can we win the flag this year?

The Passenger

Mr. Mojo Risin'
Joined
Mar 25, 2003
Posts
30,218
Likes
16,807
Location
Hasa Diga Eebowai
AFL Club
West Coast
Thread starter #1
We're all very optismistic for the future and I think there is no doubt that we will be one of the top teams from about 2005 (maybe 2004) onwards. Whether we win a flag is up to the players.

But do we have a team that can be a real premiership threat this year?? We can spout out the cliches and say "every team has a chance of winning at this stage" but thats cr@p. Everyone knows the Blues aren't gonna win, nor the Swans, nor about 4 other teams who have NO chance of winning the flag this season.

Obviousbly we are a genuine finals contendor, so thats makes us capable of winning a premiership, but I believe we can be a genuine premiership contendor this year.

Obviousbly we have to win outside of Perth first for that to happen, but the reasons I believe we can can be a genuine premiership contendor this season (generally I think there is no more than 5 at the start of any given season) is because we are currently playing very good football.

We've not looked like losing at Subi, got within 2 points of the Hawks when we played like spastics, and we got within 5 goals of the Crows at Footy Park - not many teams can lay claim to that.

But its not just that, its the fact that I reckon we can play a lot better football. We have a team which so far is sitting in third with the best percantage, and we can play a lot better than what we are playing. I was very critical after we thumped St Kilda by 70, but was actually quite pleased (although disapointed) after getting done by the Crows.

I think if we iron out a few skill errors, and marking up problems (which seem to only pop up outside of Perth) then we can make the step up already from making up the numbers come finals time to being a real genuine contendor. With such a young team god knows what we can do in the future :)
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Mead

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Posts
6,795
Likes
1,080
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
#3
Put it this way- we've got to the stage as a team where you can ask 'can we win the flag this year?'
The answer from the brains trust will still be almost universally no, but you can at least ask it without getting laughed at for the most part :)

At this stage of the season, we're still jostling around and establishing just where WC sits vis a vis the middle of the road clubs in the comp. List wise, it looks like we might be at the top end of the 'okay' teams, but a lot is contingent on games like the one this weekend- beat Melb in Melb, and we're looking good for a 4-6 finish. Lose, and it looks as if its just going to be another 11-11, 12-10 season, and a scrape into the eight.

In terms of premiership hopes you've got Brisbane, Adelaide and a fair amount of daylight. If we finish top 4- and at this stage, we're probably in the mix with about 4-5 other teams for the the 3rd and 4th place- then we're in a situation where we're 3 straight wins from a flag, with a home final gimmee along the way. If you're top 4, then you're a decent chance of making the big one. On paper, we're not as good as Bris, but noone is, frankly. The best we can hope for, and what would make me happiest at the end of this year would be a top 4 finish. That alone would be reflective of the development of this side so far, and as I said, give us at least a sniff at a GF berth.
 

ozzult

Premiership Player
Joined
Feb 2, 2002
Posts
4,649
Likes
11
Location
P-Town
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
West Coast Eagles
#4
In a word, no.

But, I'll be there if we do make it to the grand finale`.

In all honesty, I really do believe we can make it to September on the last day in the next 3 to 4 years. We are just starting to hit our peak in the next couple of years, while sides like Brisbane and Adelaide will be on the slide. (I don't think Adelaide can get any better than what they are right now)

This year, I would be ruddy ecstatic with top6, anything higher and I'll be crying.
 

Jabber

Premiership Player
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Posts
3,320
Likes
3
Location
NSW
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
West Coast Eagles
#5
Far from being a premiership threat at the moment with our away form. When we have identified solid replacements for Milli & Jakovich, we will be threats.
 

iceman

Premiership Player
Joined
Apr 1, 2001
Posts
3,563
Likes
2
Location
Sydney, NSW
AFL Club
West Coast
#6
We're starting to get a good team together, but Jako and Milli wont be here in 3-4 years so unless we have replacements for them we'll be in trouble

Also, unlike Adelaide who consistently win away from home, we havent really done that for 2 seasons. This weekend will tell us where the club is at
 

TheRealBuzz

Club Legend
Joined
Sep 29, 2001
Posts
1,267
Likes
0
Location
Perth
Other Teams
Eagles
#9
No side with Trent Carroll at full back can win a flag.

