Midfield depth

[WCE_Phill]

I think with the amount of injuries I think we'll find it hard to WIN the flag.

Not giving up on this year, but forward thinking for next year *Plus I'm on a RDO*

Our defence and forward lines are awesome *Fully fit that is* and we have some good depth in those 2 lines.

However, I think the midfield is good but is 1-2 players short.

We have Priddis, Kerr, Shuey, Scooter, Gaff, Rosa, Stevens, Swift, Embley and Dalziell.

With Masten, Sheppard & Lecras rotating through.

Bolded are players that would be best 21 at the Crows, Swans, Hawks or Magpies.

Stevens and Swift are not the answers as the next few coming through.

This trade period should be like 04/05 (Chick and Stenglein) we must go after quaility mid cos if Priddis, Kerr or Shuey were to go down for any length of time, we would be stuffed.

Possible options, going on current ladder.

1. Trade Stevens and pick 14 to the Bulldogs for pick 5 or the Blues for pick 7 (Try and get another Gaff - ready made that is)

2. Go after Daniel Rich

3. Offer Steele Sidebottom a sh!t load of cash (Surely there wouldn't be much left for him)

4. Go after a free agent (Steve Johnson, Clint Young, Danyle Pearce, Goddard, Montanga)

Thoughts?

I would favour 2 or 3. As we are in premiership mode

 

[Curlza]

i would say dont worry about the free agents they will want too much and stay around too long. i think try get rid of swift for a draft pick and smash some game time (even if only sub like gaffy last yr) early as possible

 

[Nuke Fremantle]

Agree that the midfield is the biggest weakness of the current squad. Its like we've turned 180 degrees since 2005-06.

I think with the amount of injuries I think we'll find it hard to WIN the flag.

Not giving up on this year, but forward thinking for next year *Plus I'm on a RDO*


Possible options, going on current ladder.

1. Trade Stevens and pick 14 to the Bulldogs for pick 5 or the Blues for pick 7 (Try and get another Gaff - ready made that is) You'd have to be a bloody good salesman to pull that off. I think most clubs would say "huh? Koby who?".

2. Go after Daniel Rich Didn't he sign a new contract this year?

3. Offer Steele Sidebottom a sh!t load of cash (Surely there wouldn't be much left for him) If we had the room in the salary cap I suppose its feasible, but Sidebottom seems content where he is right now.

4. Go after a free agent (Steve Johnson, Clint Young, Danyle Pearce, Goddard, Montanga) Again what's our slary cap situation like? We'd also have to make sure that if we made an offer to a player that they were coming over for the right reasons (eg. a shot at a flag) rather than being purely motivated by $$$.

Thoughts?

I would favour 2 or 3. As we are in premiership mode

Just putting this one out there but I reckon that Darling could play a bit in the midfield next year but only if the rest of our first choice forwardline are up and running.

 

[Ochre]

Stevens and Swift are not the answers as the next few coming through.

Ffs they're 21 & 22 and have played 40 games between them. Masten was the most useless player to ever play AFL at that point and look at him now. Ditto with Scott Selwood, Will Schofield, Eric Mackenzie and Brad Ebert.

They didn't play well yesterday but to write them off is just ridiculous.

 

[WCE_Phill]

Ffs they're 21 & 22 and have played 40 games between them. Masten was the most useless player to ever play AFL at that point and look at him now. Ditto with Scott Selwood, Will Schofield, Eric Mackenzie and Brad Ebert.

They didn't play well yesterday but to write them off is just ridiculous.

Masten at least showed some potentially.

I don't see anything in those 2. Theres already a thread on this matter, so won't go into it.

 

[ziad]

Ffs they're 21 & 22 and have played 40 games between them. Masten was the most useless player to ever play AFL at that point and look at him now. Ditto with Scott Selwood, Will Schofield, Eric Mackenzie and Brad Ebert.

They didn't play well yesterday but to write them off is just ridiculous.

agreed

move on

may I add the class shown in traffic by Shep (early in the game) was A+ Grade stuff.

 

[WCE_Phill]

Nuke, someone like Goddard or Montanga, would come here for the success!

They came so close and will won't to fill that void.

 

[Ochre]

Masten at least showed some potentially.

I don't see anything in those 2. Theres already a thread on this matter, so won't go into it.

He had a 2-3 good games a year and that was when he was playing 15-22 full games a season. Swifts played 2.5 games and shown some really good form in the Brisbane and Collingwood games and Kobys played 2.25 games in the past 2 seasons. Both are playing as well in the WAFL as Masten did whenever he was sent back.

 

[WCE_Phill]

He had a 2-3 good games a year and that was when he was playing 15-22 full games a season. Swifts played 2.5 games and shown some really good form in the Brisbane and Collingwood games and Kobys played 2.25 games in the past 2 seasons. Both are playing as well in the WAFL as Masten did whenever he was sent back.

They might or might not get to Masten level. But if we want to push for flag while Kerr, Cox and Glass are around. Then we need another mid of quailty in this coming draft/trade period!

