IN THEIR WORDS – KODY MANNING ROUND 9

AFTER getting a message from Chris Pike earlier in the week asking if I was interested in doing a ‘players column’ this week it took me a while to reply. One reason being if I’d be able to keep up with the likes of Dr Rasmussen and Co who have held this torch before me. SO, here we go.

After returning from KULIN with a hard fought win and not forgetting the eventful drive home with Ozzy Adventurer Russell Coight being the bus driver, we got to see the sights of Kulin – (actually every back street) - the boys had to get straight back into things and start preparing for the next week’s game against Peel, which wasn’t going to be an easy task.

Throughout the week the boys were up and about thriving off the win and going into the game with a lot of confidence, boys were laughing, joking round, and most importantly hitting targets - just the overall moral was high!

Team selection night came around fast and we had a surprise inclusion! Matt 'The Catwalker' Johnson was back, after his brief stint in front of the camera. Once he realised that his dream of becoming Instagram famous wasn’t happening anytime soon, he decided to come back to be a real boy.

Come game day the team was still amped and ready to go and get the win. In rainy conditions and the ground wetter than a Sumo Wrestlers armpit, 'The Worker’ Lourey, got us off to a perfect start taking a strong pack mark to then strut his way back from the mark - then graciously put it through the middle for a major.

Luke 'Skip Bin' Meadows soon followed up with another goal and continued his form from the week before racking up another 30 possessions who was also joined by Tyler 'The Grinch' Keitel who thought bringing his own ball to the game was a great idea, finishing with a career high 30+ himself. Tyler was as giddy as a school girl at her first dance to triple his usual possessions.

During much of the second and third quarters it was a tough fight, back and forth with each teams forwards obviously confused which posts we were supposed to be kicking it through. That was until 'Super Coach', as Bill likes to refer himself as, gave a great third quarter grill borderline sook pleading with us to "kick it between the @#*%@ middle ones."

We got the perfect start to the final quarter with two quick ones in the first 10 minutes to Steven 'I’m Sick' Browne cracking a senior moment and getting lost, popping up in the forward line. He went back and kicked his first for the season and our third for the term to get us away to a healthy lead, until Trent 'Loves Himself' Manzone (ask him about his screensaver) popped out of Jay van Berlo's sprinkler hole then went back and put what would be the sealer through to get us home to a much earned win and to be 4-4 with a bye this week.

During our bye week we got down to the local clubs to give them a helping hand with some drills and pointers to help them improve their game. Chook 'Matt Fowler' seized the opportunity to let them all know he played league by wearing his WP bomber jacket down, then going up to one kid who was wearing a Western Bulldogs jumper stating that he’s best friends with Marcus Adams and that they follow each other on Instagram followed with Chook's signature smile. Keegan Knott felt right at home with the Year 4s (two of the kids were bigger than him) joining in on match simulation

The fossil 'Keuns' was in his element being a school teacher. He knew exactly how to handle things, especially when one kid came up and told him that he trains with Extensev Fitness and that Seva tells the little guy he’s the best ruckman at West Perth. Upon Keuns hearing this he was quick to reply "that statement is about as true as saying that I weigh more than 60kg" and slowly walked off.

This weekend with our first round off for the year, a much deserved RnR, we will then be welcoming back a few key ins for the WP team. 'The Fossil' Keuns, Ras, Joe 'Bones' Morrow and 'The Rhino' Mr Luke Tedesco all will be good ins to have back when we will take our recent dominant form into the game against our Grand Final nemesis Subiaco at Medibank Stadium where we hope to get one back at them 

CARN WEST!.!.!