Premier A 2014

[flat footy]

Three questions for those interested in VAFA Prem....(1) how does Xavs turn its season around? (2) How many of last years Xavs team was missing last week against Scotch? (3) Old Scotch - 3-2 record, and but for a 4th quarter fade out against St Bedes (which is looking an awful loss now) would be 4-1 withthe other teams currently 4-1 - are they also a contender?

My final 4, not in order : Scotch, Blacks, Bernards and Xavs.
I think Xavs are better than Bedes, Coll, De La, but will battle it out with OT (young list may battle to keep winning) and Beauy.
OB gone.............

 

[Bagman99]

So, this round has some absolute cracking and important games.....

Xavs -vs Bernards at Toorak Park......Xavs will be 1-5 with a loss, Bernard's stamp themselves a genuine leading contender with a win = High stakes match
Trinity - vs- Scotch = massive 8 point game...Scotch to move into top 4 with a win and also stamp themselves a serious contender, Trinity win would be HUGE for them
Beauie -vs- Blacks - say no more. 2 heavyweights. Might go and watch this one, will be a beauty at Beauies home deck.
St Bedes -vs- Brighton - another battle of two Bayside teams and critical in terms of relegation stakes (in my opinion) later in the season
De La -vs- Collegians - Collegians will start favourites after their excellent win on the weekend, and if they win, consign De La to a battle to avoid the drop.

 

[FWIW]

My final 4, not in order : Scotch, Blacks, Bernards and Xavs.
I think Xavs are better than Bedes, Coll, De La, but will battle it out with OT (young list may battle to keep winning) and Beauy.
OB gone.............

For what it's worth, if Xavs lose this week (which I think they will), they will probably need to win 9 of their last 12 games to make finals. Big ask but if anyone can do it.....

 

[d0gs]

Bernards coming off some very flat footy on the weekend, will be an interesting game against Xavs this coming week. Don't know if Xavs are missing players but Bernards at almost full strength and should have almost every player available across all teams this week.

 

[AM]

So, this round has some absolute cracking and important games.....

Xavs -vs Bernards at Toorak Park......Xavs will be 1-5 with a loss, Bernard's stamp themselves a genuine leading contender with a win = High stakes match
Trinity - vs- Scotch = massive 8 point game...Scotch to move into top 4 with a win and also stamp themselves a serious contender, Trinity win would be HUGE for them
Beauie -vs- Blacks - say no more. 2 heavyweights. Might go and watch this one, will be a beauty at Beauies home deck.
St Bedes -vs- Brighton - another battle of two Bayside teams and critical in terms of relegation stakes (in my opinion) later in the season
De La -vs- Collegians - Collegians will start favourites after their excellent win on the weekend, and if they win, consign De La to a battle to avoid the drop.

Quite impressed with the way Scotch went about things on Saturday and without a number of key players.

Not quite sure why Powell makes the inordinate number of interchanges he does. More than a tad disruptive at times I thought. But they did win so..........

 

[Rooster 24]

A long way to go and I know the Bernies rolled them at the pit a week or so back but to me the Blacks have the game to go all the way. They just look like the complete package to me. De La obviously rebuilding and lacking the depth of recent years but form in recent weeks has been ok. They were absolutely dismantled by the Blacks on Saturday.

In the context of the season it is huge game for De La and Collegians this week. Lions obvious favorites but they have found beating De La extremely difficult in recent seasons.

 

[go_nodders]

For what it's worth, if Xavs lose this week (which I think they will), they will probably need to win 9 of their last 12 games to make finals. Big ask but if anyone can do it.....

Was it 1996 when Xavs started 0 and 7 and went on to win the flag?? Might even have been 0 - 8!

 

[Penski]

Was it 1996 when Xavs started 0 and 7 and went on to win the flag?? Might even have been 0 - 8!

They were 2-8 half way through the 1996 season when Simon Meehan got sacked and Nick Bourke stepped in to coach. They then lost just one more game for the rest of the season.

 

[Bagman99]

A long way to go and I know the Bernies rolled them at the pit a week or so back but to me the Blacks have the game to go all the way. They just look like the complete package to me. De La obviously rebuilding and lacking the depth of recent years but form in recent weeks has been ok. They were absolutely dismantled by the Blacks on Saturday.

In the context of the season it is huge game for De La and Collegians this week. Lions obvious favorites but they have found beating De La extremely difficult in recent seasons.

