both explosive! Wheeler looks good and centre half forward and young Halligan looks up to league level already. Cullen looks improved while Waters was very quiet after a good game last week. Joey Daye was great early but seemed to fade out of the game.

Both Robbie Forrest and Kayler-Thomson did not look in too much discomfort at the three quarter time huddle so hopefully mainly precautionary measures taken with these two blokes. Madut looks very good for someone still learning the game.

In the Reserves, Worthington and Hampson showed their class. Brad Stevenson was fantastic in his first game back and will play league. Phillips was rusty early but then showed some really good signs - a good player. Seva Martin looks trim and fit and much improved from last year. Whyte mops up well in the back line and Fabian, Bogensperger and Clarke did good things. Kerr dropped for discipline reasons apparently but showed good character to bounce back and be amongst the best.

Back to the League, Brad Mcdonald from Tassie looks good. Runs hard, shows good skills and great second and third efforts. Looks like holding down a spot off a back flank or back pocket although pressure for these spots are in demand with the likes of Leishman, Cullen, Genovese and Wohling.

Thanks for that Mudlark - See you at the games