Will West Adelaide finish in the five in 2010?

[Sojourner]

Its my recollection that West Adelaide supporters were given the indication that incoming coach Andy Collins was to institute a three year plan at West Adelaide to bring West Adelaide into finals contention in the third year of the plan, that year being this year.

My reading of SAFooty seems to be that most SAFooty posters place them as finishing potentially sixth, in the same position as last season.

If you feel that Westies are likely to finish outside of the five, why is it that you have that opinion? Since Andy Collins came into the club they have seen improvement in terms of their win loss ratio and were in contention late into last season for a spot in the five. The club has recruited quite well and would appear to have to be some chance to take the next step forward into the five and the finals.

Yet why no confidence in Westies from SAFooty fans?

[Brodlach]

Good selective recruitment of players for postions where we need them and youngsters are a year older. We now have a good spine with Bennetts (FF),Willits/Ferguson/Webb(CHF),Birss (C),Ferguson/Hartlett (CHB) and Silvestor (FB). Ronaldson in ruck is a big bonus too.

[Thiele]

Yes we will

[gossipgirl]

they will make the 5 easily

[JK]

I think they'll miss out ... I have (in no order) Dogs, Blues, Tigers, Roosters and Eagles ahead of them ... Hope Im wrong though, would be happy to see the Bloods playing in September.

[tipper]

i think the main reason most see them in sixth is they dont see who ahead of them will fall back. personally i expect north to improve this year (yes i am biased..) centrals are a certainty for the five, i dont see sturt falling back far enough, if at all, glenelg will probably drop from first (but will they fall out of the five??), and theat only leaves the eagles. as has been mentioned elsewhere they have recruited well, but i still feel that under a first year coach they may be the ones to drop back, but once again will it be far enough to open the door to west?

i do think west will improve, and i would like to see them in the five, but where do you fit them?

[MST]

In order to make the five from being outside it from the previous season, you need to determine who of the top five looks vulnerable enough to be replaced.

To my way of thinking, Central, Sturt & Glenelg are near certainties to make the major round again in 2010, so that leaves Eagles & North as one of the two sides West will need to dislodge. Eagles, with a new coach, are perhaps the more likely of the two to be vulnerable. I don't believe North will take a backward step as Healy and his troops will be more accustomed to each other.

In summary, West will be a solid side in 2010 and will win their fair share of games, but unfortunately for Bloods fans I can't see any of last years top five dropping out of premiership contention.

[tipper]

In order to make the five from being outside it from the previous season, you need to determine who of the top five looks vulnerable enough to be replaced.

To my way of thinking, Central, Sturt & Glenelg are near certainties to make the major round again in 2010, so that leaves Eagles & North as one of the two sides West will need to dislodge. Eagles, with a new coach, are perhaps the more likely of the two to be vulnerable. I don't believe North will take a backward step as Healy and his troops will be more accustomed to each other.

In summary, West will be a solid side in 2010 and will win their fair share of games, but unfortunately for Bloods fans I can't see any of last years top five dropping out of premiership contention.

Snap!

[MST]

I like the cut of your jib mate

[Brodlach]

Tipper and MST you make good points but I think that Westies will improve alot more than both the Eagles and North and remembering that they were still in finals calculations last year with 2 rounds to go. We really lacked size in our backline last year and with Hartlett and Silvestor arriving that has been fixed.

[Bum Crack]

No.

[SnappyTom]

Its my recollection that West Adelaide supporters were given the indication that incoming coach Andy Collins was to institute a three year plan at West Adelaide to bring West Adelaide into finals contention in the third year of the plan, that year being this year.

My reading of SAFooty seems to be that most SAFooty posters place them as finishing potentially sixth, in the same position as last season.

If you feel that Westies are likely to finish outside of the five, why is it that you have that opinion? Since Andy Collins came into the club they have seen improvement in terms of their win loss ratio and were in contention late into last season for a spot in the five. The club has recruited quite well and would appear to have to be some chance to take the next step forward into the five and the finals.

Yet why no confidence in Westies from SAFooty fans?

If Andy Collins said that, it must be true. I'm following from the Eagles new jumper logic...
If the Eagles song says Gold & Green & Blue, their new jumper must be gold not yellow.

FWIW I think they'll finish 4th in 2010.

ST...

[Strawb]

Westies will be the surprise team of the season. West will make the 5 and i am going on a limb and saying we will finish 3rd.

[SnappyTom]

Westies will be the surprise team of the season. West will make the 5 and i am going on a limb and saying we will finish 3rd.

Gord, if they managed to finish top three they'd bring the stand down!
Wait, they did that already!

ST...

[on the rails]

geez another poll on almost the same topic as the others re where teams will finish in 2010, who will fill top 3 spots etc etc!

[mr o]

as i have said on another thread, westies will finish top 5 this year and top three next with the eagles droping out of the five this year.

[whufc]

Since Andy Collins had a three year plan to make the finals and this is the third year. If West don't make the finals

1. Has Collins then been a failure?
2. Will Collins job be secure?

[Neville]

Squad hasn't got enough depth yet to qualify for finals. Another year off.

[Sojourner]

Since Andy Collins had a three year plan to make the finals and this is the third year. If West don't make the finals

1. Has Collins then been a failure?
2. Will Collins job be secure?

1 - No, - he has ended their run of spoons and can show achievement so far dependant on what happens this season, if Westies finish under South he would be likely considered to have failed.

2 - Yes, - I cant see him getting sacked from Westies if its a second year of finishing in Sixth spot, I think he would be given another year to have another go.

[SnappyTom]

Since Andy Collins had a three year plan to make the finals and this is the third year. If West don't make the finals

1. Has Collins then been a failure?
2. Will Collins job be secure?

It's a bit like asking both coaches before the Grand Final is a loss will be viewed as a season "failure".
I take it we'd have to see how the season pans out - they could be an unlucky 6th in a close season, where maybe positions 3-4-5-6-7 all come down to a couple of vital clashes, or percentage.

ST...