Eagles On A Knife Edge

[ONE EYE]

Judgey said in the Post Match Press conference that there are a few Eagles who may not be there next year if they do not lift there game.

Today we saw little passion and committment from experienced players or players who are failing to make the next step. That includes developing consistency.

This week a lot of Vics gave Judgey the credit of rebuilding the Hawks. He got rid of a lot of big names in the process.

We should not be surprised if this year we dont see the retirement of Kemp, McIntosh and Peter Matera. I think all are coming out of contract. Hopefully Peter Matera comes up because I think he still has another year in him. But we cant pay out big contracts for those who are not playing.

Who is on a knife edge then? Antonowicz, Banfield, Fletcher, Wooden, Cummings, Chambers, Siera, Jako, Donnelly, Turnbull,

So, you are surprised to see Banfield, Cummings, Jako and Siera? Ask yourself how many more Premierships will they win for us. I am not saying delist or trade them all. I am not suggesting throwing the baby out with the bath water. Just putting them on notice.

What I saw today was youngsters like Gaspar, Kerr, Cox, Cousins busting their butt for our Club. Maybe a team full of youngsters will get a flogging every week but at least they we play with some pride and passion.

Also, today we looked like a mosquito fleet. To many little blokes. In the middle were Cousins, Wirra, Taylor, Fletcher, Braun, Kemp, etc all being pushed off the ball. ( though Taylor and Cousins gave their best) What we need is six foot one or twoers that are fleet of foot or hand. As in Woewodin, Black, Stevens (Port), Johnson and Goodwin (Crows) etc.

Agh! I am glad I have got that all off my chest. But be patient Eagles fans. If we recruit well over the next two years it wont be long before we again see Finals Glory.

GO EAGLES!

PS No I dont work for the Eagles Propaganda Department. Its just blind faith I suppose.

 

[Visro]

Well if Banfield keeps playing the way he is at the moment he may find himself traded at the end of the season, we might pick up a draft pick for him if we're lucky. Braun could also find himself leaving as we have a lot of short midfielders. Would Braun and Banfield entice another club enough for a player such as Black or Hedland? I can't see either playing at WC next season if they play like they did today. Chad Fletcher could go also, him or Braun will be going anyway. The club's midfield is simply too short!

Vis

 

[eagleskickass]

No way should fletch go. Either Braun of Fletch will go, then it should be Braun, he has dicky knees. Fletch has no history of problems, and I believe will be a good player. I would definately say the eagles would loose out if they traded or delisted Fletch.

 

[jod23]

How quickly everyone forgets Banfields BOG against freo with 30 possesions and 3 goals?? Fletch a little out of form and he being delisted and Braun trying his best to get fit and healthy and play well for us which we know he can (99) but he's being traded??

I think all this is just a little early. Fletcher is a gun and should not be let go, Jako actually played better today than he has all season and Banners just had a bad game. You guys all want answers right now but there not going to come. Just let things go this year, play the rookies get a few wins avoid the spoon, draft well and look forward to 2002.

 

[WCE2000]

Banfield has had one good game all year.

I think we've got potential in all key positions, as i put up in my long term plan for the eagles.

With a bit of time, we will have this down the cetnre of the ground:

FB - Glass
CFB - Gaspar
Ruck - Cox
CHF - MacDougall
FF - Gardiner

I think we should get rid of Sierakowski. He isn't really that good, and won't get us very far at CHF.

 

[Visro]

Banfield has played one good game this year jod, for an experienced player who is meant to help encourage the youngsters he's not doing that.

I'm pretty sure another club would be willling to take a risk with him. I suggest we trade Banfield and Braun together for either a 1st/2nd round draft pick or another player, for me Jason Saddington from Sydney. Banfield is getting old and I think needs a change of scenery and Braun is injured too much and we have midfielders stepping up anyway. Trading 2 and getting 1 in return would also help us cut down our list.

Vis

 

[jod23]

I disagree. Banfield has played over 150 games for our club making him a life member, you cant just discard him like that. If he wants to go then it is different like the White and Gehrig cases but i think its obvious that he has blue and gold coursing through his veins. Braun is debatable, we all know how good he can be and if he can get over his injuries he will be a real gun. He is still very young so he could be really good for us but if his injuries dont get any better then maybe we will have to hang him out there and see if there are any takers.

