Snort
Nev Cottrell (35)
Usually by this time of year, this forum is full of Waverley supporters announcing that Waverley will win, and half the side will make Australian Schoolboys. This year, not so much.
My own sense is that it's Knox's year. Their forwards are powerful (I particularly like the look of Kablau and Cheal) and their backs are fast and efficient. And they have depth. I see them being pushed by Waverley and Cranbrook. Waverley was never all that strong in this age group, but it wasn't weak and Waverley has had an influx of players in Year 11 who change things up a bit (I cast no aspersions - it just is what it is). Their backs seem better than their forwards, and I've always been impressed by Hutchison-Walters. Cranbrook would possibly be favourites but for the loss of Jude Gibbs to St Joseph's. Their forwards - players like Hayman, Tasker and Carroll - are mobile and powerful and there's some speed in the backs. Lamens at fullback is a difficult player to judge: like Quade Cooper, he often does brilliant and unexpected things in attack and then attempts some low-percentage play that backfires. Tas Smith is a key player. But depth is a worry and a couple of injuries could derail the year. Barker seems solid, while Trinity and St Aloysius will look to cause an upset here or there. Trinity would have been a stronger proposition with Ieremia, but for whatever reason, he's not on deck this season.
But - the thing about a 5-round competition is that one upset changes everything. In 1980, the (then unofficial) premiership was split three ways: Trinity, Waverley and Barker each won four and lost one. I wouldn't bet against something similar happening this year. It may be too much to hope for a repeat of 1972, when Knox, Barker, Waverley and Cranbrook all won three and lost two: a four-way shared premiership.
My own sense is that it's Knox's year. Their forwards are powerful (I particularly like the look of Kablau and Cheal) and their backs are fast and efficient. And they have depth. I see them being pushed by Waverley and Cranbrook. Waverley was never all that strong in this age group, but it wasn't weak and Waverley has had an influx of players in Year 11 who change things up a bit (I cast no aspersions - it just is what it is). Their backs seem better than their forwards, and I've always been impressed by Hutchison-Walters. Cranbrook would possibly be favourites but for the loss of Jude Gibbs to St Joseph's. Their forwards - players like Hayman, Tasker and Carroll - are mobile and powerful and there's some speed in the backs. Lamens at fullback is a difficult player to judge: like Quade Cooper, he often does brilliant and unexpected things in attack and then attempts some low-percentage play that backfires. Tas Smith is a key player. But depth is a worry and a couple of injuries could derail the year. Barker seems solid, while Trinity and St Aloysius will look to cause an upset here or there. Trinity would have been a stronger proposition with Ieremia, but for whatever reason, he's not on deck this season.
But - the thing about a 5-round competition is that one upset changes everything. In 1980, the (then unofficial) premiership was split three ways: Trinity, Waverley and Barker each won four and lost one. I wouldn't bet against something similar happening this year. It may be too much to hope for a repeat of 1972, when Knox, Barker, Waverley and Cranbrook all won three and lost two: a four-way shared premiership.
