McIntosh Out, Jakovich Forward For Crows

[EaglesFlyingHigh.com]

The Eagles travel to Football Park in Adelaide on Saturday night to take on the Crows, in a match which is important for the Eagles self-respect and the Crows finals aspirations.
West Coast come off a morale-boosting win against Melbourne last weekend at Subiaco, but that will count for little if they slip back to the disastrous performances which preceded that match.

For their part, the Crows have lost their last three matches after looking like serious finals contenders earlier in the year. They now sit in twelth place on the ladder but are only a game plus percentage out of the eight and cannot afford to drop any winnable matches.

The Eagles lost key player Chad Morrison for the season last week. Ashley McIntosh is out again with a corked thigh after only one match. Youngster Travis Gaspar also injured his ankle last week, but has been named in this week's team.

Peter Matera and Dean Cox return to the side, having missed last week with injury.

Glen Jakovich has been named at centre half-forward in a bid to add some attacking options to a team which has averaged just 75 points per game this year, the worst in the league. Darren Glass takes Jakovich's place at centre half back - possibly a sign that the Eagles are looking to try out some long term options in what remains of this season.

Adelaide are the AFL's third lowest scoring team this year, averaging just under 90 points per match. If West Coast's defence can hold them to that, the Eagles will stand a good chance of recording another win, with Phil Matera and Andrew Embley in goalkicking form last week, and Scott Cummings beginning to show some of his best.

The Record: West Coast have played Adelaide 17 times. The Eagles have won 9 times to the Crows 8. Last time they played Adelaide won by 17 points, in Round 19 2000.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Backs: David Wirrpunda Trent Carroll Josh Wooden
Half Backs: Andrew Williams Darren Glass Michael Collica
Centres: Chad Fletcher Ben Cousins Richard Taylor
Half Forwards: Peter Matera Glen Jakovich Andrew Embley
Forwards: Mark Merenda Scott Cummings Phil Matera
Ruck: Michael Gardiner Rowan Jones Daniel Kerr
Interchange: Callum Chambers
Dean Cox
Travis Gaspar
Kane Munro

In: Peter Matera, Cox
Out: Morrison (inj.), McIntosh (inj.)


http://westcoast.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1523&p=2&stid=8142325

 

[jod23]

Apparently there is no way Gaspar will play and is fully exected to pull out and be replaced by one of the emergencies? I hope not though as he has been pretty good for us.

The team looks alright i guess, hopefully Wooden and Wirrpunda can continue there good from from last week and with Matera back whether or no **** in defence or up forward im sure he'll have an impact on the game. Milli isnt the biggest of losses as he didnt play at all in defence last week and we still won. Although obviously i would like him at FB, we did last week so why not do it again this week.

 

[Frodo]

That explains why Cox is back in. Gaspar did fairly well rucking las week but without him ther will be a tall short ( I love that saying) Perhaps we will see Haynes!!! I'd like to see that.
Roo is always great when coming back from injury,,,,but will hus hams/calves survive? Was Milli brought back too early?

 

[ah_19]

im betting matera will get injured AGAIN
cox isnt AFL material yet, but its his first year, his first year in the WAFL was bad too, but his second was very good, but he needs the practice,
and i really hope Haynes gets to play this week as well

 

[McKenna for PM]

Originally posted by jod23
Apparently there is no way Gaspar will play and is fully exected to pull out and be replaced by one of the emergencies? I hope not though as he has been pretty good for us.

The team looks alright i guess, hopefully Wooden and Wirrpunda can continue there good from from last week and with Matera back whether or no **** in defence or up forward im sure he'll have an impact on the game. Milli isnt the biggest of losses as he didnt play at all in defence last week and we still won. Although obviously i would like him at FB, we did last week so why not do it again this week.

No **** in defence? Damn.

Seriously though, one has to wonder whether the veterans are actually an asset to our club's performance, rather than impeding the development of our younger players. I remember someone on this board voicing a similar concern earlier, and I agree that maybe some tough decisions might have to be made. But in assessing the need to keep these players playing we also need to consider their positive effects on the young players. While, for example Ashley might take up the spot of a young player, thereby excluding him from gaining valuable experience, he would also be instrumental in setting a good example for players around him and generally leading the way. So I guess I'm a bit of a fence-sitter on this one. Does anyone have anything which will pull me off this damn fence?!

 

[Mr Eagle]

Originally posted by McKenna for PM

Does anyone have anything which will pull me off this damn fence?!

I think veterans are worth having around, but ONLY if they're being played because they are fit and useful players. Jako is a great on-field leader, but his main value to the club these days comes from having found his versatility in the centre-half roles. The problem with Matera/McIntosh/Kemp is that while their experience is desirable, they end up clogging the bench by 1/2 time with recurring injuries and soreness. We saw on Sunday that Kempy managed to inspire the team just by talking to them before the game, but his usual spot in the side was filled by young blood like Munro.

The bottom line is that a veteran's experience and leadership is no substitute for that veteran's weak performance level. If you want inspiration, get the guy to do a pre-match talk. If you want a football player, get someone who's going to see out four quarters.

 

[McKenna for PM]

That's fine and good, but with respect to the players in question, some of their situations are a lot more ambiguous than that. But is West Coast an example of a team that again doesn't fit into the mould the other (mainly Victorian) teams have set, whereby they (as opposed to us) actually can afford to keep their veterans on and thereby give them a more fitting finish to their careers? It's a horrible prospect to be forced to coerce such champions who have given us so much into retirement.
I'd like to hear from a player or someone with their finger closer to the pulse, the magnitude and nature of the positive effects veterans have on younger players, particularly on the field. It's one thing to be able to talk to them during quarter and half time, but that's what the coaching staff do. It's a different story though for veterans to lead their teammates on the field and in the heat of the moment. I wonder if their influence isn't a lot greater than you think Mr Eagle.

 

[EaglesFlyingHigh.com]

no one doubts their on-field influence, but lately some of them have been spending three quarters of the match sitting injured on the bench more often than not.

 

[jod23]

Well Judge i thought summed it up during the week that it is annoying that Kemp and Matera keep getting injured because they can still play top notch footy in there early 30's and still have a lot to offer the club if the injuries would stay away.

I dont mind if Matera plays every second game, but i think Kemps day is done sadly.

 

[Frodo]

There are two kinds of leaders. Those that lead by example and those that pump up the side and supporters. Occassionally one person has both abilities. Kempy,Milli and Roo are IMO leaders by example whereas Jacko is a pumper.
If injuries prevent those that lead by example from playing a full game then unfortunately prematch and half time addresses as non players are their future. However,the pumpers like Jacko are needed in the team as long as they can do an average job on the field.

I think Cuz is a good captain for the future but Jacko is the guy that the players and supporters look to to lift the side. it's a shame he will never be captain of the Eagles.