 

[Visro]

Well he will either not be played very much anymore by KJ due to form and may be delisted when there is another clean out at the end of the year. I would much prefer to be traded than delisted wouldn't you? Get over this club loyalty thing, Jod, if he truly loved his club he would be stepping up right now but he aint and I say get rid of him.

Vis

 

[Frodo]

Banners is a good player BUT he should be captain by now!
He has enormous ability and can be very hard at the ball but somehow he is not self motivated as we would like. A pumped up Banfield is what we need week in and week out.

 

[ONE EYE]

We have to many little blokes. We can be patient but they wont grow! We need the mid size ball carriers who are fleet of foot. Sometimes we have to give a bit to gain a bit. Malthouse gave nothing away. Blind faith in his squad or selfish intent. 10 years in the finals mean nothing if they do not equate to Flags. Just ask the Bulldogs or Brisbane who may have missed the boat.

Michael Braun is the kind of gritty bloke we need. Had he not had his hamstring injuries he may have developed into a Paul Kelly the way he was going. He is still only young with little preparation for this year. He'll be right. Fletcher is super skilled but he aint a Misiti, Johnson x 2, Mecuri, Hardwick, Solomon, Caracella you get my drift? You need a physical hardness even if you are a little bloke. Thats why Don Pyke had to lift his game. And he stepped up to be one of our Greats.

GO EAGLES!

 

[MDB]

Vis,

You have little faith, and I am disgusted.
I can guarantee that when Braun steps up (when he's given a chance to play a full game) and gets BOG a few times, you will be the first one to praise him.

Please, please, please, when this does happen, dont praise him. Keep bagging him the way you have been.

You are an idiot. Do you think we need to keep recruiting players like Cousins (hanging around the packs for the easy gets and then blasting away down the ground). How do you think he gets the ball? Well I'll tell you. From players such as Braun and Banfield who get in and under and aren't scared to put their body on the line. Think about it.

 

[Visro]

Originally posted by MDB
You have little faith, and I am disgusted.
I can guarantee that when Braun steps up (when he's given a chance to play a full game) and gets BOG a few times, you will be the first one to praise him.

I give praise when praise is due. Braun had one good season with us and has shown nothing since.

You are an idiot.

What....just cause I have different opinions to you on players? I am a realist and I can't see either players worth in our current team.

[b[Do you think we need to keep recruiting players like Cousins (hanging around the packs for the easy gets and then blasting away down the ground). How do you think he gets the ball? Well I'll tell you. From players such as Braun and Banfield who get in and under and aren't scared to put their body on the line. Think about it. [/B]

I dont think the club needs them. Our midfield is very short and in todays game, you need some six foot midfielders, neither Braun or Banners are this. Kerr will be our next ruck rover, Fletcher also does the job well. Both of them try hard for the club, even when we are getting thrashed. You may argue that we could burn them out too quickly, that is why we recruited Richard Taylor, partly as a backup rover. By the time he has gone, Fletcher would be about 24/25 and Kerr 20/21. By trading Banners and Braun in say one deal, the club would then be able to recruit a pretty high draftpick which would also help in the clubs quest to cut down the list. Now do you see some of my reasoning? But please, dont resort to name calling just cause you think you are right and I am wrong...

Vis

 

[WA]

Someone mentioned Banfield AND Braun for a draft pick - is this like a buy one get one free Just Spectacles type set up.....


As I previously stated in another thread, IMO Banfield shouldn't even come into the drafting discusssions...

 

[Darky]

Neutral appraisal, player by player :

