If nothing changes, nothing changes.
The line was much used by Justin Langer in his successful cricket coaching career and it applies equally to the performance and preparation of WA’s increasingly poor recent interstate campaigns.
The nature and lessons of WA’s 63-point loss to South Australia – and that is not even considering the flattering margin – tells you change is due.
In fact, it’s overdue.Barely anything went right for WA as they lost their fifth consecutive match to the Croweaters to demolish any misconceptions over which state league is superior. In fact, the thing that often cops the greatest criticism – the selection of the team – is one of the least flawed issues that the WA Football Commission needs to address.
Yes, there were a few players who did not handle the big stage as expected, and perhaps faith has now worn thin for a couple on their last chances, but the team selected was not far off the best available. It is an indictment of the league that the best players are actually not good enough. And that echoes the critical comments made by AFL recruiters about the lack of readiness and options in their West Australian draft choices and even West Coast’s regular sniffles about their younger players not being able to develop adequately in the WAFL.
The focus needs to be on the preparation, the location, the lack of promotion and apparent absence of passion for the cause.
What needs to change?
To start with, the WAFC should bring in an independent, credible and informed figure – someone like John Worsfold, for example – to carry out a comprehensive review of the State program.
That person needs to be completely independent and unconcerned about providing candid, even robust and provocative feedback.
It cannot be done internally because it is quite likely that an internal review would be conducted by those people who deserve the closest scrutiny. Marking your own homework is no way to improve.
That approach has not always been embraced at the WAFC but there is a simple answer if the comfortable response of internal assessment is considered adequate – five matches, five losses.
Then the WAFC needs to appoint an equally-credible and independent chairman of selectors whose job is not only to assemble a squad capable of winning but the capacity to sell it within the league and in the wider football landscape via the media.
Port Adelaide’s 300-game star Tim Ginever has done an outstanding job in both roles in SA but it is another indictment that he provided more media presence for his team in WA than any local football figure did spruiking the Black Swans.
It is also time to change the match location.
WA captain Matthew Jupp explained eloquently that holding the game at Optus Stadium was the preference of most players given that they might not otherwise experience WA’s best football ground.But there is more to it than the wishes of a dozen or so individuals.
Barely a hundred or two supporters attended the match and it was galling, and revealing, that preparations for the later AFL fixture meant public address announcements were practiced throughout the game.
Nothing like an intrusive PA routine to underline your position in the pecking order. It is time to return to a club ground where genuine WAFL followers would be able to attend and create a modicum of atmosphere.
History beckons next year when the two states meet for the 100th time.There should be life after the first century though WA might need a transfusion to guarantee it.They certainly need a change.
IMAGE: WA Football