Almanac Footy: WAFL Week 2 Finals Preview – Swan Lake

 

Well punters, the underdogs (Tigers and Black Ducks) got up in both Week 1 WAFL finals.  As all season in the AFL – the form guide was good for toilet paper; the bookies made out like bandits; and fools and their money were once again parted.

 

The good news was that both were willing, high pressure contests deserving of finals status.  There were similarities between both games, with tackling and pressure counting for more than pure talent.  Swans mids Jye Chalcraft and Nik Rokahr feasted despite Docker ruckman Liam Reidy’s hit out dominance, and Swans full forward Leigh Kohlmann was 4.0 from 6 kicks while Matt Taberner was 3.2 with an OOBF.  You have to take your chances in finals.  Dockers coach Justin Longmuir looked on as Peel’s AFL talent amounted to $5M of bum fluff, while Swans $250K of teachers and tradies were all hard at it.

 

 

 

 

At Claremont on Sunday the nomadic East Fremantle Sharks were ambushed by a relentless Tiger midfield.  Tiger ruckman Oliver Eastland dominated Sharks tyro Lachlan Blakiston with strength at the taps and more particularly around the ground.  Top 5 possession getters were all Claremont and they controlled the game with 18 more I50’s.

 

 

Second Semi Final – East Perth v Swan Districts

 

East Perth (Royals play in Royal Blue & Black strip) were the strong finishers of the season winning their final 2 games against Peel and East Freo to grab top place and a week’s rest.  Both games were played in rain on mud heaps and the question is whether they are as good on top of the ground.  They are a very even side with man mountain Scott Jones in ruck (also handy mark around the ground).  Their most offensive weapons are the booming left foot kicks of half back Stanley Wright and ex Docker mid Mitch Crowden.  Both can clear lines with deep kicks for small forwards to run onto.  East Perth’s strength is their depth with Harrison Macreadie, Angus Schumacher and Angus Scott all in the WA State Squad.

 

Swan Districts are full of self belief after a well deserved upset win over the fancied Peel.  The evenness of the effort stood out.  Tackle, turnover, run and spread are the centre pieces of the game style.  The defence has been outstanding all year with strong marking Will Collins and Jake Pasini creating a lot of interceptions and rebound.  Ruckman ‘Doc’ Blakely more than compensates at ground level with tackling and handball for what he lacks in height.  The kids were not overawed in their first league final with youngsters Ben Hewett (brother of Eagle Elijah), Lewis Tester and Luke Kelly (10 tackles) all contributing.  

 

A weekend highlight was 94yo Swans Legend John Cooper (past player, coach and President) making his first trip to Peel’s home ground to see the win.  John is a WAFL and Swans Legend and Hall of Fame member, and was the man responsible for getting the late John Todd to Swans resulting in 4 flags as coach.  You couldn’t wipe the smile off the faces of John Cooper and current coach Andrew Pruyn after the big win.

 

 

 

Verdict:  Very evenly matched with a 4:4 record over the last 4 seasons.  There have been 2 one point games (one win each) in the last 2 years.  Both clubs will be desperate as neither have featured seriously in finals for a decade.  Swans last won a flag in 2010 and the Royals in 2002.  Both have significant absentees with Sandover Medallist Hamish Brayshaw (brother of Andrew and Angus) still missing for the Royals with a foot injury.  Swans co-captain Jesse Turner strained a medial ligament last week and will be missing alongside gun midfielder Aidan Clarke who got a 4 week suspension for recklessly throwing back an arm (deserved suspension but given the low impact should have only been one game).  Hoping Swans shift some small defenders into midfield creating a spot for team leader Brandon Erceg to return.  

 

Weather is fining up Friday for a sunny weekend after another inch of rain midweek (if God had meant us to use mms Baudin would have beaten Matthew Flinders to Kangaroo Island).  The ground should be soft but not a mudheap which evens things up.  Swans by a point.

 

First Semi Final – Peel v Claremont 

 

Verdict: Peel talent or Claremont all round effort?  Peel played like individuals last week, and my feeling was that the Dockers listed players had mostly checked out.  Not sure if the Tigers strong bodied midfielders have the legs for the big Mandurah ground.  Eastland will not be able to dominate in ruck against the bigger Reidy who was among Peel’s best last week.  Thunder by a point.

 

 

 

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