Review Rd 22 Review - Freo Order Well Cooked Chook

[Snuffaluphagus]

If you go back to pre-season there were so many WC fans saying last year was an aberration, that the list was still good and they had been drafting fantastically for 2-3 years. Many thought they were an outside chance for finals.

For mine, I thought their list was a dog’s breakfast, their recent trading and drafting terrible, and the excuses for last year overblown (the whole Covid narrative - it only really impacted the first six weeks of the season). But, despite this they’ve been even worse this year than I imagined they would be.

Trying to be as objective as much as a Freo fan can be - I just can’t see it getting any better for another 3-4 years. They are only now accepting a rebuild is necessary, but are coming from a base that is lower than you can possibly imagine. When GWS and the Suns came into the league they had a few decent mature agers to build around - plus 6-8 top 20 picks for a couple of drafts. West Coast have got Barrass, Kelly, Allen and maybe Yeo/Sheed - and then 1-2 picks a year.

Granted, a couple of their 2022 draftees look decent; but even if Reid is as good as Nick Daics that still means 14-16 of their best 22 next year will be garbage.

Any suggestion that they will be back in contention in a couple of years is just irrational and simply down to the ‘they’re too big to be down for too long’ narrative.

Well Carlton have been shizen for 10+ years and are pretty much as big and as deluded as the Eagles.

I’m going to call it now - I don’t see the eagles appearing in finals until 2029 at the earliest.

Last year I was having a discussion with a disgustingly arrogant supporter on here how they are WC, they’ll turn it around faster than Freo did and I had to be polite and humour him. Well this is year 3 of missing finals (2018 for us), what do you think is the chance they are playing finals by 2027…

 

[BarbieITFC]

Raz is quicker mentally and physically and dives into the fray more effectively than I recall Connor doing.

Connor before his injury was shaping up as a more than serviceable extractor, quick hands etc.

But we didn’t need that at the time with Neale doing the same thing but better.

We tried to then get Connor more on the outside and it really exposed his weaknesses. Neale leaves and we get Brayshaw then Serong - both better extractors than Connor - and Connor continues to have injuries (plus the whole thing with Langdon’s partner).

He could have been good but ultimately we’ve done better.

 

[E Shed]

Yeah I find myself a lot more optimistic about the whole list since they moved Young into the midfield. I had doubts the rebuilt midfield would be good enough, but with that one move the mix now looks good enough to contend, as they grow together! That, and Sturt looking legit makes the forward line a lot more dangerous.
Weird, but looking forward to next season more now.

Spot on re Young move. That & the fact Jackson is genuinely game changing dominant good.
Imagine if Fyfe could get proper fit again & we had Jackson, Young, Serong & Fyfe around the stoppages?


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[BarbieITFC]

Last year I was having a discussion with a disgustingly arrogant supporter on here how they are WC, they’ll turn it around faster than Freo did and I had to be polite and humour him. Well this is year 3 of missing finals (2018 for us), what do you think is the chance they are playing finals by 2027…

None at all, because as bad as 2016 was for us it was nowhere near as bad as the Eagles are in 2023.

It took us 5 years after 2016 to get back to finals. I don’t see the Eagles bouncing back as quick as that from 2023.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

In some ways last nights win highlights some of the issues we’ve had this year. Whilst I enjoyed the victory I feel this season has been largely disappointing and some of the things we did well last night have been missing most of the season. One of the reasons we’re a bottom 4 side is that we don’t get a lot of return from our small forwards. Schultz had a night out but between rounds 10 and 18 he either kicked one or no goals a game.

You've been hanging out with Dockeroo too much. Not bottom 4 anymore =), also, Schultz is a an elite pressuring, 30+ goal a year small forward. He is very very good (if not the Cameron / Pickett tier)

Where did Switkowski play last night? he got 22 touches but no goals. Is he a midfielder or a small forward? He’s not big enough or good enough to be a permanent midfielder, he might do ok against weaker teams but he gets bullied by big midfielders. 13 goals for the year and no goals in a 100 point victory, we can’t go through another season next year with that level of output. We desperately need to find a talented, classy and consistent small forward in the off season.

