- Sep 30, 2012
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- Subiaco Lions, Ferrari, Minardi
Its been a rough week to be an Eagles supporter, with the possibility of yet another long term injury to one of our key defenders presenting itself with Jeremy McGovern suffering a knee injury last week against the Dockers. Considering that the "Gov" has been one of our best players this year (if not the best), his long-term absence in defence this year would have been a crushing blow. But we did have some good news from the club doctors, who informed us gleefully that no major damage had been done and that the Gov could play this weekend. He has been named in the 25. Hopefully they won't pull a Selwood on us and risk him this weekend. We can only hope.
The defeat to the Dockers last week in the Western Derby was like a slap in the face. The first quarter was an absolute shambles. We were comprehensively pantsed for twenty minutes; even the Perth Demons could have done better. I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say that the first quarter was the worst I have ever seen the Eagles play. For many it rammed home that maybe the proud Eagles were paying for their hubris and are destined for a long period in the footy wilderness.
However, that didn't stop many an ill-informed observer venting on Facebook, bemoaning our injuries and blaming Simpson for the sides' insipid performance, saying that we could have won. The other unfortunate thing was that we lost by 30 points - the margin would have been more representative of our performance without the addition of junk-time fourth quarter goals. If anything, the result against the Dockers cemented our midfield's mediocrity. Tough decisions need to be made and many of us consider this to be a test of Simpson's fortitude and moral courage. Will he have the canastas to drop entrenched players who are lazy and not up to the task? Will he read the riot act to the playing group and put careers on the line? Only time will tell.
Which brings us to this week. Here we are at Round 4 of the 2015 Season, with the Eagles traveling to Brisbane to play the Lions at the Gabba. This is an interesting proposition for the Eagles, with Brisbane sitting in dead last on the ladder, having lost to Collingwood, North (a thrashing) and Richmond (another thrashing).
They are struggling with injury as bad as we are, having lost Sam Mayes, McGrath and Claye Beams from the team that got pumped by Richmond last weekend. The big surpise for mine is the possible shock return of their AA Captain, Tom Rockliff. Rocky (a fitting nickname) has been out for the last three weeks since suffering fractured ribs and a punctured lung against Collingwood. If he lines up against us I expect his ribs to get an absolute workout from all of our players. Perhaps our doctors have inspired other clubs to rush their stars back into playing when the risk probably isnt worth it.
Doctor bashing aside, let's have a look at the team announcements:
West Coast:
In: Bennell, McInness, Colledge
Out: TBA
Brisbane:
In: Leuenberger, Rockliff, Golby, Lester, Robertson, Cutler
Out: Maguire, Mayes, McGrath
Hopefully Bennell is brought in to combat the Lion's 'mosquito brigade' - small forwards such as Green, Zorko and Taylor. McInness could fill a KPD/KPF role for us and is most likely a cover for McGovern, but I wouldnt mind seeing him debut to give the Gov another week to rest or even to shore up our defence to unleash Elliot Yeo as a full-time mid. Colledge has been bashing the door down after some good performances in the WAFL and is looking to come into the midfield. I am of the opinion that some of our downhill skiers need a strong message by being dropped this weekend. Hopefully that happens.
Brisbane have brought in a ruckman in Leuenberger; debutant Harris Andrews got ragdolled in the ruck against Ivan Maric so they are most likely covering our ruck duo. However, he may keep his place to keep developing him as a KPF. Golby, Lester, Cutler and Robertson are midfielders/utilities most likely being brought in to cover the loss of like players to injury. The Lions are rebuilding, but they do have a solid midfield who could challenge our dominance in the middle, but they are weaker in their forward and defensive lines.
This may not be the walkover that many think it will be; Brisbane are wounded, but that still doesn't mean that these Lions can't give us a mauling this weekend. Unfortunately, a crushing win will entrench the 'flat-track bullies' tag that we have been given by the wider AFL community. I feel we need some tough lessons this year to make reform happen.
