Round 15 Football Department Update

Round 15 v PEEL THUNDER Football Department Update

A disappointing day to say the least against Swan Districts last Saturday at Steel Blue Oval. We encountered another wet and wild winter’s day which resulted in a Lightning Delay in the Reserves Match which is not something that happens too often in WAFL Football.

The Colts started the day off well with a strong 32pt victory which put them into second spot on the WAFL Colts Ladder. The Reserves led all day before giving up 3 goals in the 4^th quarter to go down by 7pts. And finally, the League side started the first quarter strongly, but wasted a number of opportunities to hit the scoreboard before Swans kicked into gear. Swans went into the half time break 5 goals in front and although our boys controlled  their fair share of the ball in the second half and led the IN50 count on the day 48-44, we were unable to pull back the deficit and walked away with a 23pt defeat.

The result sees us at 6-7 with this weekend’s Round 15 clash against Peel Thunder (7-6) being the most important of the season as we look to stay in touch with the top 5.

Leederville Oval was unable to recover from Round 14’s 3 x matches between Subiaco and Claremont and we were tasked with finding an alternate venue for the match due to the unsafe surface conditions. East Fremantle Oval (New Choice Homes Park) will play host to the match as a neutral venue. Although East Fremantle have been playing home matches at the WACA for majority of the season, they have been training at East Fremantle Oval and the surface and facilities have been maintained which means it will fit the bill for a WAFL Match Day.

We look forward to all Royals supporters getting down to East Fremantle Oval to support the lub.

THE LEAGUE SQUAD

A number of changes going into the Round 15 Match against Peel Thunder with Shayne Hille returning for his first League appearance since Round 4 to play his 100^th Match for the mighty Royals. Shayne has been stuck on 99 WAFL Matches since suffering setbacks with a hamstring injury and lines up after playing in the Reserves last week and proving his fitness. Twin brothers Harley and Cooper Sparks (Deanmill FC) will play their first WAFL League match together with Harley returning to the League side after missing due to health & safety protocols while Cooper will debut for the club. The outs are Jack Cooley, Ben McGuire and Sam Van Diemen who have all been omitted after the loss to Swan Districts.

INS: Shayne HILLE, Harley SPARKS, Cooper SPARKS

OUTS: Jack COOLEY, Ben McGUIRE, Sam VAN DIEMEN

MILESTONES: Shayne HILLE - 100 Games, Kye WILLCOCKS - 50 Games, Cooper SPARKS - Debut

THE RESERVES SQUAD

A couple of changes with players moving up to the League side or returning from injury. Jack Cooley, Ben McGuire and Sam Van Diemen all come into the Reserves side along with Jye Clements who returns from a shoulder injury and Sokaa Soka who will play his first game of Reserves Football after being promoted from the Colts side this week.  Despite the loss on the weekend, finals remain a possibility for the Reserves, but with the bottom 5 sides all eyeing off that final spot, every week is important.

SENIOR INJURY LIST

Jesse KEATING (Ankle): 1 week

Harrison DELLA FRANCA (Shoulder): 2 weeks

Jedd EDWARDS (Foot): 4 weeks

Damon GREAVES (Ankle): 4 weeks

Archie HALL (Back): TBC

Spider LOCKITT (Shoulder): TBC

Yugusuk SOKA (Shoulder): SEASON

Thomas EDWARDS-BALDWIN (Shoulder): SEASON

Max ANNANDALE (Hip): SEASON

THE COLTS SQUAD

We have had a few challenges this week with regards to the colts team but feel we will field a very competitive side on Saturday, in a game v the 3^rd placed Thunder. We named several regional players in our squad on Tuesday for this week , which was a great thing to be able to recognise and reward those players who have been in good form and doing all the right things. Memphis Mayer (Imperials), Macklin Orr (Imperials) as well as the Edwards brothers Josh and Adam from Tigers out of the LSW. On top of those players Matthew Burgess (Dunsborough), Sam Graham (AMR) and Harvey Fisher (AMR) from the SW, as mentioned all boys playing really good team footy.

From a selection viewpoint, we have made 3 changes to the 23 that played last week vs Swans. Into the side comes Tyler Lindberg (Busselton), Tom Hallett (Boyup Brook) and making his Colts Debut this week, after a strong showing early in the season for our Futures Team is, Owen Cushing (Coolbinia). They will replace Jonah Brooks (PSA), Bonheur Cubahiro (Hip) and Soka Sokaa (Reserves Debut)

INS: Tyler Lindberg (Busselton), Owen CUSHING (Debut, Coolbinia), Tom Hallett (Boyup Brook)

OUTS: Bonheur CUBAHIRO (INJ), Jonah BROOKS (PSA), Soka SOKAA (Reserves Debut)

COLTS INJURY LIST

Maxx Della Franca – Wrist – 1 to 2 weeks

Bonheur Cubahiro – Hip – 1 to 2 weeks

Adam De Masi – Foot – 5 to 7 weeks

Bailey Maxwell – Ankle – 1 to 2 weeks

Mitch Williams – Knee – TBC

Jedd Busslinger – Shoulder - Season