A worrying trend

[BlueandGoldforever]

In our last four games:

* St Kilda kicked six goals in a row in the last quarter
* The Swans kicked seven goals in a row in the second and third quarter
* Essendon kicked eight goals in a row in the first and second quarter
* Adelaide kicked six goals in a row from very late in the third quarter until mid-way in the fourth quarter.

The problem herein lies the midfield because in all these situations the opposition team gets a run-on and usually they start to dominate the clearances and running the ball through the middle of the ground.

This is where West Coast have been next to useless for some time now filling the midfield with B-grade plodders who lack speed. Don't get me wrong, there is some class around, but there is no midfielder (probably besides Yeo aside) who can turn a match for the Eagles.

This also shows a lack of on-field leadership. No one is re-organising the team or identifying the problem by re-structuring the set-up at centre bouncedowns or at stoppages around the ground.

The reality is that Naitanui has covered up a lot of weaknesses but he is on poor form at the moment and hardly jumping. His positioning around the ground against Adelaide was woeful and Jacobs clearly beat him, as did that plodder Bellchambers the week before.

If he is injured, rest him, if not, he deserves a rocket.

Redden is deadset average, Masten never gets any possessions when the pressure is on, McInnes is a WAFL player at best, Ryan needs some time in the WAFL to get some form and while guys like Hutchings try hard, they struggle with-out a run-with role.

While Jetta has talent, he goes missing for very long periods in the game. I don't believe he has the interest in playing full-time.

If you ask me the recruiting team keep missing the boat when it comes to drafting speedy, talented potential A-grade midfield talent. They are obsessed with key position players.

This year anyone can win the premiership but unless some of the midfield stand up and apply some pressure when a team gets a run-on, we will continue to get beaten. And what could have been a premiership season, will turn into another year of frustration.

 

[Pat_Footy]

In our last four games:

* St Kilda kicked six goals in a row in the last quarter
* The Swans kicked seven goals in a row in the second and third quarter
* Essendon kicked eight goals in a row in the first and second quarter
* Adelaide kicked six goals in a row from very late in the third quarter until mid-way in the fourth quarter.

The problem herein lies the midfield because in all these situations the opposition team gets a run-on and usually they start to dominate the clearances and running the ball through the middle of the ground.

This is where West Coast have been next to useless for some time now filling the midfield with B-grade plodders who lack speed. Don't get me wrong, there is some class around, but there is no midfielder (probably besides Yeo aside) who can turn a match for the Eagles.

This also shows a lack of on-field leadership. No one is re-organising the team or identifying the problem by re-structuring the set-up at centre bouncedowns or at stoppages around the ground.

The reality is that Naitanui has covered up a lot of weaknesses but he is on poor form at the moment and hardly jumping. His positioning around the ground against Adelaide was woeful and Jacobs clearly beat him, as did that plodder Bellchambers the week before.

If he is injured, rest him, if not, he deserves a rocket.

Redden is deadset average, Masten never gets any possessions when the pressure is on, McInnes is a WAFL player at best, Ryan needs some time in the WAFL to get some form and while guys like Hutchings try hard, they struggle with-out a run-with role.

While Jetta has talent, he goes missing for very long periods in the game. I don't believe he has the interest in playing full-time.

If you ask me the recruiting team keep missing the boat when it comes to drafting speedy, talented potential A-grade midfield talent. They are obsessed with key position players.

This year anyone can win the premiership but unless some of the midfield stand up and apply some pressure when a team gets a run-on, we will continue to get beaten. And what could have been a premiership season, will turn into another year of frustration.

Naitanui is obviously injured or cooked. Simpson always plays injured players. I assume the rationale is that an injured Naitanui is better than the next option.

Lycett is not the messiah so many on this forum think he is. It was downright embarrassing watching WCE dominate when Naitanui was on, only for the tide to immediately turn once he went for a rest - First portion of the season.

 

[WCErevival]

Our midfield as a unit is only average at full strength as it is. When you have Shuey out from injury for a period then working back to 100%, Yeo being pulled out to cover other players, Sheed dropped due to rubbish form and Naitanui out of form also its not going to end well. Hutchings is limited and Ainsworth isnt at a point where he can impact a game.

 

[archiemoses]

North won 8 in a row last year or year before and missed the 8. Ominous signs.

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[Cuzz09]

North won 8 in a row last year or year before and missed the 8. Ominous signs.

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North were 10-0 and ended up 12-10 8th i think. Demolished by Adelaide in a knock out Elimination Final at Adelaide Oval.

We are heading for similar if we cant turn this around.

Was looking comfortably like a top 4 spot minimum but right now battling to stay in the 8.

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[Balls In]

We have returned to 2017 form.

