View Full Version : Our Midfiled Next Year
westcoast wizard
1 Dec 2007, 11:36
Our midfield next year doesnt look as Grim as I thougt even though you can never replace champions like Cuz and Juddy.
Hear is what our midfield would look like:
Mids - Kerr, Stenglein, Braun, Embers, Pridds, Masten, Butler (if fit), Hurn (must start playing more in the middle), Rosa, Flecther, Nicoski. My concern is the lack of explosive pace.
Plus if we can rotate guys like LeCras Ebert, Selwood on the ball we can do good.
sydney eagle
1 Dec 2007, 11:40
Lots of "ifs" in the midfield now. I'm hoping that Rosa and Priddis in particular step up,Butler can return to his best form and Masten can show that he was worthy of being such a high draft pick. If those things happen the Eagles should be okay; of course if they DON'T happen they might struggle !
larrikin
1 Dec 2007, 11:44
Our midfield next year doesnt look as Grim as I thougt even though you can never replace champions like Cuz and Juddy.
Hear is what our midfield would look like:
Mids - Kerr, Stenglein, Braun, Embers, Pridds, Masten, Butler (if fit), Hurn (must start playing more in the middle), Rosa, Flecther, Nicoski. My concern is the lack of explosive pace.
Plus if we can rotate guys like LeCras Ebert, Selwood on the ball we can do good.
Butler becomes absolutely crucial doesn't he
Our midfield next year doesnt look as Grim as I thougt even though you can never replace champions like Cuz and Juddy.
Hear is what our midfield would look like:
Mids - Kerr, Stenglein, Braun, Embers, Pridds, Masten, Butler (if fit), Hurn (must start playing more in the middle), Rosa, Flecther, Nicoski. My concern is the lack of explosive pace.
Plus if we can rotate guys like LeCras Ebert, Selwood on the ball we can do good.
I don't think we'll be too bad here. The only speedster we lost was Judd really as Cousins was quick but no where near Judd's pace. Now technically you could say Judd only played half a season last year so our pace shouldn't (?) be all that different. I'm not sure how quick Masten is either.
sydney eagle
1 Dec 2007, 12:15
I don't think we'll be too bad here. The only speedster we lost was Judd really as Cousins was quick but no where near Judd's pace. Now technically you could say Judd only played half a season last year so our pace shouldn't (?) be all that different. I'm not sure how quick Masten is either. And the half a season he DID play was mostly at half pace (or less) !
Lots of "ifs" in the midfield now. I'm hoping that Rosa and Priddis in particular step up,Butler can return to his best form and Masten can show that he was worthy of being such a high draft pick. If those things happen the Eagles should be okay; of course if they DON'T happen they might struggle !
But you can't put too much pressure on the new draftees or player that have only been at the club 1-2 seasons. They won't be in the equation, history will tell us that, and if they do produce then that is simply a bonus. Like Priddis was last year, but he was a mature age recruit.
Agree with Larrikin that Butler becomes critical, as does getting more than half a season out of Embley and Kerr. Hurn gives you some explosiveness through the middle, albeit through packs and maybe not in 100m bursts but I think he can lift another couple of notches this year.
Butler becomes absolutely crucial doesn't he
Without a doubt.
His silky skills are whats needed next season, even moreso with the two departures we have incurred. :thumbsu:
wce4premiership
1 Dec 2007, 14:12
Butler could be a real star if he gets fit.
The more i look at the Eagles list the more i come to the conclusion that they are going to be a dominant force for the next 5 years....
I can't believe the amount of people writing them off.
Not sure if you will win the flag next year but certainly top 4 prospects.
Our midfield next year doesnt look as Grim as I thougt even though you can never replace champions like Cuz and Juddy.
Hear is what our midfield would look like:
Mids - Kerr, Stenglein, Braun, Embers, Pridds, Masten, Butler (if fit), Hurn (must start playing more in the middle), Rosa, Flecther, Nicoski. My concern is the lack of explosive pace.
Plus if we can rotate guys like LeCras Ebert, Selwood on the ball we can do good.
Well I would be a tad concerned if I was an Eagles supporter.
Embley is not a midfielder and needs to be free running to be effective, both Masten and Ebert are rookies and won't be expected to shoulder the burden, Rosa is average at best and really needs to step up or ship out, Fletcher is past it (unless he performs a big turnaround), Butler will need time to get back into the groove, Hurn should be good provided he has developed a tank in the off season and Nicoski looks flustered and confused if he has to make a quick decision - not a great trait in the midfield.
Kerr, Braun, Stenglein and Priddis will be expected to bear the brunt this season. LeCras and Selwood can be expected to play bit roles to cover gaps when players are resting/injured. Injuries, particularly long term injuries to the "main 4" would be a problem.
I don't see the Eagle midfield being as dominant as it has been in previous seasons - the signs where there in the 2nd half of last season.
dobbo_18
1 Dec 2007, 14:54
Originally Posted by carmi99
Not sure if you will win the flag next year but certainly top 4 prospects.
