Freo Win Puts New Meaning In Eagles-Saints Clash

[EaglesFlyingHigh.com]

http://westcoast.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1523&p=2&stid=8156775

Fremantle's upset win over Hawthorn gives the Eagles clash against the Saints new meaning. Yesterday it was just an insignificant 14th vs 15th match. Now the loser will become a very real chance to win the wooden spoon - particularly if the loser is the Eagles.


Both West Coast and St Kilda are now just two wins ahead of Fremantle. In addition, the Eagles have a far inferrior percentage. The team which wins tomorrow's game will be safe from finishing the season on the bottom of the ladder.

But if the Eagles are beaten by the Saints, next week's Western Derby will become a very crucial match indeed.

At most times this season, you would have to say that the Dockers have been better than the Eagles - they have just failed to push home for the wins when they've had the chance.

Next week's game would be difficult to pick under any circumstances - both teams have underperformed, and both have struggled to press home an advantage this year. It's really a matter of picking who will play least poorly on the day.

But with a win finally under their belt, and a win against a top four team at that, the Dockers will go into the Derby with new confidence. If the Eagles can put away the Saints tomorrow, their confidence will also be up and it'll be all square again.

But if the Saints take the points tomorrow, the Eagles will be down and you'd have to back the Dockers next week.

That would put the Dockers just a game behind with three to play, and a better percentage.

The Eagles face Richmond, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the last three rounds, and even the most optimistic of Eagles fans couldn't expect a win there.

For Fremantle, the run home is Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. Beating Brisbane is unlikely, but after today's Melbourne performance they could feel quite confident going to Colonial Stadium to play Melbourne, and Adelaide at Subiaco is not out of the question.

And as for motivation, it couldn't be better for the Dockers. Very recently people were betting on them finishing the season winless. Could they answer that any better than by not only winning some games, but not even finishing at the bottom? And even better than that, pushing the Eagles into last spot? With that prospect to push them, I'd back them to do it.

The other team in the equation is St Kilda, who finish with games against Port Adelaide, Carlton, Sydney and Geelong, and wouldn't be expected to win any of them. At this stage they have a better percentage than Fremantle but not by a huge margin. The Saints are probably safe, however. If the Saints win tomorrow, they're clear. If the Eagles win tomorrow, they will probably follow up with a win in the Derby which will all but confirm Fremantle's Wooden Spoon.

So it all comes down to tomorrow's game for the Eagles. Beat the Saints and they will probably end the season in 14th place, with five wins, while the Dockers will finish last. Lose tomorrow, and the Eagles will find themselves at Subiaco Oval next week with their backs against the wall, facing the very real prospect of their first Wooden Spoon if they lose.



http://westcoast.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1523&p=2&stid=8156775

 

[GoEagles]

The boys will definately be feeling a bit of pressure going into next weeks derby after Freo's win today - It just shapes up as a game that will be more competitive.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Hey EFH, whats going on with your follow up to Ken Judge getting sacked. You promised it last week and i've been eagerly anticipating it.

 

[EaglesFlyingHigh.com]

I thought I had posted it here.... I've put it on my site, only a day or two after the first part.

 

[EaglesFlyingHigh.com]

A brief aside on Ken Judge...

Here it is... http://westcoast.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1523&p=2&stid=8153092

I won't post the whole article here, cos it'll get all mixed up with the Freo-Wooden Spoon stuff in this thread and end up all too confusing. Also check on the message board at EaglesFlyingHigh.com for a list of Judges Record-Breaking achievements so far. It's amazing how many clubs he's managed to set new records against in his short time at West Coast!

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Thanks, i must of missed it.

 

[Voice of Reason]

If the Eagles win tomorrow, they will probably follow up with a win in the Derby which will all but confirm Fremantle's Wooden Spoon.

Not sure I agree with this. If we beat the Saints, we won't necessarily beat the Dockers, and if we lose to the Saints, we won't necessarily lose to the Dockers.

Hopefully the team is taking it one game at a time and focussing on its next opponent, on an individual and a team basis.

If we're not, we'll probably lose anyway.

 

[iceman]

Recently theres been no guarantees that we'll beat Freo at all. It seems that they play their best footy against us no matter what the ladder positions are

I think that their win yesterday is good for us as they wont be looking for their first win against us... however... they'll be full of confidence and that could spell trouble unless our boys are switched on

 

[Frodo]

Just as well that Freo won yesterday and don't have to look to the derby for their first win to salvage something out of the season.
But it could happen to us. We could lose Cuz, Gardy, Wirra and Glass n the first half and have no bench like the Hawks did. Then we would be beaten too without doubt. But lets hope we have no injuries and kick butt....again.