Bernards seem to match up well against Blacks - last year they split games (both close) and this year, despite the final 33 point margin, the game was tight most of the day. Blacks strength is their midfield depth and if sides can match them in that area, then the contest will be tight. This weeks game between Blacks and Beauie will give a better indication of how strong Blacks is.

 

[Bagman99]

They were 2-8 half way through the 1996 season when Simon Meehan got sacked and Nick Bourke stepped in to coach. They then lost just one more game for the rest of the season.

I am not sure 9 wins will secure a finals spot this year (as it did in 1996).....would mean 1 of the top 4 only win 4 or 5 more games of the remaining 13 rounds....which is why this weeks game at Toorak Park is so significant for both clubs.

 

[Billy the Lid]

Just checking out the VAFA senior squad on the website. No question the VAFA coaches have done a great job in recent seasons (mind you they have pretty good cattle at their disposal) but the fact they continue to pick on reputation makes it very difficult for others to break into this team no matter how well you are performing. Now I am no great fan of Beaumaris but last time I looked they were on top of the ladder. They have 2 players in the squad. There are 6 Xavs players. The team that beat them comfortably on the weekend has 1. The below comment that accompanied the announcement made me chuckle:

“Players have been selected based on their early season form and also their past performances in representing the VAFA.

The first part is clearly just a throw away line because the best-performed player at our club by an absolute country mile did not make the squad. Others who have been performing at a much lesser level did. The second part essentially means. ” We reserve the right to keep this as an Old Xavs boys clubs despite the fact we are sitting second last on the ladder and have won just 1 game. In fact a quarter of the squad is made up of Xavs and Collegians players. They have a combined 2014 record of 3 from 10. How is that picking on form?

Brendan Goss is a jet no question. Super player and has been very good at rep level but he has played zero VAFA games this year. No matter how well he played in March against the EFL to pick a bloke who has been auditioning for a TV show is a bloody insult to the other few hundred A & B grade players busting their chops each Saturday. Wynne, Ambrose and Freezer and maybe 1 or 2 others are VFL players. Surely we should give priority to blokes who actually have the VAFA as their primary competition and play in the VAFA every week, not just when released or not picked by their VFL team.

This is not a swipe at Old Xavs. Incredibly strong and powerful club with an unrivalled record of success. In recent season they could have justifiably had 10 or more blokes in the squad but not at the moment. I know plenty of top quality players who after getting overlooked year after year can no longer be stuffed. Even if it means a few less red and black jumpers at rep training a few deserving fresh faces would not be such as a bad thing IMO.

 

[flat footy]

Just checking out the VAFA senior squad on the website. No question the VAFA coaches have done a great job in recent seasons (mind you they have pretty good cattle at their disposal) but the fact they continue to pick on reputation makes it very difficult for others to break into this team no matter how well you are performing. Now I am no great fan of Beaumaris but last time I looked they were on top of the ladder. They have 2 players in the squad. There are 6 Xavs players. The team that beat them comfortably on the weekend has 1. The below comment that accompanied the announcement made me chuckle:

“Players have been selected based on their early season form and also their past performances in representing the VAFA.

The first part is clearly just a throw away line because the best-performed player at our club by an absolute country mile did not make the squad. Others who have been performing at a much lesser level did. The second part essentially means. ” We reserve the right to keep this as an Old Xavs boys clubs despite the fact we are sitting second last on the ladder and have won just 1 game. In fact a quarter of the squad is made up of Xavs and Collegians players. They have a combined 2014 record of 3 from 10. How is that picking on form?

Brendan Goss is a jet no question. Super player and has been very good at rep level but he has played zero VAFA games this year. No matter how well he played in March against the EFL to pick a bloke who has been auditioning for a TV show is a bloody insult to the other few hundred A & B grade players busting their chops each Saturday. Wynne, Ambrose and Freezer and maybe 1 or 2 others are VFL players. Surely we should give priority to blokes who actually have the VAFA as their primary competition and play in the VAFA every week, not just when released or not picked by their VFL team.

This is not a swipe at Old Xavs. Incredibly strong and powerful club with an unrivalled record of success. In recent season they could have justifiably had 10 or more blokes in the squad but not at the moment. I know plenty of top quality players who after getting overlooked year after year can no longer be stuffed. Even if it means a few less red and black jumpers at rep training a few deserving fresh faces would not be such as a bad thing IMO.

Well said B the L. Hear, hear..................