Switta is a fair question, I'm a massive fan but he's simply not providing enough. One thing I'll say is he legit makes a difference in the middle when he goes in for spurts, size or no size. It would require juggling with a big body of Young or Jackson but it's an option we need to use more. He helped turn that disgusting 1st quarter around. I agree, I would like an upgrade on him as a forward (Brockman for cheap would be perfect)

I’m a Sturt fan but did last night just prove that he has all the qualities required to be a solid contributor in the forward line but he goes missing when he has a quality opponent? Against good opposition he has had problems finding the footy and then winning the contest once he’s found it. Happy for him to get another year though.

Kicked 3 goals against Brisbane and was our best forward, has played under 20 games. Nothing but excitement on Sturt thanks

Young in the midfield has been a successful move, it’s a shame we didn’t try this move earlier in the season. I actually thought Brayshaw was best on ground last night but he didn’t even get a vote did he? Anyway it helps to take some of the load off Brayshaw and Serong and give opposition coaches something else to think about, we have been very one dimensional in there this year.

I think the Chapman injury really ****ed us and one of the two would have been in there much earlier otherwise

Despite not kicking a goal, I thought Treacy played a good game. He competes well and applies loads of defensive pressure. He’s improved in the ruck, he does more than just halve the contest now. The concrete hands thing is a worry, and assuming Darcy returns to the ruck next year and Jackson spends more time forward is there still a place for him in the team given he doesn’t kick goals?

Wagner has been surprisingly good, his performance has allowed Young to move into the midfield and at the moment I think he’s probably more valuable to the team than Walker. Hopefully Worner gets more game time, maybe he has something to offer too.

Agree

 

[blue shark]

Last year I was having a discussion with a disgustingly arrogant supporter on here how they are WC, they’ll turn it around faster than Freo did and I had to be polite and humour him. Well this is year 3 of missing finals (2018 for us), what do you think is the chance they are playing finals by 2027…

Well in a compromised draft they added Gaff, Darling, Lycett and McGovern, rookied.
I can see them doing exactly the same this year finding 4 AFL best 22.
Then you have English, Taylor, Roberton, etc, WA boys and a Freo without
room to move.
Another 2, 3 years of reloading and why not 2027?
Simpson is a dead man walking so take him out of the equation.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

None at all, because as bad as 2016 was for us it was nowhere near as bad as the Eagles are in 2023.

It took us 5 years after 2016 to get back to finals. I don’t see the Eagles bouncing back as quick as that from 2023.

That's my point, this the THIRD year of their rebuild, that's the same as where we were at in 2018. Imagine where we'd be if we hadnt completely ballsed up that trade period and just committed to a rebuild. THAT's how much WC have ****ed it

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Well in a compromised draft they added Gaff, Darling, Lycett and McGovern, rookied.
I can see them doing exactly the same this year finding 4 AFL best 22.
Then you have English, Taylor, Roberton, etc, WA boys and a Freo without
room to move.
Another 2, 3 years of reloading and why not 2027?
Simpson is a dead man walking so take him out of the equation.

This is founded in absolutely nothing but faith in their prior success. They dont even have English or Taylor in the door and frankly, if English still wants to join that club he's insane. They have never ever been this bad, the last club that was this bad got shipped to Brisbane. IF watching last nights game (after plenty of other examples the last two years) isnt enough to convince you they are in deep do-do then I dont know what will.

The last two weeks saw that classic optimism from fans where they start to think they are further ahead then they thought. Last night gave a reminder where they are actually that

 

[Lach72]

Next step in the question, if investing al the capital in Jackson is a mistake (a reasonable stance), surely with where their list is at, turning down two top 10 picks for Reid is also a mistake. Opportunity cost is a real thing and spending all their capital on Reid is a mistake

I dunno. Reid looks like Judd areas to me. Perhaps better over head though.