 

[kuepper]

Originally posted by Frodo
Just as well that Freo won yesterday and don't have to look to the derby for their first win to salvage something out of the season.
But it could happen to us. We could lose Cuz, Gardy, Wirra and Glass n the first half and have no bench like the Hawks did. Then we would be beaten too without doubt. But lets hope we have no injuries and kick butt....again.

Yes, or a 'full strength' side could still get pumped.

So tell me, which WCE dynamo is going to match upon the 2 tall forwards, longmuir and pavlich ... and please tell me one will be Trent 'too tall, too stong' Carroll ... I need a good laugh.

 

[Visro]

Originally posted by kuepper


Yes, or a 'full strength' side could still get pumped.

So tell me, which WCE dynamo is going to match upon the 2 tall forwards, longmuir and pavlich ... and please tell me one will be Trent 'too tall, too stong' Carroll ... I need a good laugh.

Well actually, it will most likely be Ashley McIntosh or Darren Glass, both very good defenders...

Vis

 

[kuepper]

Originally posted by Visro
Well actually, it will most likely be Ashley McIntosh or Darren Glass, both very good defenders...

McIntosh was a very good defender, injuries have hurt him - and he would give away 4-5 inches too Longmuir.

GLass is in his 2nd year, and done less than Brown, who I know none of you rate at all - so we can therefore deduce that Glass can't be too much - seem to remeber him crumbling under pressure and losing last years Derby actually (but yes I do think Glass is a player who will bring youlots in the next decade)

 

[eagleskickass]

Originally posted by kuepper


Brown, who I know none of you rate at

Excuse me, but I DO rate Brown, I think he is a great young talent for you guys, and will go on to become a great player in the future. Why do so many(not all) dockers fans make wild generalisations about the eagles supporters, when they KNOW they are more than likely untrue.

The Derby will be a cracker of a game!

 

[Visro]

Firstly, McIntosh as a defender still has lots to offer but he has struggled in the middle part of the season with soft tissue injuries. He will give away 4 cm in height to J Longmuir but I can guarantee you that he would out wrestle him. Depending on how McIntosh plays this arvo will determine if he plays on Longmuir next week.

Secondly, I do rate Brown, find a post where I discredit him. Yes, he is a good build and height but he is a tad slow which is really his only weakness. This weakness however becomes huge when versing a fast FF. Dont expect Brown to line up on Wilson next week.

Thirdly, Glass. Brown has played 37 games and Glass 21. Glass' tally would be higher if he did not injure himself early this season for roughly 8 matches. Last year he grew another 4 cm which halted him from playing that many games but he still managed 14. It also came down to the fact that McIntosh was playing very well last year and Glass was not really needed at FB. Brown however was required for Freo so he had to play practically every match. Glass is 1cm shorter than Brown but is a lot faster though he does have a rather "awkward" kicking style. Given time to develop I believe that both Glass and Brown will become key players to both Freo and WC and that player wise, Brown only just pips Glass purely on game experience.

For next week, I see Glass lining up on Longmuir as frankly I dont think that McIntosh is 100% fit and Longmuir could run him ragged. Glass will get the job and hopefully shut down another key forward (oh BTW Kuepper, you want to know who Glass has shut down in the few games he has played this season).

Vis

 

[kuepper]

Originally posted by eagleskickass

Excuse me, but I DO rate Brown, I think he is a great young talent for you guys, and will go on to become a great player in the future.

Apologies, I did generalise, but based it on a thread in the Freo forum, where Jod and a few others wrote the guy off - so to all I generalised about _ I apologise

As for the rest, I look forward to the game this weekend!

 

[sabre_ac]

Originally posted by Visro


Well actually, it will most likely be Ashley McIntosh or Darren Glass, both very good defenders...

Vis

Bwahahahah is that all you have??
You poor poor eagle fans, you are in for one beating.

Longmuir is a 6'5+ ruckman who plays off the ground like a rover and can pull down huge pack marks.Did I mention he has a leap on him to rival modra in his hay day.
And you dare put a second year player of Glass on him.Well thats just asking for trouble.
He will get absolutely slaughtered.If you best defender in the league struggles to hold him to 5 goals in a half while he plays in the ruck as well.What chance does glass or Macintosh (you will probally be forced to play him in the forward line) have.

Pavlich is the same he will tear those 2 apart, not to mention Koops at the foot of the packs.Your backman are in for a torried time.
With targets to kick to your already weak midfield will be anihalated.Bell,Cook,Black,Fletcher,Walker and Haselby will run riot.

 

[Frodo]

Originally posted by sabre_ac


With targets to kick to your already weak midfield will be anihalated.Bell,Cook,Black,Fletcher,Walker and Haselby will run riot.

