Eagles v Brisbane- GBU (Mainly Good, oddly enough)

Mead

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Posts
6,795
Likes
1,080
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
Thread starter #1
From the Book of Woosha Ch 2 Rd 12
And so it came to pass on the eve of his trip to the east, Woosha sat and preached a sermon to the disciples. And as he spake unto them, Woosha was seized by the gift of prophecy and he looked to the east and said.
Come, I will show you the way to the east. Last week, you fell into sin, but I say to you this will not be so again! For there are strange times ahead. Those who are high shall be laid low, and you shall be the ones who do this. The one who comes from the east, but liveth in the west shall return to the east and smite them most grievously, and then declare himself to be a knob. And the great whore of the Royals, he who calls himself 'Porno' shalt once more be chosen. And their shall be wailing and gnashing of knees, and Porno shalt smite down friend and foe alike. Since round 2, none have known the hour or day of his return, but I say to you, look for him today!! And there shalt be many changes to the disciples and you shall be better for it. And yea, the great Kings of the League shall be cast down and ground into dust. Goals shalt be kicked from everywhere, Haynesy's undergarments shalt be bared unto the world, all these strange signs and portents will be seen, and they shall signal the coming of the end times for the Lions!!
At this, disciple #40 raised his hand. 'Um, Woosha, doth this mean I'm getting a game?' Woosha nodded.
'Yea, Willow, it does. Don't muck up'


The Good
Wow. All I can say is I'm glad that this game came before the bye. Hopefully it will give all the West Coast players, coaching staff and fans a chance to sober up before the next round. Wow.

You'd have to say this was probably the West Coast's best game this year, and arguably our best in the last 4 years. What comes close to this? Maybe v Brisbane last year, maybe v the Kangaroos in rd 1 2000, not much else, though. It pretty much all went right.

Our midfield rebounded in outstanding fashion after the slack effort last week Cousins was a ball magnet, picking up a lazy 35 touches for the day. Fletcher was lethal, combining his usual high work rate with some deadeye finishing. In the last few minutes of the game, Fletch did his best impression of a certain teammate of his, gathering the ball in the forward line, breaking a couple of tackles, turning on the pace and slotting the goal.
As for Judd, well, what can you say- pretty good for most of the first half, except for a 5 minute period where he simply looked superhuman. I just watched that part of the tape again, and some of the things he did, well, let me just say I am really really glad I support a team with Chris Judd in it, because I wouldn't want to come up against him. Kerr, Braun and Adkins were also noteworthy, and what stood out was that not only were we winning the ball, our disposal was top notch, which gave our forwards an easy time of it.
Gardiner treated Brisbane's undergunned ruck division with the disdain it deserved, whilst Doogs had a decent outing, taking some strong marks up forward and rucking well. If I had to choose right at this moment, I'd say he should get a guernsey ahead of Cox. Oddly enough Brisbane actually got more hit outs than us, but this didn't have any impact on the game.

As a whole, the forward line functioned very very well. Jakovich enjoyed a truly dominant outing at CHF, finishing with 23 disposals and seven marks.
Also, welcome back Willow. The big fella certainly picked a good day to make his come back, and did enough to guarantee he'll be there after the break. One thing which struck me was that Wilson seemed to be making a conscious effort to appear less one dimensional, pushing further up the ground, handing off a few goals, and even putting in some second and third efforts, perish the thought. Porno also gets a special mention for his utterly hilarious attempt to snap the ball over his head late in the game.
Rowan Jones found the ball and finished with three, although his kicking let him down again. Embers had another of the lazy 20 odd disposal, 3 goal games that have become par for the course for him. Sampi also had a solid and at times brilliant outing in the forward pocket, meaning the forward line put in a very solid effort indeed. It certainly didn't look like an outfit missing the league's leading goal kicker.

Our defence had a mixed day. Wirrpunda continue his usual trend of taking strong marks, gathering the ball with ease, and wellying it 80m from kick ins. Banfield had an excellent game, simultaneously taking his man out of the game and pushing up the ground to find a lot of the footy. Given he was lucky to be in the side after a very poor effort last week, Banners certainly took his opportunity. Green and Haynes were both serviceable off the HBF.

Its hard to pinpoint where we won this one. Brisbane actually broke even out of the centre for much of the game, but it just seemed we had a bit more talent than them in every department. Our tackling was outstanding, and every pass seemed to be hitting a team mate on the chest. I suppose its difficult to know what to make of this- sometimes you just have a very good day, but this was almost a 'showcase' game- if you wanted to show someone why West Coast were a bloody outstanding side in every regard, you'd lend them the tape of this game.


The Bad
Our two key defenders had mixed days at best. Glass was okay on Brennan early, and McIntosh had an enthralling duel with Lynch, with Alastair slowly getting on top. However, after Milli went down Lynch cut loose and towelled Glass. By the fourth quarter, Glass didn't even seem at all interested in trying to stop Lynch.

