Player Column – Josh Pullman State Game

THE one-point loss on the weekend to East Perth was a tough pill to swallow. Compounding the frustration of ‘so close, yet so far’ is the fact that we now wait for two weeks for an opportunity to get back on the winners list.

Our video review revealed some good stuff, and some stuff to work on over the state bye. We’ll train this week without Ryan Cook, Tim Kelly, Ben Saunders and Haiden Schloithe as they go off to represent WA against Victoria.

We’re super proud of all the boys that made the initial squad, as well as the four that got in.

Ryan Cook is a great leader – one of the best I’ve played with. He’s a people person, he’s a pacesetter and set’s a strong example. He’s got a clear vision to rally behind, and he’s got experience. Cooky can seriously tell a story too - if you ever get a chance, buy him a beer and ask him about the time he played on Fev. Or the time his head was mistaken for a toe ball in the Bunnings car park.

Tim Kelly has recently been added to our leadership group. The decision to add him mid-season was unanimous, and is a result of the respect he’s earnt from his outstanding progress on and off the field over the past three years. He’s pretty quietly-spoken off the field, and the boys listen when he has something to say. He’s a real family man, which I respect. Loves a good rap playlist too, which I also respect.

Ben Saunders is putting together another great season. As a key forward, his on-field stuff is pretty well-documented. As a leader, he’s grown as much as anyone at the club this past 24 months. He’s a genuine proponent of driving up our standards, which has helped shape our culture. He is also on the cutting edge of pop culture – I’d say his meme game is second only to Blaine Johnson. Harambe’s memory will live on for years to come thanks to the Ben Saunders’ of the internet.

Haiden Schloithe is the kind of player you love having on your team, and would hate to play against. He’s talented, super-competitive, demands the best from himself and his team mates on game day. He regularly gets under our opposition’s skin. It seems the latter of these attributes is in the DNA of anyone raised in Katanning. 

We’ll be watching with interest as the boys head over to battle the Victorians. Enjoy the opportunity, and come back in one piece lads!