 

[Pat_Footy]

What do you expect when you replace Darling with McInnes... A solid WAFL reserves player with A grade talent.

 

[Eaglespur]

What do you expect when you replace Darling with McInnes... A solid WAFL reserves player with A grade talent.

Yeah, even just adding Darling back into the set up will increase our chances of winning a game of footy significantly

 

[BlueandGoldforever]

But the point is that the club lack on-field leadership to arrest these run-on from opposition sides. Moreover, Simpson should be well aware of that now and have a couple of different options with regards to centre bounce-downs and stoppages.

We just seem 'to hope' that it will magically change. I mean even putting McGovern in defence yesterday was the equivalent of putting a bandaid on a cut.

 

[Cuzz09]

We need to rely on other teams stuffing up like Geelong did.

Dont know if we'll be as lucky as last year with Melbourne losing the last round

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[Eagleboy68]

In our last four games:

* St Kilda kicked six goals in a row in the last quarter
* The Swans kicked seven goals in a row in the second and third quarter
* Essendon kicked eight goals in a row in the first and second quarter
* Adelaide kicked six goals in a row from very late in the third quarter until mid-way in the fourth quarter.

The problem herein lies the midfield because in all these situations the opposition team gets a run-on and usually they start to dominate the clearances and running the ball through the middle of the ground.

This is where West Coast have been next to useless for some time now filling the midfield with B-grade plodders who lack speed. Don't get me wrong, there is some class around, but there is no midfielder (probably besides Yeo aside) who can turn a match for the Eagles.

This also shows a lack of on-field leadership. No one is re-organising the team or identifying the problem by re-structuring the set-up at centre bouncedowns or at stoppages around the ground.

The reality is that Naitanui has covered up a lot of weaknesses but he is on poor form at the moment and hardly jumping. His positioning around the ground against Adelaide was woeful and Jacobs clearly beat him, as did that plodder Bellchambers the week before.

If he is injured, rest him, if not, he deserves a rocket.

Redden is deadset average, Masten never gets any possessions when the pressure is on, McInnes is a WAFL player at best, Ryan needs some time in the WAFL to get some form and while guys like Hutchings try hard, they struggle with-out a run-with role.

While Jetta has talent, he goes missing for very long periods in the game. I don't believe he has the interest in playing full-time.

If you ask me the recruiting team keep missing the boat when it comes to drafting speedy, talented potential A-grade midfield talent. They are obsessed with key position players.

This year anyone can win the premiership but unless some of the midfield stand up and apply some pressure when a team gets a run-on, we will continue to get beaten. And what could have been a premiership season, will turn into another year of frustration.

Add the Geelong game where they kicked 7 unanswered goals.

Ablett went down with a hammy. Lucky to win that.
Yep it's an issue that hasn't been fixed by the coaching staff. Whether it's personnel (I don't think so) or attitude/softness it's stems from the coach.

You are like your leader in any organisation. The tone is set from the top down.
Simpson is soft and has no idea when put under the pump.
So the team plays like that.

 

[BlueandGoldforever]

Add the Geelong game where they kicked 7 unanswered goals.

Ablett went down with a hammy. Lucky to win that.
Yep it's an issue that hasn't been fixed by the coaching staff. Whether it's personnel (I don't think so) or attitude/softness it's stems from the coach.

You are like your leader in any organisation. The tone is set from the top down.
Simpson is soft and has no idea when put under the pump.
So the team plays like that.

Good point. When you watch the Eagles play live they are the quietest team I think I have ever seen. They rarely appeared to be fired up.

Sam Butler told me that when the Eagles lost the 2005 grand final all the players turned up to the 2006 pre-season extremely annoyed, very fit and determined to atone for the loss, which they did.

He said when the Eagles players turned up for pre-season in 2016, after losing the grand final in 2015 in embarrassing fashion, players weren't that fit and there was no 'fire in the eye'. Most players were simply content to talk about having made the grand final.

We aren't going anywhere under Simpson because he is too 'matey' with the players and the players are too comfortable with their pay packets and lifestyle.

 

[wraglesweb]

How to split the Eagles a new one run and gun.

Can blame pressure all you want but at some point you have to think maybe our game plan is a bit off in that regard.

Not all doom and gloom our best football is as good as anyones in the league.

But need a plan B.

 

[CoastersFlag No.5]

In the final 32 minutes, West Coast was smashed in contested ball (49-28), inside 50s (24-4) and clearances (16 – 6).

That's been a consistent issue with our midfield in the last 4 weeks we have been good up until the bye. I think that the young players like Waterman Rioli and Ryan are struggling with confidence up forward and so the midfield then catches the disease. Shuey's output has been down and having to move Yeo around doesn't help our mids to respond to a run on. We lost a huge amount of experience last year and it hasn't caused us many issues until the key forwards and a key back got injured. Like last year we aren't playing 4 quarters at the moment.

