1st Round-Robin Review

At the end of the first round-robin, each team has had the chance to play the others once, and it brings us one-third of the way through the WAFL 2018 season!  As expected, the reigning premiers: E.S. Bulldogs came out of the blocks firing, but through each of the first two games they were behind at some point during the second half, with late goals just before and just after the siren sealing their wins.  Can they carry this momentum through the break and into the Grand Final?

The H.V. Eagles have had a great start to the season, although Player/Manager Peter Van Kampen says there is still a long way to go with the fresh-look Eagles side.  Sitting second on the ladder brings little relief though, as they know they have a target on their back that grows with each win.

The W.C. Saints are pleased to have picked up a few players in the off-season that give them better speed and endurance.  This has always been a challenge, and now they feel they can compete across the field.  The next step is getting a consistent line up across the park (an struggle for most of the league).  Coach Gregor Kempt is “Happy with where we are at, and looking forward to the second round-robin.”

The young-gun Demons have struggled to get a win on the board, but have plenty of positives to take out of the first round-robin of the season.  Competing teams have noted how the Demons are noticeably playing better as a team (ie: shepherding), working through the midfield, even against an experienced Bulldogs side, and how even when they are down on the scoreboard, they are still on the attack until the final siren.  An expected influx of several senior players from Wellington GAA (Gaelic Footballers) after the Labour Weekend break could just be the injection the Demons need to make a convincing shot at playing in the Grand Final in December!

Here is the table after the first round-robin, heading in to the Labour Weekend break:

Position	Team	Played	Won	Lost	%	Form
1	Bulldogs	3	3	0	254	WWW
2	Eagles	3	2	1	153	WLW
3	Saints	3	1	2	83	LWL
4	Demons	3	0	3	33	LLL