I think 2009-2010 will see us really start to come good. Next year will be a case of 1 step backwards to go 2 steps forwards, we just need to get lots of experience into the youngsters that we have.
Well I would be a tad concerned if I was an Eagles supporter.
I don't see the Eagle midfield being as dominant as it has been in previous seasons - the signs where there in the 2nd half of last season.
Depends on how you look at it huggy. Next year may be the year to not do as well, if you catch my drift? I actually thought, in the second half of last year they started to play better with the "lesser" players in there, but we all know the eagles midfield won't be as dominant.
Willow_2000
1 Dec 2007, 17:45
Why should us WC fans be concerned? We basically played all the season without cousins and played only 8 games with a fit Judd. So if you think about it in that context then our midfield should be nearly the same as last year.
Eagles 4 Mine
1 Dec 2007, 18:31
Why should us WC fans be concerned? We basically played all the season without cousins and played only 8 games with a fit Judd. So if you think about it in that context then our midfield should be nearly the same as last year.
Spot on their Willow I thing that we will be OK as you said for the majority of last season we didn't have Judd and Cousins playing major rolls and we were unlucky not to play Geelong for a GF spot...:D
SMILE GUYS PLENTY OF UPSIDE.:thumbsu:
Bestbird
1 Dec 2007, 18:51
Our midfield wasn't paticular strong after Kerr got injured but we were still very competitive in the later part of the season overall
We might not be a strong in this area as previously, but then again in other areas we have improved
As an example
Our KPP stocks are a lot better than a few years ago when you consider that Glass, Hunter, Hansen and Lynch are now in the 25 to 27 Year old age group so should be nearing their peak.
The list is young and has finals experience suggesting that their is still plenty of improvement as a whole to allow the club to be competitive upto and including the finals (Barring a bad injury run) even without Judd and Cousins next year.
juddy_Like
1 Dec 2007, 20:09
Been saying it all along.... we'll be alright.
As for pace.... this can be over-come by learning to hit the ball at full pace. Kerr and Gablett are masters at this.
West Coast 06
1 Dec 2007, 22:36
Our midfield next year doesnt look as Grim as I thougt even though you can never replace champions like Cuz and Juddy.
Hear is what our midfield would look like:
Mids - Kerr, Stenglein, Braun, Embers, Pridds, Masten, Butler (if fit), Hurn (must start playing more in the middle), Rosa, Flecther, Nicoski. My concern is the lack of explosive pace.
Plus if we can rotate guys like LeCras Ebert, Selwood on the ball we can do good.
I think you should replace Masten on that list with McNamara. I know he has only played a couple of games, but I was impressed with what he showed in high pressure situations. He will get a lot more games next year.
I think we will be okay next year.
Superstar: Kerr
Stars: Stenglien, Braun, Embley, Fletcher
Young Stars: Priddis, Rosa, Hurn, Nicoski, Butler
Young guns waiting to unearth: McNamara, Masten, Ebert, S. Selwood
LeCras has stolen Armstrong's spot as the main small forward. I think they should put Armstrong in the midfield and see how he goes.
Obeanie1
2 Dec 2007, 08:45
Why should us WC fans be concerned? We basically played all the season without cousins and played only 8 games with a fit Judd. So if you think about it in that context then our midfield should be nearly the same as last year.
Judd was at his best for the first 8 games, Cuz chipped in with 2-3 good games late in the season.
Also injured for a large part of the season were Kerr, Embly, Fletcher and Butler.
We certainly had a rough run with injured mids last year.
2008 I am hoping to see a fitter Butler, Kerr, Embly, Nicoski, and Fletcher with J Macnamarra building on his 18 possies in his second game (final against Pies).
Hurn will play mid in 2008, has always been wanting to, now gets his chance Nicoski can take Hurns HBF.
Also think Rosa's time to shine is 2008.
Given Judd and Cuz only there for 25% of 2007 I think our midfield output in 2008 will be better than 2007.
Well in the last game of last year which we drew after 4 qtrs against the team that came closest to Geelong in the end, Kerr Butler would come in to replace McNamara and RoJO from the midfield rotation so in reality our midfield will actually improve based on our last game
Last year Chad Fletcher battled with a groin injury very similar to what Judd had. Funny that when Fletch is injured he is past it but when a player like Judd is then its all okay. Fletch should have a better year. Aslong as Butler breathes oxygen on a footy field he will have a better year. Hurn and Priddis both at the 20ish game mark and are two youngsters who will look to take another step up. Selwood is another who had ankle problems at the end of the year but battled on walking on crutches for the last 2 months of the year. Then we have Dean Coxs groin problems which meant a 80% fit Coxxy for the whole 2007 season. Apart from Priddis and Stenglein every midfielder in our team had a very bad run with injuries last year
Too the person who said Embley isnt a midfielder. They must have a screw loose. The one thing im looking forward to next season is finally seeing Embley in the midfield.