 

[QS]

If we got Goddard lynch would have someone to pat on the head regularly. Like a pet of sorts.

 

[jdisc]

Why would you suggest we get ready made midfielders, then suggest we trade for draft picks?

Steele isn't going anywhere

I've always thought the rookie draft is completely misused. I would suggest we pick up 1-2 mature age recruits. But not hams/strijk style, I mean the top best/fairest quality midfielders from the WAFL/SANFL/VFL.

Eg gold coast and horsley

 

[ChampRevesby]

There is no doubt we are missing depth in the midfield and when Kerr and Embers move on in the next few years we might be in trouble. Lets hope the club has a plan to get a few more elite players in the middle.

 

[Masto]

We are not as bad as we looked on the weekend. Sydney are a hardened team who got us at a lucky time and took advantage of it. Hopefully those guys learned a thing or two yesterday.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Midfield isn't that bad but our real strength of the team is our bank line, ruck and forward line. If we are injury free we are more than capable of matching any team. A top line mid would be nice but not essential

 

[Bacchus]

i would say dont worry about the free agents they will want too much and stay around too long. i think try get rid of swift for a draft pick and smash some game time (even if only sub like gaffy last yr) early as possible

Pick 500?

 

[Bacchus]

I think Neates should be given a chance as part of the midfield/fwd rotation. Won't be the class all round midfielder we're looking for (Coniglio?) but could add something IMO, like Blair for Collingwood.

 

[FLETCH41]

I didn't know where to put this so sorry if it's the wrong place! I was just watching Luke Shuey's weekly spot on the Nova website from last week ( usually audio but was a vid this time) and towards the end of the clip they showed his crutches! He rolled his ankle last week at training he said he should be right to start training this week! I immediately thought ***k how long does a rolled ankle take to recover from?? Is there a chance he won't be right when he comes back from suspension??? I can't take anymore injuries.. Seriously no more...(sorry if overreacting , can't help It )

 

[Art OF war]

We need to fly Woosh, Glass and Shuey to see Boak ASAP!

In all seriousness I think we just need to let the boys develop. Woosha has done it before so let him do it again.

We had 9 players out including Darling. Our depth is very good and if we have a good run with injuries next year we will dominate

 

[mattyc75]

definately need more quality depth in the midfield,swift,stevens and dalziell arent pushing for spots,they are just there to fill the gaps caused by injury/suspension.they arent fighting with anyone in the 22 just with each other.when priddis was out we got hammered on the inside,not sure if swift or stevens were even brought in to cover him,shows you how highly regarded they are within the MC
Darling could help in there,play the role lynch did for a season ,lecras too.
definately draft midfielders this yr and as someone else said maybe go for the top mid from a state league

 

[QS]

Captain obvious article strikes!

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7155/newsid/141639/default.aspx

WEST Coast on-baller Matt Priddis says the Eagles' midfield will need to rise to another level this season if it is going to challenge for the premiership after being shown up by the top-placed Sydney Swans on Sunday.

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7155/newsid/141639/default.aspx

 

[Prem87]

We lost the game in the midfield - our midfield has been our worst performing third all year - clearances, clearances, clearances.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

I think Neates should be given a chance as part of the midfield/fwd rotation. Won't be the class all round midfielder we're looking for (Coniglio?) but could add something IMO, like Blair for Collingwood.

Blair is pretty average, we don't need role players we aren't short on them. We need more attacking ball winners that hunt there own ball and use it well.

 

[ziad]

We need to fly Woosh, Glass and Shuey to see Boak ASAP!

In all seriousness I think we just need to let the boys develop. Woosha has done it before so let him do it again.

We had 9 players out including Darling. Our depth is very good and if we have a good run with injuries next year we will dominate

we had ten out with darling. Fox didnt include Hams and listed 8 not including darling.

it is beyond me how people think the game was in any representative of our list.

Put in kennedy, lecras and co -suddenly NN/Cox play an opportunist role deap and draw an opponent back, darling takes the third defender and the swans midfield must be more defensive in their structure. Newman and hill become far more dangerous.

Waters and Scofield open up with run, Shep and Gaff still run hard.

If masten could kick 3 in a weak team?

we would / may have spanked the swans

 

[Chris_6678]

I didn't know where to put this so sorry if it's the wrong place! I was just watching Luke Shuey's weekly spot on the Nova website from last week ( usually audio but was a vid this time) and towards the end of the clip they showed his crutches! He rolled his ankle last week at training he said he should be right to start training this week! I immediately thought ***k how long does a rolled ankle take to recover from?? Is there a chance he won't be right when he comes back from suspension??? I can't take anymore injuries.. Seriously no more...(sorry if overreacting , can't help It )

He will be fine he rolled his ankle in the warm up before the port pre-season game and was fine the next week. Takes about a week to heal and just needs to not walk on it for a few days! he will be sweet for the Lions match.

 

[worsfold]

Our disposal is still letting us down - were just turning the ball over too much.
sydney played the rucks very well blocking the jump at the ball without infringing