Incidentally, our taggers simply didn't. Given that Black finished with 36 disposals and Lappin with 33, Josh Wooden might appear to have a bit of explaining to do. Its hard to know what to make of it, though, because it seemed as though both midfields simply backed off each other and had a shoot out. With this being the case, our big guns were simply better, so I'll take a free running shout out in these circumstances.


The Ugly
Tough break for Morrison, who earned himself a recall only to be struck down by injury. Hopefully he'll be right after the break.

It was another crappy day of umpiring, which makes more ****ed off at Giesch than the hapless schmoes out there. Umpires seem to go through different phases- so far this year we've had the 'kicking less than 15m', 'everything is a hanging on', 'if its out, its deliberate' and 'look at it the wrong way and you're holding the ball,' phases. Right now, we're in the 'what the heck is a free kick? You mean these whistles have a purpose?!' phase. All I can do is look at the situation in a cool and objective manner, take a deep breath and say is STOP ****ING OUR GAME YOU ****ING ****S!!!! ****ING WELL CALL EVERY****INGTHING WHICH IS ****ING WELL IN THE ****ING RULE****INGBOOK AND LEAVE IT AT THAT, YOU ****S! Or something like that.
Additionally, McBirney still can't bounce it, and he looked bloody ugly in that silly hat of his.

Anyway, kudos to Haynes for showing us all his choice in underwear. He always struck me as the boxers type, but I guess it just goes to show you can never tell. Also, Dermott can go and get ****ed for doing his best to spoil the best 10 minutes of an viewing for an eagle fans this season by tossing on about supposedly trading for Judd.
The final entry in the 'ugly' is Ackermanis. Just because.

Well all up not a lot to complain about from where I'm sitting. A fantastic win which makes up for last week's debacle, and puts us right back in the mix at the break. Later this week, I'll be posting a truly gi-normous GBU for every single player for the first half of the year. Once we come back, if we're going to make a run for a flag this year its time to start revving the engine.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

The Passenger

Mr. Mojo Risin'
Joined
Mar 25, 2003
Posts
30,218
Likes
16,808
Location
Hasa Diga Eebowai
AFL Club
West Coast
#2
I think one can argue it is close to the best performance from an Eagles team ever. We were playing one of the best teams of the last quarter of a decade, at their home ground where they've been all but indestructable, and we not only beat them, we thrashed them.
 

Mead

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Posts
6,795
Likes
1,080
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
Thread starter #3
Originally posted by Black Thunder
I think one can argue it is close to the best performance from an Eagles team ever. We were playing one of the best teams of the last quarter of a decade, at their home ground where they've been all but indestructable, and we not only beat them, we thrashed them.
Big call.. there's been some good un's over the years. I'll stick with best since Judge took over.

Our ins and outs after the break will be interesting. Cox will probably need some WAFL time to snatch his spot back from Doogs, and there's going to be some messing with the team balance for Fido to find his way back in.
 
Joined
Jun 14, 2002
Posts
25,646
Likes
7,979
Location
Beer tent
AFL Club
West Coast
Moderator #4
Originally posted by Mead
Big call.. there's been some good un's over the years. I'll stick with best since Judge took over.

Our ins and outs after the break will be interesting. Cox will probably need some WAFL time to snatch his spot back from Doogs, and there's going to be some messing with the team balance for Fido to find his way back in.
I'd say Doogs is in - he has several more dimensions to his game than Cox, and I reckon Cox can now officially be named as trade bait (a harsh call as it is). With Seaby and Beeck back in the WAFL we can probably get something of greater value to the club for him. I don't want him traded, but if a Gaspar or Hay was available (draft picks thrown in..........)
 

jod23

TheBrownDog
Joined
Apr 2, 2000
Posts
61,500
Likes
17,887
Location
Perth, Australia
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Liverpool, Chicago Bulls.
#5
NIce GBU once again Mead, the book of Whoosha always a highlight!

Cant wait for your big mid season review on each player, should be a good read. One thing I noticed about the game was that was the biggest score we have kicked all year and it was without the league's leading goalkicker (heading into the round).

Very impressive! Oh and the great thing about the Haynes/Wilson problem. Willow kicked goals and he knew he was under the pump so he chased, tackles and even had second and third efforts. Great effort by him but the great thing about it is that Haynes can be effective in other position on the field. In the second half he was quite good off half back. I think both can certainly co-exist.
 
