Black Swans lose skipper Lee
Likely WA captain Brendan Lee has withdrawn from the State match against South Australia tomorrow after being troubled by hamstring tightness.
The lively on-baller trained strongly with the State squad on Tuesday and was set to retain the captaincy from last year’s victory over a representative NEAFL team.
But Lee told coach Darren Harris yesterday that he was not confident he could get through the match at Lathlain Park. His withdrawal may allow the selection of both West Perth stars Aaron Black and Shane Nelson who were fighting for the final midfield place in the team.
But Harris and his coaching panel will still have to remove two more players after South Australia refused their request to play 23-man teams.
An extra interchange player is allowed under the rules of interstate competition, but the SANFL, which had asked originally for 21-man teams, refused the WAFL plea.
“It is a pity because they will bring a bloke over who doesn’t get to play and we will have to tell one of our boys that he won’t get a game,” Harris said.
Rebounding defender Brock O’Brien has been squeezed out of the team given that Kirk Ugle has been included to play that role after impressing Harris with his pace and poise for Swan Districts last week.
Lee will be replaced as captain by his East Perth teammate Paul Johnson, who led the Black Swans to their drought-breaking win over Victoria two years ago.
Johnson will be the sole ruckman against the Croweaters after Chris Keunen was cut from the squad this week.
Clancy Wheeler and Tony Notte will provide support to Johnson, whose record against South Australia includes a Simpson Medal for his outstanding display in the tight loss at Glenelg three years ago.
Small forward Leroy Jetta, who has been battling ham-string soreness, was also cut from the squad after his omission was flagged by the late inclusion of Cory Dell’Olio.
SA coach Graham Cornes said midfielders Nick Liddle (concussion) and Matt Panos (ham-string) had trained strongly and would push for selection.
Panos is considered the best set shot for goal in the SANFL, but is part of a strong on-ball brigade that includes several experienced contested ball winners.
Four of WA’s biggest football names presented WA jumpers to the players at Domain Stadium last night.
Graham Moss (23 WA matches), Barry Cable (20), Bill Dempsey (14) and John Todd (13) recalled their own State experiences during a function hosted by Peter Bell, who captained WA to their last win over SA.
Bell’s reaction after that match in 2009 has gone into interstate folklore.
“It’s not every day you captain your State to a one-point win over a team you haven’t beaten for 15 years,” he said at the time.
WA’s approach was replicated in Adelaide where former player and coach Neil Kerley urged the South Australian players to uphold their standing as the pre-eminent football State.
