State Squad Announced

[nickname]

Big Phil, I don't know about Torney being in form. He hasn't made the best players in the last 4 games and his stats in those games haven't been impressive:

K M H
3 2 2
9 6 3
7 1 6
4 3 11

[Wedgie]

And Dabrowski was very ordinary on the weekend, even his 'back up' ruck man got more taps than he did. O'Hara killed them all.
I agree about Cranston though, he has impressed me too.

[drebin]

And Dabrowski was very ordinary on the weekend, even his 'back up' ruck man got more taps than he did. O'Hara killed them all.
I agree about Cranston though, he has impressed me too.

Surely Cranston had to have been the first picked out of the ruckman???

Out of the other options Dabrowski has been okay although I suspect Hart wants an athletic type who can take a few grabs around the ground hence Parry getting the nod.

[Grahaml]

You can't just look at the simple hit out stats. O'Hara is well known for having his hit outs go all over the place. And his around the ground play has been in decline for a few seasons now. Parry has been a very good mobile ruckman for a long time now. I do agree that our rucks look our weakness and perhaps that is the reason for Parry's inclusion. Use him more as an extra midfielder and try to use his mobility to expose the opposition ruckman and hope to negate the other guy's hit outs. No good getting your hand to it first if you can't put it to a teammate's advantage!

[Wedgie]

You can't just look at the simple hit out stats. O'Hara is well known for having his hit outs go all over the place. And his around the ground play has been in decline for a few seasons now. Parry has been a very good mobile ruckman for a long time now. I do agree that our rucks look our weakness and perhaps that is the reason for Parry's inclusion. Use him more as an extra midfielder and try to use his mobility to expose the opposition ruckman and hope to negate the other guy's hit outs. No good getting your hand to it first if you can't put it to a teammate's advantage!

Im not saying O'Hara should be in the state side, far from it, Im just saying that as he kicked Dabrowski's arse there's no way Dabrowski should be in the state side.
Mightnt be much use in geting your hand to the ball if you can't put it to a teammate's advantage but its better than not getting your harnd to the ball at all!
I would have been happy with Crantson and Parry. Both are very good ruckmen.
I honestly can't remember seeing Dabrowski having a decent game, only thought of him as a backup to Lindsay in the past but North usually beat the Eagles including the ruck contests so I probably have a skewed impression, he might play well against other clubs.

[Mickyj]

You can't just look at the simple hit out stats. O'Hara is well known for having his hit outs go all over the place. And his around the ground play has been in decline for a few seasons now. Parry has been a very good mobile ruckman for a long time now. I do agree that our rucks look our weakness and perhaps that is the reason for Parry's inclusion. Use him more as an extra midfielder and try to use his mobility to expose the opposition ruckman and hope to negate the other guy's hit outs. No good getting your hand to it first if you can't put it to a teammate's advantage!

Im not saying O'Hara should be in the state side, far from it, Im just saying that as he kicked Dabrowski's arse there's no way Dabrowski should be in the state side.
Mightnt be much use in geting your hand to the ball if you can't put it to a teammate's advantage but its better than not getting your harnd to the ball at all!
I would have been happy with Crantson and Parry. Both are very good ruckmen.
I honestly can't remember seeing Dabrowski having a decent game, only thought of him as a backup to Lindsay in the past but North usually beat the Eagles including the ruck contests so I probably have a skewed impression, he might play well against other clubs.

The 2006 Grandfinal comes to mind .
But yes on Saturday he was off his game with a fair few of his mates!!

Rucks in SANFL do not look as good this year for my mind.

[zipzap]

From the little I've seen of Poort this year I'm surprised Summerton has been omitted.

[eaglehaslanded]

Just pulled this off sanfl.com.au

The 2008 West End SA State Team –
(* indicates this player has previously represented SA)

Central District (5)
Andrew Hayes
Daniel Havelberg
Daniel Schell *
James Gowans *
Paul Thomas *
Glenelg (3)
Adam Fisher *
Ben Kane
Brett Backwell *
North Adelaide (2)
Clint Alleway
James Allan
Port Adelaide Magpies (2)
Corey AhChee *
Jeremy Clayton *
South Adelaide (1)
Craig Parry *
Sturt (7)
Brant Chambers *
Charlie Sharples
Ian Perrie
Jade Sheedy *
Luke Crane
Nicholas Wark
Tristan Gum
Woodville-West Torrens (4)
Brad Dabrowski
Leigh Treeby
Luke Powell *
Nick Salter

This is all I've been able to locate about the Victorian Squad:

The Victoria Football League is pleased to annoounce the following players have been selected in the 2008 State Squad, for the State League match against the SANFL at Adeladie Oval on Saturday 31st May.

The final list of 24 players will train at TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne on Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th May, commencing at 6.00pm.