I remember sitting in the stands at the Gabba in 2012 as Brisbane came back to beat us in the last minutes of the game by 2 points. Please don't so this to me again boys.
I will be going to this game, drop me a line if you're going too. It'd be good to see a big WC presence on the other side of the country.
Prediction: Eagles by 5 goals.
The defeat to the Dockers last week in the Western Derby was like a slap in the face. The first quarter was an absolute shambles. We were comprehensively pantsed for twenty minutes; even the Perth Demons could have done better. I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say that the first quarter was the worst I have ever seen the Eagles play. For many it rammed home that maybe the proud Eagles were paying for their hubris and are destined for a long period in the footy wilderness.
However, that didn't stop many an ill-informed observer venting on Facebook, bemoaning our injuries and blaming Simpson for the sides' insipid performance, saying that we could have won. The other unfortunate thing was that we lost by 30 points - the margin would have been more representative of our performance without the addition of junk-time fourth quarter goals. If anything, the result against the Dockers cemented our midfield's mediocrity. Tough decisions need to be made and many of us consider this to be a test of Simpson's fortitude and moral courage. Will he have the canastas to drop entrenched players who are lazy and not up to the task? Will he read the riot act to the playing group and put careers on the line? Only time will tell.
Which brings us to this week. Here we are at Round 4 of the 2015 Season, with the Eagles traveling to Brisbane to play the Lions at the Gabba. This is an interesting proposition for the Eagles, with Brisbane sitting in dead last on the ladder, having lost to Collingwood, North (a thrashing) and Richmond (another thrashing).
They are struggling with injury as bad as we are, having lost Sam Mayes, McGrath and Claye Beams from the team that got pumped by Richmond last weekend. The big surpise for mine is the possible shock return of their AA Captain, Tom Rockliff. Rocky (a fitting nickname) has been out for the last three weeks since suffering fractured ribs and a punctured lung against Collingwood. If he lines up against us I expect his ribs to get an absolute workout from all of our players. Perhaps our doctors have inspired other clubs to rush their stars back into playing when the risk probably isnt worth it.
Doctor bashing aside, let's have a look at the team announcements:
West Coast:
In: Bennell, McInness, Colledge
Out: TBA
Brisbane:
In: Leuenberger, Rockliff, Golby, Lester, Robertson, Cutler
Out: Maguire, Mayes, McGrath
Hopefully Bennell is brought in to combat the Lion's 'mosquito brigade' - small forwards such as Green, Zorko and Taylor. McInness could fill a KPD/KPF role for us and is most likely a cover for McGovern, but I wouldnt mind seeing him debut to give the Gov another week to rest or even to shore up our defence to unleash Elliot Yeo as a full-time mid. Colledge has been bashing the door down after some good performances in the WAFL and is looking to come into the midfield. I am of the opinion that some of our downhill skiers need a strong message by being dropped this weekend. Hopefully that happens.
Brisbane have brought in a ruckman in Leuenberger; debutant Harris Andrews got ragdolled in the ruck against Ivan Maric so they are most likely covering our ruck duo. However, he may keep his place to keep developing him as a KPF. Golby, Lester, Cutler and Robertson are midfielders/utilities most likely being brought in to cover the loss of like players to injury. The Lions are rebuilding, but they do have a solid midfield who could challenge our dominance in the middle, but they are weaker in their forward and defensive lines.
This may not be the walkover that many think it will be; Brisbane are wounded, but that still doesn't mean that these Lions can't give us a mauling this weekend. Unfortunately, a crushing win will entrench the 'flat-track bullies' tag that we have been given by the wider AFL community. I feel we need some tough lessons this year to make reform happen.
I remember sitting in the stands at the Gabba in 2012 as Brisbane came back to beat us in the last minutes of the game by 2 points. Please don't so this to me again boys.
I will be going to this game, drop me a line if you're going too. It'd be good to see a big WC presence on the other side of the country.
Prediction: Eagles by 5 goals.
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