2016 Passengers

[Mickey Rae]

The problem was he didn't chest mark it. He tried to grab it in his hands (obviously to move it on quickly) but in those conditions a chest mark would've been the way to go.

He did recover the situation by re-gathering the ball and hand balling to an Eagles player in space....
Thought he had a solid game today.

 

[avishka5]

i remember watching a video last year and i think it was shuey telling how much they took 2011/12 for granted and how dissapointed at how they were when they slipped in the following years. Its too early to write us off just yet but at the moment we are a long way off from our best. Simmo, his coaching group and the boys need go back to the drawing board to rediscover our best footy. yes our midfield isnt A grade material but our list as a whole is good. If we drop off like we did in 2013, i cant see us us coming back and the by the time we should get back up priddis will be to old, kennedy on the other side of 30 and few of our senior players getting closer towards their end of their career.

 

[kfad05]

Too many of our guys seem naturally timid and nervous.

Sheppard, Gaff, .... you can't really imagine them ever standing up under huge pressure and doing something heroic. They all have this jittery deer-in-headlights vibe about them. Compare them to their counterparts at the really successful clubs, and you just lose confidence. You just knew Sheppard was never going to kick that goal.

You can add a few more to that list - Cripps, Le Cras, Masten, Hurn, Schofield, Jetta... like, they all have strengths and talent, and they're not squibs, but they don't seem to be the warrior that will stand up, really assert themselves, and you need those guys to win a flag.

Wellingham is a perfect example of what we need more of.

Sheppard in the 2015 finals series ring any bells? Sheppard is out of form this year, but he was our best player under pressure last year in an undersized backline.

 

[ROC1969]

Footy this season appears to have gotten quicker - not sure if it's impacting our older players more than expected.

 

[eagles rule]

I felt the same way after the r2 loss. Then we do this. While we didn't suck as much as we did against the Hawks there was still a significant amount of sucking. Hopefully we are on a trend of sucking less.

After we smash the Pies next week we have yet another chance to prove ourselves against Geelong. Anyone want to bet on 3rd time lucky?

We will beat the Pies at home and I can`t see us beating Geelong on the road unless the boys find the form and cohesion of last year .

 

[EagleShore]

I felt the same way after the r2 loss. Then we do this. While we didn't suck as much as we did against the Hawks there was still a significant amount of sucking. Hopefully we are on a trend of sucking less.

After we smash the Pies next week we have yet another chance to prove ourselves against Geelong. Anyone want to bet on 3rd time lucky?

Uh, no I don't. No, I don't.

Could be a good game as I see both teams finishing the season at around positions 5-7 on the ladder, but I'd honestly be (pleasantly) surprised if we win.

 

[Wellillbe]

What are people's thoughts on having Kennedy go to centre half forward and playing Darling and Lecca out of the square. There's no way Simpson is going to drop Lecca. I really think that he is a forward not a mid.
Kennedy has a great tank and can play up the ground presenting a big target for our backs to kick to. I think he can do this better then what Darling has been he also has a good turn of foot to turn back around and lose his man. Doing this will also hamper opposition just sitting a bloke 10m in front of him and create a large gap for Lecca and Darling to lead into. At the minute we look very ordinary entering our forward line really is the same thing over and over again kick it high into Kennedy and watch Kennedy and Darling spoil each other crash the pack and the opposition just run it out of defence really is frustrating to watch

 

[WCE Wizard]

Lecras - weak as piss at the contest. Unless he gets the ball in space you might as well give up on him.

Butler - stick a fork in him.

Cripps - downhill skier. Nowhere to be found when we are up against it.

Sheppard - hate to say it, but been terrible this season. Woefully out of form and needs a spell in the WAFL.

Cripps was awesome last year horribly out of form

 

[WCE Wizard]

You've clearly been watching a different game to me. Masten's had his head over the ball all day.

Masten was great yesterday actually tried to do something and put his head over the ball did a lot more than Jetta and Redden.

 

[WCE Wizard]

What are people's thoughts on having Kennedy go to centre half forward and playing Darling and Lecca out of the square. There's no way Simpson is going to drop Lecca. I really think that he is a forward not a mid.
Kennedy has a great tank and can play up the ground presenting a big target for our backs to kick to. I think he can do this better then what Darling has been he also has a good turn of foot to turn back around and lose his man. Doing this will also hamper opposition just sitting a bloke 10m in front of him and create a large gap for Lecca and Darling to lead into. At the minute we look very ordinary entering our forward line really is the same thing over and over again kick it high into Kennedy and watch Kennedy and Darling spoil each other crash the pack and the opposition just run it out of defence really is frustrating to watch

THANK YOU FINALLY. I said it my uncle said it Lecras is a forward he is dangerous and takes a good defender. That does two things one he is damaging two it opens up more space for Hill, Jetta, Cripps to be damaging.

