I’m not ready to let the season go yet.
I really thought it was going to go somewhere in that finals series.
I’d hoped to see Sutts, McGarry and Old turn their luck around and score in the finals and they came really close. Ironically probably McGarry’s best game for the club. 

It’s been such a long bizarre season. I haven’t put all my thoughts together. A couple of stray ones.

  • Clayton Lewis gets the Tim Brown award for diving in with a hard man tackle and injuring himself.
  • Rufer, Pennington and Sandoval fighting for the scapegoat award. 

Hope we get to see more of the skill of Ben Old next year. At the end of the season we started to see the promise of his initial nutmeg on the park. Did a ton of defensive work too.

Think we need to look after our players a bit better. Nkololo smashed (and played) Fenton off the park and tried to do the same to McGarry. Garuccio targeted Sandoval straight up in the final. David Ball got kicked and forearmed all season, though he tends to stand up for himself! Fine  line between looking weak and copping a yellow for escalation, but we need to not lose duels or the physical challenge so easily. 

We often showed strength driving forwards on counters: Sotirio, Piscopo, Ball, Sandoval through the centre of the park often rode challenges and shrugged off tackles.

Loved the cup knockout run and it brought Sotirio into form and confidence. Also any week with two Nix games is a good week. Pennington with the winning pen against City to go with his late winner against Perth. 

Hooper (or Hopper as he’s sometimes known) missed two shots and dropped to 92% brilliant. Really enjoyed his play and wish he’d had time the way Hemed did (remember how he got dropped for half a season?) to find his fitness. 

Finn Surman has been a great find. Seems to have a good weak foot too?

Waine gets a pass mark from me, but needs to find his killer edge that took him on his scoring run. Probably playing next to Hemed helped that…Bear in mind he’s had more goal contributions than Piscopo this season. 
Needs to regain a dominance, opening the scoring or scoring winners or goals to put the game away. Not quite lived up to the magic promise of the late winner he and Sam Sutton crafted when they announced their arrival. 

Okay well maybe I’ll do a player ratings. Or a key dates thing or something. Or just look back at earlier games and moments.

Anyway, wish we had more games and finals football in Wellington! Would Australian Cup games be at Sky Stadium next year? 
What were your favorite moments this year?