Mid Year Review
We have reached the half way point of the season and it’s time to take a look at how the Club is tracking.
Football Operations
Our 6 win – 4 loss record places us in a good position to reach our aim of playing finals. After a great start to the season, the last month has been a little disappointing but we still feel that a top three position is up for grabs and we must continue to improve if we are to achieve this.
In our midseason reviews we have indentified that our wins have all come in pretty good fashion, when we have dominated at least part of the game and have been able to produce some courageous and attacking football. Our average winning margin of 46 points is the highest in the competition.
We have yet to really grind out a win when things were not going our way. The ability to turn a game around is important and the next step in our evolution as a team.
We have been pleased with the performance of our defensive unit, especially considering that one of their leaders in Ben Fisher has missed a considerable amount of football. The emergence of Steve Morris and Kurt Thompson, the continued improvement of Shannon Green and Daniel Caire along with the ever reliable Jarrod Silvester and Ryan Ferguson is a key to our team.
The midfield has been an area of steady improvement. Ben Macreadie has been a valuable recruit and Chris Schmidt has been dominant at times. The evolution of Ryan Willits as a hard running ruckman has also been vitally important. The recent loss of Nat Caruso to a long term ankle injury will require Aaron Fielke, James Ezard, Shane Birss and David Piasente to really step up in the midfield.
Our forward play is still a work in progress. The pleasing fact is that we have scored freely and as much as most teams with not one player kicking more than 10 goals for the season. We have seen a huge improvement in the number goals from our midfield and wings. We need a big forward or two to really step up in the second half of the year to provide a consistent avenue to goal.
Our playing group is confident that they can match it with any team with their best football. The second half of the year must see us close the gap between our best and worst and become a consistently strong SANFL team. We are ready for this challenge and look forward to continuing this process with the support of our members and supporters.
Reserves 3 wins - 7 losses – currently 7th
Centre of Excellence (CoE) U18’s - 2 wins – 6 losses – 1 draw – currently 8th
U16’s Talent Shield – 6 wins- 2 losses – finished 3rd
With a high number of long term injuries to key personnel, our depth has been tested at times resulting in both the Reserves and CoE U/18 teams struggling to be competitive. Out of every negative situation comes a positive and it is pleasing to see the performances of the underage players who have been elevated to the reserves and CoE sides. Our U16 side was unlucky not to make the finals missing out on a grand final berth by percentage (less than a goal)
Key Statistics Rd 1-10
Players used (league): 34
Senior players injured: 9 – Total games missed through injury: 44
AFL listed players used: 9 – Total games played: 37
Debutants: 6 (Ben Macreadie, Brad Fisher, Matthew Rankine, Sam Ezard, Marlon Motlop, Michael Shearer)
Marketing & Membership
With an improved on-field performance our off-field key performance indicators have also improved.
Membership: Financial (includes life members): 1505 (Last Year 1510)
Total (includes Young Bloods): 3012 (Last Year 2760)
Home Game Average Attendance (after 5 games): 3411 (Last Year 2975)
While these numbers look impressive we still rank 8th amongst all the clubs with Financial members and 5th with our home game attendances. Now is not the time to sit back and rest on our laurels. If we measure success by premierships then we have a long way to go before we emulate our 1911 and 1961 premiership teams - are these our only premierships (what about 83 etc?.)
1911 Champions of Australia and Premiers
Last month we took the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our 1961 premiership. With the day being such a success with 16 of the 20 premiership players attending multiple events during the day it would be very easy to forget that 100 years ago this Club was not only celebrating a premiership but also a Champions of Australia title.
In 1911 West Adelaide started the season in exceptional form winning its first 10 games before losing the last two games of the season to Port Adelaide and Norwood and having to settle with second position behind Port Adelaide after the minor round.
Regaining key players in H.R Head, J. Baker, G. Oakley, W. Slattery and Arthur Conlin for the 1st semi-final. West secured a run-away victory after keeping Sturt scoreless in the last quarter. Finals scores West 8.11 Sturt 6.2. This victory gave the club the right to play Port Adelaide in the final. As Port finished minor premiers they had the right to challenge the winner of the final in the grand final meaning West Adelaide would have to beat Port Adelaide in two successive weeks if it was to become premiers.
The first final was played in front of almost 19,000 people and West Adelaide clearly outclassed its opponents and finished up winning the game 7.11 to 4.13.
The game the following week was an extremely close and exciting game with West Adelaide finally hitting the lead late in the last quarter to win the Grand Final. Final scores West Adelaide 7.9 Port Adelaide 6.10
The following week, West Adelaide lined up against Essendon (VFL premiers) for the Champions of Australia match and after trailing by 1 point at half time and with the lead changing hands five times in the last quarter West Adelaide hung on to win by 3 points. Final scores West Adelaide 8.9 Essendon 7.12
So when you come to the game this week remember our 1911 Champions who had to take on Port twice in two weeks to become Premiers.
For more information on the 1911 season click here.