But, in another 2-3 years our midfield will at it's peak, while the likes of Gas, McDougall, Hansen, Staker, Johnson and Glass will (hopefully) have established themselves as regulars in the side.

That's when the good stuff starts to happen.
 

chrisjudd3

Team Captain
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Posts
301
Likes
0
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
West Coast
#11
I hear the Dockers are claiming to be a force in the AFL...:D

I hear they have a 5 year plan to win a premiership

Why can't they just get on with the job and aim for the finals each year like we do....oh silly me Freo are an AFL force, AFL heavyweights do what they want.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

mouldy_bread

All Australian
Joined
Mar 31, 2003
Posts
708
Likes
0
Location
Desolation Row
Other Teams
West Coast Eagles
#12
Speaking of Freo..

www.footygoss.com.au


Connolly said the players should look to the longer term, rather than just trying to get a win to prove a point to the knockers.

In order to achieve their long term goals you'd think that they'd want as many wins as they can get, especially if one of those was on the road, they might actually build up some confidence for when they play away..So maybe they should go out and try and prove a point.. then they'll be on their merry way.

Anyway to the original topic, I don't think we can win a flag this year, but definately a great chance in the next few years, if our core playing group stays together..
 

daddy_4_eyes

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Posts
9,228
Likes
1,066
Location
Victoria home of football
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
#13
With Brisbane the only real standout so far this season (Adelaide and Port are a class below, whilst Collingwood are proving they overachieved), the top 4 is wide open. Like Mead said, if we finish top 4 we're only 3 wins away from the holy grail.

Personally, no, I don't think we'll win it. A preliminary appearance is a possibility, but unless we finish top of the ladder we'll be playing the Prelim at the MCG or the GABBA, in which case we're not likely to progress.

Unlike Connolly's plan though, we're looking at the long term plan AND playing finals footy, which is more than most expected at the end of 2001.
 

llosis

Club Legend
Joined
Apr 29, 2003
Posts
1,847
Likes
1
Location
front and square
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
West Coast Eagles
#14
I can not believe that any AFL coach who knows anything would say what Connolly said. Sure plan for the future. Draft good young players. Don't gamble on mid-career hacks whilst your foot of the table etc etc etc BUT you've gotta cherish every win possible!!!
FINALS TODAY
PREMIERSHIP TOMORROW
 

jod23

TheBrownDog
Joined
Apr 2, 2000
Posts
61,486
Likes
17,879
Location
Perth, Australia
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Liverpool, Chicago Bulls.
#16
No we cant. Were just not good enough yet. Well Ill rephrase that, were just not good enough away from Subiaco yet. Last year's premiers?, took care of that lot in round 5 last year. So we can beat the best but only on our home turf.

Until we can consistently win on the road will we have a real shot at a flag. That could happen this year, for all I know we could beat Melbourne tomorrow and win a few more away games this season and be a real threat come the end of the year. But IMO we are still at the very least one year away.

Top 8 Ill be satisfyed, top 6, Ill be happy. Top 4 and you'll probably have to pick me up off the floor :D
 

scmods

Premiership Player
Joined
Mar 30, 2002
Posts
3,353
Likes
1
#17
I was looking at our draw the other day, and I reckon our last 6 home and away matches are definitely winnable (taking into account who is at home and who away).

A barnstorming finish to the season could send us into the finals with some real momentum.

But realistically if we make it to the second-last week in September I'll be pretty happy.
 

