Opinion 2012 v 2013

[Bob Fossil]

I feel like last year the Eagles, I hate saying they as it implies a level of personal connection that I frankly don't have, came out of the blocks hard and fast. We, I hate that as well, then seemed to taper off until we could play no more.

Is this year the opposite. Many on this board seem to have bandied around such a possibility. I'm not sure you can really turn it on and off like that.

But if they somehow get over the Hawks tomorrow the season becomes a lot more interesting, although the losses to Carlton and especially Port will hurt a lot, and the perceived ploy of building into finals will maybe pay off?

 

[Eaglemaniac]

I feel like last year the Eagles, I hate saying they as it implies a level of personal connection that I frankly don't have, came out of the blocks hard and fast. We, I hate that as well, then seemed to taper off until we could play no more.

Is this year the opposite. Many on this board seem to have bandied around such a possibility. I'm not sure you can really turn it on and off like that.

But if they somehow get over the Hawks tomorrow the season becomes a lot more interesting, although the losses to Carlton and especially Port will hurt a lot, and the perceived ploy of building into finals will maybe pay off?

Its highly unlikely the eagles will beat the Hawks tomorrow night, unless the hawks have a very off day....or we suddenly learn how to tag Birchall, Mitchell and co correctly as well as remembering how to read NN's taps to advantage.

 

[arfadunger]

I had high hopes for the club leading into the season.

I was disappointed after our start to the season, and dropping the couple of games we should of won.

I was enjoying some false hope as we had a good winning run against the lowly sides.

In all the years that I have followed the mighty Eagles I don't think that I have been more disappointed with them than I was during the debacle that was the Richmond game.

I now have absolutely no expectations of the side for the rest of the year. I expect them to miss the finals, and to get a bit of a touch up tomorrow. Whilst disappointing, it does take the stress out of watching the games.

 

[captcha]

H

I feel like last year the Eagles, I hate saying they as it implies a level of personal connection that I frankly don't have, came out of the blocks hard and fast. We, I hate that as well, then seemed to taper off until we could play no more.

Is this year the opposite. Many on this board seem to have bandied around such a possibility. I'm not sure you can really turn it on and off like that.

But if they somehow get over the Hawks tomorrow the season becomes a lot more interesting, although the losses to Carlton and especially Port will hurt a lot, and the perceived ploy of building into finals will maybe pay off?

Hawks were at 6-4 at this time last year and they did build throughout the season and into finals and finished top or second cant remember,

That also has to do with the teams confidence and being able to field a consistent team week in week out for periods of time, but this has been difficult for wce since injuries are causing 3or4 changes nearly every week

 

[Eaglemaniac]

H
Hawks were at 6-4 at this time last year and they did build throughout the season and into finals and finished top or second cant remember,

That also has to do with the teams confidence and being able to field a consistent team week in week out for periods of time, but this has been difficult for wce since injuries are causing 3or4 changes nearly every week

Injuries are one thing, but it very much seems like West Coast have no real desire for the contest this year...which is the most disappointing thing for me. If you get beaten by teams that are more skilfull, or because of a lack of players due to injuries, then thats not great but its at least understandable, but to watch your team not even look interested like they have in certain games this year (Richmond especially), then thats pretty hard to stomach as a supporter.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

In 2012 Hawthorn beat the following sides in the first half of the year.

Collingwood (4)
Adelaide (2)
StKilda (9)
Melbourne (16)
Fremantle (7)
North (8)

Losses against.

Geelong (6)
Syndey (3 + Premiership)
West Coast (5) Narrow loss away.
Richmond (12)

We've beaten.

Melbourne (17)
Bulldogs (14)
Brisbane (15)
North (13) - Narrow win
GWS (18)
StKilda (16) - Narrow win

 

[captcha]

Injuries are one thing, but it very much seems like West Coast have no real desire for the contest this year...which is the most disappointing thing for me. If you get beaten by teams that are more skilfull, or because of a lack of players due to injuries, then thats not great but its at least understandable, but to watch your team not even look interested like they have in certain games this year (Richmond especially), then thats pretty hard to stomach as a supporter.

I agree that it does seem the players aren't willing to contest and are second to the ball, but the team pressing and forward pressure which is missing does relate to confidence and being able to leave your direct opponent or attack the ball with the support from your teammates - this can be affected when there are a high number of changes being made each week as opposed to a stale lineup with few changes

 

[SpaceClef]

We've beaten.

Melbourne (17)
Bulldogs (14)
Brisbane (15 + NAB Cup Premiership)
North (13) - Narrow win
GWS (18)
StKilda (16) - Narrow win

Edited for more accurate representation of what we've achieved

 

[captcha]

In 2012 Hawthorn beat the following sides in the first half of the year.

Collingwood (4)
Adelaide (2)
StKilda (9)
Melbourne (16)
Fremantle (7)
North (8)

Losses against.

Geelong (6)
Syndey (3 + Premiership)
West Coast (5) Narrow loss away.
Richmond (12)

We've beaten.

Melbourne (17)
Bulldogs (14)
Brisbane (15)
North (13) - Narrow win
GWS (18)
StKilda (16) - Narrow win

Original post was about being able to build throughout season into finals

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Original post was about being able to build throughout season into finals

Yeah, and id assume it's more to do with form than wins. Because when we look at who we're yet to play it's hard to find wins.

Hawthorn (1), Geelong (2), Essendon x2 (3), Sydney (4), Fremantle (5), Collingwood (6), Adelaide x 2 (11), GoldCoast (12), Dogs (14).

