CLAREMONT has been challenged and responded in recent weeks to be on a nine-game winning streak and sitting pretty on top of the ladder but all that goes out the window against second-placed Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.
Claremont and Swans now meet for just the second time this season with a win for the Tigers at Steel Blue Oval to guarantee the minor premiership, but McPhee is well aware that it will be far from easy after the 33-point victory the black-and-whites recorded at the same ground back in Round 7.
"I'm expecting a tough game. Swans have had an eye on this one for a while I would think and they are always tough to beat, especially out there. We know how talented they are and certainly we're expecting a tough game," McPhee said."We just need to apply pressure and Swans have enormous running capacity which can allow them to use the ball well in time and space. Not only do they use the ball well but they can break a line. We need to put them under pressure when they've got the footy and try to create some turnovers."
With the two to again meet in Round 21 at Claremont Oval, then likely in the second semi-final and as the favourites to play off in the grand final, the teams will certainly know each other well by the season's end.
"The fixturing is interesting to say the least, but we just want to beat them. It will be nice to go into a finals series knowing we've beaten everyone and they are the ones that we haven’t been able to beat yet. We want to win it," he said.
"Hopefully we get to know them pretty well now as they will us. In the end, both sides have got to where they are by backing themselves in and having only coached against Daws and Swans once, they definitely back themselves in. I'm sure they'll do the same this week."
Chad Jones and Andrew Foster were both out of the side injured in Saturday's win over Perth at Claremont Oval, but Foster could play as early as this week and Jones could be right to return to add to his 80 goals for the season after the bye next week.
Even without those two the depth at Claremont remained incredible with Jake Murphy, Tom Ayton, Nic Chidgzey, Ian Rowe, Trent De Nardi, Henry Roberts, Gerrick Weedon, Aaron Holt, Dylan Ross, Paul Arias, Matt Orzel, Jordan McAllister, Keifer Yu and Tom Willetton all playing reserves.
Most of those would walk into the majority of the other WAFL clubs and be key players in the league side and while that depth is the key to building a premiership side, it also provides McPhee and his coaching staff the greatest challenge to try and manage.
"Not having coached a WAFL premiership side, but looking at the models that have, teams always have 30-35 quality players and I think we are getting to that stage, which is what we want. It is tough on the selectors and players that miss out, but it's a positive for the footy club," McPhee said.
"They are a fantastic group and manage themselves to a large point, but trying to communicate is something we are doing OK and could always improve. Managing the expectations of the players and group is probably the hardest thing, but they know that we really haven’t achieved anything yet after two tough years. We are giving ourselves a chance to achieve something, but at the moment we really haven’t."
McPhee was impressed by the performance of Perth last Saturday and was glad he saw that his team fought out of some trouble to win by 28 points, but he still sees areas the Tigers can improve in.
"It's important for our group to be able to win games without Chaddy because anything can happen in finals, but we had to really work for it and Perth were good and skilful. They are working hard and using the ball well which allowed them to get through us a few times," he said.
"Particularly in the last month we have been challenged and headed in nearly every game so we are doing things right in terms of coming back, but obviously not everything to get ourselves in that position. There's plenty to work on whether it's ball movement, structures and skill level. It's never ending and the challenge is there to improve."
One area where Claremont might not have some big names is the ruck, but both Andrew Ruck (averaging 13.2 disposals and 23 hit outs a game) and Tom Derickx (9.5 and 15) are proving to be a more than capable duo.
"They are developing as a combination and I reckon even Andrew Ruck is getting better. He's getting fitter and stronger, and when he's having an impact on a game it's a big one," he said.
"Tom Derickx is in his first year of senior footy and we are pleased with him and think he has a massive upside as does Rucky still."
The other unheralded area of the Claremont side is the defence, but it has been rock solid all season letting in just 72 points per game.
Even though Simon Starling (four games this season) and James Thomson (six) have been now missing for some time, Brandon Franz, Jess Laurie, Clancy Rudeforth and a host of other players have been rock solid.
Thomson should be right to play after next weekend's bye and Starling will push a case with some continued strong reserves form.
"The defence has been pleasing and probably gets overlooked because our midfield is pretty good and Chaddy, Richo and Ninja have been kicking goals. We've had a very young back-line with Jess Laurie playing centre half-back and he's 19, so him along with Blake Anderson, Aaron Holt and a number of other guys have done well," McPhee said.
"The kids have been great with Brandon Franz a bit of a leader down there. He (Starling) got 30 possessions in his first game of reserves and was a little flat last week, but with another game this week he would have had three before the bye and will give himself a look in now.
"He's (Thomson) a couple of weeks away and we should get him back for the Swans game. Hopefully he gets the boot off, can play one or two reserves game and then put himself back in the picture for finals."
