In which game did the Eagles play their best footy in 2001?
Our victories came against two pathetic clubs in StKilda and Fremantle, and I'm not sure we saw the players at their best in those games.
Personally I thought it was the Round.11 match against the Brisbane Lions. It was the game that probably gave me the most optimism for the future as well.
The eventual margin was 22 points, but I don't think it was a true reflection of how close the game was.
In fact if it hadn't started to pour down with rain, we might have even snatched a win.
Gardy gave Clark Keating a real thrashing, and Michael Voss was well and truly beaten by Ben Cousins.
The defence also performed well. Even though Milli was injured and Jako was at Centre Half Forward.
Carroll won his battle with Lynch, and young Travis Gaspar showed his talent with a victory over Jonathan Brown.
It was the only game in which I saw the team play with real vigour and spirit. They fought tooth and nail for every contested ball, and whenever the Lions had the ball there was a tonne of pressure put on them by our players.
The point is, that this match showed that if the Eagles play four quarters of solid footy, fight for every contested ball, apply constant pressure to the opposition, and are in the right frame of mind, that they can still be a competitive force in the AFL.
If Woosha can get the best out of our players, we have a bit better luck with injuries, and the spirit returns to the club, then I don't think we'll be the cellar dweller that everyone seems to be predicting.
Our victories came against two pathetic clubs in StKilda and Fremantle, and I'm not sure we saw the players at their best in those games.
Personally I thought it was the Round.11 match against the Brisbane Lions. It was the game that probably gave me the most optimism for the future as well.
The eventual margin was 22 points, but I don't think it was a true reflection of how close the game was.
In fact if it hadn't started to pour down with rain, we might have even snatched a win.
Gardy gave Clark Keating a real thrashing, and Michael Voss was well and truly beaten by Ben Cousins.
The defence also performed well. Even though Milli was injured and Jako was at Centre Half Forward.
Carroll won his battle with Lynch, and young Travis Gaspar showed his talent with a victory over Jonathan Brown.
It was the only game in which I saw the team play with real vigour and spirit. They fought tooth and nail for every contested ball, and whenever the Lions had the ball there was a tonne of pressure put on them by our players.
The point is, that this match showed that if the Eagles play four quarters of solid footy, fight for every contested ball, apply constant pressure to the opposition, and are in the right frame of mind, that they can still be a competitive force in the AFL.
If Woosha can get the best out of our players, we have a bit better luck with injuries, and the spirit returns to the club, then I don't think we'll be the cellar dweller that everyone seems to be predicting.
