TOPIC:

Heard today that Claremont boys trained Christmas morning. Big season coming up perhaps. 

EF
EP
Subi
WP
Peel
Tigers
Swans
SF
Perth
WCE

GF EF v EP
Premier EF
Bernie Naylor Ben Sokol
Sandover  Murdoch 

Johnny Leonard wrote:

Heard today that Claremont boys trained Christmas morning. Big season coming up perhaps. 

Yeh that’s paid off. Silly gimmick.

Looking back at the ladders predicted - there wasn't much love for Swans - except mikeh - who even admitted a tad fanciful. And gee, Perth have been disappointing

In what way have Perth been disappointing? Only 2-3 people picked us to finish in the 5. Being the best of the bottom 3 was all I ever expected.  I can do my 2025 prediction now that P will again finish bottom 3. It's that all too familiar refrain: we simply don't have enough talent coming through our zones. That means we lack depth to cover injuries. It means that we have to recruit our way to success, which is not sustainable, as players will stay for a season or two and leave - Charlie Thompson being an example. It means that, on any given week, we will have 6-10 players who are really not up to league standard. 

The surprises from the pre season predictions have been that S and WP have been worse than expected, and SF and SD better. 

Ted the issue for Perth Subi and WP has been long term injuries, EF had injury issues in the first half of the year but their depth kept them in touch and they are now near full strength and along with Freo are the form teams. Swans have been terrific but maybe a season away from being a genuine flag threat. EP, despite injuries have found a way to win matches they should have lost and if they can get most of their squad fit will be right there with EF & Freo. Hoping against hope that it is an EF v EP GF but we could be faced with another GF with an AFL team involved.

KCEF wrote:

Looking back at the ladders predicted - there wasn't much love for Swans - except mikeh - who even admitted a tad fanciful. And gee, Perth have been disappointing

Only due to injuries. Defeated Subi and Swans in the first 3 rounds without Schlensog. Then lost Simpson after the swans game for at least 6 matches then Constable at the first bounce of the second qtr the following week against EP for about 8 matches. Then lost A. Clarke for 6 weeks and our ruckman Edwards for the last 3 or 4 matches. So with these players out for significant periods its not surprising. Then lost Simpson again after 1 match back for the rest of the season. 

Peel will be restricted to using only 12 AFL players if Fremantle bomb out of AFL finals.

KCEF wrote:

Looking back at the ladders predicted - there wasn't much love for Swans - except mikeh - who even admitted a tad fanciful. And gee, Perth have been disappointing

Its interesting looking back on the predictions for the season. I must admit I had rose coioured glasses on when I did mine but much to my surprise and obviously most others, Swans have done really well to this point. I think the impact of our recruits  Rokahr, Chalcraft and Pasini have been profound and added to the depth of the team with a number of young players also adding to the mix.

As for my other predictions, well a Swans v East Perth grand final is still possible although a lot depends on the results in the next few weeks. If the Sharks get in the top 3, an EP v EF decider is more likely although the spectre of Peel hangs over this possibility as well. Tony Notte for the goal kicking? What was I thinking? he is a defender and a top quality one as well. Aiden Clarke wont win the Sandover, too many other midfielders stealing votes off each other