Player Column – Cory Dell'Olio Qualifying Final

THE feeling is really good down at the club and amongst the boys at the moment leading into another finals campaign. Everyone is really excited to be a part of September again. 

I think besides Benny Saunders we have everyone available to play this week. That definitely hasn’t been the case all year and it has been a slow burn to get everyone on the park at the same time, but that has also been a benefit as we have given opportunities to plenty of young guys who have come in and played important roles for the team. 

I think it will be a really good game of footy. The two times we have played them this year they have been really close and we expect the same again on Saturday. West Perth have been very impressive this year and are strong across all lines. I think both teams will go into the game with confidence in their team. 

It has been a bit of an indifferent season for myself. Besides the year I missed completely in 2016 I have never missed much footy during the season and for a couple of different reasons I have missed just under half this year which has been frustrating at times. I think I have performed to an OK level when playing but I still think my form can be at a higher level and hopefully that is the case in the next few weeks. 

It definitely is a different forward-line for us too heading into this finals series. We have had to move on pretty quickly from Johnno leaving as it sort of came out of nowhere. Between myself and Saundo, we have both been in and out this season but again it has brought great opportunities.

Matty Parker has gone to a higher level this year and relished having more responsibility fall on his shoulders. That is also the case for Brandon Donaldson who has had a really strong year. We have now also pushed Dylan Main forward and he is a really impressive one on one player. We would love to have Johnno around and Saundo not injured but we think the forward structure has come on, especially in the last few weeks which is positive. 

We are determined for sure to make the most of our finals opportunity this year. But to be fair no more determined than any other of the four teams heading into this month. I am really proud of this group and the last three seasons of footy we have played to give us the opportunity to play in September. But as Todd keeps saying it is a new season now and we need to take our chances. Hopefully the last two finals campaigns give us good confidence and experience to know what we are going to expect. 

Thank God comes to mind when heard that Ashton Hams was retiring. Nah, Hamsy has been a great servant for this footy club and I have no doubt there will be a few tears from him when he realises it's his last game once it has been completed. 

It will definitely be the last time a few of us all to play together when this campaign ends and it is a real shame as we have had some great memories, but for now this comes first and once it is all done we might sit down and enjoy a beer (or UDL for Ashton) and reflect.