ESPERANCE has returned home from Perth without achieving their goal of a third Landmark Country Championship title in four years after the side could manage just one win in four games, missing the c-section grand final berth.
In a five-team division Esperance finished second last above Ravensthorpe and Districts, who were winless for the championship and below Lower South West (four wins), Central Midlands Coastal (three wins) and North Midlands (two wins).
Making their debut as Association coaches, Wade Lear and Ryan Neill showed the experience gained as premiership coaches with the Esperance Bulldogs guiding the side to a big win over Ravensthorpe and Districts in game one played on Thursday.
With their forward lines charged up Esperance had little trouble dictating the terms of the match, Aubrey Jacobs (three goals) and Dylan Pedler (three goals) being their main focal points.
Michael Edwards, Tye Tyrrell and Neill all chipped in with two goals each while the Esperance defence did well to hold Ravensthorpe to a single major during the game.
Bradley Crouch was rated the best for Esperance while Jacobs also worked into the top players. Michael Edwards and the evergreen Leigh West were the other players who stood out.
For Ravensthorpe, Glen Barr, Michael West and Jay Francis all tried hard throughout the game but with little success.
Final score: Esperance 12.11 (83) defeated Ravensthorpe and Districts 1.1 (7).
At their second appearance on Thursday the team was brought crashing back to reality but they were still responsible for a strong performance against eventual minor premiers Lower South West, losing by a narrow 14 points.
This game saw Josh Veness, Bradley McLean and Jamie Jones stand up in the forward lines kicking two goals each but it was Jacobs, best on ground, and Crouch to head the list of top players again.
Jason Vermeersch made his presence felt with an impressive effort while Neill and West rounded off the Esperance best.
With three goals Scott Giacomel proved best for Lower South West, Cliff Ernst, Christian Dehaan and Keegan Bennett were others to stand out.
Final score: Lower South West 10.7 (67) defeated Esperance 8.5 (53).
Day two - Friday - saw Esperance line up for their first game of the day against North Midland and despite a solid performance the side suffered a 18-point loss.
Inaccuracy proved a major hurdle with Esperance slotting through just three of 13 scoring shots, with singles from Trevor Anderson, Jason Jackson and Neill.
Bradley McLean was rated the best for Esperance while Crough continued a solid carnival. Patrick Curtain and Anderson rounded off the best.
For North Midlands Ben Taylor topped the best with Brent Leeson, Cameron White and Brendan Haeusler.
Final score: North Midlands 7.4 (46) defeated Esperance 3.10 (28).
At their final appearance at the 2008 Landmark carnival Esperance suffered their biggest loss, going down to Central Midlands Coast by 47 points.
Esperance found scoring extremely difficult with Anderson and Stephen Capelli kicking two goals each in a four-goal game.
While Capelli made the best players it was Crough who capped off another big effort heading the list. Cody Henderson also played well while West rounded off the better players.
For Central Midlands, despite kicking five goals, Simon Franich and Luke Burger (three goals) missed the best which was headed by Cale Tomlinson, Kye Blakeney, Michael Polmear and Matthew Helms.
Final score: Central Midlands Coastal 12.4 (76) defeated Esperance 4.5 (29).
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