Game Day Round 7, 2025: West Coast vs Hawthorn (aka Midfield Pressure at Any Price: The Tom Barrass Story)

[Keys]

Sounds like Baker will be playing back as well then. Assuming Davis is sub and Dewar players wing:

Defenders: Allen Gov, Cole, Baker, Maric, Ginbey, Duggan*
Mids: Flynn, Harley, Hewett, Hough, Hutch, Graham
Wing: Hunt Dewar*
Forwards: Waterman, AReid, Williams, Long, Owies, Cripps, Ryan

Suspect Long will be sub and Davis gets a full game but otherwise that looks about right given what splinters has reported

Like Bender_ posted McQualter is definitely trying things. Feels like he’s exploring the list to see what he’s got to work with both in terms of who is AFL level and where players are best suited to how he wants to play

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

Suspect Long will be sub and Davis gets a full game but otherwise that looks about right given what splinters has reported

Like Bender_ posted McQualter is definitely trying things. Feels like he’s exploring the list to see what he’s got to work with both in terms of who is AFL level and where players are best suited to how he wants to play

I think it shows a few things, that Mcqualter is willing to unpeg players to the roles they'd been assigned previously. Also that McQualter has a fair bit of trust in Hough as well. It would have been very easy to to look to the next mid in line to fill Kelly's spot, instead Mini wanted to see what Hough looked like in there. Dare I say Hough's experience, one on one defensive traits and bigger body were probably big factors in McQualters thinking also.

 

[bzparkes]

I think it shows a few things, that Mcqualter is willing to unpeg players to the roles they'd been assigned previously. Also that McQualter has a fair bit of trust in Hough as well. It would have been very easy to to look to the next mid in line to fill Kelly's spot, instead Mini wanted to see what Hough looked like in there. Dare I say Hough's experience, one on one defensive traits and bigger body were probably big factors in McQualters thinking also.

Hough was also a midfielder prior to being drafted, so at the very least it's not a new position for him.

 

[Dark Sharks]

I'd like to see Baker played at HF. He's a crafty player and knows how to find the goals.

Get him closer to goal and his bad foot skills out of our defence.

 

[Astro7]

Feels like he’s exploring the list to see what he’s got to work with both in terms of who is AFL level and where players are best suited to how he wants to play

It's exactly what he said he was doing in a few different pressers...and that it was a work in progress and would take time to work through or juggle all these components.
But Hough is a smart move, he has the necessary skills and as mentioned has played mid before...also has the build now. Curious to see all this play out against the Hawks.

 

[sharps24]

Just when I thought dropping Gross was unforgivable he goes and plays [PLAYERCARD]Oscar Allen[/PLAYERCARD] at fullback. Make up your mind Mini do you need to wake up or not?

 

[Obeanie1]

Midfield battle

Meek v Flynn
Newcombe v Duggan
Mackenzie v H Reid
Hustwaite v Hewett

Wings

D'Ambrosio v Hunt
Amon v Cripps

Worpel v Graham?

 

[Keys]

Just when I thought dropping Gross was unforgivable he goes and plays Oscar Allen at fullback. Make up your mind Mini do you need to wake up or not?

I get not being happy about dropping Gross although “unforgivable” is a bit melodramatic

But why is using Allen in defence an issue? Think it makes some sense tbh. Waterman, Williams and Reid combined pretty well last week without Allen so adding Allen arguably makes a too tall

He’s also badly out of form so a stint in defence where he might be able to get his hands on the ball more often isn’t a bad idea if it happens

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Dare I say Hough's experience, one on one defensive traits and bigger body were probably big factors in McQualters thinking also.

Amazing that we're here in 2025 making mention of Hough being one of our bigger bodies, a mere 4 years since he was drafted looking like this...



His transformation has been nothing short of jaw dropping. Not to mention, he slotted into our backline looking like a beanpole and looked assured with ball in hand from day one. Never panics, always makes the right decision. Personally, I can't wait to see how his skills translate to the middle. Hopeful player comparison...Hugh McCluggage? Dare I say it...Jordan Dawson? One can dream... Being realistic though, he's going to need a good run of games to settle in, and I hope he gets it rather than being McQualter's Mr. Fixit.

Go well Brady, you've bloody earned this

 

[Grahame]

I get not being happy about dropping Gross although “unforgivable” is a bit melodramatic

But why is using Allen in defence an issue? Think it makes some sense tbh. Waterman, Williams and Reid combined pretty well last week without Allen so adding Allen arguably makes a too tall

He’s also badly out of form so a stint in defence where he might be able to get his hands on the ball more often isn’t a bad idea if it happens

Agree. One of our 4-5 KPFs (OA, JW, JW, AR ... and JS) needs to be tried. In the absence of Brock or HEd (or even BWill or ... haha ... Jamo ) getting to AFL-level KPD and with Ginbey, Bazzo and Maric all being KDef#3 then Oscar seems like the logical first choice. And maybe not just for 1-2 quarters.

 

[sharps24]

I get not being happy about dropping Gross although “unforgivable” is a bit melodramatic

But why is using Allen in defence an issue? Think it makes some sense tbh. Waterman, Williams and Reid combined pretty well last week without Allen so adding Allen arguably makes a too tall

He’s also badly out of form so a stint in defence where he might be able to get his hands on the ball more often isn’t a bad idea if it happens

It's not an issue, I was the first on the board to call for it [over a year ago] and its finally happened, I'm celebrating it. It's almost like you don't read my posts Keys, Allen to fullback outnumbers my Cripps to retirement posts 3 to 1.