RzrBlade

Club Legend
Joined
Apr 16, 2003
Posts
1,424
Likes
0
Location
Sydney, NSW
AFL Club
West Coast
#18
most definately scmods. if we make the premlins i will be estastic!

but also on the same token if we make the prelims, i'd always hope that we could somehow win that match and snatch a grand final birth...always want more, cant get enough :D
 

GoEagles

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Aug 10, 2000
Posts
7,443
Likes
11
Location
Sydney
AFL Club
West Coast
#19
Premiership? This year? Not in my wildest dreams would I have predicted us winning the premiership, let alone making the top 4. My thoughts haven't changed, although in the first 6 weeks, the club has exceeded my expectations.

I want us to make an impression when we make the finals - not just to drop out after the first week or so.
 

Mead

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Posts
6,795
Likes
1,080
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
#20
At the risk of invoking the dread 'one day at a time' cliche, if you take a look at our run home, we're sitting on 4-2 after six rounds,
and from here on, we play Geelong, Richmond, Bulldogs, Kangaroos, Carlton, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Melbourne and Fremantle at home,
and have to take on Collingwood, Essendon, Brisbane, Sydney, Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Geelong on the road.

We have 4 wins so far, which means we need about 11 more to guarantee a top 4 spot, and 8 more wins to be sure of a place in the 8.

Looking at those games, on present form, Geelong, Bulldogs, Kangaroos, Carlton, Hawthorn and Melbourne look like definite wins at home. We might have an off day, of course, but if you asked any objective footy fan to tip those games today, and I don't think you could find very many people willing to tip against us. So lets add those six wins, and call it 10-2, or worst case scenario, 9-3. If we drop more than one of these type of games at home, well, we don't deserve to make the finals.

As for the Dockers and Tigers- The second derby is winnable, but will be a big struggle, Richmond really don't scare me, but you have to take some notice of their impressive form At present, you'd probably say we have abouta 60/40 chance of winning. So lets be conservative and and say we win one of these, and lose the other. 11-3.
In addition to this, we play the Crows at Subi. We beat them there last year, but its difficult to discount just how good a side they are, and how convincingly they beat us in Adelaide, so lets call it 11-4.

Now, our away games. Today was an awesome win- not because we took it to a quality side in Melb (lets be honest, Melbourne were pretty appalling) but because it showed that when we go up against a team we appear overwhelmingly better than on paper, we can beat them even if its in Melbourne- in other words, the away difficulties aren't insurmountable. We have some tough games, though.
Brisbane at the Gabba, and Port Adelaide at AAMI look very much like unwinnables. I'm more confident about the latter than the former, but I don't think there is a team in the league which can pencil in wins against the Power or Brisbane on their home ground. So, 11-6.
Now, the rest. Collingwood and Essendon at Colonial will be tough ones, St Kilda and Geelong in Melbourne are definitely winnables, and Sydney falls somewhere in the middle. Pencil in one of those as a win, and you can pretty much start buying the finals tickets tomorrow. This win against the Dees has me very very optimistic. No Cousins, Kerr or Wirrpunda, and we still trashed a team which is probably rated better than St K and Geelong, poor form not withstanding. So pencil in St K and Geelong, and we go to 13-6, and guarantee a finals spot and probably about 5th place. To make the 4, we'd need to scramble another two wins other than these, or be close to flawless at home.

My personal prediction is for us to win all our home games bar Adelaide and the second derby, to beat St Kilda, Geelong, and Collingwood on the road, and to finish 14-8, in 4th position. Anyone else want to throw their hat into the ring and look stupid by making a long term prediction?
 

Kenny_01

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 19, 2002
Posts
14,488
Likes
4,410
Location
Perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
#21
Originally posted by Mead
At the risk of invoking the dread 'one day at a time' cliche, if you take a look at our run home, we're sitting on 4-2 after six rounds,
and from here on, we play Geelong, Richmond, Bulldogs, Kangaroos, Carlton, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Melbourne and Fremantle at home,
and have to take on Collingwood, Essendon, Brisbane, Sydney, Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Geelong on the road.

