End of the Road
That’s it then.
It’s been a while since I posted here. A combination of a holiday, sickness and apathy caused by some insipid and uninspiring games. What can you say but I’m glad its over. Not sure if I’ve ever felt that way about a season before, at least not since 2001 our last worst ever season. 2008 however, now stands alone in it’s suckiness.
There were some good points though. Let’s not forget the lack of arrests and criminal and drug related innuendo. That’s a plus off field that could reap some benefits on field eventually. At least we’re a chance to keep our draft picks we worked so hard to win.
A harvest of new draftees is something to look forward to. At least 3 top 20 picks, with more, possibly to come in what is supposedly a good draft. Although, we hear that every year so I’m not sure how that really works. It’s six weeks until trade week - one of my favourite weeks of the year.
Anyhow, we have a new look match committee none of which includes Michael Voss. He was with us but now isn’t which is not so much of a loss seeing as he was never here in the first place. We will watch with interest who the new Assistants will be.
We did have some on field highlights - thankfully I got to watch all four of them. Wins that is.
First against Brisbane, one great quarter and three that showcased what we could expect for the rest of the year as it turned out.
Adelaide was a surprise - a very pleasant one - and momentarily got us optimistic again, which was dumb.
St Kilda was even more of a surprise as they were in form and got off to a flyer only for us to bump our toe on that long lost ingredient known as confidence. Best game of the year for us in my opinion.
A few weeks later gave us our last highlight - a win against Essendon. Again we took down an in form side, thanks in no small part to seven goals from Ben McKinley. It is always a special thrill to thump the Bombers, even if they did mount a small last qtr comeback.
McKinley is worth mentioning. He was the real bolter in our squad this season. Most thought he’d be axed at the end of 07 after 2 seasons and 1 game. But he struggled with OP for most of that time and after 7 goals in the first WAFL game of the year he came in and immediately began to show some form. 42 goals 20 from 18 games way exceeded anyone’s expectations and he is going become a very good player for us.
Four players managed 22 games and we can expect the Club Champion votes to reflect good seasons from Dean Cox, who was by far and away our best competitor for the season, Quinten Lynch and Adam Selwood who were consistent and reliable all year. Stenglein was the fourth and really only showed form in patches.
Many of the other youngsters showed something at various times in the season, but all were also exposed many times as well. Wilkes, Davis, Ebert, Masten, Houlihan, S.Selwood, Spangher and Notte all debuted in 08.
It will be interesting to see what impact a healthy list might have on our performances in 2009.
I’m sure some of the more experienced hands will walk straight back in - you’d reckon once they are fit likes of Kerr*, Rosa, Hunter, Waters, Hurn makes us a better side. Not to mention the fact we have no where near seen the best of the injured youngsters Ebert, Masten and Kennedy. Plus how some of the lesser likes might rise to the challenge will be interesting.
All in all we can’t help but expect the future will be brighter. The recent past has never been so dark, and I for one refuse to consider anything worse than that. Bring on the trades, draft, pre-season and 09.
* Assuming of course we don’t ship him to Siberia for a couple of choice A-Grade draft selections.
Sep 4th 2008
Sums it up pretty well Bruce. I reckon that there’s plenty of reasons for optimism, looking forward to our young list developing and gelling as a team. As you say, we showed glimpses at times this year, and with (fingers crossed) a good injury-free run and another preseason under the youngsters’ belts, it’s quite possible that 2008 will be seen as an aberration.
Sep 4th 2008
I too enjoy trade and draft season. Anything to get away from that lull in between footy and cricket which gets filled with horse racing.
I was disappointed that Voss got out before he started. I thought that even Voss should serve an apprenticeship at another club. But I guess if he didnt take the opportunity now the spot might not be available for another 10 years. Good luck to him, he better be good coz everyone seems to have high expectations.
Sep 4th 2008
Fordy what happens next year with us (assuming we are more healthy than this year) will really show the true gap between the top and the bottom of the table. Judging by the way we’ve fallen away there is plenty to suggest it doesn’t take alot to go from near the top to the bottom of the stack. Let’s hope the reverse is true.
Do you reckon finals are on the cards? A repeat of 2002 perhaps?
Tim - I reckon good luck to Voss but history is against him succeeding as an untried coach (ie no AFL coaching experience). He’s up against it. But it makes sense he goes for it. We can’t really lose what we never had.
Sep 5th 2008
Think we need to try and keep Kerr as he will really help our midfield…
Sep 5th 2008
A week ago I sure Kerr was gone, now I think he will stay - not sure if in the long term it is the best move, but not sure what we’d get for him at the trade table.
Sep 8th 2008
I think Kerr will stay too, but then I’m an eternal optimist when it comes to footy. So in that vein, yep I reckon we’ll play finals next year, and hopefully better than the 2002 effort.