TOPIC:

Senior Seagull wrote: Freeze, the season is potentially looking like the most even for some time. Most clubs have taken on the responsibility of improving themselves with solid recruiting, instead of relying on the WAFC imposing selective restrictions on a certain team to pull them down. Well done to those clubs for taking up the challenge.

What an absolute crock of shit SS, most clubs are just flush of cash like $ubi have been every year for a long time

So what your saying is that if you have a windfall of money, then it's ok to spend up on recruits?

Senior Seagull wrote: So what your saying is that if you have a windfall of money, then it's ok to spend up on recruits?

That's exactly what I'm saying. Where I disagree with you is that clubs "have decided to recruit" instead of "relying on the WAFC to impose rules to bring down subi"
Clubs recruiting abilities is always heavily dependant on financials and clubs have never ever relied on the wafc to try and beat Subi

Good Q&A from the coach on the club website today....never one to give away too much or state names of standouts...did mention the pre-season efforts of Meade and Smith in the recent intra club scratch match though....speaks of the group collectively in terms of training standards improving from his first pre-season back in 2019.... highlighted whilst only scratch matches, the importance of actually heading into the H&A season with a win or two pre-season....so far that hasn't happened under Bill or Wiley for the last 4 years....actions speak louder then words though....time will tell I guess

As he said, two out of three pre season wins would be a good start.

Anyone manage to check out the intra match last night?? Missed it, but will be down next week for the season launch. Heard Harry Taylor played and has trained a few times

KCEF wrote: Anyone manage to check out the intra match last night?? Missed it, but will be down next week for the season launch. Heard Harry Taylor played and has trained a few times

Bill had a Q&A session, but no mention of Harry:

Q 2 You had an intraclub match last night, how did it go and what do you take from these games?
Intraclub games are always a little difficult to assess. Some of the outcomes are probably not what they are on a normal day. Our ball movement was good, I thought the energy was good, we kicked really accurately – I think one team kicked 11.4 and the other 9.1, so there were a lot of positives. I think trying to get our recruits to blend with the existing players is something we’ve got to work hard to do.

We also decided to use some players in different positions, we brought in two or three guys who will come through the midfield so that adds a little bit of pressure. Then there’s guys who have taken their game to another level who will get more opportunities.

It probably showed that it’s going to be difficult to pick a side come round 1 and it’s even going to be difficult to pick a side next week against Subi.

There is going to be four or five guys who will be rewarded for their pre-season and a couple of our senior or more experience players might have to suit up a bit earlier, which is always the case but they’re not easy conversations to have.

Hopefully that last bit about tough conversations includes his son....I get giving opportunities, but it has to apply to everyone not just the few...

If Jr is playing well then there’s no issues if he’s in the team. Be interesting to see where he sits in the current squad- Bill mentions that the new guys will push some regulars to other spots and some out of the side. So Eardley, Bennett, Jansen, Kommer and Snadden were regular Mids last year. Boekhorst and Snuff on wings- Chalmers, English, Schoenfeld, possibly Marsh into Mid group....some need to play elsewhere or the early game

Let us hope the 2019 vintage Tom shows up this season - if he gets a game that is. Hope Bill is correct with his explanation of last season's poor showing and things turn around very quickly.