 

[Eaglemaniac]

I agree that it does seem the players aren't willing to contest and are second to the ball, but the team pressing and forward pressure which is missing does relate to confidence and being able to leave your direct opponent or attack the ball with the support from your teammates - this can be affected when there are a high number of changes being made each week as opposed to a stale lineup with few changes

Well i always find the best way to get confidence back is to attack the ball til it sticks and you gain confidence from it. Standing back and watching the opposition get it doesnt help at all IMO and thats what we seem to be doing. At the moment West Coast dont even look interested. They dont spread hard enough on the turnover and they seem really bad at tackling the opposition this year for some strange reason.
The other thing that i have noticed (and i dont like to admit it) is that we seem to have a lot of players playing for frees instead of just attacking the contest, winning the footy and getting on with it regardless of what the umpire does. Playing for frees doesnt win a majority of games and especially not in finals where the umpires tend to put the whistle away a bit more.

 

[QS]

All we've done is carried our shithouse late 2012 form into this year without addressing it in between.

 

[bodazoka]

Have not played premiership winning football since the early part of last year.

Also have yet to do what every other team seems to do which is find surprise improvement from either new players or existing ones.

 

[Jarlcorbz]

Nic Nat, Kerr, Waters, Rosa, Lecca, Wellers and McGinnity were either missing for the best part of the first half of the season or had an interrupted pre-season, or both. This forced us into using depth players to replace a large amount of best 22 players. Last year's second half was similar, as Rosa had a couple of injuries, Nic Nat's groin was playing up, and our forward line was depleted (see Swans match at Subi). This year's injuries I'd say have been far worse than the injuries we sustained last year.

I don't think we will win tomorrow, but it's not out of the realms of possibility. These inclusions make our side look like the side we've been trying to get for almost two seasons now, it's just such a shame that we couldn't have this side last year.

 

[Smotie]

We have been shit because we (wait...the shit MC) has been playing spuds every week.

Butler
Dalzeill
Cripps
Lycett
Hams
A.Selwood
A.Embley
Rosa


These have all been guilty of being spuds this year at somepoint or all points. Even the likes of Cox and Kerr and Shuey have been spud like in disposals.

It is why we have been shite. You don't plan on being spud for half a year then turn into awesome players all of a sudden.
What you are referring to is fitness. You can set a fitness plan so you hit peak fitness at a set time of the year. This has not been our problem sadly.

Having said all that I think we have a slim chance against the Hawks.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Blame the guys on the outside, not the core group.

 

[SpaceClef]

Blame the guys on the outside, not the core group.

It takes guts to blame the fringe players

 

[Happy Mastenator]

AFL success requires midfield success.

Last year we survived injuries because most of them were up forward. Our defence was still strong and our midfield generated enough chances for our "lesser" forward line to win games.

This year the injuries have been in our midfield, already a weak area for us it means we haven't been able to create enough chances for our forwards and has left our backline exposed to often. If our midfield can get a decent run and find some form we will be very hard to beat. Given our forward line and backline strength we don't need our mids to be better than the other teams mids, we just need them to break even or at least not get smashed.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Nic Nat, Kerr, Waters, Rosa, Lecca, Wellers and McGinnity were either missing for the best part of the first half of the season or had an interrupted pre-season, or both. This forced us into using depth players to replace a large amount of best 22 players. Last year's second half was similar, as Rosa had a couple of injuries, Nic Nat's groin was playing up, and our forward line was depleted (see Swans match at Subi). This year's injuries I'd say have been far worse than the injuries we sustained last year.

I don't think we will win tomorrow, but it's not out of the realms of possibility. These inclusions make our side look like the side we've been trying to get for almost two seasons now, it's just such a shame that we couldn't have this side last year.

Injuries are no excuse for the crap the side has dished up all year.

 

[Oneiros]

Yeah, and id assume it's more to do with form than wins. Because when we look at who we're yet to play it's hard to find wins.

Hawthorn (1), Geelong (2), Essendon x2 (3), Sydney (4), Fremantle (5), Collingwood (6), Adelaide x 2 (11), GoldCoast (12), Dogs (14).

There is just no way to look at our form and that line-up and not be staggered by how much of a nightmare we've cut out for ourselves.

 

[WCEbrody]

*Beat Hawthorn in Melbourne though and a lot of those games look 10x easier^.


*still keeping the faith

 

[Jarlcorbz]

Injuries are no excuse for the crap the side has dished up all year.

I didn't deny that they have played poorly, but when you have players that are pivotal to the structure of a side out or not properly prepared then you have to expect it. The real failure is that the coaching department has failed to create an effective game-plan.

 

[Dark Sharks]

People need to stop tipping us from 2012 form. We aren't that team anymore.

We've been literally shocking all year. This was actually one of the best games we've played all year if not the best, and we lose by 20pts.

Says it all.

 

[WCEbrody]

People need to stop tipping us from 2012 form. We aren't that team anymore.

We've been literally shocking all year. This was actually one of the best games we've played all year if not the best, and we lose by 20pts.

Says it all.

To the best team in the comp who've won 10 in a row and haven't conceded 100 points all year. Fremantle,Sydney and Collingwood have all gone down to Hawthorn by 30+ this year.

 

[Dark Sharks]

To the best team in the comp who've won 10 in a row and haven't conceded 100 points all year. Fremantle,Sydney and Collingwood have all gone down to Hawthorn by 30+ this year.

Yes but we lost to carlton...

And port Adelaide after being 41pts up...

And got pantsed by Richmond..... at home