Up or down for Prelim finalists?

Today’s preview looks at our losing preliminary finalists from last year. While one of these sides has remained strong and stable, the other has had to deal with an awful off-season which sees them looking to plug some key holes. In today’s article we look at how both sides might get on and whether they can get a step or two further than they did last season.

Note: Information believed to be correct at time of publication however it may change prior to round 1.

North Beach

In: Robin Higgins (OP)

Out: Nil

First 9 Fixtures: OP (H) Mun (A) Gos (H) Sorr (A) MP (H) Leem (A) SB (H) Mann (H) VP (A)

North Beach have added to their experienced group of players by bringing in Robin Higgins from Osborne Park. As a member of the state squad she’ll bring another layer of class to a side which already has lots of experience at Premier League level or better. They had a couple of years in the wilderness recently but were well and truly back last season getting themselves into a preliminary final. It’s an experienced group, many of the North beach girls have been at the club through numerous finals campaigns over the years including grand finals. If they want to achieve that lofty ambition this year, then they’ll have to work as hard as ever to catch manning and Mosman who have played the vast majority of recent grand finals. However, when you look at the North Beach squad they have one of the deepest teams in the division so have the tools to make a push.

Osborne Park in the first game will be a good tester with the Saints looking to make flag contending run of their own. After that is a nice little six game run where they only play one team that made the finals last year in Mosman Park. With both the Osborne and Mosman Park games at home there is a legitimate chance they could go into a home clash with Manning 7-0. In fact, the entire first round of fixtures looks quite kind for North Beach giving them the chance to set themselves up before some of the most difficult road trips in the new year.

Classification: Premiership Contender

With their skill and experience North beach have as good a chance of knocking off the defending champions as anybody. Their draw in the first half of the year has the potential to set them up really well for the season and a 9-0 start isn’t too far outside the realms of possibility. If they can start anywhere near that well, then the confidence they get could see them continuing winning ways well into the season and they could even get a shot at top two. If they get there then the grand final is a real possibility. Of course, if they stumble early they face a tough run home and could miss altogether but the side looks good enough.

Cambridge

In: Nil

Out: Pieter Harris (Unavailable), Daniel Patterson (Deceased), Jon Sharp (Emu Point), Jim Barry (Doubleview)

First 9 Fixtures: Bass (H) DV (A) Warn (H) SP (A) Sorr (H) OP (A) Mor (H) Kard (A) Mann (H)

The Knights had a disappointing finals campaign last season, going out in straight sets after finishing second. The strength of this squad has been its backend players for a few years but now all of a sudden that may have to change. Pieter Harris is taking an indefinite leave of absence, Jon Sharp has moved to Albany for work reasons and of course the tragic passing of Daniel Patterson has left the Knights three skippers short. They are lucky to have three players with experience skippering in Premier League but they may have to find some thirds this year if they’re going to contend. One player who may have been in the conversation is Jim Barry who has moved back to Doubleview, meaning Cambridge has lost a quarter of last year’s side with no recruits to replace them. The opportunity now falls to those in the second team to lay claim to those extra spots and make them their own.

Cambridge get a lot of the really tough trips out of the way early with away trips to finals contenders Doubleview, South Perth, Osborne Park and Kardinya in the first round of fixtures. This makes their home games vitally important if the Knights are to be in touch at Christmas. They do play both promoted sides and Morley at home in that time which could all be good opportunities to get points. In theory that should also mean a kinder end to the season although an away trip to Manning is hardly an enviable final game. They still have a synthetic that not everyone is a fan of, so it will be pretty important for Cambridge to make use of that this year.

Classification: Mid-table

Cambridge have a couple of classy players who should ensure that they aren’t in the demotion race and should be around the place in most of their games. If everything works out with players making the step up, either in position or grade, then they loom as a dark horse and finals threat. Until we see that happen though we have to remain a wee bit skeptical about a side that has, at this stage, lost three of its four skippers. Pieter Harris may return at some point and would be a welcome boost as another top-quality skip. Until that actually happens though we’ve got to predict based on the team that will suit up in round one.