A very comprehensive performance by Westies today against last year's minor premiers saw them run out clear winners 14.17 to 3.4. This is the highest number of scoring shots Westies have had in a match since round 1 last year! The Bays didn't kick their 3rd goal until the 17min mark of the last Q.
Q by Q scores:
1Q WA3.4 Gl 0.2
2Q WA 5.8 Gl 1.3
3Q WA 10.12 Gl 3.4
Final WA 14.17 Gl 3.4
The reserves also won in the last few minutes of the match 13.11 to 13.3. A feature of this game was the female field umpire.
The Bloods were close to full strength - as were the Bays. A Hartlett played in the Bs and Nat Caruso and Greg Rowe were some of the few missing from our 'best' team.
Best for West was probably Brad Moran. He rucked most of the game but his work around the ground was very good. Willets relished the flexibility provided by Moran and did some useful things (and loves parading around with his jumper off at Q time breaks). The Bloods' backline was superb. Morris, Thompson, Green, Fisher, Ferguson, Blesing and Silvester shut out the Bays all day. Caire and MacCreadie roved to winning rucks which meant we won the stoppages all day, something that didn't happen last year. Beech started slowly but became a key forward and finished with 3 goals. F Caruso and Ezard struggled to get into the game. Birss is looking good and his handballing skills are something to behold. Brad Fisher is slowly working his way into the side but did some good things.
Westies won because they moved the ball quickly and with precision, they had options at the fall of the ball, they talked to each other and they played in front.
We still lack a big marking forward with the Fishers Brad and Brayden, Webb and Willets all making some contributions.
Even if we lose Moran we will still have Lobbe coming back from injury and in the 2s we had 204cm Molitor, 202cm Nelson as well as 'Shorty' Bornholm. But Willets and Webb will still do plenty of ruck work during the upcoming season.
All up, a very promising trial match for the Bloods