WBSA PREVIEW - APOLLO

The Western Border Soccer season kicks off this weekend and if cup form and the preseason hype are any thing to go by the 2011 season could be very close.

Apollo swept all before them in 2010, playing the best football and cruising home with the premiership.

Derek Ferguson proved that the passing game is alive and well and his Apollo boys stepped back into the limelight after promising so much for the last decade. Apollo were the class outfit in 1996 and 1997 as they won back to back flags and appeared to be on the verge of a footballing dynasty. Gambier Centrals spoilt the party in 1998 and Webb St has never been the same, or rather had been. Enter Derek Ferguson, a progressive junior policy, a few experienced heads and one or two quality signings and the Premiership was Apollo's. Fast forward 6 months and all were thinking that Apollo would not only enter the season as favourites, many presumed they would be better. The big question after the first round of the cup is are they as good as we think they should be?

Apollo

The 2010 premiers have had a shaky start to 2011. A bruising preseason friendly campaign, a first up loss to old foes Inter, a lucky draw against an undermanned Centrals squad and a win away to Naracoorte is nothing to write home about. It is the cup and the premiership is yet to start but like many, I expected more for Ferguson's boys. They have been training since late last year, have entered the FFSA Cup again and played a friendly away in Adelaide so we expected it would be a case of much of the same for Apollo this year. However, the loss to Inter and the manner of it will worry Ferguson as will the quality of their performance against a poor Centrals outfit a week later.

They still are hard to pick against and due to the quality they have in both senior squads they should have too much over the season but it does not look as certain as perhaps it should.

Ben Morris is solid in goal and David Coles is all class at the back, Chris Bytheway looks to be a cut above the pack and he is a wise choice as vice captain, however in the midfield quality and experience of Adam Hodge, John and Jamie Stephenson and Wayne Lennon could be their undoing as their lack of pace could be a concern. Inter chose to go over Apollo's midfield and it worked only a few weeks ago. They have some quality up front and they should get plenty of goals from Matt Ferguson and Matt Ripper and whoever plays alongside them but for me their strength lies in their depth. Each week their bench is packed with a series of fresh faces and quality juniors. Lewis Whittenbury could play A Grade at several other clubs, several new signings are playing in reserves and the return of some old faces make Apollo the team to beat again in 2011.

Coach Derek Ferguson - 2010 Premiership Coach

Star Player - David Coles

Player to watch in 2011 - Chris Bytheway

Prediction - Premiers

How could they blow it? They could pass their way into trouble at the back.

Glory Days - 1996, 1997, 2010 and probably 2011