Falcons duo fight for last position
Sandover medallist Aaron Black and runner-up Shane Nelson have provided a dilemma for the State selectors as they compete for the final place in the WA team that will take on South Australia at Lathlain Park on Saturday.
In a mark of the quality of midfield options available to coach Darren Harris and his selection panel, one of the West Perth duo is set to miss out.
The decision is likely to revolve around whether WA need another inside ball winner, the role in which Nelson has starred for the Falcons over the past two seasons, as part of an even split of inside and outside players among their eight midfielders.
Should Nelson take his place beside Brendan Lee, Liam Anthony, Aidan Tropiano and Leigh Kitchin, there may not be any room for Black, who won the Sandover last year and was one of WA’s best when they broke their long drought against Victoria in 2013.
Perth pivot Tropiano (262 disposals) is the only player to get the ball more often than Nelson (255) and Black (215) this season and the Falcons pair won more possessions than any other players in the 2014 home-and-away season.
WA are sure to pick Ashton Hams, who won the Simpson Medal in the big win over the NEAFL team last year, while his South Fremantle teammates Ryan Cook and Marlon Pickett are also in line to play as outside runners.
The Black Swans are likely to employ seven defenders and seven forwards, with ruckman Paul Johnson to get assistance from Tony Notte and Clancy Wheeler.
The squad was trimmed to 27 players yesterday, with small defender Kirk Ugle added to a back-line group that is likely to include fellow rebounders Brock O’Brien, Wayde Twomey and Andrew Strijk.
Subiaco veteran Darren Rumble is almost certain to play his first State match in six years after full-back Tallan Ames was ruled out with hamstring soreness.
Seven first-choice players were unavailable because of injuries or work commitments, while six others were cut from the squad yesterday.
They were East Fremantle’s Sandover medallist Rory O’Brien, East Perth speedster Steven Payne, Peel pair Brendon Jones and Gerald Ugle, Matt Riggio, of Swans, and West Perth’s Laine Rasmussen.
The game will feature 23-man teams should South Australia’s emergency be fit to play on the morning of the match.
Centreman Nick Liddle, who starred when SA beat WA at Glenelg three years ago, will play if he passes a fitness test at training in Adelaide tonight.
He was concussed in the SANFL last Friday.
255
Shane Nelson’s disposals so far this season in the WAFL