 

[Ammo Footy]

Well said B the L. Hear, hear..................

Could not agree more...lots of great players but selection process a joke. All on reputation not form or contribution to VAFA.

 

[Jimmyjack]

Great post BTK. It prompted me to have a look at the squad and I agree there are some glaring omissions and puzzling inclusions. Picked on early season form? ……Please!

Not doubting the credentials or past record of some of these players but surely you must earn a place each year. Automatic inclusion in our senior rep team simply should not occur.

I also have no issue with players heading of to the VFL but when you do you then forego the opportunity to be picked in VAFA rep teams.

 

[Penski]

Great post BTK. It prompted me to have a look at the squad and I agree there are some glaring omissions and puzzling inclusions. Picked on early season form? ……Please!

Not doubting the credentials or past record of some of these players but surely you must earn a place each year. Automatic inclusion in our senior rep team simply should not occur.

I also have no issue with players heading of to the VFL but when you do you then forego the opportunity to be picked in VAFA rep teams.

It does have to be said however that some 'glaring ommissions' are due to those players not wanting to play rep footy because they prefer to have the break, and there are a few of them out there.

That being sad, you only need to look at the Rep side's coaching team, and generally those who walk the halls at Elsternwick Park and who they are affiliated to, to understand the selection bias year on year.

 

[flat footy]

It does have to be said however that some 'glaring ommissions' are due to those players not wanting to play rep footy because they prefer to have the break, and there are a few of them out there.

That being sad, you only need to look at the Rep side's coaching team, and generally those who walk the halls at Elsternwick Park and who they are affiliated to, to understand the selection bias year on year.

Penski, dont be bashfull, I think Im right in saying "Old Xavs for Old Xavs"????........by all means correct me im wrong, but
I dont think so.

 

[FWIW]

It does have to be said however that some 'glaring ommissions' are due to those players not wanting to play rep footy because they prefer to have the break, and there are a few of them out there.

That being sad, you only need to look at the Rep side's coaching team, and generally those who walk the halls at Elsternwick Park and who they are affiliated to, to understand the selection bias year on year.

For what its worth who are the glaring omissions>? Last year Xavs had 11 in the actual team so they have cut back!

 

[Penski]

Penski, dont be bashfull, I think Im right in saying "Old Xavs for Old Xavs"????........by all means correct me im wrong, but
I dont think so.

You would be right on the money with that one FF.

 

[Over The Post]

 

[members section]

Puts the tigers in real danger now, only won 1 game on the back of 1 q where they stromed home.

Anyone now putting a line through old xavs? 3 games out with a very un healthy %

 

[Rooster 24]

Puts the tigers in real danger now, only won 1 game on the back of 1 q where they stromed home.

Anyone now putting a line through old xavs? 3 games out with a very un healthy %

Not me. Still heaps of talent in that team with some quality players to come back in. It would be foolish to tip them for relegation after 6 rounds.

 

[Bagman99]

Puts the tigers in real danger now, only won 1 game on the back of 1 q where they stromed home.

Anyone now putting a line through old xavs? 3 games out with a very un healthy %

I would wait 1 more week before contemplating putting a line through Xavs.....this week Beauie play Scotch and Xavs play Old Brighton.....if Beauie win and Xavs lose - then yes, write them off for finals footy......but if Xavs and Scotch win, all of a sudden they only 2 games out with 11 to play

 

[Bagman99]

Not me. Still heaps of talent in that team with some quality players to come back in. It would be foolish to tip them for relegation after 6 rounds.

Think the line related to finals, not relegation!

 

[Jascave]

I would wait 1 more week before contemplating putting a line through Xavs.....this week Beauie play Scotch and Xavs play Old Brighton.....if Beauie win and Xavs lose - then yes, write them off for finals footy......but if Xavs and Scotch win, all of a sudden they only 2 games out with 11 to play

And remember, Old Xavs were in a similar spot back in 1996, when they were 0-6. A change of coach (out Dom Berry, in Nick Bourke), and Old Xavs would not lose another game for the remainder of the year. Ended up winning the flag against Collegians.

 

[members section]

And remember, Old Xavs were in a similar spot back in 1996, when they were 0-6. A change of coach (out Dom Berry, in Nick Bourke), and Old Xavs would not lose another game for the remainder of the year. Ended up winning the flag against Collegians.

they were 2 & 7 i dont know who got sacked but it wasnt dom i believe dom was in the goal square