0
Western Force (2010): Keiran Longbottom (Eastwood), Ryan Cross (Eastern Suburbs), Matt Hodgson (Eastern Suburbs), Dane Haylett-Petty (Gordon), Ben Whittaker (Gordon), Tim Fairbrother (Manly), Mark Swanepoel (Manly), Stefano Hunt (Northern Suburbs), Cameron Shepherd (Northern Suburbs), Nick Cummins (Randwick), Nic Henderson (Southern Districts), Nathan Charles (Sydney University), Ben McCalman (Sydney University), Pek Cowan (Warringah), Sam Harris (Warringah), Tom Hockings (Warringah), Joelin Rapana (Warringah), Sam Wykes (West Harbour)
Just looking through the Round 13 Shute Shield team lists and was trying to recall if there were ever that many Force players in a single round locally when it was Force policy to support the local comp? It always seemed that the majority were injured or otherwise unavailable. Admittedly the numbers are inflated as the Test players are available this week.
There are 18 2010 Force players, plus Will Brock and maybe a couple of other local lads I don't know playing this week in Sydney. Further, Ted Postal (#6 Brothers) and possibly some other local Club players are in Brisbane.
I know and accept the arguments for why the individuals benefit from playing in the tougher comps however, at what point (if ever) would the numbers stack up to re-focus on the West?
At what point would the individual elite players benefit almost as much but the rest of the comp benefit vastly more with those elite players spread back through the WA scene as originally intended?
Should the local comp be modified in some way to have a round robin of say four regional selections during this midyear peak where the best of the local boys and the available pro players compete together. After all, stepping back from personal club allegiances, wherever the pro players play at this time will distort the full season regardless if it is for WA clubs or East Coast clubs.
Without wanting to drag up the usual flagellated equines, I would be interested in hearing any proactive ways forward for the benefit and development of the elite levels in WA.