Reporter
Years ago
Funny Round 1 complete: Eagles set the pace!
9 games each and everyone has played each other once. Not a bad time to have a look at how the league is shaping up, who is doing well and of course not so well.There has certainly been some surprises...North being 3rd is definately one surprise, centrlas and West being bottom 2 another, all while Forestville and Sturt start similar to that of last year both look destined for a top 3 berth and the all important double chance. So lets go through team by team.
After 9 games a piece:
Forestville
Placed 1st(9-0)
Certainly after the first round the eagles look to be the team to beat in 2006. With Sturt and North the only teams to come within single digits of them, it is hard to see them being knocked out of top spot before the regular season is finished. The addition of Arnold, Cambell and Hoban has seemed to more than account for their off season losses of Farnam and Wilson. That and having the deepest rotation this league may have ever seen, has put them in a great position to have another crack at the title. Sutton should be picked up by the sixers! Dix and Sullivan having standout years!
Three main questions arise from the first round: They beat Sturt without Smylie, Norwood without Cooper and Mathews, and Eastern without Holmes. It seems that all though dominating the league, the eagles still have yet to be truly tested. Looking forward to their results with these three teams in the second round. Think we will all get a better picture of how they are really travelling then!
Predicted position after minor round: 1st
Sturt
2nd(7-2)
Apart from a couple of hiccups, the Sabres have had a great start to the year. Small losses to eagles round 1, and North, see them in the packs sights, but really are going along quite comfortably. The big question hanging over these guys heads is line-up? Come to end of the season and finals time, who will they have playing for them? With Oscar, Smylie and rumors or Maher, they would automatically become favourites, however, with Maher notpartipating in no more than a handful of games over the last few years, it's hard to see him making himself availible for ABL finals. Even without Maher, you would have to have them favourites, Smylie has given them the missing piece that they have not had since Illman left to play footy, but once again, if the sixers are silly enough not to sign Smylie now, which looks like will be the case, then I would be very surprised if he is not picked up soon be another NBL club. Remember people, this guy is Australian. So the likelyhood of him being around at finals time is low. Then the Sabres still have the side which finished 2 nd last year after the minor round, so you would expect nothing less this year...but will Oscar be around? Starting in NZ must have some influence on his availability for finals. The answers to these questions I'm sure are kept close to Sturts chest,but even with all that, they still have the early favourite for the Woolacott Darren Ng on their side. Any team with this man will be in the top three teams come finals.
Predicted finish after minor round: 2nd
North Adelaide
3rd(6-3)
The surprise packet of the season to date! Certianly getting rid of the the oldies and going the youth option has been a positive for the club. Last years starters Zorich and Hambour are leading the way well, whilst Burton,Quigley,Franchesena,Hastings and others are grabbing their opportunity to play solid minutes with both hands. Could say that they have been a little lucky along the way...beating Southern with no Gerlach, Norwood with no Cooper and Sturt with no Gower and Sheppard. but you have to play the cards your dealt, and they have certainly done that well. And to their defence, have got the closest to Forestville, and are more than out playing the teams the have beaten. Something, and I don't know what tells me that a coupe of teams might catch them, and they will miss out on a double chance. I do however think that they will complete in at least one finals game this year, and from there who knows?
Predicted finish after the minor round: 5th
Norwood
4th(5-4)
Great to see the Flames put their pre season form into practise this year. Obviously a different looking team than last year with 3 key inclusions. Firstly Ely the best 3 point shooter in the league, Mathews probably the best penetrator and Cooper an inside presence that the flames have longed for for years, which has taken massive amounts of pressure away from Krause, who is having one of his best seasons. Throw in some keen young blokes like Webber, Lampshire,Ottey and Grantham and you have a championship contender! Apart from the Woodville hiccup, the only games they have lost are ones where they have had big names out. Mark my word..if they can hold this team together, these guys will be around come August. It makes me think how good they could be if Sapwell concentrated on playing and not coaching!
Predicted finish after minor round: 3rd
Eastern
5th(4-5)
Certainly a shocking start to their season but things are looking up. It was only a matter of time before chemistry kicked in and these guys started to win some games. One big question...Holmes? How long will he be around? Has to put some time in with the Dragons sooner or later. One would assune that he probably won't be around for finals. with him they are certainly a title favourite, without him, an out side chance, but still along way to go. Obiously Hill is a great pick up for them...my only concern being what damage has this done the Brad Davis's game. His most quite year for years! One would think if they are to win the title without Holmes, Davis must be playing well! Other than that Nick Cambell having a huge year, but they need more from a few others. I think the loss of Goodenough and Warhurst has hurt their offense...a lot less penatration, leaving less open shots for their shooters! Having said that, Richard will have them around the mark come finals time, and they will be tough to beat!
