TOPIC:

We are at the State game break and an opportunity to have a look at what is happening in the premiership battle so far. Each team has played either 6 or 7 games and the ladder is starting to take shape. At this stage, barring a complete disaster, Claremont look assured of a finals berth and Souths look as if they will not be in the running. So we have 7 teams still in the race for 3 spots. The next few weeks leading up to the half way point of the season for each team will be interesting and may sort out the strong contenders from the strugglers. Lets have a quick look through each team

Claremont 7-0
Positives: Lots! This is a team with a lot of confidence and even though they have had more than their fair share of injuries, they have bought guys from the reserves up who have slotted into the team pretty seamlessly. Seaby and Andrews have been a great big man combination

Negatives: They have looked a bit tired over the last few weeks and of course the injuries to key players like Blackwell and Bradshaw haven’t helped.

Outlook: Bye was most welcome this week, big game against the Sharks after that. They will have to manage their list similarly to last year if they go far in the Foxtel Cup

Next three games
EF (H), SF (A), S(H)

Prediction: They should be still unbeaten or at worst 9 – 1 at the halfway stage

West Perth 5-2
Positives: The team has bounced back after a poor 2012. Hutchings, Kerr and Nelson have been consistent ball winners. Outstanding effort at Shark Park last week to kick 24 goals. Good spread of goalkickers
Negatives: Poor performance on ANZAC day against Swans.

Outlook: They will be tested in the next few weeks, the Demons at home will be a challenge for them

Next 3 games
P ( H), EP(A), C (H)

Prediction : Big chance to beat Claremont. 7- 3 I reckon after 10

Perth 4-2
Positives : The improvement has been tangible in the way they play as a team. They are more resilient, keep the pressure on the opposition for longer and have more scoring options. With a bit of luck could have been sitting pretty at 6-0 at this stage of the season. Paul Bevan is an inspired choice as Captain.

Negatives: Very few. Losing close games is always disappointing

Outlook: Finals are definitely on the radar if they can win 3 out of their next four games

Next 4 games
S(A), WP(A), SD(H), EP(H)
Prediction 6-4 or possibly 7 - 3

East Fremantle 4-3
Positives: Some solid victories over teams in the bottom half of the ladder. Good spread of potential goalkickers

Negatives : 3 home defeats would have to be a concern, haven’t really beaten a contender as yet

Outlook: Need to make a statement against Claremont this week to stamp their credentials. If they can win this they can set themselves up for a run at 2nd spot on the ladder

Next 3
C(A), SF(H), Peel (H)
Prediction 6-4

Swans 3-3
Positives: Two excellent away victories at East Fremantle and Joondalup. When playing well can compete with anybody

Negatives; Poor home performances, Intensity is often lacking and they drift out of games for periods

Outlook : Season defining game against East Perth next week. Win this and they could be pushing for 2nd spot at the halfway mark. Lose and they will be playing catch up footy. Lack of big man options compared with the other finals contenders could be an Achilles heel

Next 4
EP(H), S(H), P(A), S(A)
Prediction 6-4

East Perth 3-4
Positives; Seem to be responding to Dawsons game plan and the adjustment required with the recruiting of new players under the alignment. Excellent victory at East Fremantle a couple of weeks ago. They have impressive big men in Smith, Johnson and Lycett

Negatives; Very slow start to the season, appeared to be struggling against teams with superior pace.

Outlook : 3 big games which will test them over coming weeks, if they can go to half way at 5 – 5 they will still be well and truly in the hunt

Next 3
SD (A), PT (A), WP(H)

Prediction 5- 5

Peel 2-5
Positives: They appear a lot more competitive and resiliant than they have been in previous seasons. There has only been one blow out amongst their five defeats and have fought back from difficult situations in several games. Could be difficult to beat on their home ground this year. Motlop and Garlett have been good recruits

Negatives: Haven’t been able to win any away games, losing their first five has put them behind the eight ball

Outlook : If they can beat South this week, the home game against East Perth will become pivotal for them as victory in this game will put them at 4-5 and with a real chance

Next 3
SF(A), EP(H), EF (A)

Prediction 3-7

Subiaco 2-4
Positives: Good wins over East Perth and South Fremantle and some competitive performances early in the season.

