Coach Phil Cronan said too many so-called ‘superstars’ had performed well below expectation and as a result Western Australia had won just one game.
“This year we decided to go with guys who would give us good performances week in, week out, so we knew exactly what we would be getting,” Cronan said.
The squad came together about eight weeks ago and initially trained once a week.
It became a ‘club’ two weeks before the championships.
Cronan said the squad – as a club – trained on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, played a game on Saturday and repeated the schedule in the week before it left for Melbourne.
While members received several untimely injuries and may be stretched in the height department, Cronan said he could not fault the players’ preparation.
“Their attitude has been outstanding. Their commitment to training and wanting to be part of the program is the best I’ve seen in my three years as coach,” he said.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “We’re not going to put expectations on them. We hope to be competitive and have a real crack and enjoy the environment of elite football.” – Phil Cronan.
Player to watch: DANIEL WELLS
“This kid has some brilliance about him. He is an on-baller with blistering pace and brilliant skills with a great awareness and great understanding of the game for someone so young.” – Phil Cronan
Coach: PHIL CRONAN
Team Manager: RON TESTER
No NAME CLUB DOB HT WT
1 Nic Chidgzey (C) East Fremantle 30 May 84 174 71
2 Scott Siekierka Perth 12 Feb 84 173 70
3 Shaun Hilderbrandt Peel Thunder 3 Jun 84 177 72
4 Jason Salecic West Perth 1 Jun 84 176 74
5 Alex Lee East Fremantle 5 Apr 84 173 74
6 Daniel Wells Peel Thunder 2 Mar 85 180 69
7 Kane Loxley Claremont 5 Jan 84 175 72
8 Matthew Henson East Fremantle 28 Feb 84 178 73
9 Adam Jones (VC) Subiaco 21 Feb 84 176 73
10 Shaun Robinson South Fremantle 18 Mar 84 179 79
11 Josh Roberts Swan Districts 28 Apr 84 182 79
12 Matthew Moody South Fremantle 23 Sep 85 186 77
14 Dylan Harper Swan Districts 11 Jun 85 186 78
15 Brent Bailey West Perth 23 Jul 84 184 82
16 Brent Davis Perth 1 Feb 85 186 75
17 Hayden McLeod (VC) East Fremantle 27 Apr 84 188 83
18 Kepler Bradley West Perth 13 Nov 85 195 85
19 Nic Smith Perth 23 May 84 190 93
20 Adam Radici Swan Districts 20 Apr 84 191 92
21 Courtney Johns East Fremantle 14 Nov 84 191 87
22 Mark Constantine East Fremantle 1 Dec 84 193 87
23 Michael Pettigrew West Perth 16 Mar 85 192 80
24 Michael Johnson Perth 20 Oct 84 193 85
25 Matthew Spencer Swan Districts 17 Jan 85 193 84
26 Trevor Johnson Swan Districts 2 Sep 84 192 85
