The best answer is to build a bigger stadium, but is that going to happen, unless the WAFL has the major stake in the ground, that is not going to happen either. the government wants to own the ground, the WAFL does not want to give up its grip on the ground and the money it earns as it drives all WA football from top to bottom.

Who knows what will happen, a third team run out of a smaller ground would need a partner (cricket maybe ??) but around Mandurah/ Bunbury would probably get 15k crowds, maybe more, depending on marketing.

A third team out of Perth would need to differentiate themselves somehow from the Eagles/Dockers…… how would they do that, thats why a more regional team may work.

1st= Essendon
Last= Collingwood

grizzle grumble moan groan……..

I’ve heard rumblings from Joondallup Mayor for a 3rd team – is that realistic? or would it be more likely down south?

but as you suggest- just you wait, our drum is beating louder and louder every day. I can already see mora, palmer, ibbo, hill billy, suban streaming down the subi centre delivering to god who is currently inhabiting the body of one M pavlova. Mayne and balla tearing up the forward 50. boughton and duffiel carrying it cooly out of defence. roberton staring and fyfe taking hangers all over the place. FFC premiers 2012, 2013,2014 the next footballing dynasty- you read it here first folks.

For a club that promises much but delivers little, sells 40k memberships and turns a good profit, the sky is the limit.

It has been very hard to unite Sth and East WAFL fans and to this day many will not support the Dockers, should this happen the Dockers will be as powerful as WCE.

Dont want to swing this thread… but … we need a bigger ground or a third team here in the west.

My Crows will probably come about 5th again but if you make the Finals then anything could happen. Who can ever forget 97-98? We’ve spent the last 12 years playing with pride and honesty, trying to be competitive every year and where exactly has that got us? No decent draft picks and no real chance to win another flag.

The draft was obviously a Victorian conspiracy designed to hold super clubs like the Crows back.

Our goals were shared around last year, Lucas ineffectual for most of the year,(one good game against Carlton)
. Lloyd only got 35 goals.

Hurley is gun in the making and we have plenty of small forward type players who can chime in – keep dreaming

slim pickings then,

Essendon for bottom 4.

(if Neagle is in your group of ‘hopefuls’ re goal kickers)

I’d suggest Essendon will be better –

without A.Lovett,

and with Hille (back fit) and Ryder going tandem,

but, nagging doubt – at their best in 2009, Scott Lucas had a purple patch of about 4-5 weeks. Redb – who WILL kick your goals this year????

Geelong (albeit will slip)
Western Bulldogs (early favourite)
St Kilda (firm favourite)
Adelaide (on the rise)
Hawthorn (one the rebound)
Brisbane (on the surprise)
Collingwood (will slip)

Carlton to drop away
Essendon to hold or firm
West Coast to improve
Sydney to improve

Melb, Nth, Rich, Fre and Port to share the cellar but all improve in their competitiveness.

It’s bit early though, after 3 rounds we should have an idea.

Redb

every team is at their own place in their ‘premiership window’ or stage of development,

Melbourne will be seeking to build a winning culture,

Freo bloody more debutants in 2009 than anyone else – they will be super keen to fast track their development,

The Eagles are quietly optimistic (from over here – whereas, back at home they’re bullish)

North could surprise a few – personally I’m very optimistic – new coach, new facilities, new more positive attacking game style, and almost a brand new midfield whereas last year, our midfield was in disarray 3 weeks before Rnd 1.

The Swans minus Jolly might not be that great – but, a new look forward line minus the ‘Hallodramas’ and with Goodes permanently station at CHF…..you just never know, they only need to win every SCG game to be in with a big chance,

the Bombers – couldn’t again have all their talls go down,

Port – look to be getting better organised throughout – including the big step of unifying as a single entity the Port Adelaide Magpies and the Port Power ‘clubs’,

really, only Richmond of the bottom group look to be lagging – but, they had their re-alignment of ambition and ability matrix happen last year on round 1, the year couldn’t go quick enough for them to start to restructure lists (on and off field). The Tiges at least should have managed their expectations for 2010.

and from the top bracket – expect at least one club to come crashing back to earth with a thud – -

Geelong…the reigning premiers and best performed team EVER (from a games won/lost perspective) over a 3 year period
St Kilda…. the second best team ever not to win a premiership (strangely, jsut one season earlier, Geelong from 2008 was the best team never to win)
Footscray… now or never with the acquisition of Barry Hall (how fortuitous were they that the one factor missing from their team, a big forward, just happened to be available!!)
Hawthorn, the big disappointment from last year…. with a couple of gun recruits….

Nto to mention the emergence of a Positive playing Adelaide last year (their transformation from a dour to exciting team in a matter of a fortnight was amazing!)
The Brisbane Bears…Fevola and Brown…. the best double act EVER!!
And perhaps even Collingwood…. they are awlays underestimated yet have delivered some pretty decent football under mick Malthouse.

I suspect the rest are jsut making up the numbers but with such excitement at the top level, who cares!!