Westies - Another Spoon?

[Weed_the_man]

No ruckmen, Lost a recruit before the season has begun and have received F-all for Howard and Dabrowski -

Is it as bad as it seems? Who will ruck (Please don;t suggest Will Grosser, Charles or Illman) These have all failed.

Have we recruited anyone with leg speed?

Our prospective captain is now a crow (Porplyzia) and we kept Wiggins?????

Will rusca return? He isn't listed as a loss - I suspect he is gone...

Whilst it is noble that we have more teenagers and locals running around than any other team, I don;t think I can stomache another inept year...

Any one from Richmond - Please convince me I am wrong/mistaken/overly pessimistic.... PLEASE

[Wedgie]

I think they got rid of some bad "blood" so as to speak and I'm expecting West to improve this year.
Wouldn't suprise me if they were the improvers of 2006 and gave the finals a shake too.

[Weed_the_man]

There's no doubt that Rehn made some tough decisions and they were for the betterment of the club BUT we are very light on with regards to depth. A few injuries and....

[Wedgie]

There's no doubt that Rehn made some tough decisions and they were for the betterment of the club BUT we are very light on with regards to depth. A few injuries and....

I don't know about Rehn making the tought decisions, they all seem to have been made since he's left, hence why I'm not expecting an improvement.
I think Rehn's recruiting was awful which to at least his credit for he did accept the blame (and rightfully so).

[Weed_the_man]

I can safely say that most retirements other than chubb during the year were influenced by Rehn including previous captain and a player who will be wearing new sanfl colours this year. He wanted to sack some of these players outright but I believe the board argued it was folly to do so as they would not be compensated if the player then chose to commence a career with a rival team.

I hope that there may be some late recruits to the red and blacks but I don't know how much longer I can hold my breath.

You are right in saying that Rehn refused many recruits which was folly and this has made it very hard on the current coach and squads overall depth. I think there will be some very big changes by the years end with regards to administration and maybe a new era for Westies but it is still hard in the meantime. I guess South Adelaide Supporters can argue theyv'e had it worse!

[redandblack]

There was an article in this mornings paper that West are close to signing Neely, which would help, if it happens.

Most of last year's retirements were due to long-term injury or similar (Chubb, Marsh, Norman, Crowell, Steinfort, etc). Howard and Myles would have been coach-related obviously. Who knows why Brad Dabrowski left.

Our recruiting in the last two years has been poor, especially as we've lost nearly a team of our best juniors to the AFL in the last three years, but this year we have added Haynes, Archibald, Hollands, Bonnaddio from the mini-draft and some Vic country recruits. I think there may be one or two more to come, including hopefully a ruckman.

Our other major problem last year was fitness, which won't be a problem this year.

It would be reasonable to expect us to improve on last year, but we've got a long way to go.

[drebin]

Good honest assessment R&B but at this time of the year regardless of how you went last year and what ever recruiting clubs have done - all teams start evenly except for the reigning premiers who have the right to be number 1 until such time that someone else wins it. You also do not how the seasons is going to pan out e.g. Coaching changes in the off season so improved or different game plans, fitness levels then throw in luck re injuries etc, weather conditions, the draw you get, the unknowns or unexpected improved players that bob up at each club, confidence etc. Look at North from 2003 to 2004. Let's just see how it pans out before pumping up certain teams and writing off others.

[sus]

I agree WTM. WA are my tip for the spoon.

[westcoastpanther]

I think they got rid of some bad "blood" so as to speak and I'm expecting West to improve this year.Wouldn't suprise me if they were the improvers of 2006 and gave the finals a shake too.

I don't know about Rehn making the tought decisions, they all seem to have been made since he's left, hence why I'm not expecting an improvement.
I think Rehn's recruiting was awful which to at least his credit for he did accept the blame (and rightfully so).

Am I missing something here or are you schizophrenic Wedgie

[Wedgie]

Am I missing something here or are you schizophrenic Wedgie

lol, not schizophrenic, just often type without thinking too hard, I thought that was obvious!
Take out the "not" from the last statement and that is what I meant.
Good pick up wcp.

[Rik E Boy]

The Panthers always make good pickups at this time of year Wedge....

regards,

REB

[Dogmatic]

Am I missing something here or are you schizophrenic Wedgie

lol, not schizophrenic, just often type without thinking too hard, I thought that was obvious!
Take out the "not" from the last statement and that is what I meant.
Good pick up wcp.

"Without thinking too hard" aka under the influence!

[SBR]

The Panthers always make good pickups at this time of year Wedge....

regards,

REB

I'm not so sure on West Adelaide yet, i'll need to see them in the beginning, it's hard to predict whether the heart'll be there, until you see'em in action in the first round or so. I don't think they'll do quite as bad as last season, perhaps a few postions higher, oh well, atleast you's can look at it as... "the only way is up"

[Strawb]

Don't worry weed the man there have been a few things said by RedandBlack and Wedgie that are true. The weed did clean up the club and i will be honest here Westies will improve. Dabrowski did and alright job but in a few games he went missing and i saw a few westies games last year. I was watching Westies Vs. Sturt from round three or four last year i have it on tape and trust me Marsh rucking we did great Dabrowski rucking and we were woeful we should have won a few more games last year than what we won. Injuries crippled us last year and we will see how Dabrowski goes at the Eagles i feel he is chasing a premiership but i dunno why he went to the eagles. With Howard i feel there is a few things hidden in that and it is a club thing i don't know but i just have the feeling. Fitness is the key and the Weed has been working on that. Westies will sign a ruckmen or two soon one hopes until then it is wait and see.

[sus]

Weed working on improving fitness? Has he changed from standard cancer sticks to extra light as an example to his players??

[Strawb]

LMAO he smoke 4's i think i dunno the way the weed looks i have never thought of botting a ciggie off him knowing the weed he would demand a packet back for every smoke you bott.

[Claret Pedigree]

Ok, looks like we might have Neely on the way which would be a good pick up for West if he continues to gather possessions. Anyone think Hollands will be as good as he was when he left?.

[redandblack]

Welcome, claretpedigree, although you sound a bit familiar to me

I'll believe we have signed Billy Neely when I see him train with us, not before.

Benny Hollands arrived at the start of pre-season looking as if he'd been in a good paddock, but he looks pretty good now. I don't think you would expect him to be as good as before when he came 3rd in the MM, but he should be very handy.

[Claret Pedigree]

Ty for the reply RAB. I guess i need to get down to some trainings for a look.

I big hello to blacky and fb (thanks for not chaining your bike up).

[Strawb]

I feel you need to be a special breed of person to be a westies supporter. because we go for a team of heartbreaking bastards and it is true look how many games they have lost from being in a winning position at 3/4 time and even with 5 to 10 minutes left in the game. Why is this so. But We love the club sooo much and we want a flag I feel if the weed is kept for not just the next two years but four to five years Westies will finally win a premiership that the club and supporters richly Deserve. I don't see Westies winning the spoon for a while yet.