Our midfield

[Geonet]

An article from Martin Blake at the Age, written before the game between us and Brisbane, says that the Lions are clear favourites for the flag because no other team in the competition can match their midfield. All their four midfielders are All-Australians ! So my question is: what do you people think of the Eagles midfield, given that at least yesterday, we beat Brisbane at their own game ? Was it just one off or do we really have a midfield that can potentially become one of the best in the competition ? And even if we have four good midfielders which I think we have, is there any depth in that part of the field ? Can we rotate the players and still win the most contested possessions in the midfield ? Your opinion ?

 

[jod23]

I think our midfield is developing into one of the best in the league...

Ben Cousins - no more needs to be said, in the top 3 or 4 midfielders in the competition.

Daniel Kerr - really taking an extra step this year, has been our second best midfielder this season behind Cuz. No second year blues for this kidd. Gets in and under and is quickly earning respect from other clubs, wont be long before he starts getting tagged.

Chris Judd - only played 4 games but i wouldnt be surprised if he is tagged in his 5th game Runs through the lines, kicks goals, great skills. Everybody knows how good he is.

David Wirrpunda - he is enjoying his experiment in the midfield and it is working, very attacking player with sublime skills, can play anywhere and kick goals. Needs more consistency now after he lost his confidence in the Judge years.

Rowan Jones - most underated tagger in the business. Good mark with good skills and can play forward. One day people will start noticed how valuble he is to our midfield.

Chad Fletcher - we know how good he can be, see round 1. Just need to do it consistently, if he can start doing it consistently then he will be one of the best midfielders going around.

Then if you wanna rotate the midfield, you've got Banners, Braun, Chambers, Wooden ready to come in. Im sure theres a couple i have forgotten. There all quality players and most are still getting better.

The 6 that i mentioned though, if they continue to get better which i think they will then we will be able to beat any midfield on any given day.

Not just yet though...

 

[Goldenblue]

Originally posted by Geonet
An article from Martin Blake at the Age

Explains it all Geonet.

The Victorian media would love to see us on the bottom so they can sharpen their poisonous pens to kick the boots in. These guys in the Vic media has no idea really on our great side. They make these assumptions without taking into account the class we do have on the park. They still see us as an aging side....

Damn fools.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Our players have the makings of a great midfield.
Cousins is already among the best.
Kerr was the best midfielder to come into the league in the last 2 yrs(IMO).
Judd is already being touted as a star of the future and the likely winner of the Rising star.
Wirrpunda has silky skills, and if he can get back to the form of early 2000 (where he was among the brownlow favourites) he will be right up there with the best.

Pretty much the same as what Jod said, we have the talent to be the best, now all they need is a couple of years to gel together and gain some confidence in each other.

Now all we need is McDougall to mature a bit so he can play at CHF and we will have a hell of a team in 2003+

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes

Now all we need is McDougall to mature a bit so he can play at CHF and we will have a hell of a team in 2003+

If he doesnt get his act together soon he will have lost his spot to Gaspar who is playing pretty damn well!

 

[Mead]

True.. The thing is, we have some marvelously talented players.. But with the exception of Kerr, Cousins, and (maybe) Wirrapunda, they still have to prove they can maintain their standards consistently.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Originally posted by jod23
If he doesnt get his act together soon he will have lost his spot to Gaspar who is playing pretty damn well!

I always thought Gaspar would take over from Jako at CHB. He has the defensive genes (see D.Gaspar) to succeed

 

[Visro]

Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes


I always thought Gaspar would take over from Jako at CHB. He has the defensive genes (see D.Gaspar) to succeed

He probably will but because we have Jako in such fine form, we don't need to play down back, unless there is someone Ottens-like. + he is doing a pretty good job at CHF anyway.

 

[Geonet]

They make these assumptions without taking into account the class we do have on the park. They still see us as an aging side....

Goldenblue, I think they are now starting to notice the Eagles. At least some supporters are already saying that coming to Perth is the toughest road trip in footy when at the start of the season, most clubs were quite happy to play us over here. They thought we would be once again the easy beats of the competition. There was a time we were the most hated AFL club, because of our success, but now, if you read "aus.sport.aussie-rules" you'll see Essendon supporters praise our effort against the Brisbane But if by any chance we become again the powerhouse we once were, it is just a matter of time for us to reclaim the "most disliked AFL team" honour.

 

[Mr Eagle]

Originally posted by Geonet
There was a time we were the most hated AFL club, because of our success, but now, if you read "aus.sport.aussie-rules" you'll see Essendon supporters praise our effort against the Brisbane

The world is, unfortunately, not run by clones of David J. Richardson I still dare say there are far more Victorians who would rather see us fail than succeed.

(yes I hang around a.s.a-r and r.s.f.a as well...look for 'Primal' whenever West Coast's jumpers are mentioned )

 

[Geonet]

look for 'Primal' whenever West Coast's jumpers are mentioned

So Mr. Eagle is Primal ? Good to know that ! I've read quite a few your posts over there.

 

[Captain Random]

So Geonet and Primal are here. Any other Usenet Eagles posters hanging around?