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ONE BLUE SOUTH 2008/9 HOW THEY WILL FINISH


October 22, 2008
To start the season off my selections for One Blue South:

1. Kardinya – ,Rob Foy
Very unlucky to miss out in White last season, with the quality of recruits they have this season they will be the trendsetters in this division; some of the players they have attracted are: Mike Yates Mills Park, Danny Comrie Leeming, Wayne and Blake Heldt Wanneroo

Rob Foy (pictured) has been in good touch in off season events will play an important role for Kardinya



The Skippers will be (still requiring confirmation), Mike Yates, Wayne Heldt and Danny Comrie with Terry Ball who was out for most of 07/08 season with a knee injury. All of which makes a top side ensuring Kardinya return to One White very quickly.


2. Manning –
have lost some players however have gained a number of very good bowlers to bolster their existing ranks, some of their gains are:

David McLleney Merredin
Glen Sewell (Cookey) Mills Park
George Beecroft Vic Park
Bob Connell Mt Pleasant
Phil Dobie Leeming
Mike Adams Vic Park
Alan Booth South Perth
Peter Cole Mosman Park

Manning as they have in the last few seasons continue to build on their playing group with some very good gains. Their leadership group will remain mostly unchanged with the likes of Peter Bowden and Milan Jokic. Coaching staff will be Peter Bowden with support from Allan Booth, and Tony Hockey.Manning will take the next step this year following a narrow loss to Osborne Park in the final last season. Manning can be considered desperately unlucky with the last game of the season washed out, preventing them from gaining top spot for instant promotion.


3. Safety Bay –
have returned to this colour following an indifferent 2007/08 season with 6 wins and 11 loses, they will be working very hard to ensure they regain their White status, don’t count them out in the finals mix.


4. Rockingham –
With key acquisition from last season Norm Pascoe remaining at the Rocky club they will always be around at finals time.

Key skippers will be the usual pivotal players i.e. John Lethlean, Watson McIlveen and Keith Gould. Rockingham will look forward to the traditional derbies against neighbour Safety Bay, those contests will bring out the best in both sides.

The Rocky boys will enjoy the carpets of Mt Pleasant, Kardinya and the great greens of Manning, and they cannot be discounted in the run to the finals.


5. Spearwood –
have maintained the same playing group as 07/08, they continue to look to home grown talent, this season will be tough on the boys from the south, expect some changes in the line-up, Spearwood are always around at finals time this year could be just a little more difficult.


6. Mt Pleasant –
Promoted to One Blue through the exciting finals format that now exists, Mt Pleasant won eleven games and lost six finishing third to Thornlie, they have invested significantly in coaching and have quality skippers,
they have recruited Harry Mosford from Melville, Harry is an outstanding lead while getting skipper Geoff White from the Premier League club, Sth Perth is also a major signing;
The club has built on its successes and will be looking to continue that in 2008/9.


7. Cockburn –
Were very impressive last season winning 15 games and losing 2, just how they adjust to this division following a number of years languishing in second division will be the key. Cockburn has attracted quality players to bolster the One Red side, a number of players will miss selection in the top side, and so the One Blue side will benefit. The games against close neighbour Spearwood will be keenly anticipated.


8. Victoria Park –
Started 07/08 season very impressively, the wheels fell off mid year and just managed to keep out of the relegation zone by one game ahead of Midland Morrison, their season will depend on what players they can pick up from their top side and if they can maintain their form through out the season.


9. Gosnells –
Have lost a number of players Kevin Bairstow and Trevor Symonds have gone to Byford, Neville Mulcahy to Carlisle, Bert Cruickshank to Thornlie and Alan Corby has left too.
Brett Holland and Jason Bryant will be skippers with the other two spots yet to be confirmed, Gosnells had a year to forget last season they will be looking for early wins in the season to get some momentum happening.


10. East Fremantle –
Last season won 11 games and lost 6, they eliminated Warnbro (in the final) who had clearly finished second on the table just behind Cockburn, the Blue and Whites have been out of One Blue for a two years they may find it difficult this season. They have re-gained some quality players in Trevor Scorer and Peter Wainwright they will make a difference to the East Freo side.