But who is giving up two top ten with one of those being a top 3?
I’d only do it if I could be guaranteed of at least one of McKercher or Curtin, leaning towards McKercher as a pure midfielder

 

[Taylor]

“It was a good battle against Bailey Williams, he’s a good up and coming player,” Jackson said.

That's Luke Jackson

9

Luke Jackson

Age

22

Ht

199cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.3

2star

K

3.3

1star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.3

3star

D

8.3

2star

K

3.3

1star

HB

5.0

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

2star

G

0.3

3star

D

8.3

3star

K

3.3

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.3

3star

, a year and a half younger than Bailey Williams.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I dunno. Reid looks like Judd areas to me. Perhaps better over head though.

But who is giving up two top ten with one of those being a top 3?
I’d only do it if I could be guaranteed of at least one of McKercher or Curtin, leaning towards McKercher as a pure midfielder

North assuming they get 2 and 3 could together something pretty good.

Jackson is; more proven, won’t leave, as exciting, proven to hold up to AFL and effectively, we think WC need more 1.5 times more than what he cost in trade to justify giving up Reid.

To me, if WC get offers similar or more than what was offered for JHF then they would be crazy to turn it down

 

[Fyfster]

Last year I was having a discussion with a disgustingly arrogant supporter on here how they are WC, they’ll turn it around faster than Freo did and I had to be polite and humour him. Well this is year 3 of missing finals (2018 for us), what do you think is the chance they are playing finals by 2027…

Arrogant WC supporter ? I find that very hard to believe

 

[Redgum]

Michael Fredericks only had 9 possessions and only 1 goal in a game where he should have had a lot more given his speed and evasiveness.
I know he has the X factor but generally we haven't seen enough of it and he really needs to start to show a lot more in order to hold his place.

 

[masai tu]

Sounds like Hough was a very late out for the Bin Chickens last night because he'd OD'd on his Ventolin inhaler in the lead-up to the game, and would have failed a drug test.

What an absolute basket case of a club.

If he has asthma problems, shouldn’t lean on Ventolin. Should be on a daily preventative.

Eagles should consult a lung specialist.

 

[theGav56]

I don't think he was scared to take the kick but I thought that Walters (who was right there) should have told him to own kicking the goal.

For Erasmus, one of the whole "we will hold you back until you are ready" thing is that for both the player themself and the coaches it becomes difficult to assess when do you stop that development phase and then treat them like a "real AFL player"? Also they have tried to beeline him straight to playing centre midfield; it is probably his end position, but he is actually an accurate set shot on goal, he also has strong endurance so can fit other positions like half forward and wing, but it feels like they keep saying "no, that is not the end goal". As a consequence, it is really hard to get a read on where he is at, but you only need to look back at the Brayshaw thread to remember that he was also a "headless chook" at the start whose kicking was not fit for consumption, so it happens to young players.

I honestly think that people claiming Johnson as the next Mundy was a recipe for supporter disappointment, because he has a very long journey to be a Mundy above the shoulders. His composure at junior level was always flipping with the direction the wind was going; if the team was on top then he would be composed, if they were losing then it had the habit of disappearing. For mine however I think he is ahead of where I expected him to be; he has played some good games as a midfielder in his second year; whereas I expected he would play more half forward flank before moving in there.

Appreciate your review of those two given you have watch them prior to being drafted so have an extended perspective.

They can both provide two things we have lacked in the rejuvenated midfield; size/power and goal kicking. I hope that is where the club are targeting them. And I'll throw Young into that bracket as well, and when you add in Jackson, it begins to look like a weaponised on ball brigade.

 

[serial_thrilla]

If he has asthma problems, shouldn’t lean on Ventolin. Should be on a daily preventative.

Eagles should consult a lung specialist.

Seems like it was a combination of a history of asthma + an ongoing illness this week. The big question should be around why he was named in the first place.

