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Three rounds to go before the finals, and most teams are feeling the effects of a close, competitive season, with a litany of woeful tales of injuries, close losses, missed opportunities and bad luck.
The teams that are in the top four or five share a number of things in common, reasonable coaches, good recruitment practices, a solid, hard preseason, motivation and pride, good administration, and of course a modicum of good luck occasionally.
Palmyra and Wanneroo, from what I could see, had the best preseason. By the first game of the season they were up and running hard. It took most of the first round before the best of the rest caught up to their fitness level, and by that time those clubs had virtually secured a place in the four. Not because they were necessarily the best, but because for a good while they were the strongest and the hardest. Match fitness eventually kicked in and brought the others up to the required level, but the advantage was already won by then.
The recriutment advantage was gained by Palmyra hands down, even more so because they came from such a low base of player numbers and quality from the season before, and because they started in May of the previous year. But other sides recruited judiciously too, Nedlands and Rockingham into the season when they started to see the writing on the wall, Soaks and Wanneroo in the off season, and Perth in the preseason. Other clubs, and I know this is a generalization, appeared to wait for things to happen.
Coaches? Well I don't intend to criticise or elevate individuals. Perth had (have) the best coach in the competition. Sadly, they didn't use him to his full capabilities; a director of coaching is all very well, but having the best man available in that capacity spreads him thinly and the first grade is always the loser. Wests have an excellent coach, but a broke club could not support him by supplying the cattle to work with. Wanneroo have an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and dynamic, if abrasive, coach. Nedlands have a quiet but determined achiever, Kalamunda an intelligent and skillful coach, but a lack of administrative and, inexplicably, player support for him. Soaks man is competent and driven, but he too lacks universal internal support. Palmyra have an allrounder, whose experience and man management skills are able to get the best out of what he has. Cott have a brash superbly self confident man at the helm, helped greatly by the support and wealth of talent in his club.
Motivation and pride? Through gritted teeth I have to give this mantle to Nedlands, who display this year after year. It is why they are always successful and why they have the ability to change the fortunes of their season around, no matter the odds, as they have done this year. (That, and money, of course.)
Administration. What constitutes good administration? Among other things, an ability to raise and spend money judiciously, plan ahead, manage and exploit volunteer manpower for the greatest benefit, control their player and member base, make the club an enjoyable and attractive place to be at.
I can only speak authoritatively about one club in that regard, mine, Palmyra. They seem to have it pretty much together this year. I'm also impressed by the professionalism and organisation I have seen at Soaks and can't understand the minor difficulties they have had internally. Nedlands are always on top of their game.
Luck? You make your own. Accidents happen , but preparation and good player medical/physio support count for a lot. To their credit, all clubs seem well endowed in that regard. One club even has psychological support staff. I was skeptical, but it works.
Who's going to win this week? Not going to predict here. I'm sick of giving Johnex a leg up each week!
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Originally Posted by Hansie
