Why I love the preseason ... by Lancelot Yu
This is the time for eternal hope for all football supporters. Where they can believe that this year is the one ... the year that their club will be the one hosting the cup at the end of the year. All clubs are equal regardless of last years results. Anticipating and anxious at whether their new players will make it okay in their first game. Bruce Dawe Poem: Life Cycle which is a HSC Poetry Text that some of you have studied in English captures the eternal hope of footy supporters in our journeys of life. So we now will do a preseason preview of all eight clubs in co-operation with all SWAFL Captains or senior players available and Coaches. All opinions are mine alone and do not represent SWAFL or any of the clubs in any official capacity. 2009 brings the 10th anniversary and a record number of teams in the league with 8 teams competing. Another highlight already of the 2009 season is 4 female coaches of SWAFL teams which must surely be a record in terms of participation stakes.
Methodology: I conducted preseason polling of all club coaches and captains over the last four weeks. They were asked the following questions.
Breakdown in the piecharts in the MS Powerpoint 2007 Version
Q1. Apart from your own club, which other team is most likely to win the premiership.
The Western Wolves would go back to back was the most popular response. Balmain was the second club nominated with Newtown third. Sydney University got a sole nomination.
Q2: Apart from your own club, which 3 other teams are most likely to be in the finals with you.
Obviously the answers in question 1 would reflect in question 2. Western Wolves was rated favourite with Balmain and Newtown rated joint second to be in the finals. Sydney University just edged out the Bondi Shamrocks for the coveted fourth spot.
Q3: Which team will be the big improver/surprise this year?
There was a wide variety of responses with the Bondi Shamrocks the most popular response followed by UNSW/Easts Stingrays second. They just edged out a tied third of Sydney University and St. George.
Q4: What is the biggest challenge for your team this year (answers in each club section).
Preseason club preview
With only 4 spots available in the finals, it is going to mean that the desperation stakes are higher than ever with each club having a 50% chance of making the
finals. The preview will look at all the clubs.
Balmain Dockers: Coach Darren Morrow (3rd
Year with Balmain)
Last years runner up head into season 2009 with a sense of a mission
unfulfilled. Falling agonizing short in the grand final by less than a kick should spur the Dockers into pushing that extra step further. I expect the Dockers to once again continue to play their exciting brand of footy with high scoring. Only question can Belinda Pride score a hundred goals this season? Having only one preseason match in 2009 might mean the Dockers might take some time to readjust to footy. Coach Morrow said the biggest challenge facing his team was kicking goals in finals whilst Captain Katie Walsh opinion was to sustain last years performance and to go that extra step for the title. With most of their squad back they will be tough to beat.
My tip, definitely in the finals.
(1st 2009 SWAFL League game against Wests, 3pm)
Bondi Shamrocks: Coach Lisa Roper (Inaugural Coach)
One of the new clubs in season 2009. With a bunch of players from Wests and Sydney University plus mostly new players from the Gaelic Athletic Association they could be a dark horse in the competition. It willl be interesting to see how quickly the team can gel together and adapt to the rules of Australian Football. Most of the Irish girls are still getting used to the rules but when it comes to fitness across the board, it is of a very high standard. In their three preseason matches they have been competitive in their matches against quality opposition but still are getting used to some of the basics of Australian Rules. If last years leading goal kicker and holder of the most goals kicked Marie Keating plays, the question is whether she can outscore Belinda Pride and break the 100 goal barrier. Jamie Fitzsimons (senior player) believed that the teams challenge was to learn the Aussie Lingo! Coach Lisa Roper believed the biggest challenge for the team was to learn the concept of the game. Can they win the competition in the first season, historically looking at SWAFL only two teams have achieved this feat Wests in 2000 and Newtown in 2002.
My tip, hovering in finals contention.
(1st 2009 SWAFL League game against Newtown, 11am)
Easts/UNSW Stingrays: Coach Ben Porter (1st year with the Stingrays).
Last years wooden spooners have no doubt pledged to be more competitive in season 2009. With most of their squad returning, they have much cause and optimism for a brighter future. Of course with two new clubs in the league, they have the best opportunity to dish off the wooden kitchen implement to someone else. They have been managing to train well and their first league match will be against Macquarie University - so the effort will show how much improvement has occurred will be revealed. In the trial match against St. George their rookies showed much promise against more experienced opposition. One of the highlights to look out for will be the excellent skills of Jenna Lineham and Cherie Harmer in the midfield. With home ground advantage of 4 league games at Village Green, its up to the Stingrays to go that extra step in 2009. Senior Player Sarah Court said the biggest challenge in the team was the lack of experience amongst the playing cohort. Coach Ben Porter said that gelling skills and acting as a unit would be a big focus.
My tip, hovering in finals contention.