Bendigo Bombers (1)
Hayden Skipworth *
Box Hill Hawks (2)
Steve Kenna *
Alister Neville #
Casey Scorpions (2)
James Wall *
Andrew McQualter *
Coburg Tigers (2)
Jarrod Silvester *
Tristan Cartledge #
Collingwood (2)
Liam Jurrah *
Danny Nicholls *
Frankston (1)
Justin Berry #
Geelong (2)
Matthew Firman *
James Byrne #
North Ballarat (5)
Brett Goodes *
Orren Stephenson *
Tom Roach *
Michael Searl *
Jacob Spolding *
Northern Bullants (1)
Adam Iacobucci *
Port Melbourne (3)
John Baird #
Cory McGrath *
Robin Nahas *
Sandringham (5)
Peter Summers #
Shane Valenti #
Ezra Poyas #
Nicholas Sautner #
Rod Crowe #
Tasmania (3)
Cameron Thurley *
Nathan Street *
James Charlesworth *
Werribee (1)
James Podsiadly #
Williamstown (6)
Scott Meyer *
Brett Johnson #
Jason Cloke #
Dean Galea *
Patrick Rose *
David Stretton *

* - Player has not represented Victoria before

# - Player represented Victoria in the last State Game against Western Australia in 2007

^ - Player has previously represented Victoria

[Jimmy]

congrats to gum and wark on getting the nod!!! great stuff, and to charlie too!!!! go you sa boys!!!!!!

[Thunderstruck]

Geez Matty Slade cut?? Gum kept? fair dinkum, I'd like to think Slade is a helluva lot better than Gum who whilst he has been pretty good this year has not been outstanding. Experience sometimes is valuable, I guess I'm a bit of a traditionalist but Sladey has been playing well too. Summerton too....struth his centre work has been very solid I thought. The Sam Mitchell of the SANFL. Also....Passador is very stiff...and McConnell too....not the best squad picked at all IMO.

Must say that looks the weakest side we have ever fielded, despite AFL players, lots of new faces there. Might be in good form but SANFL has traditionally gone for older, harder, bigger and more experienced bodies. Shame that Callinan is injured. VIC squad to me looks powerful and I wouldn't be surprised if they won. But I think if we pull together we can get over the line.

Parry is by far the best ruck in the SANFL, tho isn't in the greatest form this year he is a powerhouse who has thrashed others in the past. Very strong in the body, lots of hitouts and to advantage plus solid around the ground. Cranston has really improved this year tho and would be a good number 2. Feast is very very stiff for a ruck tho. Our strength though is certainly in the forward line....win the ball through the middle the talls there should create problems.

Players who I think are stiff:

McConnell (cannot believe he isn't playing)
Summerton
Slade
Younie
Passador (I'd take him over Havelburg)
Hargraves....but you can't take every tall so fair enough I guess.
Brown....just because he plays for west doesn't mean he is no good. Has been very good all year.
Zorzi...stiff as for full back. Tough one tho.

So really hope we can win, very excited about this game as I am about all state clashes. Hope the boys do SA proud.

[Ian]

Article in the 'Tiser

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/sport/afl/story/0,26547,23764770-21546,00.html

[zipzap]

Sturt (7)
Brant Chambers *
Charlie Sharples
Ian Perrie
Jade Sheedy *
Luke Crane
Nicholas Wark
Tristan Gum

Whilst as a Blues fan it's great to see so many Sturt players have been selected, you'd have to question the selection process. Only Sheedy out of that lot has been conistently good this season. Chambo's selection is obvious but while Perrie has definitely played some blinders he has struggled at times, especially under pressure. Craney has not had his usual strong influence due partially at least to him being closely tagged. Wark is a talented youngster who can play above his height but has dropped off a bit in the last few weeks and like Charlie Sharples (sure, great prospect but played less than 10 league games!) may not have enough experience to play well at this level. Gummy has had really good moments but has struggled for consistency.

(Sturt players currently in great form who have missed include Feast, McLeay, Whiteman & Wicks).

[drebin]

Good point Zip Zap re Feast. Maybe age went against him but he is certainly in great form and would be better value then Dabrowski or Parry IMO but if Cranston can't get a jumper then who knows what the selectors see or think?

[Jimmy]

well said zippy, while i am biased and certainly happy for them, i was certainly surprised to see a few of them make it to this point going on what i hear from the sturt fans.

however, i hope they play well and come out of it unscathed!

[Adelaide Hawk]

Only 3 players from the Tigers. Is this a little strange?

[am Bays]

Only 3 players from the Tigers. Is this a little strange?

Not really in all state game selections I reckon selectors look for "big game" experience and big games are really finals outside of state games.

Didn't really expect many given that we've only played two finals in 8 years. Not surprised North Centrals, Eagles and Sturt are providing the bulk of the players for that reason. Next season I expect more players from us to make the side.

IMO our three best players this year haven't been selected.

[Ian]

I would hardley say that North could be included in clubs supplying the bulk, they have only supplied 2, even Glenelg have a better claim to that statement

[smithy]

Jade Sheedy has been named Captain with Paul Thomas as his deputy.

[Big Phil]

Jade Sheedy has been named Captain with Paul Thomas as his deputy.

Well done to Jade, well deserved...

BUT...

I thought Thommo should have got the job, seeing as though he was Deputy to Scott Borlase last time round, and full respect to Jade, like I say, he is capable and will no doubt do a good job. It's just i thought it would have been better to give the skipper job to a local, born and bred South Aussie. Jade is a native New South Welshman and played a fair bit of footy in Victoria. Thommo would have been a better fit IMHO (plus I'm good mates with him and would have loved to see him captain the state)

GO U CROWEATERS...

Big Phil...