Predicted finish after minor round: 4th
Woodville
6th(4-5)
Two things to come out of the first round for the Warriors coaching staff. Rees is no Elder, and Howland is no Fuller! Firstly, a hustle team needs their hustle players playing well, and Fuller is their best hustle man. If he does not play, they will struggle! I noticed he was not on the stat sheet in the Forestville game..they got a thumping!
Secondly, as great a player as Reesey has been, he cannot replace an import of Elder or Bradley'y ability. Looking at their team now, there is a piece missing...Elder or someone similar. Without him they are just a mid of the range team...a team that on their night can beat anyone, but can also lose to anyone. No Elder puts far too much pressure on Wilson to get 25+ points and Puddifoot 25points and 12-15 boards a night. Cos it is obvious that if they don't post those type of numbers or something close they will lose as many as they win, and you would think need 12 wins to make the playoffs so they will have to win 8 of their last 13 games to qualify..sorry woodville fans, I think they will give it their all and come close but no Elder no finals!
Predicted finish after minor round:6th
South Adelaide
7th(3-6)
Unfortunately for these guys they will miss out on finals action again this year. I say this is unfortunate cos I feel that they are one dominant player away for being a top 3 team. Having got rid of two players that I believe were more of a negative than a positve for this team over the last 2 years, and with Scanlon, Bayliss and new inside presence Aghar and co giving it their all, all they need is a Holmes to get them over the line. They will continue to win games, especially against the teams below them, and will create an upset or two before the season is out and will enjoy doing so, but like Woodvlle, without a big name player or import will always be a middle of the range team or just below. Extremely tough at home..need to find that same game away form Marion!
Predicted finish after minor rounds: 7th
Southern
8th(3-6)
Not sure where to start with these guys. What a rabble! Two 40 point losses, but good wins over decent teams Eastern for one, and then more losses. I really thought they would have beaten South without Kosmider. Not to be. Not sure what to say, second bottom last year, then promising pick up in Alexander, Gerlach coming off season witht the sixers all was looking quite bright. Throw in Goodenough, and the knowledge that their captain Matt Clarke would be and is now back, and one would think that a finals berth would be on the cards. Don't think so! Either the coaching staff can't quite find the right mix out of these guys, or they are just not that great in the first place. Not sure which, but now that they have had a few games together, one would expect more wins out of them and a possible run to the finals, but i'm not going to predict that...good for them if they can prove me wrong, but I want actions form these guys, they have been talking for long enough!
Predicted finish after minor round: 9th
West Adelaide
9th(2-7)
One name....Blake Truslove! Boy do they need him now. These guys have everything from experience, youth, guys that can penetrate, guys that can shoot, some good medium to big sized blokes that can play D, score and rebound,all they are missing is the big awkward looking bloke in the midle to get them over he line in a few more games...add him and they are a championship contender without a doubt. Having said all that, they still are better than a (2-7) team, so Greiger has some work to do, but they are getting valuable time to their younger players which i'm sure they will reap the rewards from in years to come...when Truslove (and Cioffi) are back at the Port.
Predicted finish after minor round: 8th
Centrals
10th(2-7)
Any team with Reggie, Watson, Wilkey, Graves, Clausen should not get beaton by 70. Something isn't right up there at Gawler, but I don't know what it is. I have to think that Ricky Simpson has done all he can do with these guys. His third or fourth year now and apart from signing some players to get them off the bottom of the table for a year, that is exactly where thay find themselves again. Now I'm not saying that its Ricky's fault, cos it probably isn't, I think these guys need a kick up the you know where because they obviously think that they are better than they are, and that they don't have to work hard to have success. Well I guess if a loss by 70 doesn't wake them up, nothing will! They are too good to be on the bottom, but unless there is a major turn around, that is where they will stay.
Predicted finish after minor round: 10th
Well there you have it. I have Forestville, Sturt, Norwood, Eastern and North and in that order rounding out the top 5 by the end of the year. But the championship is more up for grabs as any years in the past. Bring on round 2.