 

[Taylor]

The only time I used ventolin when I was in my sporty phase was training with some triathlon runners running repeat 400m on 80 second intervals.

Puff puff. Stuff works.

 

[theGav56]

If you go back to pre-season there were so many WC fans saying last year was an aberration, that the list was still good and they had been drafting fantastically for 2-3 years. Many thought they were an outside chance for finals.

For mine, I thought their list was a dog’s breakfast, their recent trading and drafting terrible, and the excuses for last year overblown (the whole Covid narrative - it only really impacted the first six weeks of the season). But, despite this they’ve been even worse this year than I imagined they would be.

Trying to be as objective as much as a Freo fan can be - I just can’t see it getting any better for another 3-4 years. They are only now accepting a rebuild is necessary, but are coming from a base that is lower than you can possibly imagine. When GWS and the Suns came into the league they had a few decent mature agers to build around - plus 6-8 top 20 picks for a couple of drafts. West Coast have got Barrass, Kelly, Allen and maybe Yeo/Sheed - and then 1-2 picks a year.

Granted, a couple of their 2022 draftees look decent; but even if Reid is as good as Nick Daics that still means 14-16 of their best 22 next year will be garbage.

Any suggestion that they will be back in contention in a couple of years is just irrational and simply down to the ‘they’re too big to be down for too long’ narrative.

Well Carlton have been shizen for 10+ years and are pretty much as big and as deluded as the Eagles.

I’m going to call it now - I don’t see the eagles appearing in finals until 2029 at the earliest.

Agree, and you haven't even factored in the off-field upheaval that is cresting on the horizon.

Coaching
List Management
S&C
Management

 

[Joao]

We should be actively pumping up the Eagles over summer to encourage their fans. The better they think they'll be the funnier it is when they're dog**** again.

 

[Superkoops]

We should be actively pumping up the Eagles over summer to encourage their fans. The better they think they'll be the funnier it is when they're dog**** again.

Been doing that already. Statements like the tide can turn quickly, never as bad, expect a quick turnaround. I high five myself and make Corbett proud.

 

[Superkoops]

Seems like it was a combination of a history of asthma + an ongoing illness this week. The big question should be around why he was named in the first place.

Agreed. I get asthma. Onset is a bad chesty cold or cold air. The combination of both hammered me hard a couple of weeks ago. I just happened to finish my preventer prescription about a fortnight beforehand. So was going decently hard on Ventolin myself but nothing more than about 3 times/day.

It sounds like the same nasty cough I had which was no good and can’t understand why he was named in the first place after missing full week of training.

 

[theGav56]

We should be actively pumping up the Eagles over summer to encourage their fans. The better they think they'll be the funnier it is when they're dog**** again.

Totally.

Worth suggesting they hang onto Darling, Yeo and co at all costs for their next tilt. And reminding them that Simpson may be in a trough at the moment, but he is premiership coach.

 

[s_wd6]

btw hawks this week had 10 games average experience over us. just a little fun fact.

 

[Freomaniac]

Their cue has been in the rack for a long time.

Their list is putrid.

Their lack of organisation (team sheets) is telling.

Premiership players checked out, mentally and physically.

Have you heard (often and loudly) they have a long injury list? Lots of early retirements/operations etc there.

We (sadly) aren't a top 8/4 side.


Still, we won by 101, so we should have done against a rabble.


I am happy to pursue the younger players getting a game into next year, good players under 22 playing together.

Tabs should be depth now, along with Colyer, Wilson and Hamling. Still unsure what Corbett was intended for.

What to do with Nat? Could be the professional sub.

We are a weird side. Yes we are bottom 4 currently... But when you usually finish bottom 4 or bottom 6, you usually look hopeless in some games .

Yet we have played some good away games. Dockers beat the demons at the MCG and cats In Geelong.

Neither of those sides are poor. We beat both of them in bad form.

Scary how some teams can finish anywhere between 5th to 15th.

 

[s_wd6]

We are a weird side. Yes we are bottom 4 currently...

not true