Finals bound again?

We have just one more week working week until the season starts and now we’re getting really excited about the season ahead. Today we look at two teams that finished fourth in their respective competitions and will be looking to push on and win the flag this year. Have they got what it takes?

Note: Information believed to be correct at time of print but may change before Round 1.

Manning

In: Steve Collins (Soldiers Point), Lee Such (Soldiers Point), Steve Patterson (Bassendean), Paul Kelly (Stirling)

Out: Matt Ayres (Mandurah), Rob Tiller (Mandurah), Steve Withers (Dudley Park), Matt Mitchell (Emu Point), Martin Bigg (Unavailable)

First 9 Fixtures: Sorr (H) Bass (A) OP (H) DV (H) Mor (A) Warn (H) Kard (A) SP (H) Cam (A)

Everyone seems to have a love-hate relationship with Manning. One year the general word will be how much better than everyone else and the next it’ll be that they’re overrated. This year word about the club has been quiet but the club itself has been very busy. Manning have bolstered their ranks by gaining some rare eastern states recruits. Steve Collins and Lee Such both come over from Soldiers point in New South Wales and the Eagles will be hoping they make an impact. They have two other recruits that will be more well known in WA. Paul Kelly had an okay year in a poor Stirling team while Steve Patterson will return to bowls after a couple years of playing sporadically. It’s been important for the Eagles to replenish because they have also lost plenty of talent. Matt Ayres, Rob Tiller and Steve Withers all move to the Murray League which will hurt them significantly. Matt Mitchell moving back to Albany will be a big blow but will give Anthony Williams the chance to permanently take up a skipper’s role and continue his rise. How well they can cover their losses will be a big factor in determining Manning’s fortunes this year.

Manning will be looking for a good start. This is a side which is very hard to beat once it gets its tail up and the Eagles are capable of going on big winning runs. If they do that then there’s every chance the first day of the finals could be at Manning because sides will find them very hard to chase down. There’s a couple of stretches that could see them get going. Morley away followed by Warnbro at home could see them collect a couple of big wins otherwise Cambridge, Sorrento and Bassendean in the new year could set them up for a strong second half. There are however not many easy games this season and such runs could be rare for any club. If this season develops a bit of a stop-start feel, then traditionally that doesn’t really suit this side.

Classification: Finals Contender

Realistically there is no reason why we couldn’t classify this team as a flag contender, but we just want to take a look at what their side looks like before we go that far. If the new recruits can do the business and they can find some improvement from within then they are every bit a serious premiership threat. However, they have lost a lot, not just this off-season but in the past couple so we want to see them stand up before we fully embrace the Eagles. They do however have a pattern of premiers, fourth, premiers, fourth over the past four years. They are due so can they keep the pattern?

Osborne Park

In: Jill Adam (Geraldton), Cathy Taylor (North Beach)

Out: Robin Higgins (North Beach)

First 9 Fixtures: NB (A) Mann (H) VP (A) SB (A) Mun (H) Gos (A) Sorr (H) MP (A) Leem (H)

Osborne Park have been on the periphery of the big three but haven’t quite been able to break through into that realm consistently. They’ll be looking to make that leap this season and get themselves back up into preliminaries and grand finals. Jill Adam is most definitely a recruit that can help achieve that goal and is the biggest piece of business in or out for the club this off-season. She’ll join what is now good stable of consistent players with skippers like Hailey Adams, Pam Chalmers and Helen Stevens at the club. Even still, the Saints will be looking for a few of their lesser lights to have really good seasons to help them push up the ladder and hopefully have a deeper finals campaign. Of course they also need to be wary of challenges from below as well with Sorrento looking up at them enviously after finishing 5^th last year. Other mid-table clubs such as Safety Bay and Gosnells would also have them in their sights as they look to improve. It’s going to be big year for the Saints as they currently are a little precariously placed.

After a tough first couple of weeks Osborne Park have a very nice five week stretch. This includes games against both promoted clubs and a critical game against Sorrento, who would have to be the number one contender for their finals place. If they can get at least one win from their first two games then the Saints will know that they are every chance to push on and have a big season. As long as they take care of business against the more mid-table looking sides then it’ll be their games versus North Beach, Manning and Mosman that will decide their season. If they can at least half those contests, then you’d have to fancy them for a potential top two spot and that would give them the opportunity for a real challenge. If they don’t go well in those games, then another fourth-place finish beckons at best.

Classification: Finals Contender

Osborne Park are a good side and we think they’ll probably make the four, but we don’t quite see them breaking through into premiership contention just yet. They have plenty of good players but may just be missing an elite player or two to lift them up into top two calculations. If they can find those players within what they’ve already got, then they can have a big go this year. However, it’s unclear who’s ready to take that step right now.