SA Footy

Do they automatically go up for selection with their respective clubs (if they have already qualified during the minor round), or can The Power stop them from playing?

Ultimately, the Power can stop them from playing. I hear the Hoff is keen to play in the GF and has permission (providing he is not injured in the AFL GF this week), if that's where you are heading.

Any player that the Power feels can benefit from surgery will get it done in the week after the AFL GF ruling them out of the SANFL GF. Some players it may hold back just to avoid losing them for the following season if they go down with a knee or something. I would expect any player that is fit and willing would be allowed to play.

Westhoff in, Havelberg seeya', cruel but necessary.

A tough call, that one. But I reckon that will be the way it goes.

I am not sure I would play the 'Hoff. I love him to bits and would love for him to have a Premiership medallion around his neck (if we can win) but he has not played for us for many weeks. Our system has changed somewhat in this time. Additionally I am worried about his emotional state, particularly if the Power do manage to snare the AwFuL premiership.

You're kidding aren't you? Of course you'd play him. Who would the opposition play on him? And I think Obst is under the gun. Havelberg has contributed in nearly every game this season, and on Sunday he was seemingly more interested in keeping Ben Hart away from the play which he did well IMHO. Can play both ends. Obst has come in and done well, but I think the old last in first out rule is going to apply.

CENTURION wrote:Westhoff in, Havelberg seeya', cruel but necessary.

I sort of agree with this , but after watching sundays game i think Heath Lawry would be getting very nervous. He dropped a few easy marks and missed a couple of easy goals.
Havelberg is a bit more flexible than Lawry.

I really am at a loss as to whether it would be better to have Westhoff play or not. For starters, how many weeks has it been since he has trained at Central? If Port win the GF, he is unlikely to train next week as well (with various premiership commitments). Admittedly, being at Full Forward, it would be simpler to fit him back into the team structure than if he was further down the ground. Most Central supporters I spoke to on Sunday thought it was best to just let him enjoy his first AwFuL Grand Final. Having said that, if Port lose it would be really lovely to have him get another chance to get a premiership medallion.
Cheers

bulldogproud wrote:I really am at a loss as to whether it would be better to have Westhoff play or not. For starters, how many weeks has it been since he has trained at Central?

He didn't train with you at the start of the year and he performed pretty well for you in the opening 6 or so weeks...

NFC, he did train with us at the beginning of the season. If I am not mistaken, the Power allowed players not selected in their team to train with their SANFL team during the final training session of each week.
Cheers

And here I was under the impression if you take a mark and kick a goal it's worth the same in the AFL and SANFL. Honestly, how much different could it possibly be? He's not going to be playing in a new position. He's not going to be slotting into a midfield structure where his role might change. He's a good player and if you even consider it isn't worth bringing him in you have absolutely no idea about the game.

Graham, if he was not playing in an AwFuL Grand Final this week, I would have no hesitation in bringing him in. However, just think of the emotions he will have gone through in the week before. I would think it is pretty difficult to front up in an SANFL Grand Final one week after an AwFuL one. How did Keating go when he did it ten years ago?
Cheers

From memory he won didn't he? Not sure what else you want. Besides, Keating was useless at both SANFL and AFL level and got the gig because nobody else was left! Westhoff is a much better player.

I seem to recall that Brett James also played both games that year.

Perhaps spelly can point out the number of players that have played in SANFL GFs after AFL gfs (can only have been 1997, 1998 and 2004) and how many lost compared to how many won.

Graham, I don't think that the fact that his side won is a good enough argument. You can still play badly in a winning team, can you not?
Justin is a young man in his first season of AwFuL football. He has had a lot of publicity during this year and this would have placed pressure on him. Thankfully, he has come through very well. However, I would just let him enjoy his first AwFuL Grand Final at this stage rather than put the pressure on him to be our 'saviour' in the SANFL Grand Final.

Pressure? You think the pressure of playing an SANFL final even compares to an AFL final? This might be his last chacne to give something to the club that started him on his way because without Roy taking a punt and playing him last year he would still be kicking around our Reserves.

Surely the argument is about whether Westhoff is able to contribute more than the player he displaces or less. I think Alan Obst is the man to go and Westhoff has shown himself time and time again capable of contributing while Obst has 2 decent games under his belt? Obst has a fine future in the SANFL but Westhoff has had 2 good years behind him. I'll take the tried and true performer over the potential going into a GF any day.

Graham, in normal circumstances I could not argue with you. However, how would you be after a week of celebrating an AwFuL premiership? Could you bring yourself up 100% to play in an SANFL game? We might be forgetting how important the game is that Justin is playing in this Saturday. Most players would have somewhat of a letdown after that, would they not?
Cheers

Brett James, Aaron Keating and Troy Bond played in the 1997 GF after winning the AFL premiership with the Crows. From memory none of those players set the world on fire. Brett James probably the best out of the 3.

bulldogproud wrote:Graham, in normal circumstances I could not argue with you. However, how would you be after a week of celebrating an AwFuL premiership? Could you bring yourself up 100% to play in an SANFL game? We might be forgetting how important the game is that Justin is playing in this Saturday. Most players would have somewhat of a letdown after that, would they not?
Cheers

He'll be right, just stick fingers down throat, have a good chuck & drop a few Beroccas! A doddle, really.