Autopsy Round 23, 2025: Positives and Negatives vs Western Bulldogs

[Hu$tler]

There is no way our defense trains at AFL level.

 

[Seadog]

Negative was hearing in commentary that West Coast passed on Brisbane Lions tall forward Logan Morris who just kicked his 50th goal for the season. Simmo's reaction in the commentary box upon this news was 'oh did we?'. WTF is the problem with this club. So many bad decisions. It's relentless.

I heard him say "that's why I'm sitting up here" F*#k knows what you were listening to.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

I’m not sure Hall adjusted to the pace of AFL. He’s not quick by foot or by hand or decision making. He also seems to get wrapped up very easily once he gets the ball - maybe lift the ball above your waist to avoid your arms being pinned?

But he’s played SFA so I’ll hold off on a stronger judgement for a year or so until he’s stronger and more experienced. But, I suspect his best will be a ‘role player’.

Hey, I'm sympathetic to some of these guys... it's easy to forget that Hall has played less than 20 games, and is only in his second year. But he's shown almost zero indications that he's up to the level. As you point out, he's not quick and his decision making isn't great. It's his contested, inside work that's going to get him a spot in the team. If he can't break tackles, and he can't stick tackles... what's he doing? He needs to step up pretty quickly, because he doesn't have the versatility to play anywhere else.

Maybe a shift to the backline?

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

I heard him say "that's why I'm sitting up here" F*#k knows what you were listening to.

He said both, something like "oh really?" when the commentator said Morris thought he was going to be an Eagle, followed by the commentator explaining we selected Archer with the pick before, then Simmo said "Well, that's why I'm up here"

 

[Convocation]

Negative was hearing in commentary that West Coast passed on Brisbane Lions tall forward Logan Morris who just kicked his 50th goal for the season. Simmo's reaction in the commentary box upon this news was 'oh did we?'. WTF is the problem with this club. So many bad decisions. It's relentless.

He did slide to 31 so we were not the only club to make a bad decision on Logan

 

[Big_Birdy]

Archer at our pick will be fine.

Will he better than Morris? Gee we will be happy if he is.

But lets wait until we aren't the blind school before getting worried about our forwards.

I guess that is what has made Jobe look so exciting. He is doing what he is doing in the worst possible circumstances.

 

[RookiePick]

The real art/skill in AFL – seriously – is being able to master the Draft and all aspects of player trading and recruitment. Some clubs are far better at it than others. Geelong, Collingwood, Adelaide and Brisbane, and probably Hawthorn, do it well; Geelong best of all. These teams don't get much of a leg up (if any) from the AFL– they just happen to have worked out how the draft/trading game is played. WCE have not been good at it. The TK deal is a good example. We are getting better at it, I think, but we're starting from a low base.

I think you are overlooking player development here. We are and have been the absolute pits at it. (Unfortunately my points are in addition to your well made points!)

The kids coming into the draft system are all vigorously screened for athletic potential at the very least and the scrutiny they undergo through their final years of development football is unrivalled these days. Our strike rate can't be as poor as it has been unless we are contributing to the failure of these kids making it.

We should be asking ourselves why MSD picks are such a clear cut above the kids we have been picking. I honestly believe it's because the Maric's and McCarthy's have been able to continue to develop under better systems than what we are turning out. Even Jai Culley managed to get a lifeline at Melbourne. When is the last time a WC developed player on the fringe has been able to stay in the league or has been actively pursued by another AFL side in a trade?

Even now look at the way the club has handled Bo, Gross, Grego and even Newton on the weekend. The coach came out and said they realised they made some mistakes with Bo an yet the MC made the exact same decisions all over again with other players coming in (or not in Grego's case). Why is Tom McCarthy literally our best player when he turned up at smoko?

We are desperate for a real clean sweep through the development coaching and WAFL ranks. We've seen dividends in the S&C space by facing the hard truths. I really hope we continue to make the difficult but necessary calls on staff to get this club back on track.