Negatives: Have fallen away in the past few weeks, Injury to Randall was a shocker

Outlook: some tough games coming up, Callum Sinclairs return will be a bonus

Next four
P(H), SD (A), C(A), SF (H)

Prediction 3-7

South Fremantle 0-7
Positives : very unlucky not to have won a few games. They have been very competitive against Perth, West Perth, Swans and East Perth. Have blooded a number of young players

Negatives : Tendancy to fade out of games and this has cost them. Appear to lack leadership at times. Not a good look for coach to be playing in the country

Outlook : They should win one of their next three games, they are not as bad as their ladder position indicates

Next 3
Peel (H), EF (A), S(A)

Prediction 1-9

Yes, very good summary.

Peel are the danger for the top 4 sides. At home, in front of a growing base of feral supporters, they are very dangerous. Swans have the talent to break into the top 4 as well. East Perth, like Subiaco, rely on too few although those few are as good as what any club has. Still a chance. Subi fading out of contention and have the dilemma of not knowing whether they should begin to blood more of their talented youngsters or stick with some under-performing mid-tier senior players in the hope they will get it together before the season slips away totally. South Fremantle - too far gawn and looking for some respectable results.

mikeh wrote: We are at the State game break and an opportunity to have a look at what is happening in the premiership battle so far. Each team has played either 6 or 7 games and the ladder is starting to take shape. At this stage, barring a complete disaster, Claremont look assured of a finals berth and Souths look as if they will not be in the running. So we have 7 teams still in the race for 3 spots. The next few weeks leading up to the half way point of the season for each team will be interesting and may sort out the strong contenders from the strugglers. Lets have a quick look through each team

Claremont 7-0
Positives: Lots! This is a team with a lot of confidence and even though they have had more than their fair share of injuries, they have bought guys from the reserves up who have slotted into the team pretty seamlessly. Seaby and Andrews have been a great big man combination

Negatives: They have looked a bit tired over the last few weeks and of course the injuries to key players like Blackwell and Bradshaw haven’t helped.

Outlook: Bye was most welcome this week, big game against the Sharks after that. They will have to manage their list similarly to last year if they go far in the Foxtel Cup

Next three games
EF (H), SF (A), S(H)

Prediction: They should be still unbeaten or at worst 9 – 1 at the halfway stage

West Perth 5-2
Positives: The team has bounced back after a poor 2012. Hutchings, Kerr and Nelson have been consistent ball winners. Outstanding effort at Shark Park last week to kick 24 goals. Good spread of goalkickers
Negatives: Poor performance on ANZAC day against Swans.

Outlook: They will be tested in the next few weeks, the Demons at home will be a challenge for them

Next 3 games
P ( H), EP(A), C (H)

Prediction : Big chance to beat Claremont. 7- 3 I reckon after 10

Perth 4-2
Positives : The improvement has been tangible in the way they play as a team. They are more resilient, keep the pressure on the opposition for longer and have more scoring options. With a bit of luck could have been sitting pretty at 6-0 at this stage of the season. Paul Bevan is an inspired choice as Captain.

Negatives: Very few. Losing close games is always disappointing

Outlook: Finals are definitely on the radar if they can win 3 out of their next four games

Next 4 games
S(A), WP(A), SD(H), EP(H)
Prediction 6-4 or possibly 7 - 3

East Fremantle 4-3
Positives: Some solid victories over teams in the bottom half of the ladder. Good spread of potential goalkickers

Negatives : 3 home defeats would have to be a concern, haven’t really beaten a contender as yet

Outlook: Need to make a statement against Claremont this week to stamp their credentials. If they can win this they can set themselves up for a run at 2nd spot on the ladder

Next 3
C(A), SF(H), Peel (H)
Prediction 6-4

Swans 3-3
Positives: Two excellent away victories at East Fremantle and Joondalup. When playing well can compete with anybody

Negatives; Poor home performances, Intensity is often lacking and they drift out of games for periods

Outlook : Season defining game against East Perth next week. Win this and they could be pushing for 2nd spot at the halfway mark. Lose and they will be playing catch up footy. Lack of big man options compared with the other finals contenders could be an Achilles heel

Next 4
EP(H), S(H), P(A), S(A)
Prediction 6-4

East Perth 3-4
Positives; Seem to be responding to Dawsons game plan and the adjustment required with the recruiting of new players under the alignment. Excellent victory at East Fremantle a couple of weeks ago. They have impressive big men in Smith, Johnson and Lycett

Negatives; Very slow start to the season, appeared to be struggling against teams with superior pace.

