Prediction Round 13, 2026: Changes vs Port Adelaide

[Mighty Eagles]

Gross needs to be rewarded before some blow ins get a gig.

Yep, Gross has been working hard for months now.

I know we’ve kind of given Johnston & Cole a last role at the dice in their roles at HFF the past few weeks but Gross is a guy who is not only in form but more likely to play a role in our success going forward. He’s got a great work ethic & toughness, couple with his inside mid ability, making him a versatile prospect when he’s return to the AFL side.

 

[DorothyG]

Didn’t the guy win Geelongs VFL b+f last year?

I don’t know much about the other states ressie comps, but I’d take an educated guess and say the Cats ressie are miles ahead of anything the Beagles have been doing.

Some of the comments here are acting like he’s a fresh eyed 18 yo with no experience in a seniors comp before.

The idea of the MS draft is you take a punt on a ready made player. If he’s ripping it apart after his 1st half for the beagles, I think you give him a couple week run in the league to see if he’s worth a list spot next year.

 

[amazingjoshy]

He obviously did something that might not have been visible at first glance to offset the terrible turnovers
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They had him at 92% disposal efficiency which given the amount of handballs maybe makes sense. Just the turnovers were glaring.

Few areas of interest. Doubled almost everyone on post clearance ground ball gets. First in post clearance contested possession. Equal first in ground ball gets. Second in contested possessions. Equal third on interceptions.

Always see these ratings being used around the place, not totally sure on their history but am really starting to question how useful they are tbh

There's no world where Ginbey wasnt the best on ground in yesterday's game. Folks can mock SC scores as much as they like but I find them far more accurate that whatever this rating is

 

[Gazeah78]

Anyone who is saying Starc should keep playing WAFL is deluded. He’s a premiership player and did what he had to to tick his legs over. He’s coming straight in - as he should.
He is going to shore up the backline and we are going to see an instant impact.
Who goes out for him is another story. But it’s fantastic to have these problems. How we fit in Herbert, Gross, Francou, Hewett - these are decisions we wished we had last year.
Feels like we have taken a big step forward.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Seems a bit soon - but Francou against the club that didn't want him is pretty juicy

I hope this doesn't follow him his entire career and he can just forge his own path. For his part, it doesn't seem he doesn't seem to have a chip on his shoulder about not being selected as a father son whatsoever and is just happy to an Eagle.

 

[Forward Press]

Always see these ratings being used around the place, not totally sure on their history but am really starting to question how useful they are tbh

There's no world where Ginbey wasnt the best on ground in yesterday's game. Folks can mock SC scores as much as they like but I find them far more accurate that whatever this rating is

If you use Supercoach as a metric, Liam Baker was rated second BOG.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Anyone who is saying Starc should keep playing WAFL is deluded. He’s a premiership player and did what he had to to tick his legs over. He’s coming straight in - as he should.
He is going to shore up the backline and we are going to see an instant impact.

Spot on.

Starcevich is making his debut for us on Saturday. I’m excited by what he brings

 

[beatlesmith]

OUT: Cole
IN: Starcevich (Baker forward)

Johnston is okay but I’d have Hutchinson and/or Graham straight back in once fit.

Leave Herbert another week. If Allan or Maric disappoint he will get an opportunity.

 

[amazingjoshy]

If you use Supercoach as a metric, Liam Baker was rated second BOG.

And he was 3rd by the wheelo ratings so Id suggest that he actually played ok and folks on here just see what they want

But Ginbey being 4th (and Harley not in the top 20 wtf) mean there is a massive flaw with whatever these ratings measure

 

[amazingjoshy]

New boys very unlikely to be straight in according to Mini on 7

If Starcevich pulls up ok sounds like hes in

 

[DorothyG]

And that’s why he’s coach and we are just nuffs on Bigfooty

You don’t tinker too much after possibly the best 3 week stretch the club has had in years.

One change, possibly 2 if forced. Anything other than that isn’t happening

 

[Mighty Eagles]

New boys very unlikely to be straight in according to Mini on 7

Yep, as it should be.

Give them the necessary time to settle into Perth, the club and to adjust to our game plan. We’re in the best position we’ve been in for five years. So we don’t need to rush them into the side to bring in some class like we did with the likes of Culley, Maric & McCarthy at the time.

It’s also worth remembering they haven’t done a pre-season at AFL level. That is a serious setback.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Always see these ratings being used around the place, not totally sure on their history but am really starting to question how useful they are tbh

There's no world where Ginbey wasnt the best on ground in yesterday's game. Folks can mock SC scores as much as they like but I find them far more accurate that whatever this rating is

Wheelo is the official AFL player ratings the afl puts out.

Individual games tend to throw up weird results on occasion (they punish free kicks against which killed Harley previously) but over the course of the season they aren’t too bad.

I was surprised by how it rated his game, hence why tried to look at why he may have rated highly…,

 

[Jumpoff Joey]

Sometimes it is a very reasonable decision to do nothing.

Option 1. No change.
It will be the third time in three years, going in no changes. There is an upside to consistency, and it's been a long time since we have had it.

Option 2. If Shanahands needs a rest, bring in Starcevich.
I don't believe Cole, HJ deserves to be dropped, and no one in the WAFL is smashing the door down yet.

 

[EJ_Faithful]

Agree. Need to reward guys that have been performing at WAFL level.

Gross needs to be rewarded before some blow ins get a gig.

Gross was horrible in the WAFL match.

 

[Jootube]

Always see these ratings being used around the place, not totally sure on their history but am really starting to question how useful they are tbh

There's no world where Ginbey wasnt the best on ground in yesterday's game. Folks can mock SC scores as much as they like but I find them far more accurate that whatever this rating is

Very reasonable take, but the 2nd highest Supercoach scorer was Liam Baker.
Not sure Liam was the 2nd best player on the night either - both metrics have plenty of flaws

Probably best to combine your eye, along with coaches votes, with some stats sprinkled on top.

 

[EJ_Faithful]

And he was 3rd by the wheelo ratings so Id suggest that he actually played ok and folks on here just see what they want

But Ginbey being 4th (and Harley not in the top 20 wtf) mean there is a massive flaw with whatever these ratings measure

Behinds have a massive negative effect.

 

[PremiershipNo4]

In’s Starcevich, CDT
Out’s Cole, Williams

I’d like Duggan out, but as he’s one of our captain’s it won’t happen.
I know he only had 5 changers from 20 possessions, but so many of his disposals are slow, and often not to the advantage of our players, even though it’s regarded as an effective disposal. One of the reasons he had no tackles is because he’s too slow to get to the contest.
He’s been a great club man and led when it would have been easier to walk away, and for that he gets my respect and gratitude.
But his poor disposals and lack of pace hurt the team every week.