Welcome back to all & we wish you all the absolute best for the season. It’s a very exciting time for all clubs. Most sides have spent hours arguing with the great debates, the selection conundrums & most selectors have lost about 50% of their friends at the club already, joking!!
The wonderful thing for selectors at this level is the lack of control. People are expected to perform & having a ‘off-week’ isn’t as forgiving in this division. Although I could be terribly wrong but I’m not seeing any team blowing the Tonne with 105 or 110pts like Mossies in ‘19 or Sorrento ‘20 at the end of the season. In saying that I can’t see it not being a 3 horse race but more on the predictions in later rounds. Let’s get into some glorious random predictions & see what sticks Sat afternoon.
WARNBRO v GOSNELLS
WARNBRO
B Kalinowsky, W Baker, C Foster, D Wagstaff
L Strange, D Pattullo, A Shone, B Galvin
Dr G Jackson, K Bancroft, I Gibson, A De Brouwer
K Cousens, T Dellar, J Pattullo, D Sudden IN: OUT:
GOSNELLS
G Nicol, S Harris, N Tulett, M Crabb
B Holland, G Lynch, T Close, M Rickard
R Foy, E Gahan, P Gale, D Bradbury
F Carbone, C Hickinbotham, P Deas, A Hodge IN: OUT:
Both teams aren’t very far from each other & last year showed that. The Wizards just had the edge over the season but looking at selections this week I’m finding a solid case for the Kookaburra’s. All 4 rinks look really capable. It’s difficult to go against the Wizards at home but I just feel if Gosnells take their chances they could just steal this one late. In saying that the Wizards still have the guts of the side that played PL in the COVID season & to add to their capability the last game they played in PL they beat Doubleview by 1pt when the View were heading for a 3 peat Flag so if that doesn’t provide credentials then you’re got me cold.
Looking at last year Warnbro had to wood over the Kookaburra's both times but repeating that 59 shot margin trashing again of Gosnells this weekend is probably unlikely. I’ll chicken out of calling an away win & go with the home side who were a power of consistency last year but I do think this could run close with a few to go.
Gosnells
BASSENDEAN 2 v WANNEROO
BASSENDEAN 2
E O'Sullivan, T Alden, G Ekholm, B Tie
P Madigan, B Dinnison, N Strachan, R Sheppard
M Cook, P Hutchinson, I Robertson, S Bermingham
R D'Souza, D Blight, N Hall, J Holman IN: OUT:
WANNEROO
K Toster, M Nievelstein, D Anderson, H Whitman
D Triffitt, L Bryson, S Denny, M Ong
C Bucholz, C Parr, G Jack, R Burns
N Costello, D Griffin, B Nelson, B Bucowski IN: OUT:
The Lions part deux have an ideal start to the season playing at home, the only problem is they play a 16 that are very hungry for playing in PL next year. The Roos have rounded the troops, called back the ex.Pats from other clubs & signed up to an agreement on 1 big final push for PL. This fixture last year saw the Roo's win by ~20shots against a stronger Basso side but then at home they only beat them by 3 shots in a very close call.
Still plenty of talent left for Basso to create a nice opening upset but they’ll need all 4 rinks to hold tight even when the game is drifting. The Roos should be winning games by more so they’ll need to defend well but attack hard on those better rinks. If they keep leaving less than 6-8shots in the Agg on the final furlong they’ll drop those 1 or 2 critical games. The Roo's probably had ~13 games last year which were decided by less than 10 shots so they'll be given some sides a real look heading to 84th end. The Roos here with a little left in the tank.
Wanneroo
QUINNS ROCKS v MT LAWLEY
QUINNS ROCKS
R Cantrill, A Barker, C Bartle, T Hines
H Ward, B Crawford, T Burrows, D Eadie
M Hinchcliffe, S Smith, R Cole, S Cavanagh
J Berecz, L Oldham, P Geenacker, L Johnson IN: OUT:
MT LAWLEY
A Einfeld, D Rhodes, A Graham, M Bessant
C Bessant, G Herriot, J Bessant, K Cornell
M Masel, T Ingram, J Cottier jnr, K Scott
A Jones, L Kelly, P Sinden, C Green IN: OUT:
Very interesting game here as the last time these sides met was R15 in COVID season & Quinns destroyed the Mounters by 35pts & they were playing Mt Lawley. A lot has changed since then across both sides.
We probably didn’t understand the changes until we pulled the team for that Quinns game & yes the Mounters current side have changed more than half the side with only 6 players remaining in this weeks selection. The Bessant rink seems to be an entire ex.Doubleview side & with Basso, Bedford & Ossie Pk all contributing to this new look side it looks strong on paper but collecting names don’t win games so Quinns won’t be knee knocking 1.30 Sat after some massive scalps last year with one of them being a current PL side. The Mounters probably need this one a little more but it will should be close on the run home.
Mt Lawley
COCKBURN v BASSENDEAN 1
COCKBURN
J Marevic, I Mateljak, B Vidovich, V Dropulic
W Tepania, D Bandy, D Ravlich, A Edwards
M Simunovic, M Musulin, D Gurr, J Richards
M Abonnel, J Ricci, M Sokol, B Dropulic IN: OUT:
BASSENDEAN 1
R Ellis, L McKay, G Stokes, M Watson
S Alden, R Kenyon, M Whitely, D Snelgar
J Krstic, T Lynch, G Needs, N Kirkup
S Davies, D Killisch Von Horn, L Pike, J Carrigan IN: OUT:
Tough start for the Roosters but one that will be a very good barometer for them against a well seasoned Basso side fancied for a top finish.
Rooster got the valuable Bandy from South Perth & pairing up with Big Willie creates a formidable rink. Given Cockburn have been in & out of 1 White & previously PL gives them an edge on most sides so they will be quietly confident this week. The Lions have some white noise to work through but have plenty of fire power for Cockburn so this will be a very interesting game. I’m siding with the Lions but knowing that they might be one of the only teams to take an Agg at Cockburn will bring this game down to the wire & possibly make it Game of the Round.
Bassendean 1
ROSSMOYNE v SORRENTO
ROSSMOYNE
R Lang, G Collier, T Churcher, G Maesepp
J Carter, R Vind, P Brotherston, P Voon
A Petchell, W Harvey, R Halse, H Slowiak
C Edson, M Barrett, G Eades, N Edson IN: OUT:
SORRENTO
I Linford, P Crow, D Croker, S Mortimer
L Martin, R Bone, C Grisbrook, D Greig
A Anderson, D Dunstan, B Lucas, W Morrell
R Rogers, J Brown, W Elliott, B Kiely IN: OUT:
A real solid game of contrasts & momentum as the River Rats comes down from a credible PL performance & the Swans rise from a dominant 1 Blue performance.
Both sides have experienced reasonable change across the 4 rinks so it’s a coin toss on who can settle down quickest. Word from Rossmoyne has the recent down pour leaving the greens well soaked & with little radiation over the coming days will surely slow things for Sorrento which probably doesn’t suit them.
The home side play the surface well & haven’t lost many at home over the years. Sorrento could dig in early but the River Rats are well posed to steamroll the last few ends & get their season off & running.