Outlook : 3 big games which will test them over coming weeks, if they can go to half way at 5 – 5 they will still be well and truly in the hunt

Next 3
SD (A), PT (A), WP(H)

Prediction 5- 5

Peel 2-5
Positives: They appear a lot more competitive and resiliant than they have been in previous seasons. There has only been one blow out amongst their five defeats and have fought back from difficult situations in several games. Could be difficult to beat on their home ground this year. Motlop and Garlett have been good recruits

Negatives: Haven’t been able to win any away games, losing their first five has put them behind the eight ball

Outlook : If they can beat South this week, the home game against East Perth will become pivotal for them as victory in this game will put them at 4-5 and with a real chance

Next 3
SF(A), EP(H), EF (A)

Prediction 3-7

Subiaco 2-4
Positives: Good wins over East Perth and South Fremantle and some competitive performances early in the season.

Negatives: Have fallen away in the past few weeks, Injury to Randall was a shocker

Outlook: some tough games coming up, Callum Sinclairs return will be a bonus

Next four
P(H), SD (A), C(A), SF (H)

Prediction 3-7

South Fremantle 0-7
Positives : very unlucky not to have won a few games. They have been very competitive against Perth, West Perth, Swans and East Perth. Have blooded a number of young players

Negatives : Tendancy to fade out of games and this has cost them. Appear to lack leadership at times. Not a good look for coach to be playing in the country

Outlook : They should win one of their next three games, they are not as bad as their ladder position indicates

Next 3
Peel (H), EF (A), S(A)

Prediction 1-9

Good summary Mikeh.

If we can achieve a win loss of 6-4 after the next 3 games it will keep us in the mix while Young is on the mend. I spoke with some Shark's supporters during the West Perth game & there was talk that he could be back in 4 weeks. Unfortunately his Father was not as confident & said it might be a little longer.

The Sharks are lacking talls at the moment & are sorely missing Young. They are also missing a host of players on AFL duties, in particular Griffin, who unfortunately went down with a knee this week. Lack of talls & testing of depth in my opinion makes it difficult to predict how the Sharks will progress for the remainder of this season.

On the plus side I heard after the West Perth game that Howlett had suffered whip lash & concussion & luckily nothing worse. We should also regain Simpson for the game against Claremont.

Good article Mike.
Claremont - look to have it sown up, but I've never seen a flag won in June
WP - will depend which team turns up week to week
Perth - people are waiting for the bubble to burst. Will give it a real shake if they maintain this form
EF - the Jeckyl and Hyde team. It's a real concern that they haven't taken any big scalps. Should finish in the 4, then hopefully it'll be game on!
Swans - I think they're in the same boat as EF
Eagles - not interested in the filth
Peel - same
Subi - can't see them scaring the CFC & WP's
SF - maybe EFFC can enter into an alignment with them to help them out - the Fremantle Sharks

Looks like you have 3 teams on 6 and 4. Percentage will be important.

I still think Peel may do a lot better going forward.

Looking forward to seeing how it all pans out.

Thanks for the comments guys. Certainly Peel seem to be the team that a lot of people think are going to make a run in the 2nd half of the season. Does anyone think that they have chance of sneaking into the finals for the first time in their history?

mikeh wrote: Thanks for the comments guys. Certainly Peel seem to be the team that a lot of people think are going to make a run in the 2nd half of the season. Does anyone think that they have chance of sneaking into the finals for the first time in their history?

I don't believe so MH. It could be quite an esoteric discussion as to whether the club known as Peel ceased to exist in its previous form once the alignment was announced. It is a pity that those who made the decision to bring Peel into the competition aren't required to explain why it was such a bad decision.