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Draw pride from WA talent

Well it’s been a long time since WA football fans sat back and watched the finals series without a team involved but that’s what has happened this year.

September will be a time of relaxation and footy trips for the West Coast and Fremantle players this season.

Unfortunately football fans aren’t being treated to the most amazing finals series thus far.

There is yet to be a close game and everything has played out pretty predictably with Geelong the dominators and Hawthorn the clear challengers.

So what does the finals hold for us WA supporters.

Well we could just admire some of the fine WA talent running around this September and maybe do a bit of gloating while we’re at it.

Looking at the games over the weekend if I had to pick a state who’s produce made the most significant contribution to both the spectacle and the final result I would pick the sandgropers.

Friday night was dominated by one Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin.

Where’s he from again?

Buddy was awesome on his way to eight freakish goals but he also had a great WA support acts in Chance Bateman and Mark Williams.

For the Bulldogs Ryan Hargrave, Josh Hill and Farren Ray certainly didn’t disgrace themselves.

Over in Adelaide it was the WA boys who were once again instrumental in Collingwood’s victory.

Leon Davis, Harry O’Brien, Paul Medhurst, Tarkyn Lockyer and even Shannon Cox bobbed up at crucial times for the pies.

For Adelaide Scott Stevens played the game of his life to produce six goals and keep the Crows in the game while Nathan van Berlo continues to be one of their prime midfield movers.

In the Sydney win we can claim no WA players but the swans went a long way towards winning the game when they were able to shut down smooth mover Daniel Wells in the second half.

The next day as Geelong thumped the saints I was able to admire the fine performances of Joel Corey and Harry Taylor.

Only Clint Jones represented the saints for WA and he battled manfully but we are probably happy not to claim too many players from the disappointing St Kilda side.

All of this may be drawing a very long bow and most of us may get very little satisfaction from seeing guys play well that will probably never come to play.

If that’s the case I advice you to turn your attention to the WAFL finals series.

On the weekend I was able to enjoy watching some of the biggest draft hopefuls running around for their WAFL clubs.

The likes of Natanui, Yarran, Pearce, Rich, Cocky, Hill and Banfield strutted their stuff and all made significant contributions to their sides.

For most if not all of these young guys it will be the last time they line up for their WAFL side so we should treasure the opportunity while it’s here.

A lot of these young guys will probably end up playing their football in other states but maybe one day we will be able to look at them and gloat too.