Best 22 for 2013

[WAguru]

It's the volume of scores from stoppages that is a massive issue.

Pretty sure West Coast were the worst of any side in the top 8, and by a fair margin.

Probably stems from the mids thinking they are going to get first hands to the pill from the palms of Naitanui and Cox.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Does anything seriously think LeCras will be pushed into the midfield given he's coming back from an ACL?

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Does anything seriously think LeCras will be pushed into the midfield given he's coming back from an ACL?

Didn't seem to stop Lenny Hayes....

His knee is largely irrelevant to whether he plays midfield or forward.

The only issue would be whether he'd have enough fitness to play midfield and avoid soft tissue injuries. GIven he is cherry ripe now, some 6 months prior to next season - that shouldn't be an issue.

It's not as though we are bringing him in Round 7 on a limited preparation.

 

[Ian Dargie]

Didn't seem to stop Lenny Hayes....

Where else was Lenny Hayes going to play? Forward pocket?

LeCras, unlike Hayes, is an AA mid-sized forward who has played a handful of games as midfielder. So maybe he's not as much of a lock to go straight into the midfield after that kind of injury.

 

[Ian Dargie]

Does anything seriously think LeCras will be pushed into the midfield given he's coming back from an ACL?

I don't.

Even without the knee reconstruction, I have always felt that moving LeCras to the midfield was a shitty, short-sighted idea.

 

[Suma Magic]

I've always been on the fence in the LeCras midfield debate. For next year we lack quality small forwards more than mids (despite our midfield not being A Grade). I think LeCras should play 90% of gametime up forward next year. Hill the other small forward. Masten, Shuey, Embley, Wellingham etc. to spend time on the HFF.

 

[Ian Dargie]

I've always been on the fence in the LeCras midfield debate. For next year we lack quality small forwards more than mids (despite our midfield not being A Grade). I think LeCras should play 90% of gametime up forward next year. Hill the other small forward. Masten, Shuey, Embley, Wellingham etc. to spend time on the HFF.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Where should Glass play?

 

[Marlin01]

I'm not sure the assumption that playing FP/HFF is easier on the knees than midfield is correct. There's lots of twisting and turning in small spaces as a forward, particularly the way Leccs plays.

 

[Suma Magic]

Thanks for clearing that up.

Where should Glass play?

Sorry mate I only comment on our mid/fwd balance.

 

[8732watitdo]

B: Butler Glass Schofield
HB: Waters Mackenzie Hurn
C: Gaff Priddis Embley
HF: Hill Darling Masten
F: LeCras Kennedy Cox
R: Naitanui S.Selwood Kerr
Int: Brennan Rosa Shuey A.Slewood​

Back 6 picks itself, I still think Masten will become elite, hopefully it's next year.​

 

[WCE_Phill]

Woosha has stated there will be a change in the midfield, with pace and versaility.

Whether that happens through trade, drafting or within.

I think you'll find only one of Brennan/A.Selwood, Embley to the bench and either Smith/Shepperd to the wing. (Pending how has the better pre-season)

 

[Marlin01]

I was going to wait until the list has been finalised before I do this, but bugger it.

I thought it would be interesting to do a "Real-World" best 22.

You enter every player on the Eagles list (excluding those already departed) into a randomiser and draw 7 names (the average number of players injured on an AFL list in any given week). You then have to make a best 22 with the remaining players.

The injured players are:
- Butler
- Shuey
- Dalziell
- Dick
- Masten
- Stijk
- Rosa

Touchwood x 1000.

My best 22:

Smith Mackenzie Glass
Hurn Schofield Waters
Gaff Kerr Sheppard
LeCras Darling Hill
Cox Kennedy Nicoski

NN SSelwood Priddis
Embley Brennan Newman Smith

 

[Eastern Rangers]

I don't.

Even without the knee reconstruction, I have always felt that moving LeCras to the midfield was a shitty, short-sighted idea.

Likewise. His best football is on the half forward line.

 

[Definitely Maybe]

Likewise. His best football is on the half forward line.

I agree as well. I'm happy for LeCras to be part of the midfield rotation, but he should spend the majority of time forward. You need quality all over the field.

 

[Ian Dargie]

If we can nab Wellingham...

Or snare him?

 

[WAguru]

Or snare him?

Do you think your side, on paper, is good enough to be a flag contender for next season?

 

[jdisc]

FB: Schofield Glass Waters
HB: Hurn Mackenzie Embley
C: Wellingham Priddis Gaff
HF: Hill Kennedy Shuey
FF: Cox Darling LeCras
Fol: Naitanui Kerr S.Selwood
Int: Rosa Masten McGinnity Nicoski

 

[jdisc]

Do you think your side, on paper, is good enough to be a flag contender for next season?

yes? we were top of the table for a while lets not forget

 

[WAguru]

yes? we were top of the table for a while lets not forget

I wasn't talking to you small fry.

 

[Ian Dargie]

Do you think your side, on paper, is good enough to be a flag contender for next season?

Yes. No doubt. On paper.

I don't think we were that far off Sydney and Hawthorn this year. Add LeCras, a fit Kennedy and incremental improvement from guys who have played 50-100 games and I think we can go to the next level.

The midfield has its shortcomings but I think that, other than that, there aren't many holes in the squad.

We need 2-3 guys to come on. Whether that's Selwood, Masten, Shuey and Gaff in the middle or Darling up forward, or even someone like Smith or Sheppard having a break-out year.

 

[WAguru]

Yes. No doubt. On paper.

I don't think we were that far off Sydney and Hawthorn this year. Add LeCras, a fit Kennedy and incremental improvement from guys who have played 50-100 games and I think we can go to the next level.

The midfield has its shortcomings but I think that, other than that, there aren't many holes in the squad.

Fair enough, but I think that any side that coughs up as many goals from stoppages as West Coast, simply is not up to it.

The midfield is one pace and lacks a dynamic element, if the goals from stoppages can be plugged I think it would go along way to pushing West Coast into that genuine contender bracket.

 

[kaiserchief13]

If Wellingham comes there is no spot for Andrew Shankley

 

[Eastern Rangers]

If Wellingham comes there is no spot for Andrew Shankley

Say what? apples for apples in the case of the quality of disposal.

 

[Ian Dargie]

Fair enough, but I think that any side that coughs up as many goals from stoppages as West Coast, simply is not up to it.

The midfield is one pace and lacks a dynamic element, if the goals from stoppages can be plugged I think it would go along way to pushing West Coast into that genuine contender bracket.

I think we're essentially a top four side. And, for mine, almost by definition, top four sides are in contention.

There really wasn't a lot separating the top 5-6 this year and I don't expect the gap to massively widen next year.

 

[WAguru]

I think we're essentially a top four side. And, for mine, almost by definition, top four sides are in contention.

There really wasn't a lot separating the top 5-6 this year and I don't expect the gap to massively widen next year.

I think their was a fair gap between Hawthorn, Sydney and the rest of the competition as the year wore on.

The manner in which Sydney took apart your midfield on your own turf demonstrated how far off the pace your side is.