We have 4 wins so far, which means we need about 11 more to guarantee a top 4 spot, and 8 more wins to be sure of a place in the 8.

Looking at those games, on present form, Geelong, Bulldogs, Kangaroos, Carlton, Hawthorn and Melbourne look like definite wins at home. We might have an off day, of course, but if you asked any objective footy fan to tip those games today, and I don't think you could find very many people willing to tip against us. So lets add those six wins, and call it 10-2, or worst case scenario, 9-3. If we drop more than one of these type of games at home, well, we don't deserve to make the finals.

As for the Dockers and Tigers- The second derby is winnable, but will be a big struggle, Richmond really don't scare me, but you have to take some notice of their impressive form At present, you'd probably say we have abouta 60/40 chance of winning. So lets be conservative and and say we win one of these, and lose the other. 11-3.
In addition to this, we play the Crows at Subi. We beat them there last year, but its difficult to discount just how good a side they are, and how convincingly they beat us in Adelaide, so lets call it 11-4.

Now, our away games. Today was an awesome win- not because we took it to a quality side in Melb (lets be honest, Melbourne were pretty appalling) but because it showed that when we go up against a team we appear overwhelmingly better than on paper, we can beat them even if its in Melbourne- in other words, the away difficulties aren't insurmountable. We have some tough games, though.
Brisbane at the Gabba, and Port Adelaide at AAMI look very much like unwinnables. I'm more confident about the latter than the former, but I don't think there is a team in the league which can pencil in wins against the Power or Brisbane on their home ground. So, 11-6.
Now, the rest. Collingwood and Essendon at Colonial will be tough ones, St Kilda and Geelong in Melbourne are definitely winnables, and Sydney falls somewhere in the middle. Pencil in one of those as a win, and you can pretty much start buying the finals tickets tomorrow. This win against the Dees has me very very optimistic. No Cousins, Kerr or Wirrpunda, and we still trashed a team which is probably rated better than St K and Geelong, poor form not withstanding. So pencil in St K and Geelong, and we go to 13-6, and guarantee a finals spot and probably about 5th place. To make the 4, we'd need to scramble another two wins other than these, or be close to flawless at home.

My personal prediction is for us to win all our home games bar Adelaide and the second derby, to beat St Kilda, Geelong, and Collingwood on the road, and to finish 14-8, in 4th position. Anyone else want to throw their hat into the ring and look stupid by making a long term prediction?
Eagles will finish 11-11, 12-10 or 13-9. At worst, 9th... and at best, 5th. 6th or 7th is my pick. I am hoping the Eagles finish 5th though and we scramble to 8th, so we have an Eagles/Freo elimination final :)
 

Mead

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Posts
6,795
Likes
1,080
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
#22
Originally posted by Kenny_01
an Eagles/Freo elimination final :)
That'd be.. well, one hell of a game. People would die, cars would be burnt, and it'd be a verrrrrrrry long summer for one set of supporters.
Having a home final against Fremantle would be a bit of a gyp, though- so much for Home ground advantage..

Incidentally, can you imagine how awe inspiring an event a Showdown or Derby Grand Final would be?
 

Kenny_01

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 19, 2002
Posts
14,488
Likes
4,410
Location
Perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
#23
Originally posted by Mead

Incidentally, can you imagine how awe inspiring an event a Showdown or Derby Grand Final would be?
I wouldn't be able to sleep all week if there was a derby GF. I'd be counting down the hours, literally.
 

Eagle_Fan

Club Legend
Joined
Apr 17, 2000
Posts
2,213
Likes
34
Location
Wooshaville
AFL Club
West Coast
#24
Originally posted by Mead
Incidentally, can you imagine how awe inspiring an event a Showdown or Derby Grand Final would be?
I don't think it will be too long before we find out, just quietly. :)


(Oh, and good post up the page a bit. But I shall maintain the right to blame you til the cows come home should our season turn to shlt. :) It will be entirely your fault. Comprende? ;))
 
Top Bottom