Autopsy Round 24, 2025: Positives and Negatives vs Sydney

[bzparkes]

Sorry to intrude but I only saw the Ginbey incident. Is he okay? Always like a player who looks perennially pissed off and with a flowing mullet.

Couldn't watch the rest of the game so unsure if he made it back on the field.

Well, he went from looking like he shattered his kneecap with how bad his reaction was, to coming back on briefly to test it out on the field for a couple of minutes before ultimately being subbed off.

Mini said he's fine in the post match presser.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Not sure how people had Chesser in the positives from this game. Feels like the bar is set so low for that bloke.


He's been solid since coming back into the side these last few weeks, but last night he was ranked the 18th best Eagle on the ground, from 23 players inc our sub.

15 touches at 47%DE with 5 clangers and 0 tackles.

I much prefer Hamish Davis's game on the other wing - 13D at 85%DE with 6 tackles (#2 for the team behind Graham).

He was fourth in clearances, had basically a 50/50 split on contested/uncontested ball, was fourth in meters gained.

Not saying he doesn’t have a bit to work on but he’s developing a rounded game and shown more in last month than the previous three years. There’s a player there

 

[Matele]

As far as seasons where the West Coast Eagles competed against 17 other teams for premiership glory, that was one of them.

 

[Ace McKane]

Not sure how people had Chesser in the positives from this game. Feels like the bar is set so low for that bloke.


He's been solid since coming back into the side these last few weeks, but last night he was ranked the 18th best Eagle on the ground, from 23 players inc our sub.

15 touches at 47%DE with 5 clangers and 0 tackles.

I much prefer Hamish Davis's game on the other wing - 13D at 85%DE with 6 tackles (#2 for the team behind Graham).

He's like a shiny new toy at this point. He has a lot of qualities in his game that not many of our other players have. When he's good, he looks really good, and it's a wow factor.

He got caught a couple of times, maybe a bit of bad luck vs needing to get rid of it quicker. Would like to see him look to free the arms up before a couple of those HTB calls. Watching him last night, it seems like he's been instructed to back himself and don't overthink it - play the footy he wants to play and just take the game on.

Looking forward to hopefully watching him take it to another level next year.

 

[Matele]

In all seriousness it was a shame we came out in the second half as flat as we did. There’s a major disparity between our first and second halves that needs addressing, and I’m hoping it’s just a matter of young blokes needing bigger tanks to sustain the effort for longer.

Season +’s

• Shanahan. Enough said
• Ginbey. Enough Said
• McCarthy. Enough Said
• Baker & Graham have been quality additions to the side.
• As the season has progressed the style of play has become clearer. It’s been competitive and we’ve found ourselves in fights with teams we didn’t expect.

-Mini. I like him, and I think year two will be a better year once he gets the staff he wants around him.

-‘s

• The whole Oz contract thing. I can’t see him staying, and it’s a sad way for such a stalwart of the club to depart, but it’s for the best for club and player.
• injuries to senior players and the floaty timeline thing for Yeo again. No fun.

-Skills. Let’s hope that with the embedding of the gameplay this year we see a marked improvement in ‘26. Too many fumbles and drops. Basic stuff not coming off and burning us immediately.

 

[Matele]

Major -‘s

-Matt Blowies. Thanks Phil.

 

[wce4premiership]

Everyone's favourite Eagles finished the season well...



I'd not have had Bailey Williams that high mind you, but the others are all deserving from their efforts last night. A lot unrewarded for Cripps as well with our poor ball use.

I look forward to next year, just something as simple as adding Harry Edwards (who was in amazing form) down back, Elliot Yeo

6

Elliot Yeo

Age

32

Ht

191cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.5

5star

K

11.7

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.5

5star

CL

3.0

4star

D

18.9

4star

K

10.9

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

5.8

5star

CL

5.5

5star

D

16.6

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

7.2

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.6

3star

CL

1.4

4star

in the midfield and Jake Waterman

2

Jake Waterman

Age

27

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.2

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.8

2star

K

7.8

3star

HB

2.0

1star

M

5.8

5star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

12.2

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

4.6

4star

M

4.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.8

4star

up forward will help the youngsters shine a bit more in each area of the field.

Brock and Harry Edwards I think make a good pairing, Brock with the speed, Edwards hopefully with his continued improvement, both decent by foot for tall backs behind the mark.

Interesting DE% from Davis and Chesser, I thought Davis disposals were very disappointing as they often came under less pressure. Love his defensive work though.