 

[DorothyG]

I don't think things are as dire as some are saying.
In 2020 Adelaide finished wooden spooners with their new coach.
In 2021 they moved up to 15th and 14th in 2022.
2023 they got a little mojo going learning the gameplan, young guys starting to jell and a couple of good recruits in Rankine and Dawson adding some x-factor and experience. They improved to 10th in 23 but last year had a few injuries and a bit of a down year to finish just above us in 15th.
Now, 5 years into their rebuild with a new coach, the young players are now in the 50-100 game bracket and their older players are playing good footy and they are a game clear on top of the ladder with 1 round to go.

I see us in a similar position to where they were in 2020 with our new coach bringing in his new ideas and gameplan. Baker and Graham were good recruits and we just need to nail another 2-3. But I think we are probably a year ahead with our young players as injuries has resulted in getting games into many of them who may not have had as much exposure as they have.
It's not all doom and gloom, it could actually be pretty exciting times ahead.

Thing was, Adelaide never went:
17
18
16
18

With a one win season thrown in for shits and giggles.

 

[swing state]

why did we recruit Matt Owies?, does anybody think there's a chance he might be paid out and delisted? I dont think he brings anything special to the club

 

[ziad]

why did we recruit Matt Owies?, does anybody think there's a chance he might be paid out and delisted? I dont think he brings anything special to the club

No, filling a role with experience in a tough gig. Kids just need to offer more - thats healthy.

 

[BSD]

I'm in the same boat as you, and i won't be renewing my membership here in Melbourne, it's the only thing that resonates with the club, as they love money, and turning up at 4.40pm on a cold Sunday arvo to watch 23 players put up half assed efforts, when i can watch from the comfort of my home, is an easy decision, and switch off when it eventually turns to shit. I will pick and choose when i go to games now, much like the players. I made the comment in the match day thread Pykey has really looked after his mates, you have the ultimate dinosaur involved with club in Tim Gepp still, plus walking from the coaches box you have Turnbull, Woosha, Schofield and Shuey, nothing about that set up screams fresh new ideas.The old boys club is alive and well.

I am happy to give the coach a break, but some of his game day decisions are baffling, in the early parts Hall was getting burnt when we turned it over, yet the next two center bounce Hall is in the middle whilst Hewitt & Graham sit at half forward.

When Simmo went a lot more should have gone with him, why on earth was Schofield kept, he has been part of the rabble.

They kept Schofield because he still had time left on his contract. I think it expires at the end of 2026. Looks like we are stuck with him for another year.

 

[WA footy mad]

So the doggies player isnt getting sighted for knocking the umpire over. VFL again at play

 

[stallon]

why did we recruit Matt Owies?, does anybody think there's a chance he might be paid out and delisted? I dont think he brings anything special to the club

probably with the intention he would be the guy to force Cripps into retirement

 

[BSD]

So the doggies player isnt getting sighted for knocking the umpire over. VFL again at play

Biggest positive was helping The Dogs boost their percentage and that in turn could help keep Flogmantle out of the finals.
Go Doggies !!!!

 

[Eaglemaniac]

I think you are overlooking player development here. We are and have been the absolute pits at it. (Unfortunately my points are in addition to your well made points!)

The kids coming into the draft system are all vigorously screened for athletic potential at the very least and the scrutiny they undergo through their final years of development football is unrivalled these days. Our strike rate can't be as poor as it has been unless we are contributing to the failure of these kids making it.

We should be asking ourselves why MSD picks are such a clear cut above the kids we have been picking. I honestly believe it's because the Maric's and McCarthy's have been able to continue to develop under better systems than what we are turning out. Even Jai Culley managed to get a lifeline at Melbourne. When is the last time a WC developed player on the fringe has been able to stay in the league or has been actively pursued by another AFL side in a trade?

Even now look at the way the club has handled Bo, Gross, Grego and even Newton on the weekend. The coach came out and said they realised they made some mistakes with Bo an yet the MC made the exact same decisions all over again with other players coming in (or not in Grego's case). Why is Tom McCarthy literally our best player when he turned up at smoko?

We are desperate for a real clean sweep through the development coaching and WAFL ranks. We've seen dividends in the S&C space by facing the hard truths. I really hope we continue to make the difficult but necessary calls on staff to get this club back on track.

