A Sad Day...... for us anyway.

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Eagle_Fan

Club Legend
Apr 17, 2000
2,180
34
Wooshaville
AFL Club
West Coast
That's what it was last Thursday, with Chris Lewis announcing his retirement. I don't think anything was said here, so it's my turn. While it may seem just to be another Eagle succumbing to injury and the pressure of 14 years travel, to Eagles supporters it's a lot more.

See Lewie was our last inaugural squad member. He is the last of the guys that made our club what it is today, one of the most professional and consistent (overall, not this season
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) teams of the league. Those guys trained before the club had a name, headquarters, colours, logo or anything. They put up with the initial abuse of VFL fans not liking the interstate intruders, and were the first team to combat the fortnightly rigour of travelling to Melbourne. They built up what is now a massive supporter base, and brought home footy's holy grail -twice. The blokes of the initial Eagles squad deserve so much credit when it comes to the history of the WCE, afterall they are the equivalent to those Essendon & Collingwood players of the 19th century!
It's just such a pity that we've lost so many before their time.

Now I realise that Lewis will mostly be remembered for his undisciplined behavior (I'm not condoning that), but I hope that's not ALL he's remembered for. He was a terrific player, who could always fire up the Eagles, even when in their Robot phase. It's also well documented the racial abuse he suffered, and as a rolemodel for aboriginal (and nonindigenous) players he's been fantastic, visiting remote communities all over WA, as well as in Perth.

Anyway, this wasn't meant to be a tribute to Lewie, more a comment on the end of an Eagles era, and an avenue for me to air my grief!

Onya Lewie
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Thanks for the good times.
 
Well said Eagle fan.

I must admit Chris Lewis used to piss me off as a player from '92 onwards because of his antics onfield. It wasn't just incidents with non-aboriginal players either, because he often blued with Wanganeen when he played on him.

I put the blame, for me and alot of other people in Vic thinking Lewis was just an angry dickhead, on Malthouses shoulders.
With all his media blackouts, lockouts, no player interviews, not wanting to be in the GF parades. We never saw that Lewis is an intelligent, articulate, and funny character. Mick never let the players show what they are like off the field, thanks Mick.

I remember when Lewis first started he was sensational, with great skill, at about 17 yoa, far better than Wirrpunda at the same age. David is luckier than poor old Lewis however, because he won't have to put up with the same amount of racsist bullshit these days.

Thanks Eagle fan good post.
 

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Are you from WA Rice? If not then I agree with you to some extent. We (over here) always saw a lot of Lewie, but I imagine you don't get a lot of one-on-one friendly type interviews with West Coast players elsewhere?
Even if MM had allowed more open training sessions (most of them were you know), and more media access, I don't know that Melbourne would've seen much more of Chris Lewis the person.
Anyway, Lewie was a gorgeous person who we're already missing, Judge must be happy with the result though. (Man I hate our coach.)

What do you think about poor Wirrapunda? It really is a tragedy, that could reach Hird-like proportions. The Eagles always knew his misformed feet and shins would be a problem, but though the last operation and good management were supposed to keep him OK to play. Tragic.
 
Hi Eagle,

I'm acctually from Victoria and that's why I haven't seen much Lewis, shame realy for him and us Vic people, he seems like a great bloke. He would make a great ambassador for his people.

Yeah hopefully for Wirrapunda it is only 6 weeks as thry've said and not the rest of the season. You guys will miss him alot, he's a super player. With McKenna out as well it makes it tough for the Eagles. Also I didn't realise Banfield was out as well, what's happened to him?

So why don't you like Judgey? I thought he might be good for the club, 'cause I always thought big Mick was too Defence obsessed.

Bye for now.
GO BOMBERS.
 
Drew's got a knee injury. Happened during the derby in round six, and didn't look too bad at the time. (Don't think it even rated a mention on TV) Anyway, it was just an accident, with a Docker falling across his leg or something. Should be back in two or three.
But without him, Wirra
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, Bluey, Roo Matera and Mitchell White, the rest of season 2000 is going to be tough.

With regards to Judge, I just don't think he was the right choice as Eagles coach. The first thing he did was try to change a lot of what the senior players had been doing for a decade. They were supposed to do things 'his way' now. Yes he's a different coach, yes some change is necessary, but I think the learning could have been mutual. Our senior players have done a lot in their careers that he hasn't.
He's been moving our players all over the place, which may work in the short term, but is not a wise tactic to employ. If he keeps shifting McIntosh up forward, his career will only last another 1 or 2 years. His knees can't handle it.
I don't agree with his tactic of dragging Scotty Cummings before half time if he's not 'in touch'. The (arguably) best FF in the league, will always attract one of the best defenders, so even in a decoy role its important to have him on the ground. (Also Scotty's a bit affected by confidence unfortunately, dragging him does nothing to help when its uneccesary)
The pre-season he put the boys through was the toughest in ages, and according to a former VFL footballer, now father of an Eagle, it was too tough. He said he could see '99 happening all over again with a mid season fade out.
Overall I'm a little disenchanted with the Eagles admin, over their management and communication, and I suppose I see his appointment as part of that.