 

[SpaceClef]

Sheppard in the 2015 finals series ring any bells? Sheppard is out of form this year, but he was our best player under pressure last year in an undersized backline.

I know he played well in the finals but my point still stands.

 

[Pat_Footy]

Uh, no I don't. No, I don't.

Could be a good game as I see both teams finishing the season at around positions 5-7 on the ladder, but I'd honestly be (pleasantly) surprised if we win.

WCE won't win against Geelong. The midfield battle will be comprehensively won by Geelong. It's looking like it could be a 100 point margin.

Unless any supporters are still believing that Shuey is a goddess, I can't see how anyone would have WCE even competing in the midfield.

 

[Wet Toast Rule]

I know it was a horrible and disappointing loss but there are a few here that are overreacting a bit. I feel Cripps, Masten, Sheppard, Butler have been a bit hard done by.

Masten - yesterday was a slog, not suited to him. Still racked up the touches though so effort was there. Judge him over the next few weeks when he gets continuity.

Cripps - i think his work rate off the ball is underrated. Also, he is unselfish, excellent kick, good tackling pressure. Going nowhere.

Shep - need the backline to click but he and the others need time to adjust

Butts - was excellent last couple of games. One on one i'm always nervous but executes the press very well.

 

[wce4premiership]

You've clearly been watching a different game to me. Masten's had his head over the ball all day.

Number 2 in the team for pressure acts as well on the day.

 

[getgaff]

Our stoppage coach, I love Dean but we need to get a specialized stoppage coach in. The coaching structure is missing Pykey.

From a players perspective I was always a little wary of bringing Mackenzie straight back and how it would change our back 6. We're only 5 rounds in but I'll stick my neck out and say that currently Mackenzie in the team hasn't had the impact we wanted. He isn't a flexible defender and it makes me cringe when he has to kick the ball

 

[Kwality]

Simpson. I suspected he'd just slot Mackenzie in and the backline would revert to shit with players switching roles. It has.

Had the same fear. Mackenzie was always going to be a long way off after a season out but I'm not sure dropping him is best for our chances at the business end of the season.
Test for Simmo, our structures are letting us down on the road, including up front, Kennedy/Darling ...

 

[avishka5]

This is probably a knee jerk reaction but is the end is nigh for mark lecras career. 5 games in and he has probably had the worst start to the season he has ever had. He's turning 30 at the end of the year but if if his form doesn't improve i can't see him continuing next season.

 

[Biggie]

This is probably a knee jerk reaction but is the end is nigh for mark lecras career. 5 games in and he has probably had the worst start to the season he has ever had. He's turning 30 at the end of the year but if if his form doesn't improve i can't see him continuing next season.

I don't disagree that the end is nigh.

Western based players generally fall of the perch very quickly.

Hoping he can turn it around.

 

[ChampRevesby]

I thought Burke made a pretty valid observation on grandstand tonight. He said if you are an outside player that can not put on pressure acts to cause a turnover you are not fit for AFL football.

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

Cripp's and Sheppard have been playing very sore for a number of weeks, so i will give them a break.
They have hardly trained during the week for a while.

Mark LeCras needs to be played deep forward again or dropped no more mid time.
All his games this year he has probably been our worst for turning the ball over.
No more midfield time for him play him in the full forward line or not at all.

 

[avishka5]

I don't disagree that the end is nigh.

Western based players generally fall of the perch very quickly.

Hoping he can turn it around.

its such a sad thing for one of best smalls to play the game. Last season you would have predicted him to be a 200+ gamer with 400+ goals next to his name. I really hope he does turn it around. Simmo needs to make a call on him. I think its time he stays closer to goal and let some one like a cripps or hill push more down the ground.

 

[wce4premiership]

Stupid calls on Lecras. You people don't deserve to watch him when he's at his best. He will be fine.

 

[Biggie]

Stupid calls on Lecras. You people don't deserve to watch him when he's at his best. He will be fine.

Hope he turns it around. Has been pretty ordinary 2016. Nowhere near his best.

 

[avishka5]

Stupid calls on Lecras. You people don't deserve to watch him when he's at his best. He will be fine.

Mate, i love lecca and in the late 2000's he was head and shoulder above nearly every one on our list. However, lecca of 2016 cannot be compared with lecca of 2015. i really wish he turns it around but i wouldn't be surprised if this is the beginning of the end.

 

[domo]

Stupid calls on Lecras. You people don't deserve to watch him when he's at his best. He will be fine.

this needs to be repeated again and again and again