Webb back to his best and reaches 150
Written by janie
By Chris Pike
THREE times Subiaco premiership skipper Marc Webb has rebounded to near career-best form in 2009 and plays his 150th game with the Lions on Saturday.
Webb struggled a little in 2008 due to injury and because of that had some concerns if his body would allow him back to his best, but he did hold the premiership cup aloft for the third time in September and after a strong pre-season, is leading the Lions' midfield again.
The lure of playing 150 games with Subiaco and becoming a life member was a definite spur on for Webb to continue his career in 2009 and it will be right up there as career achievements with the four premierships he's played in, three of which he did as captain.
"It was definitely one of my goals at the start of the year and it's a special club, we've achieved a lot the last few years and I've been really keen to reach 150 games to get life membership. It was one of the main reasons I played on and I really enjoy the club," Webb said.
"We have a great atmosphere there with a core group of guys who have played together a while and we're all close mates. When you have a disappointing individual year you want to prove that you can still play a bit and have a goal that you want to reach, like the 150 games for a great club."
Subiaco's midfield lost Mark Haynes, Chris Hall, Daniel Rich and Jarrod Schofield last year, so some younger players have been given a chance but Webb has averaged 24 possessions and led the way, which has pleased him after he had some doubt if he could be back to his best.
"Having a pre-season where I didn’t do a great deal of running, but a lot of cross training really helped and the fitness staff and coaches set out a great program. Last year I was struggling injury wise this time of the year, but now I'm feeling fit and really good," he said.
"We've had Fletch (Chad Fletcher) back a bit too, which has helped and the situation is that (Phil) Read, myself and Fletch won't be around in five years time and the young guys will be. Incorporating them into the midfield now has been good and there's some real quality there.
"I didn’t doubt I could play well again, but you do doubt if your body can sustain training and get back to that level. Now that I got my body right over pre-season I got the confidence back, and I'm rapt that the club gave me that opportunity this year to get some form again."
Webb originally moved to Western Australia in 2001 from Melbourne where he was playing with VFL club Port Melbourne, and joined Perth where he spent his first season.
Things went awry and he was looking for a new WAFL home, and even he couldn’t believe that since then he's now set to play his 150th game with Subiaco, has played in four premierships, represented WA three times and will go down as one of the Lions' best ever captains.
"It has been an amazing ride. When I first moved from the Perth Football Club I was looking at coming to either South or Subi, and it was a tough decision at the time. I had played with a few guys at Port Melbourne who were at Subi like Richard Maloney who was the captain and that swayed my decision," he said.
"When I walked in for the first time there was no way I would have thought that the last seven years would pan out the way they have, but I'm grateful I chose the right club and that they gave me the opportunity. Every game from here is a bonus and I just want to keep enjoying it."
Webb held the premiership cup aloft for Subiaco's first ever premiership hat-trick over the last three years and it's a feeling hard to describe.
"It is a great feeling and it's different every year. They are all different because there's other guys in the team and it's great fun anytime," the 30-year-old said.
"You love spending that time with your mates after the success and we will be striving to get ourselves in position to do it again this year, but we know the sides in the running will be very tough."
Webb has been joined by another ex-Port Melbourne teammate Michael Rix this season and is glad to see the ruck combination it gives Subiaco with Rix and Luke Newick.
"It's great to have two different types of ruckman and the key is getting them to jell together, and getting the coaching staff working out how to use them best," he said.
"Rixy coming over is another string to our side and while Newy has been up and running we haven’t really had a second ruckman, so it's been a bit of a burden on either Mapes or Parksy to step in. It's a great asset not only for the whole team, but especially the on-ball division to have two good tap ruckmen."
As well as the senior players still going well, Simon White and Trent Dennis-Lane have cemented themselves at either end of the ground, while other youngsters have done well through the middle.
"It's pretty publicised that Subi's zone is quite minimal and traditionally our colts have failed to make the finals of late, but we've still managed to turnover two or three quality kids that have stood up," he said.
"We've got a few that will take key on-ball positions coming up, and then Simon White has stepped in as a key defender and has been really good. Trent Dennis-Lane has also stepped in as a key forward, so we've got a good mix coming through."
Prior to the bye last weekend, Subiaco went down to East Perth by five points and Webb is fully aware that any of the sides in the lower end of the ladder can cause upsets this season.
He is now focused on East Fremantle this Saturday at East Fremantle Oval in his 150th game as the Lions begin their run in to the finals.
"It was definitely disappointing in the fact that we had opportunities midway through the second quarter to get a good lead and didn’t take them. To their credit they kept pressuring us and playing well, and they were in great form," he said.
"It's very even this year and it's going to be a case of the team that holds its nerve during the season and doesn’t drop the games they are expected to win who'll probably finish on top. The key advantage of home grounds in finals is massive and obviously we are battling with Swans, South and West Perth, but even Perth, East Freo and East Perth can mix it with any team on their day. We saw that against East Perth last week and they can go at you and beat you."
Webb works with Commonwealth Financial Planning in Osborne Park in a job he enjoys and that gives him the flexibility needed for any WAFL player to both make a living and play good football.
"I'm working in the finance industry and it's been a good opportunity to mix work and football. A lot of players have to encounter getting that balance right that play in the WAFL and my boss here is really good allowing me to go early for training or if I have anything else on," he said.
"They allow me to be flexible and that's the sort of thing WAFL players have to deal with that a lot of people don’t realise. You can't play professionally full-time like AFL guys and it cuts into your personal time as well by trying to be successful at WAFL level, but the club is good work-wise and most of our employers are great as well football-wise."
At the end of last season, Webb could have almost guaranteed that 2009 would be his last year, but given his form he won't be making any decisions on his future yet.
"I'll think about next year, but we are six weeks before the finals now and a lot can happen in that time before we even think about finals," he said.
"When you come near the end of your career you savour every game and try to enjoy it, and that's what I'm doing. I will enjoy and savour my 150th this week and then assess what I'll do at the end of the year."