I just can't wait for Whoosha to finish his Victorian apprenticeship so he can come home and coach us
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To EF

Agree with everything you said with one obvious and glaring exception... I think you (arguably) know what I'm talking about..
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To everyone else in this thread:

Great to see universial respect and gratitude afforded Chris Lewis from opposition supporters for a great career and great achievements.

Great to see universial concern for a potential serious injury to a great young player in Wirra.
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I sort of knew Chris when the Eagles used to fly out of tulla. I was working there in the late 80's early 90's (post office) and he used to dag me for change to play the pinnies. Good bloke always smiling even after a loss and didnt mind a chat, which some players now think they are above the common herd.
Yep grand career well played.

Re Judge, EF as I have said he might be what you need, considering what he was as a player (the model you cast from when making a squib Half Forward) he is iron as a coach.
Channel 10 in a news report tonight showed figures that Cummings averages LESS than a goal a game when its an away game. That is disgraceful really. Point Im making is maybe he needs a Judge (bad pun) to set him on the right track.

ps hope we pump his new side this week though
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Well he plays for my Westar team (the formerly-mighty Swan Districts!), so from a personal (& selfish POV) putting him back there would be OK....
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But seriously, he does attract the 'best' defender each week, releasing players like Joey Matera & Fraser to kick a bag -if they choose. We have a number of small crumbing goal kickers (with Joey being the best), who can feed off his spilled marks. Perhaps they need to devise a few set plays for when Scotty's having a bad night. Play him as a decoy, or even down back (although I'm not really convinced he's suited to moving around a lot).
I don't know if you've seen any of our recent (bad) games, but marking wasn't always the problem. It was his accuracy for some reason.
I still think he's better off being on the ground, than depressed and on the bench.

You know, they had this poll at the WCE site, asking whether Scotty CAN kick 100 this season. Of course he can, he kicked a quarter of that in two games. But if the question was whether he will, I doubt it.
 
Dutchy- knew you'd pick that one up!

But Scotty is a real concern at the moment. He relys so heavily on good delivery, and a couple of our best 'feeders' are out.
He's also a confidence player, who's only being given half a game to prove he can kick straight each week. That's something I don't agree with. We all know the guy can kick goals, or set them up for others, and KJ showing no confidence in him just gets him lower & lower. So what I'm saying is maybe that Judge is what's causing his lack of away form? While Mick was strict on disipline, he pretty much let Scotty have free reign, and the Coleman Medal resulted (even if some other FF deserved it).

Maybe he'll come good this week? We are at home after all.....
 
Judge is blaming the wrong person if he's dragging Scotty. Two scenarios:

1. If you guys have any decent feeders in then Scotty should play and play well because he is a strong mark on the lead and deadly kick from outside 50. These are his (very important) strengths.

2. Alternatively if you can't get the ball quickly up to him you may as well not play him at all. He's absolutely useless when the ball hits the ground, can't ruck and doesn't take too many marks in packs. He also can't play CHB (trust me - we tried).
Playing him at all in these circumstances just messes with his mind and stuffs up your forward line.

So the answer is totally better delivery or give him a run in Westar to get the confidence up.

On the other hand, I think most people would be pretty happy when their FF's kicked 39 goals in 9 matches and won the Coleman (admittedly only cos Lloyd missed a few games and gives loads off but still) last year.
 
Must say a word on what the topic is about the last inaugral eagle retiring.
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Very sad day and on a personal level because lewie was my favourite player and what a player he was, in his prime he had better ball skills than bucks, harvey or crawford. Its also dissapointing the way he went out in the three games he played for us this year he wasnt given a run to prove himself and was dropped back to westar forcing the retirement. Hes still got it and we'll miss him greatly.

Love ya Lewie.

2000 the year of the eagle
 

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At half time during the Eagles vs Hawks clash, Chris Lewis was given a lap of honour and I dont think I saw anyone in the crowd who was sitting while he went around. He is considered one of the most popular, respected and favorite sons of the club and his development into the club was a major part of it's success in the 90s. Chris Lewis was crying at half time, because he was so overcome with emotion - and for those who dont know you can still find Chris playing Footy with the local Westar Club Claremont (the contract is for 3 years!)
 

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A Sad Day...... for us anyway.

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