Antonowicz - Would want to get his arse into gear and grab that CHF spot before the year is out, otherwise give him the flick.
Banfield - Sloppy disposal, not that quick. Good defensive skills, adds experience.
Braun - Good, hard working player but injury prone. Trade bait.
Carroll - Showed a bit at Fremantle. Should develop into a solid defender. With McIntosh nearing the end, keep for at least one more year. Jury is out.
Chambers - Worth one more year, but must step up soon.
Collica - DUD!
Cousins - Best player, has star potential needs to make his disposal more damaging though, to avoid becoming another glorified bomb merchant like Wayne Campbell
Cox - Promising ruckman, who allows Gardiner to play around the ground. Very capable back up.
Cummings - Inconsistent at FF, useless in the wet, can no longer play other positions, injury prone. Likely to do okay while playing on WA grounds, but wouldn't be a success elsewhere. Keep.
Donnelly - Handy player but nothing special. At 28, not likely to be taken if offered as a trade, so keep for another year or two.
Embley - Shows some real class, but needs to get more of the ball to make an impact.
Fletcher - Good fourth to fifth string on-baller. Will improve with experience.
Gardiner - Good ruckman, but needs to be more consistent to step up to the likes of Allan, Primus, King and White. Also a useful fill-in CHF while waiting for one of the youngsters to mature.
Gaspar - haven't seen enough of him
Glass - Could be a good negator and adds a tall option down back. Not particularly good disposal skills, and doesn't get his hands on the footy too much. Might be a slow developer, so perhaps expect him to really come of age in about 2 years.
Green - Showed a bit last year on debut, but would want to break into the seniors again this year to hold his spot on the list.
Harding - Swap with Metropolis is probably about even. Likely to stay a fringe player, especially while battling injuries.
Haynes - haven't seen enough of him
Humm - haven't seen enough of him
Hunter - haven't seen enough of him
Jakovich - Still one of the league's better defenders, but is getting older and needs a hand down back. Have to groom a replacement within 2-3 years.
Jones - Not a bad tagger, but shocking disposal.
Kemp - Been a great player, but injuries have taken their toll. Should retire at season's end.
Kerr - Looks a great prospect on the ball, but will be expected to bulk up with time.
Peter Matera - Has been a sensational player, but probably has only next year left in him.
Phil Matera - One of thetter small forwards in the competition. Even more needed while other scoring options are injured or struggling.
McDougall - haven't seen him, but apparently is earmarked for CHF.
McIntosh - Very good full back, but has lost a yard of pace and is succumbing to injury more often. Two more years, maximum.
Merenda - Capable of the freakish, more likely to disappear when needed. Expect two good games a season. DUD!!!
Morrison - Great running player who the Eagles will want to remain in Perth for the remainder of his career. Returning to Victoria may be a concern at some stage.
Munro - haven't seen enough of him.
Prior - Will never be a star, but handy small defender.
Read - Average small defender, but can be undisciplined and gives away stupid free kicks. Questionable disposal.
Sierakowski - *******!!! DUD!!!
Taylor - Solid, but will never be anything better than a third to fourth string on baller at any club. Don't look at players like this to win you flags, they just add to depth.
Turnbull - Is he still bloody going. To short to dominate in the ruck, too crap and slow elsewhere.
Williams - Versatile and can play tall. needs to work on disposal though.
Wilson - His size makes him a formidable match for any full-back. The fact that he was passed over until age 29 means no ttoo much can be expected. 50-60 goals tops.
Wirrpunda - Has to learn to man up when playing in defence. Can be very creative in the midfield. Needs to shake off a poor ijury history.
Wooden - Tries hard, but a DUD!!!

OK, this is the bit where you'll all be wanting to tell me how I know nothing about non-Victorian footy, blah, blah, blah... form an orderly queue behind Jod 23... and no pushing in!

 

[WCE2000]

Originally posted by Darky

Collica - DUD!

agree pretty much entirely with your list, however i think Collica is a lot more than dud. Could be a more than handy defender. One of the few players in our side who "runs" well with the ball.

 

[jod23]

Vis, I should get over a club loyalty thing???? Well i think you need a little more loyalty. Banners should play out the rest of his career at WC and Braun will be a great player once over his injuries. You seem so ready to get out the guillotine and start making heads roll. Tell me who you plan to replace Banners and Braun with? As much as i keep saying blooding the youngsters is a priority we still need ppl like Banners to give us a little experience.

MDB - i disagree with your comments about Cousins. He doesnt always skirt the packs. He is second in our team in hard ball gets behind only Daniel Kerr.

Darky - YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT WA FOOTY!!!! Sorry i just had to do that. I thought your evaluations of each player were pretty good but i also disagree about Collica, he has been pretty good for us this year. Its also good to see a non bias view of each player.