Same as McCarthy last night, his speed was very impressive on defence but his offence was poor.

 

[FKASC]

Not sure how people had Chesser in the positives from this game. Feels like the bar is set so low for that bloke.


He's been solid since coming back into the side these last few weeks, but last night he was ranked the 18th best Eagle on the ground, from 23 players inc our sub.

15 touches at 47%DE with 5 clangers and 0 tackles.

I much prefer Hamish Davis's game on the other wing - 13D at 85%DE with 6 tackles (#2 for the team behind Graham).

As with Hewett the board froths any time a player backs themselves to run past/through the opposition even if they are invisible for the rest of the game. One run and carry away from a contest and that player gets an automatic positive, basically.

 

[wce4premiership]

As with Hewett the board froths any time a player backs themselves to run past/through the opposition even if they are invisible for the rest of the game. One run and carry away from a contest and that player gets an automatic positive, basically.

Everyone was roasting Hewett?

He had a horrible game.

Chesser broke the lines multiple times and had some nice kicks. Was an average game but not a bad one. The same thing would apply to McCarthy if he broke the lines, people get excited even if he fluffs the kick.

 

[Dark Sharks]

As with Hewett the board froths any time a player backs themselves to run past/through the opposition even if they are invisible for the rest of the game. One run and carry away from a contest and that player gets an automatic positive, basically.

I only caught the tail end of what i presume was Chessers run on the wing, i'd just sat down on the sofa after HT with some HJ's.

2x Whopper JNR's with cheese if anyone is wondering....

Either way it must have been impressive.



Hewett on the other hand was very very disappointing IMO. Annoying because fitness wise he looked totally fine, covered the ground well and was explosive etc.... it was just his actual football skills that let him down, and i don't think you can blame the "coming back from injury" or "he had last year off" on that.

Bloke handled the football like me with a wet bar of soap in Hakea prison

 

[Astro7]

As with Hewett the board froths any time a player backs themselves to run past/through the opposition even if they are invisible for the rest of the game. One run and carry away from a contest and that player gets an automatic positive, basically.

True enough...so how did Clay Hall get an automatic positive?

 

[FKASC]

Everyone was roasting Hewett?

He had a horrible game.

Chesser broke the lines multiple times and had some nice kicks. Was an average game but not a bad one. The same thing would apply to McCarthy if he broke the lines, people get excited even if he fluffs the kick.

More an overall perception of the players I mean.

Gross, Hewett, Chesser - people are excited about them (Chesser only now) because of the run and carry, goals on the run etc. We’ve been gagging for it since Shuey died

 

[Dark Sharks]

True enough...so how did Clay Hall get an automatic positive?

If Clay Hall got an automatic positive from anyone on this board last night, consider me Miles Davis.

 

[Astro7]

I only caught the tail end of what i presume was Chessers run on the wing, i'd just sat down on the sofa after HT with some HJ's.

2x Whopper JNR's with cheese if anyone is wondering....

Either way it must have been impressive.



Hewett on the other hand was very very disappointing IMO. Annoying because fitness wise he looked totally fine, covered the ground well and was explosive etc.... it was just his actual football skills that let him down, and i don't think you can blame the "coming back from injury" or "he had last year off" on that.

Bloke handled the football like me with a wet bar of soap in Hakea prison

Yep, underwhelming is Hewett. The coming back from injury thing wore thin towards the end. As mentioned in the game thread, there's nothing that stands out about him. He's a one trick pony and that trick seldom works? A burst from stoppages player that gets gang-tackled every time he tries it.
He said after the game he was just seeking consistency this season and he's achieved that. No doubt, as for many, a full preseason will help him improve his trick. Practice kicking goals too. Thought he might be a good second fiddle to Harley, but is miles apart at this stage. Although, without Harley playing, Hewett is copping more attention.

 

[Astro7]

If Clay Hall got an automatic positive from anyone on this board last night, consider me Miles Davis.

I mean't in general, before this game, everyone was clamouring for Hall to play and after he played a few games, everyone went quiet...so why did he get an automatic positive, what made people so bullish on Clay? I realise the topic is a joke on this and the game day thread.
I'm sure he'll improve with another preseason, but nothing can make him faster, solid depth.

