The WAFL in 2010
March 16, 2010
By
Les Everett
A guide to the new season that starts this Friday night when South Fremantle hosts East Perth at Fremantle Oval...
THE WAFL had its best season in years in 2009 – crowds were up significantly and the combined team beat the SANFL.
The revival of Swan Districts in 2008 and 2009 has had a lot to do with the increased crowds and administrators will be hoping the Swan flight continues. East Perth, another team with a big latent supporter base, look on track for big improvement in 2010 and that’s also good news for the bean counters.
The WAFL has decided to introduce the AFL’s free kick after disposal rule for the new season but not the forced behind rule.
Here’s how the clubs are looking...
Claremont.
Coach: Simon McPhee.
Captain: Clancy Rudeforth.
Lost: Liam Bedford, Travis Colyer, Jaxon Crabb, Trinity Handley, Darren Harper, Ryan Jackson, Tom Matson, Michael Warren, Ben Bucovas.
Gained: Ryan Brabazon, Andrew Browne, David Crawford, Andrew Foster, Tom Lee, Adam McPhee, Alex Silvagni.
Last year: Eighth.
Form line: McPhee’s first full year as coach. The Tigers have lost a lot of experience and some pace but have picked up a midfield. Preseason form has been good. Had a great colts team last year.
East Fremantle.
Coach: Shane Woewodin.
Captain: Kasey Green.
Lost: Leigh Conway, Andrew Foster, Dom Foster, Kyle Hardingham, Courtney Johns, Kane Lucas, Alex McLeod, Andrew McCarrey, Brent Staker, David Swallow.
Gained: Ben Bucovas, Bradd Dalziell, Koby Stevens, Michael Warren.
Last year: Seventh.
Form line: Massive losses from all parts of the line up. The Sharks will have to look to their youngsters.
East Perth.
Coach: Tony Micale.
Captain:
Lost: Frank Agostino, Danny Byrne, Mitch Duncan, Mark Hutchings, Jon Eastwell, Jeremy Humm, Daniel Jones, Trevor Oliver, Ben Stratton.
Gained: Zac Beeck, Nick Kane, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Dylan Robinson, Jason Roe, Luke Shuey, Aaron Sweet, David Wirrpanda.
Last year: Fifth.
Form line: Finished well in 2009 and appear to have recruited well. David Wirrpanda won’t be full time but will be important. Brent Cowell has been talked out of retirement and will go around again. Sad that 2009 fairest and best winner Oliver has retired due to a knee injury. Big show.
Peel.
Coach: Trevor Williams.
Captain: Daniel Haines.
Lost: Zac Beeck, Aaron Black, Heath Black, Kane Bloxidge, Brandon Hill, Ben Howlett, Damien Lock, David Murray, Kain Robins, Simon Rosa, Mathew Ware.
Gained: Michael Barlow, John Bennell, Brad Collard, Clayton Collard, Jess Crichton, Brendon Jones, Jordan Jones.
Last year: Last.
Form line: Have lost some very serviceable players. Unfortunately Barlow doesn’t look like playing too much WAFL footy. Like Claremont’s McPhee, coach Williams doesn’t have a WAFL playing career behind him but was the WA Coach of the Year a few years back.
Perth.
Coach: Andrew Jarman.
Captain: Steven Armstrong.
Lost: Dean Dick, Marcus Drum, Brendon Jones, Jarrod Kayler-Thomson, Aaron Zucconi
Gained: Justin Bollenhagen, Andrew McDougall, Justin Sprigg, Alex McLeod,
Last year: Sixth.
Form line: Top midfielder Jones is a big loss as is Kayler-Thomson. Need to improve but it’s hard to see where it will come from.
South Fremantle.
Coach: John Dimmer.
Captain: Toby McGrath.
Lost: Peter Bell, Troy Ditchburn, Jeff Farmer, Daniel Gilmore, Brent Hall, Tim Malseed, Brandon Matera, Ray Smithers, Nathan Street, Keren Ugle.
Gained: Jared Kickett, Andrew McCarrey, Tom Motlpop, Shannon Rioli, Ross Tungalungatum, Jared Winter.
Last year: Premiers.
Form line: Big losses but they had great depth in 2009 and will cover well. If one or two of the NT recruits come off it will be interesting.
Subiaco.
Coach: Chris Waterman.
Captain: Aidan Parker.
Lost: Daniel Chick, Trent Dennis-Lane, Chad Fletcher (probably), Caine Hayes, David Mapleston, Brad Smith, Tyson Stenglein, Simon White.
Gained: Adam Campbell, Patrick Hassett, Ben Heffernan-Roper, Andrew Scott, Luke Stanford.
Last year: Second.
Form guide: Have been up for a long time. Three of the top four goal scorers from 2009, Dennis-Lane, Smith and Mapleston, have gone and that will make things interesting for the new coach. Allistair Pickett has decided not to reitre after all.
Swan Districts.
Coach: Brian Dawson.
Captain: Josh Roberts.
Lost: Matthew Carr, Jason Fleming, Adam Hunter, Lewis Jetta, Adam Lange, Neil Martin, David McKinlay,
Gained: Andrew Krakouer, Jai Mengola, Matt Riggio, Thomas Roach.
Form line: It feels like their year but it’s very hard to maintain things in the WAFL. They’ve lost some experience and Jetta will be missed. Solid replacements and they will be around the place.
Last year: Third.
West Perth.
Coach: Bill Monaghan.
Captain: Jason Salecic.
Lost: Blake Arnold, Adam Campbell, Troy Longmuir, Jai Mengola, Stephen Morgan, Mark Seaby, Joel Smoker.
Gained: Regan Duckworth, Troy Skilton.
Last year: Fourth.
Form line: Have lost some goals with Campbell’s move to Subi and Longmuir’s retirement while Seaby played 17 games last year and will be missed.
• Andrew McCarrey has moved from East to South Fremantle.
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