100% agree with this re our development staff. We seem to be the worst at development in the league. We make stupid decisions when it comes to changing players into things they’re not suited to, such as trying to turn Brander and Ainsworth into wings and now trying to turn guys who were selected as forwards such as Maric and Hutch into backs/wings. I have no faith in our development staff not completely screwing TMac up either once they get their hands on him. We have so many problems off field at the moment it’s gonna take a massive clean out to get us back on track.

 

[RookiePick]

why did we recruit Matt Owies?, does anybody think there's a chance he might be paid out and delisted? I dont think he brings anything special to the club

Owies cracked in hard and was in the right spots pretty often. It's unfortunate that we seem to have effort guys and talent guys but bugger all talent + effort guys

 

[THE A5]

probably with the intention he would be the guy to force Cripps into retirement

They way he is playing, cripps might see Owies into retirment.

 

[Scotland]

He did slide to 31 so we were not the only club to make a bad decision on Logan

I don't know anything about Logan Morris pre-draft but it's a lot easier to nail your picks when you have free swings.

Brisbane traded out of the first round of 2022 and 2023 knowing that in bringing in Josh Dunkley they could still add Will Ashcroft and Fletcher, then in 2024 Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall.

We were afforded the luxury of picks 1 (because we came last) and 30 (because reasons) in 2023, having had 3 & 23 the year before then 3 and 30 the year after. No double dipping, no getting top 5 players for later picks.

3 x bottom 4 finishes: Ginbey, Hewett, Barnett, Reid x 2, Baker, Owies, Allan, Shanahan
3 x top 4 finishes: Ashcroft x 2, Fletcher, Dunkley, Marshall, Morris

Barnett looks like a bust and I will never understand why Owies who was bound for DFA status was even included in the trade but all those trades and draft selections were made knowing it's one or the other. Every single player bar Harley Reid was available to be drafted by another team and even he could've been traded if a team offered enough for pick 1. Four out of 5 players drafted by Brisbane were via academy/FS rules.

 

[Elite Pete]

Thing was, Adelaide never went:
17
18
16
18

With a one win season thrown in for shits and giggles.

While they also didn’t have wafl top ups playing either and two cat b players only playing ressies. Two of those year ls while the record is the record it isn’t a clear sign where the list was at.

Crows adding Rankine and Dawson while at the bottom was huge.

We just haven’t locked in those sort of players to help the boost which also helps you to go sign the ANB, Peatling and Cummings of the world.

They missed some first round picks.

 

[stallon]

While they also didn’t have wafl top ups playing either and two cat b players only playing ressies. Two of those year ls while the record is the record it isn’t a clear sign where the list was at.

Crows adding Rankine and Dawson while at the bottom was huge.

We just haven’t locked in those sort of players to help the boost which also helps you to go sign the ANB, Peatling and Cummings of the world.

They missed some first round picks.

Warner and Reid will be our Rankine and Dawson imo.
2 years time.

 

[DirtySandman]

They kept Schofield because he still had time left on his contract. I think it expires at the end of 2026

Was he given a big extension during a spoon year?

Simpson was extended, well before his then current contract ran out, we crapped our dacks thinking someone would pinch him.

Mistake after mistake, we can only reach the depths of where are, by doing everything wrong.

I’ve little hope we will turn it around and for some reason start making the right decisions on everything.

 

[Elite Pete]

Warner and Reid will be our Rankine and Dawson imo.
2 years time.

Yeah maybe.

Getting Dawson for a late first is good business. Getting Warner as a FA would be elite.

 

[eaglesnutcase]

The way talent identification is going and looking at Ginbeys development makes me think that Bo Allen will be a very good player.
Bo,Ginbey,Macarthy,Hough,HEd and Baker is a very good defence going forward.
Maybe recruiting a KPD for the future.

 

[eaglesnutcase]

Can Mini please drag the next idiot ( probably Cole ) who tries a short pass while standing still.
Lack of momentum is a killer

 

[BSD]

Can Mini please drag the next idiot ( probably Cole ) who tries a short pass while standing still.
Lack of momentum is a killer

The best thing to do with Cole is to delist him.