(1st 2009 SWAFL League game against Macquarie University, 1pm)
Macquarie University Warriors: Coach Belinda Harrison (Inaugural Coach)
The other new club in season 2009. Coach Belinda Harrison has put a team of very enthusiastic women on the field with an experienced player in Queenslands Janice Variant-Bell and the coach herself. Obviously a bit of an unknown quantity to the rest of the league but the early morning trips to
University Oval at North Ryde could prove to be a geographical challenge for visiting teams. The Warriors looked pretty promising in their trial matches so far. We look forward to their participation in this years league. Coach Belinda Robertson said the Warriors biggest challenge was commitment to training and fielding a full team which was echoed by senior player Janice Variant-Bell.
My tip, hovering in finals contention.
(1st 2009 SWAFL League game against Easts/UNSW Stingrays 1pm)
Newtown Breakaways: Coach Jamie Robertson (Returning coach of Newtown, 6th year coaching Newtown) With premiership coach Jamie Robertson and assistant coach Sarah Groube returning from a break from the game, the 5th SWAFL premiership could be within the Breakaways grasp. The challenge of Newtown is to encourage the continuing development of their 2nd year players with the experienced players such as Amanda Jennings and Bec Burridge. Led by the best ruck in the competition in Natalie Redford, the opposition will have to shut down the midfield players to have a chance which also means shutting down the SWAFL President Jemma Still whom has committed for the full season in 2009. In their preseason matches against Sydney University and Bondi Shamrocks, Newtown had a solid hit out against both clubs. Coach Jamie Robertson believed the teams greatest challenge was to ensure that every player had a good run on the field while senior player Bec Burridge said it was to use loud voices on the field (Ed: I can second that!).
My tip, definitely in the finals.
(1st 2009 SWAFL League game against Bondi Shamrocks, 11am)
St. George Dragons: Coach Gary Slowgrove (1st year coaching with St. George)
Last years fifth placed team aims to go at least one step and beyond than in 2008. With at least 85% of the team having played at least one season, 2009 will be the consolidation year of putting their football skills and tactical ability. With a change in the coaching structure and the addition of a fitness trainer aboard we expect the Dragons to be fitter and stronger than ever. One of the things to look out for will be whether last years SWAFL joint best and fairest Erin Burns can roam at will or given more attention this year regarding a tag. They should be one of the smokies in the league as displayed with a solid performance against Belconnen but needs to make their home ground of Olds Park a fortress with three home games. Coach Gary Slowgrove said the teams biggest challenge was to make the top four. Captain Christine Coles said the teams biggest challenge was to reach the teams full potential.
My tip, hovering in finals contention.
(1st 2009 SWAFL League game against Sydney University, 9am)
Sydney University Bombers: Coaches Kellie Nolan (2nd year coaching with Sydney University) and Penny Stringer (1st
year coaching Sydney University).
The Sydney University Bombers looks forward to season 2009 with high
hopes. Last years fourth placed team has so many players to call upon, the challenge for the coaching staff is to ensure everyone has a run! One of the highlights will be seeing last years players player Emma Yuens dominance over the ball in the midfield. Sydney University obviously has the challenge of integrating its rookies and second year players in its experienced team and at the same time putting its best team out on the park. In their preseason games Sydney University played with an intensity and purpose that was not always consistently applied in their 2008 season. The return of 2007 premiership player Kyrsten Winkley is in an invaluable addition, interviewed she believed the teams biggest challenge was to improve skill levels. Co-coach Kellie Nolan believed the teams biggest challenge was to get the numerous rookies up to standard.
My tip, is hovering in finals contention.
(1st 2009 SWAFL League game against St. George, 9am)
Western Wolves: Coach Jason King (2nd year coaching with Wests)
They sometimes say in professional football it is harder to stay on top of the mountain than climbing it. That is the challenge for the Western Wolves as they sought to defend their title in 2009. It is a combination of sustaining intrinsic motivation after reaching the ultimate goal and the fact that other teams will naturally raise their best playing efforts against the Wolves. Coach Jason King in 2008 unleashed the Wolves on the league last year with aggressive play and scoring-options based around the league leading goal-kicker combined with the attacking wall kickout which confounded most SWAFL teams. With the leading goal-kicker playing at the Shamrocks, I have no doubt Wests will find unearth some hidden talent as always. Highlights to look out for will be 2008 SWAFL Joint Best and Fairest Tricia Muller pace and elusiveness in ball contests. In their preseason matches, it was a close match against the Riverina Lions but more importantly was the team-bonding sessions and a comprehensive win against Balmain in the Michelle Daley Shield. Coach Jason King said the biggest challenge was to remain on top, now that all the teams were hunting for the Wolves. Senior player Christine McDonald said that with the Wolves reliance on ADF personnel that she hoped there would be no more foreign conflicts! My tip, definitely in the finals.
(1st 2009 SWAFL League game against Balmain, 3pm)
Conclusion: There you have it, quotes from people in the know. Well yes I did say that 5 teams are hovering in finals contention, that 4th
spot looks like the mother of all dogfights for the Stingrays, Shamrocks, Dragons, Sydney Uni and Mac Uni. My crystal ball cannot predict which one of these clubs will grab that spot but all eight clubs look forward to the season ahead.
Last Modified on 13/04/2009 22:25