Where do they go?

by LES EVERETT

THE WA 18s team is back home after performing very creditably in the AFL national championships. After losing their first game to Victoria Metropolitan WA recorded good wins against SA and Vic Country to finish in second place.

Five WA boys Andrew Swallow, Josh Kennedy and Patrick Ryder from East Fremantle, Paul Bower (Peel) and Leroy Jetta (South Fremantle) were named in the All-Australian team.

Coach Gerard McNeill said the players adapted well to the slippery and heavy conditions after struggling up to half time of the first game.

McNeill said all of the players would have improved from their involvement in the 18s program and the exposure to the fierce competition of the national carnival. "We hope they come away with more enthusiasm for the game and aiming initially to establish themselves as league players at WAFL level," McNeill said. "Some will gain AFL selection and that will be a big win for us but really we're hoping they'll get the best out of themselves."

Most of the 18s players will be eligible for this year's AFL draft and balancing the expectations of the individuals, families and the system can be a delicate operation.

"There's a lot of pressure here on young lives and young bodies," McNeill said. "In many ways what they do when they get back is as critical as what they've done in Melbourne."
shark18s 2000

The Sharks in the WA 18s in 2000 (l-r): Michael Bright, Dom Cassisi, Preston Wall, Matthew McNally, Karem Baskaya, Daniel Kerr & Richard Hadley. Photos by Les Everett.

The question of what becomes of players who are at the top of the tree as juniors is one we've investigated this week. We've looked a small sample of East Fremantle players from the 1998 and 2000 WA 18s teams.

There are two reasons for this. The Sharks tend to have more players chosen that other clubs and we happen to have group photos of the boys from 1998 and 2000.

East Fremantle's representatives in the 1998 WA 18s team were Matthew Kennewell, who played at league level for the Sharks and Perth and went to the country this year for work reasons.

Paul Hasleby - an AFL rising star award winner, established player with Fremantle and twice winner of the Herald Docker Award.

Warren Bank - played at league level for East Fremantle and is currently with Maddington in the Sunday Football League.

Josh Carr - another current Docker and a premiership player with Port Adelaide.

Michael Saunders - played over 50 games for the Sharks, has taken this season off but is expected back in 2006.

Aaron Glass - played a handful of league games for EF and was with CBC amateurs last year before heading to the country.

Scott Bennett - played an AFL game for West Coast in 2000. We think he's now playing in the bush.

The Sharks in the WA 18s in 2000 were...

Michael Bright - the son of then Fremantle assistant coach Terry Bright, he's currently playing in the VFL with Geelong.

Dom Cassisi - impressed in the finals for the Sharks in 2000, was drafted by Port Adelaide and was a premiership player last year.

Preston Wall - became a league player for EF, currently at home in Mullewa but the Sharks are hoping to get him back in 2006.

Matthew McNally - had a very successful season at league level in 2004 but his job in the police has kept him out of the game this season. The Sharks hope he'll be back.

Karem Baskaya - went to Victoria with the hope of being noticed by an AFL club. Still playing in a minor Vic league.

Daniel Kerr - an established part of West Coast's impressive midfield.

Richard Hadley - a premiership player with Brisbane in 2003 currently sidelined with a knee injury.

It would be unwise to read too much into this snapshot but it does suggest a problem for the WAFL.

Here are 14 talented juniors from the East Fremantle zone, five of them are established AFL players, one is playing the VFL and not one of the other eight is playing for the Sharks. Next year, of course, Wall, McNally and Saunders may all be back in the blue and white.

There are many factors, especially work, that draw players away from the commitment of playing in the WAFL.

What is clear is that the WAFL would be a better competition if more of the players who've been through the State 18s program were playing in it.

From the Fremantle Rooster.

8 July 2005

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