Selwood Kerr Embley
Cox Priddis Stenglein
With Braun Fletcher and Butler coming off the bench and some help from Hurn Nicoski and LeCras. I think we still have a top 5 midfield in the comp largely thanks to one of the top 5 players in the comp in Dean Cox
sydney eagle
2 Dec 2007, 12:18
If Le Cras is to join the midfield who is to take his small forward position ? Armstrong looks to be the only option unless we can pick up a small forward in the PSD or something.
eagles06
2 Dec 2007, 12:26
If Le Cras is to join the midfield who is to take his small forward position ? Armstrong looks to be the only option unless we can pick up a small forward in the PSD or something.
McKinely is another option as is Wirra. I don't think Lecca will be used in the midfield unless we have a list of injuries like we did this year.
Our midfield next year doesnt look as Grim as I thougt even though you can never replace champions like Cuz and Juddy.
Hear is what our midfield would look like:
Mids - Kerr, Stenglein, Braun, Embers, Pridds, Masten, Butler (if fit), Hurn (must start playing more in the middle), Rosa, Flecther, Nicoski. My concern is the lack of explosive pace.
Plus if we can rotate guys like LeCras Ebert, Selwood on the ball we can do good.
Quite a few of those blokes are excellent 3rd, 4th or 5th midfielders so they will naturally get more attention now. Will be very interesting to see if they step up or not. Braun is the one to watch, especialliy if he stays away from the akermanis drugs:D.
Quite a few of those blokes are excellent 3rd, 4th or 5th midfielders so they will naturally get more attention now. Will be very interesting to see if they step up or not. Braun is the one to watch, especialliy if he stays away from the akermanis drugs:D.
Oh you're funny.:rolleyes:
Willow_2000
2 Dec 2007, 14:10
Quite a few of those blokes are excellent 3rd, 4th or 5th midfielders so they will naturally get more attention now. Will be very interesting to see if they step up or not. Braun is the one to watch, especialliy if he stays away from the akermanis drugs:D.
Laurence Angwin board:thumbsu:
tonywce23
2 Dec 2007, 14:13
Laurence Angwin board:thumbsu:
Plus Karl Norman :thumbsu:
Black JuJu
2 Dec 2007, 14:16
I reckon Adam Selwood will spend more time in the middle next year, Rosa is a natural wingman so better on the outside of the centre (along with Embley), Priddis and Kerr in the guts, Stenglein doing what he does, Fletcher and Braun rotating through as well.
Probably better to assume Butler will be in the mix for a spot in the 22, rather than vital to the starting midfield.
Isandula
2 Dec 2007, 18:38
Our midfield wont be terrible next year, might not be as good as previous year but still has a lot of talent. In saying this, 2009 (yes that future seeing crystal balls back) or maybe 2010 will see the midfield at more dominance, its a fairly young group now and you wouldnt expect them to get to their absolute best next year.
juddy_Like
3 Dec 2007, 09:50
Not sure about next year but our midfield is looking at domination in a few years time.
Oh and our KPP arent looking too bad either.
:)Happy Times for WCE indeed.
we'll be right i reckon. as others have said, pace is our real problem now.
with a main set up of kerr, priddis and stinger you have the hardness and grit in all of them adding the sheer brilliance of kerr. we have plenty of backup with the likes of brauny, rosa, hurn, butler, selwood, fletcher, nicoski etc.
i think using hurn and nico in the backline and giving them short stints in the middle could be valuable with their pace, tackle breaking ability and long kicking.
i think embley should become mostly a forward next year with his injuries, i also think hes very dangerous and his 20 possesion 2 goal games are what we need up in the forward line.
larrikin
3 Dec 2007, 21:56
I reckon Adam Selwood will spend more time in the middle next year, Rosa is a natural wingman so better on the outside of the centre (along with Embley), Priddis and Kerr in the guts, Stenglein doing what he does, Fletcher and Braun rotating through as well.
Probably better to assume Butler will be in the mix for a spot in the 22, rather than vital to the starting midfield.
Disagree on Butler
We need his class, esecially by hand, in there. I expect him to be one of the main players in the middle.
Black JuJu
3 Dec 2007, 22:04
but he's a young fringe midfielder who's missed a year...
but he's a young fringe midfielder who's missed a year...
Who hasnt even trained in 3 months either. He will be handy of the bench next year at best and thats being generous. People are overrating him a tad. Give him another year before you expect him to burst games apart single handidly
i think embley should become mostly a forward next year with his injuries, i also think hes very dangerous and his 20 possesion 2 goal games are what we need up in the forward line.
I'm more of the thinking that now we have loads of forward and many midfields options and the aging wirra, that embley might well serve the team playing the sweeper/attack setup type role similar to McLeod. Running off the flanks.
This would also make sure he is involved with the game for 4 qtr's.