So you think Black will be playing?

 

[Visro]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Glass towells up completely his opponent this weekend. In the last few weeks he has been dominating players such as McKernan, O'Loughlin and Hamill. He is really starting to find some form and dont be surprised if he lines up on Longmuir.

Vis

 

[Frodo]

I don't see Longmuir playing up front. If you don't get the ball out of the middle then the ball never gets to the forwards. Take an unfit Rehn and both Chick and Crawford out of the game and the Hawks were going to struggle in the ruck. Eastaugh was good enough to do enough to ensure Freo got ball and Longmuir provided a target. Against the Eagles I can't see Gardy or even Cox losing out to Eastaugh and Cuz, Fletcher, Jones are going to be around the packs. I think that forces Longmuir to Ruck or Freo will go behind early. I think Carroll will play on Pavlich, that should be good. Also Wooden on Kickett ar maybe Bell. Black should be suspended though. Haynes will have his work cut out with Carr I suspect. I'd like to see Joey back for Kasey Green and Scotty in as Well as Wilson. Bowling Ball can crunch 'em and Scotty can come on to kick a bag.

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by sabre_ac


Bwahahahah is that all you have??
You poor poor eagle fans, you are in for one beating.

Longmuir is a 6'5+ ruckman who plays off the ground like a rover and can pull down huge pack marks.Did I mention he has a leap on him to rival modra in his hay day.
And you dare put a second year player of Glass on him.Well thats just asking for trouble.
He will get absolutely slaughtered.If you best defender in the league struggles to hold him to 5 goals in a half while he plays in the ruck as well.What chance does glass or Macintosh (you will probally be forced to play him in the forward line) have.

Pavlich is the same he will tear those 2 apart, not to mention Koops at the foot of the packs.Your backman are in for a torried time.
With targets to kick to your already weak midfield will be anihalated.Bell,Cook,Black,Fletcher,Walker and Haselby will run riot.

LOL poor poor Sabre. If we dare put a second year player?? We will dare and we will win, Glass has shut out such class as Hamill, Goodes and McKernan, you think he will have problems with Longmuir?????? Besides it would be suicide to play Longmuir forward and leave a second rate footballer like Eastaugh to play against one of the best ruckmen in the country in Gardiner.

Longmuir will have to play in the ruck but if he does go forward dont be surprised if Glass towells him up. Pavlich doesnt pose a problem, Carroll or Jakovich can play on him and do the job.

LOL i had to laugh at Pavlich, Longmuir and Koops, then you said our backmen would have a torrid time LOL hahahahahhahah Thats is a pretty weak forward line Sabre.

Black wont play and Bell could get tagged out by Jones who is in awesome form. That could leave Cook and Haselby to carry the midfield. Your onballers are nothing to brag about. You also have nobody to tackle the great Ben Cousins, he could and probably will wreak havoc in the middle of the ground. If Jones Kerr Fletcher and Taylor help out then i think we can win.

The Derby will probably be close but if we dominate the midfield like we did against the Saints then the scoreline will be similar to the Saints. Cant wait though, should be a classic.

 

[sabre_ac]

Jod I doubt very much that Jones is in the kind of form that Bell is in.

 

[jod23]

Jones is in great form actually, recently he has been nullifying his opponents impact whilst getting 20+ possessions and kicking goals.

 

[mianfei]

For Fremantle, the run home is Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. Beating Brisbane is unlikely, but after today's Melbourne performance they could feel quite confident going to Colonial Stadium to play Melbourne, and Adelaide at Subiaco is not out of the question.

And as for motivation, it couldn't be better for the Dockers. Very recently people were betting on them finishing the season winless. Could they answer that any better than by not only winning some games, but not even finishing at the bottom? And even better than that, pushing the Eagles into last spot? With that prospect to push them, I’d back them to do it.

After Round 13, the Dockers were at $3.75 for one dollar to go 0-and-22 for the first time in VFL/AFL history. It seems to me form recent reading of The West Australian in the State Library of Victoria that after Round 16 of 2001 the odds on the Dockers going 0-and-22 were too short for people to willingly take bets; or to put it another way the odds the Dockers would win any of their last six were long enough that one Docker win would have had a price of over $2.00 for a dollar’s bet.

I was probably thinking so much about the Fremantle win over Hawthorn and for the sake of my relatives was so frustrated at St. Kilda’s terrible form that I never recalled the Eagles’ 92-point win on the Sunday - though I did recall how much worse the Eagles’ losses were vis-à-vis the Dockers’ or most of the Saints’.

 

[Shupe]

At first I was like, dafuq?

....not much has changed from my first thoughts.

 

[BigBirdz]

Seriously no one ****ing cares you stupid bellend