 

[Priddis Is Done]

North won 8 in a row last year or year before and missed the 8. Ominous signs.

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Next 2 are very likely losses.

Has us teetering on the bottom 8, out of the 8.

Fook me

 

[Priddis Is Done]

In the final 32 minutes, West Coast was smashed in contested ball (49-28), inside 50s (24-4) and clearances (16 – 6).

That's been a consistent issue with our midfield in the last 4 weeks we have been good up until the bye. I think that the young players like Waterman Rioli and Ryan are struggling with confidence up forward and so the midfield then catches the disease. Shuey's output has been down and having to move Yeo around doesn't help our mids to respond to a run on. We lost a huge amount of experience last year and it hasn't caused us many issues until the key forwards and a key back got injured. Like last year we aren't playing 4 quarters at the moment.

Frank the Tank would have been very handy the last 3 weeks.

 

[Rowan18]

Good point. When you watch the Eagles play live they are the quietest team I think I have ever seen. They rarely appeared to be fired up.

Sam Butler told me that when the Eagles lost the 2005 grand final all the players turned up to the 2006 pre-season extremely annoyed, very fit and determined to atone for the loss, which they did.

He said when the Eagles players turned up for pre-season in 2016, after losing the grand final in 2015 in embarrassing fashion, players weren't that fit and there was no 'fire in the eye'. Most players were simply content to talk about having made the grand final.

We aren't going anywhere under Simpson because he is too 'matey' with the players and the players are too comfortable with their pay packets and lifestyle.

Isn't that a huge indictment on Butler? He was the senior player with experience from 2006, he should have driven the training standards. I wonder if he even told that story to the players?

 

[swingdog]

Apart from the lack of a forward line, is there any hope in thinking we might be upping training loads now with a view to tapering closer to finals?

 

[Figure09]

players don't want to play get them the hell out

 

[Cuzz09]

Well smelly June is gone... hopefully its Jolly July

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[Figure09]

Add the Geelong game where they kicked 7 unanswered goals.

Ablett went down with a hammy. Lucky to win that.
Yep it's an issue that hasn't been fixed by the coaching staff. Whether it's personnel (I don't think so) or attitude/softness it's stems from the coach.

You are like your leader in any organisation. The tone is set from the top down.
Simpson is soft and has no idea when put under the pump.
So the team plays like that.[/QUOTE

yes get rid of simpson. its a must we white noise needs to be made

 

[EdCurnowRules]

This momentum issue is compounded by our first picked class goal scorers all being out, so whenever we do get the ****en ball inside 50 there’s no reliability to even score never mind goal from. I agree with the majority of the board that Naitanui is out of form for whatever reason and it all begins there obviously. Our kids look shithouse when the ruck service drops away, but every other club is the same

 

[Eagleboy68]

Good point. When you watch the Eagles play live they are the quietest team I think I have ever seen. They rarely appeared to be fired up.

Sam Butler told me that when the Eagles lost the 2005 grand final all the players turned up to the 2006 pre-season extremely annoyed, very fit and determined to atone for the loss, which they did.

He said when the Eagles players turned up for pre-season in 2016, after losing the grand final in 2015 in embarrassing fashion, players weren't that fit and there was no 'fire in the eye'. Most players were simply content to talk about having made the grand final.

We aren't going anywhere under Simpson because he is too 'matey' with the players and the players are too comfortable with their pay packets and lifestyle.

Good insight.
You could certainly tell by the way we played in 2006 there was fire in the eyes. Not in 2016 though.

 

[BlueandGoldforever]

Isn't that a huge indictment on Butler? He was the senior player with experience from 2006, he should have driven the training standards. I wonder if he even told that story to the players?

How is that an indictment on Butler? He isn’t responsible for other people not completing their assigned private training in the off season. He was merely commentating on the overall player’s attitude turning up to pre-season and throughout it. If an individual can’t motivate themselves as a professionally paid athlete, it is hardly the responsibility of his team-mates to do it for him.

 

[Eagleboy68]

How is that an indictment on Butler? He isn’t responsible for other people not completing their assigned private training in the off season. He was merely commentating on the overall player’s attitude turning up to pre-season and throughout it. If an individual can’t motivate themselves as a professionally paid athlete, it is hardly the responsibility of his team-mates to do it for him.

Exactly.
If the rest of the playing group need Butler to fire them up after losing a grand final so badly wtf are they playing for us for?

The responsibilty is the coaching staff to put a rocket under them if they come back with a poor or less than desirable attitude.

Simpson is too much a nice guy. Last night after co ceding a lead to 16 points or so we kicked a goal and the camera showed him laughing. I mean wtf how can you be laughing at that point.

Get some balls and some passion ffs.