Joined
Jun 14, 2002
Posts
25,646
Likes
7,979
Location
Beer tent
AFL Club
West Coast
Moderator #6
Originally posted by jod23
Very impressive! Oh and the great thing about the Haynes/Wilson problem. Willow kicked goals and he knew he was under the pump so he chased, tackles and even had second and third efforts. Great effort by him but the great thing about it is that Haynes can be effective in other position on the field. In the second half he was quite good off half back. I think both can certainly co-exist.
Definitely can co-exist - would love to see this forward line

Matera Wilson Haynes

Sampi McDougall Chick
 

Mead

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Posts
6,795
Likes
1,080
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
Thread starter #7
Originally posted by larrikin
Definitely can co-exist - would love to see this forward line

Matera Wilson Haynes

Sampi McDougall Chick
(salivates)

Add a Jako/Doogs rotation at CHF, and Jones/Embley subbing with Chick, and we have a very well balanced line up.
 

Mead

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Posts
6,795
Likes
1,080
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
Thread starter #11
Originally posted by Frodo
Mark my words. If Wilson stays in the side then Fido's goals will dry up.
:rolleyes: Yes, you're definitely onto something here. Fido didn't kick a goal today, and barely even got a touch. Clearly Willows fault!
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

steve_rat

Senior List
Joined
Aug 4, 2002
Posts
271
Likes
0
Location
Melbourne, Australia
AFL Club
West Coast
#13
is the Book of Whoosha gonna be bound, published and marketed after the seasons end? I can't wait to read about the Revelations (Finals). Must read book. teehee

Good job

GOOD: US
BAD: THEM
UGLY: UMPIRING

gee that was complicated. teehee...

that over the head kick was pretty funny... though he shoulda gone back and just slotted it.

what about that long rowan jones goal.. maaaaate

steve
 

daddy_4_eyes

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Posts
9,229
Likes
1,070
Location
Victoria home of football
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
#14
Originally posted by Mead
You'd have to say this was probably the West Coast's best game this year, and arguably our best in the last 4 years. What comes close to this? Maybe v Brisbane last year, maybe v the Kangaroos in rd 1 2000, not much else, though. It pretty much all went right.
You bastard!



GBU looks so much better whenever we have a convincing win, ey?
 

Mead

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Posts
6,795
Likes
1,080
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
Thread starter #15
Re: Re: Eagles v Brisbane- GBU (Mainly Good, oddly enough)

Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
You bastard!



GBU looks so much better whenever we have a convincing win, ey?
Ah yes... Just.. testing...you. Well spotted. Thats what I was doing, testing. Move along, nothing to see here.
 

GoEagles

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Aug 10, 2000
Posts
7,443
Likes
11
Location
Sydney
AFL Club
West Coast
#17
Book of Woosha gets better each week. I reckon we could almost make it into a telemovie!

May I nominate the Umpire who wore the cap as the Dropkick of the week? The sun wasn't too bad (he was just trying to cover up his baldness). Tragic fashion victim.
 

iceman

Premiership Player
Joined
Apr 1, 2001
Posts
3,563
Likes
2
Location
Sydney, NSW
AFL Club
West Coast
#18
Great review

Great win, umpiring was ordinary - what did we get, 5 free kicks this week compared to last weeks 4??

Good to see Commetti bringing that stat up - letting everyone know about it :D
 

Frodo

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Nov 17, 2000
Posts
12,595
Likes
22
Location
Perth, Western Australia.
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Post Count: 125,527
#19
Originally posted by iceman
Great review

Great win, umpiring was ordinary - what did we get, 5 free kicks this week compared to last weeks 4??

Good to see Commetti bringing that stat up - letting everyone know about it :D
I go back to the early nineties and see that the umpiring instructions have not changed. Now I know I'll cop a lot of stick about my notion of a conspiracy but I firmly believe it. It goes like this. The AFL head of umpiring can direct umpires in individual games as to how to handle the game. This IMO is wrong and allows the AFL to potentially influence games. When two interstate teams play* then the instruction is 'let it go' ie pay few free kicks. Similarily when an interstate team plays a low ladder Victorian team the instruction is the same. The result is that the interstate team plays in much harder games with lots of scragging and corkies handed out during the game. In the particular game it usually doesn't make muich difference but the bumps accumulated tend to affect players as the season wears on.

I believe that the low free kick count in the last two weeks is attributable to an AFL instruction to umpires. In each match the scragging and blatant fouling off the ball was completely ignored by umpires.

* exception...Freo

Now we all know that the AFL isall about money and not footy, otherwise the gamewould be much fairer and teams couldn't buy extra home games. Freo loses money so the AFL wants them to succeed, drawing in more spectators and starting to make money. For this reason they are getting a very favourable rub from the umpires. I watched Saturdays game and the umpires may as well have been wearing Green, white, red, purple and ochre with (w)anchors on their shirts.
 