 

[bzparkes]

Bloke handled the football like me with a wet bar of soap in Hakea prison

Well, he certainly gave up very easily after feeling contact from behind, that's for sure.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Wasn’t a great game for Hewett last night, and I’ve neither the time or the inclination but I imagine if went back and tracked Hewett’s quarter by quarter stats you’d see he averages ~10 possessions in the first half then ~6 possessions in the second.

He’s clearly got a lot of work to do on his fitness. Doing that will hopefully also resolve a lot of the tired hands fumbling he does as well.

 

[Bender_]

He was fourth in clearances, had basically a 50/50 split on contested/uncontested ball, was fourth in meters gained.

Not saying he doesn’t have a bit to work on but he’s developing a rounded game and shown more in last month than the previous three years. There’s a player there

Look, I'm not saying Dark Sharks had been waiting the 3 weeks since Chesser came back for any reason to take a dump on him, but Dark Sharks has been waiting the 3 weeks since Chesser came back for any reason to take a dump on him. If only our players were as consistent as DS.

Fact is when rating our players right now you can have 3 criteria:

A) Who was good when we were in the match
B) Who was not a total liability when we were out of the match
C) Who was good the whole game

Chesser was in category A last night. No one (maybe Graham) was in category C last night unfortunately, that tends to make the ones that sit in A and not B (like Hall) stand out.

This board has always been a majority misery loves company convention where posters can come and join hands and complain about our club workings and get a chub. Chesser may not be what we dreamed of but his past month has been a huge improvement on what we've seen before and deserves to be listed in the positives from last night.

 

[BSD]

That entire last qtr was Sydney walking it out the middle... Just watch that whole qtr really

It was just like a training drill for Sydney in the last half, our players just stood out like the witches hats for them.

 

[observer2]

Not sure how people had Chesser in the positives from this game. Feels like the bar is set so low for that bloke.


He's been solid since coming back into the side these last few weeks, but last night he was ranked the 18th best Eagle on the ground, from 23 players inc our sub.

15 touches at 47%DE with 5 clangers and 0 tackles.

I much prefer Hamish Davis's game on the other wing - 13D at 85%DE with 6 tackles (#2 for the team behind Graham).

Tend to agree here. Thought this was Chesser's weakest game from his last 4. Has certainly shown a bit over the last month of football but overall I think Davis as a first year player on a wing is probably showing more. That being said it is finally good to see 2 actual wingers played in that position having substantial impact in games. Both have shown more in the last month of footy on the wing than Hutchinson, Maric, Dewar, Hall etc and whoever else has been rolled through their over the course of the season. Both elite runners with pace. Chesser probably has the confidence to take it on a bit more at this stage but I think Davis protects the ball in hand better, is more contested and a smarter user of the ball. Both have plenty to work with and can see them both lining up Round 1 on the wings in 2026.

 

[shoutsatclouds]

Look, I'm not saying Dark Sharks had been waiting the 3 weeks since Chesser came back for any reason to take a dump on him, but Dark Sharks has been waiting the 3 weeks since Chesser came back for any reason to take a dump on him. If only our players were as consistent as DS.

Fact is when rating our players right now you can have 3 criteria:

A) Who was good when we were in the match
B) Who was not a total liability when we were out of the match
C) Who was good the whole game

Chesser was in category A last night. No one (maybe Graham) was in category C last night unfortunately, that tends to make the ones that sit in A and not B (like Hall) stand out.

This board has always been a majority misery loves company convention where posters can come and join hands and complain about our club workings and get a chub. Chesser may not be what we dreamed of but his past month has been a huge improvement on what we've seen before and deserves to be listed in the positives from last night.

getting a chub just reading that...

 

[WCErevival]

Where do we think Brockman is at? Can he ever elevate into a productive player? He will be 23 at the start of next season.

 

[Bender_]

Where do we think Brockman is at? Can he ever elevate into a productive player? He will be 23 at the start of next season.

I feel like we're so desperate for anything from our list we fall in love with our players displaying patches, and he's definitely a patchy player. I thought we got the best out of him in a block of games mid-year where he played higher up the ground, and then kinda abandoned that later in the season.

 

[Cuzz09]

The Ryan last minute 1st qtr turnover and another 20 seconds in the 2nd we were about to run into an open goal we could've been 20 points up at half time and mindest changes

Such is life

 

[DorothyG]

Didn't watch, went and got a me a killer Barrata pizza instead.

Sounds like you could literally copypasta any other review from this year into this game. Looked ok for a half, then nothing.

Go and enjoy your break lads, forget the footy for a couple months.