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

Midfield battle

Meek v Flynn
Newcombe v Duggan Hough
Mackenzie v H Reid
Hustwaite v Hewett

Wings

D'Ambrosio v Hunt
Amon v Cripps
Ward v Hutchinson
Worpel v Graham?

EFA

 

[Doashuey]

That moment you finally take the advice to post more succinctly but choose a game preview to do it.

Im feeling somewhat responsible for what followed.

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

Amazing that we're here in 2025 making mention of Hough being one of our bigger bodies, a mere 4 years since he was drafted looking like this...

View attachment 2295991

His transformation has been nothing short of jaw dropping. Not to mention, he slotted into our backline looking like a beanpole and looked assured with ball in hand from day one. Never panics, always makes the right decision. Personally, I can't wait to see how his skills translate to the middle. Hopeful player comparison...Hugh McCluggage? Dare I say it...Jordan Dawson? One can dream... Being realistic though, he's going to need a good run of games to settle in, and I hope he gets it rather than being McQualter's Mr. Fixit.

Go well Brady, you've bloody earned this

whew lord

 

[Keys]

It's not an issue, I was the first on the board to call for it [over a year ago] and its finally happened, I'm celebrating it. It's almost like you don't read my posts Keys, Allen to fullback outnumbers my Cripps to retirement posts 3 to 1.

Yeah, misread your post. My mistake

As for me not reading your posts, I skim read a lot these days so it’s not just yours I don’t read

 

[Yeahnahmate]

Eagles Instagram just put up a post (obviously pre-scheduled) that TK was playing his 150th tomorrow then 5mins later pulled it haha

 

[Boohemian]

Seems that the socials girls didn't get the memo.

Talk it up, girls. The best thing would be if the banner mentions the milestone

 

[sharps24]

Yeah, misread your post. My mistake

As for me not reading your posts, I skim read a lot these days so it’s not just yours I don’t read

All good. To further clarify I'm still on the fence with McQualter and was just having fun with it.

His willingness to throw players around and to have dropped Cole, Allen and Kelly is very refreshing but he's still somehow managed to make some very dodgy calls as well and at the end of the day I don't really see him prioritising youth all that much.

He's still essentially picking the side the exact same way Simmo did, picking the 22 most likely to win the game in match committee's eyes and backing in tired and underperforming senior players over youth where its a clear choice between the two. The majority of the time anyway, Kelly being the exception. Fringe seniors Noah Long and Tom Cole back into the side after 1 good game at WAFL level, Tom Gross dropped despite performing strongly at AFL level, these are contemptible decisions that do nothing for our future and most likely do nothing to increase our chances of beating the Hawks either.

He's still got a grace period but if we get too far past the bye with decisions like this still happening while we continue to put up historically poor performances he's not going to be popular.

 

[maverick001]

Because we decided to move Harley back in to the midfield to take TK's minutes and have brought in Cole to play defence would be my guess.

Yea so Cole replaces Harley who replaces TK
Why and who is replacing Gross

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

Yea so Cole replaces Harley who replaces TK
Why and who is replacing Gross

Gross was the sub, so whoever is named sub is replacing him.

 

[maverick001]

Gross was the sub, so whoever is named sub is replacing him.

In the midfield I meant, but now having seen that article it seems it’s Hough.
Regardless, my point was it’s bloody rough dropping Gross after he couldn’t have done much more in first two games then barely got a go as sub in third. But Noah Long who’s done nothing all year comes in. I’d rather have gross at half forward than Long

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

In the midfield I meant, but now having seen that article it seems it’s Hough.
Regardless, my point was it’s bloody rough dropping Gross after he couldn’t have done much more in first two games then barely got a go as sub in third. But Noah Long who’s done nothing all year comes in. I’d rather have gross at half forward than Long

I agree that Gross did nothing wrong, and when Hewett became available Mini had to decide whether to go with Hewett in the AFL or WAFL. Mini decided to go with Hewett straight back in the AFL and Gross was the one who made room, and that is stiff.

I don't know why you're mentioning Long give he's not a midfielder. It's not like Gross is too good to play WAFL. He's 18, has shown alot, and still has a lot to learn. He'll be fine biding his time for a bit in the WAFL.

 

[maverick001]

I agree that Gross did nothing wrong, and when Hewett became available Mini had to decide whether to go with Hewett in the AFL or WAFL. Mini decided to go with Hewett straight back in the AFL and Gross was the one who made room, and that is stiff.

I don't know why you're mentioning Long give he's not a midfielder. It's not like Gross is too good to play WAFL. He's 18, has shown alot, and still has a lot to learn. He'll be fine biding his time for a bit in the WAFL.

I mention Long as he’s effectively come in for him. As I said I’d rather keep Gross in team and play him half forward than have Long play half forward

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

I mention Long as he’s effectively come in for him. As I said I’d rather keep Gross in team and play him half forward than have Long play half forward

Personally I'm not going to melt over a decision to have an 18 year old play in their preferred position in the 2's over playing him off a half forward flank in AFL, but that's me.

You do you.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Gross got shafted. Pretty harsh and it's gone down like a treat with the fans.

Randomly demoted to sub out of the blue.

Then randomly dropped to the WAFL (Oh we're just managing the workload of our young players) only to play a full game of WAFL anyway.

Not sure how getting dropped is managed when you

a) were only sub the week before so played reduced minutes anyway (ie managed)
& B) are still playing a full game, only it's In the WAFL.