Thrawn666

Club Legend
Joined
Feb 15, 2002
Posts
1,768
Likes
0
Location
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
West Coast
#20
Originally posted by Frodo
I go back to the early nineties and see that the umpiring instructions have not changed. Now I know I'll cop a lot of stick about my notion of a conspiracy but I firmly believe it. It goes like this. The AFL head of umpiring can direct umpires in individual games as to how to handle the game. This IMO is wrong and allows the AFL to potentially influence games. When two interstate teams play* then the instruction is 'let it go' ie pay few free kicks. Similarily when an interstate team plays a low ladder Victorian team the instruction is the same. The result is that the interstate team plays in much harder games with lots of scragging and corkies handed out during the game. In the particular game it usually doesn't make muich difference but the bumps accumulated tend to affect players as the season wears on.

I believe that the low free kick count in the last two weeks is attributable to an AFL instruction to umpires. In each match the scragging and blatant fouling off the ball was completely ignored by umpires.

* exception...Freo

Now we all know that the AFL isall about money and not footy, otherwise the gamewould be much fairer and teams couldn't buy extra home games. Freo loses money so the AFL wants them to succeed, drawing in more spectators and starting to make money. For this reason they are getting a very favourable rub from the umpires. I watched Saturdays game and the umpires may as well have been wearing Green, white, red, purple and ochre with (w)anchors on their shirts.
And I thought the concept of not playing Judd was bad :rolleyes:

What a load of crap
 

Voice of Reason

Premiership Player
Joined
Jul 4, 2001
Posts
3,587
Likes
0
Location
Beach on Indian Ocean
Other Teams
West Coast Eagles
#21
My theory on umpiring from another thread on the main board:

I don't believe the home town bias exists at all, except that sometimes umpires may be influenced by crowd noise.

Bias has reduced markedly in the years I've been watching AFL - in the early years the Eagles were crucified by cheating Victorian umpires (including goal umpires), but it's much more professional now.

I also believe that umpires favour the underdog a bit. The Eagles Bulldogs last week was a definite example of that. Brisbane tend to get a rough ride away from home (would probably have beaten the Kangas and St Kilda without umpire intervention). Essendon get a low number of free kicks since they were so successful a couple of years ago.

I blame Gieschen and co. (whoever is supposed to control the umpires) for the problems at the moment. They seem to be instructed to go through phases at different times of the season - at the moment, it's pay nothing. In the past, we've had holding the ball for a mere touch and the overreaction on kicking out deliberately. They should be aiming for long term consistency and the protection of the players.
 

RogerMellie

All Australian
Joined
Apr 29, 2002
Posts
882
Likes
2
AFL Club
Fremantle
#22
Originally posted by Frodo
* exception...Freo

Now we all know that the AFL isall about money and not footy, otherwise the gamewould be much fairer and teams couldn't buy extra home games. Freo loses money so the AFL wants them to succeed, drawing in more spectators and starting to make money. For this reason they are getting a very favourable rub from the umpires. I watched Saturdays game and the umpires may as well have been wearing Green, white, red, purple and ochre with (w)anchors on their shirts.
Aren't you a little old for zany conspiracy theories?
 

zero

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
May 5, 2003
Posts
7,013
Likes
246
Location
Oval, SW8, South London
Other Teams
WA state-of-origin
#23
iv heard fido talking in the paper about haynes, how he does all the other things around the ball, crash tackles, handpasses and heavy defensive pressure. sampi, haynes and fido are all fukn awesome when the ball hits the ground, they love creating oppurtunities for each other and setting up goals.

when i saw sampi kick that goal from 40m out on the boundary in the derby i knew he was something special, but his game is really coming along this year! no longer just an occasional freak goal or mark, hes the complete small forward, hard at the ball and man, a great handpass, intelligent, creative and aware of his team mates, AND a dead eye for goal too, even under pressure.
 

Uncle Tony

Senior List
Joined
Nov 5, 2001
Posts
266
Likes
1
Location
Turning the corner.
Other Teams
West Coast Eagles
#24
Originally posted by Mead
Big call.. there's been some good un's over the years. I'll stick with best since Judge took over.

Our ins and outs after the break will be interesting. Cox will probably need some WAFL time to snatch his spot back from Doogs, and there's going to be some messing with the team balance for Fido to find his way back in.
There was at least one win of equal standing under Judge. WCE vs North Melbourne, Rd 1, 2000, at the MCG. They were the reigning premiers and we thrashed them by an enormous margin (100+ points easy).

I'd say best win since that game.

How things changed so quickly...:(
 

vicki

Team Captain
Joined
Feb 18, 2002
Posts
575
Likes
1
Location
perth
Other Teams
westcoasteagles
#25
Converts

Thanks again Mead for the Book of Woosha. We had a few friends over to watch the game on Sunday and I showed them the previous chapters in the Book of Woosha. Needless to say, they are now converts to the Woosha way. I have to email them the chapter each week!

They wanted to know what you are studying at uni? Journalism?

Best wishes to all of you who are doing uni exams at the moment. As I say to my kids, Do the work, do your best and then put it out of your minds!
 
Top Bottom