Living on the Edge
Premier League Preview 6 In our sixth preview today, we look at two sides who were on the edge of a finals berth last season. Have they done enough to drag themselves up and over that last hurdle? Or will they fall by the wayside as others go past them?
Note: Information believed to be correct at time of Preview but may change prior to Round 1.
Sorrento
In: Nil
Out: Wendy Marsh (Mundaring), Lee Bunney (Mundaring)
First 9 Fixtures: SB (A) MP (H) Leem (A) NB (H) Mann (A) VP (H) OP (A) Mun (H) Gos (A)
Sorrento come into their fourth Premier League season as one of the models for new clubs to follow. Having come up as the 2015 1st White premiers they haven’t really been in relegation trouble at all since. In fact, the last couple of years as seen Sorrento emerge as a genuine finals contender. They’ve manage to keep the vast majority of their side intact, however they have lost a little bit of depth out of their front end to Mundaring. But they have kept all of their big names for another season and should still be capable of mounting a charge. After finishing fifth last year the Swans will be looking for the players already in their side to improve that little bit to get the lift they require. On paper the Sorrento side still looks good enough to be there or thereabouts yet again.
If the finals race is still on then we could see a very big final month of the season for Sorrento. In that time they’ll have winnable games against Victoria Park, Mundaring and Gosnells as well as what could be a crucial home game against Osborne Park. The Saints are probably Sorrento’s biggest competition for that top four spot so to have home ground advantage in a potential 12 point game could be critical. Their home track isn’t always the easiest to play at due to wind patterns at the venue and can require a slightly different style of game to normal.
Classification: Finals Contender
Having seemingly made a position in Premier League their own its vital that Sorrento continue to push forward. They were hanging on the edge of a finals place last season and should be able to put themselves in a position to challenge once again. There are some critical games against their fellow mid table to finals type teams that will shape their fortunes this season. The teams that win those games will be the ones that are there when the whips are cracking. There’s a bit of work to do to get some improvement out of the side but they’re capable and shouldn’t be far away.
Bassendean
In: Joe Krstic (Vic Park), Butch Dinnison (Vic Park), David Rhodes (Como), Andy Elmer (Morley), Mike Bessant (Doubleview)
Out: Justin Opie (South Perth), Beau Manton (South Perth), Erron Martin (Osborne Park)
First 9 Fixtures: Cam (A) Mann (H) DV (H) Warn (A) SP (H) Sorr (A) OP (H) Mor (A) Kard (H)
The winds of change have been blowing at Bassendean although there is still something very familiar about this team. Perhaps it’s the fact that inclusions David Rhodes and Andy Elmer both return to the club after stints elsewhere. They were a skipper and third combination in Bassendean’s premiership year and could well resume those roles this season. Also coming into the club are Joe Krstic, Butch Dinnison and Mike Bessant who all trialled in the team at the recent Stuart Davies Challenge. It’s a good set of ins however there are several outs which do cause us to ask the question of just how much improvement there is. Justin Opie has been one of Premier League’s better players for a fair while now while Beau Manton continues to get better and better as he transitions to a backend role. Erron Martin was also a handy two in last year’s side. There’s no doubt that the Lions are deeper this time around but they’d love to have kept the talent that has departed.
Bassendean have very tough first half of the year while their second round of fixtures may be slightly kinder. They’ll play strong grass clubs in Doubleview and Manning in the first month with away trips to Cambridge and a tricky Warnbro deck. In the first half of the year they also host South Perth and Osborne Park who aren’t likely to be worried by the prospect of playing on good grass while Sorrento away may not be the easiest either. However, when we get to round eight some very winnable games come up. Morley twice and Kardinya, Cambridge, Warnbro and Sorrento all at home could all have the Lions salivating. The key to making the finals for them will be producing results away. They do have a decent record recently at Cambridge so synthetics aren’t a concern but there are a few clubs this season who should be significantly trickier at home.
Classification: Mid-table
Don’t get us wrong. There is no reason this team can’t make finals. It’s very deep and very capable. But other clubs just seem to have an extra ace or two up their sleeve. Whether that be a bevy of top class skips or a significant advantage at home, these other teams just have something extra. That and the fact we think everybody looks forward to going away to Bassendean means they probably don’t have a massive home ground advantage, especially against the bigger sides, most of whom have grass anyway. That being said there are some very good players in the Bassendean pride and it won’t take much for the Lions to be roaring once again.
