Can Mundaring and Warnbro Make the Leap?

by Aaron Delaporte on October 6, 2018

Premier League Preview 1 Welcome to this season’s first Premier League preview with a slightly different format this year. One men’s and one women’s team will be written about in each article in the reverse order of last year’s finishing order. Clubs will be loosely categorised as being a flag contender, finals contender, mid-table or demotion fighter with a final preview and ladder to be published on the eve of each of the pennant seasons. Today we start with those who finished second in 1 White to get promoted last year.
Note: Ins and Outs are based on available knowledge when published and may change prior to round 1.
Warnbro
Ins: Alan Cowie (Dudley Park), Dean Tinley (Comet Bay),
Outs: None
First 9 fixtures: Mor (A) Kard (H) Cam (A) Bass (H) Dview (A) Mann (A) SP (H) Sorr (A) OP (H)
The Wizards come up for the first time in their history after back to back promotions and grand finals, losing both to fellow new boys Sorrento. Warnbro will come up with a similar team to what has got them to this positions with just a couple of ins. Alan Cowie comes up after a strong career in the Murray League and is a very solid acquisition. Dean Tinley will return to the Premier League after a stint with Innaloo a couple years ago ended with him moving on. Warnbro have no outs as such, but recruit Steve Unsworth has decided not to make the move from Pinjarra after all. The squad may not have the really big names of some of the finals contenders, but it is a solid group throughout all positions. Depth will not be the issue for Warnbro who should be able to field four solid rinks every week.
The first half of each set of fixtures could be crucial for Warnbro with a potentially tough run home in their final five games. Included in that stretch are premiers Doubleview, minor premiers Osborne Park, finalists Manning as well as a much-improved South Perth side. Warnbro do have one big advantage in their favour which will catch a lot of opponents out, their home ground. A quick, swooping synthetic that can get battered by the wind at times will be a tricky place to go. No doubt at least one contender will fall with Warnbro’s settled side many all their players will know the green and conditions inside out. Home form will be crucial if this Warnbro team is going to make a statement this year.
Classification: Demotion fighter
The goal for most teams that come up to the big time is just to stay up and Warnbro will be no different. History tells us that most new teams do find themselves finishing towards the bottom of the ladder as well. Don’t let that fool you though as Warnbro have as good a chance of staying up as anyone. A steady 16 with a big advantage at home means that should be in most games with a chance. What will determine their success will be whether or not they can knock off a couple of the better sides at home and whether they can pinch some away games. If they can’t manage either of those then they may struggle.
Mundaring
Ins: Wendy Marsh (Sorrento), Toni Madigan (Manning), Lee Bunney (Sorrento)
Outs: None
First 9 Fixtures: Leem (A) NB (H) Mann (A) VP (H) OP (A) SB (A) Gos (H) Sorr (A) MP (H)
Traditionally a yo-yo club Mundaring come up after finishing second in White last year and have moved quickly to bring some Premier League experience to the side. The big recruit is state lead Toni Madigan from Manning who’ll bring a touch of class to the side. It will be interesting to see where she plays given she should be the best player in the side but has only really been a leader at top flight level. Wendy Marsh returns after a short stint at Sorrento having played Premier League for Mundaring previously. Lee Bunney also crosses from Sorrento from their Premier League team to add to the side. No outs from last year’s White team will keep the nucleus of the promotion side together.
Like Warnbro the biggest advantage Mundaring has is the tough conditions that their home green represent. Wide and quick their carpet has a reputation as one of the toughest places for away teams to play in Perth. Carpet’s tendency to have little tracks and runs in them makes them difficult to play runners on and with few women possessing a big drive the front end could decide games at home. How well they can capitalise on this advantage will have a big say in whether they can make the grade season. A run of more winnable matches from round four to round 8 includes Vic Park, Osborne Park, Safety Bay, Gosnells and Sorrento and it will be crucial that they pick up points in that stretch with grand finalists Manning and Mosman Park either side.
Classification: Demotion Fighter
As previously mentioned with Warnbro the goal of any team coming into Premier League is to stay there, while most either don’t manage it or barely manage it. For that reason, we’ll expect Mundaring to be in a scrap all season. There are some gettable teams in the division though and that home ground advantage will be critical for them to get a jump on their fellow relegation contenders. The big recruitment of Toni Madigan will also give them some class which others in the race may not possess. Expect Mundaring to be scrapping all year and we’ll see if they can scrap hard enough.