Prediction Round 18, 2025: Changes vs Port Adelaide

[Dark Sharks]

Rock hard.

Seasoned men.

 

[RookiePick]

Yep he'll basically be a hardened body, on field coach for the younger brigade.

Well now, that depends...

If he goes back and phones it in all he is teaching is how to drop off contests looking for a cheapie and pointing at other people to cover your man because you CBF chasing.

TK has never really been a leader, hopefully he's just worn down from the weight of expectation to be the #1 guy. A spell down where there's less pressure is hopefully the tonic he needs to find some spark again before next season.

 

[UseR2006]

Im confused as to why we all agreed a 2 year deal if we didnt know what we were going to do with him and he didnt know what position he wanted to play and where we wanted to play him

We bought a couch without anywhere to put it and any thought on why we want it

Its amateur hour no matter how you put it

On the contract I don't disagree. However I can also see why the club extended him.
Experienced players are dropping like flies and we don't want a team that is ONLY kids kicking around. Outside of Sheed who hadn't retired yet and Yeo who was at best likely to only get back for a few games at the end of the year depth in the mid role was severely lacking no matter how well he was going.

Obviously with Sheed gone and Yeo also pretty much season done before it even started having someone around at either level is going to be a help for the kids. It's not the best solution by a mile but also not the worst given trying to bring in a decent experienced mid would cost a fortune either in picks, money or both.

Will he last the 2 yr deal? I doubt it, I suspect he calls it sometime next year especially if we manage to bring in more experience in the middle.

 

[Tugga27]

On the contract I don't disagree. However I can also see why the club extended him.
Experienced players are dropping like flies and we don't want a team that is ONLY kids kicking around. Outside of Sheed who hadn't retired yet and Yeo who was at best likely to only get back for a few games at the end of the year depth in the mid role was severely lacking no matter how well he was going.

Obviously with Sheed gone and Yeo also pretty much season done before it even started having someone around at either level is going to be a help for the kids. It's not the best solution by a mile but also not the worst given trying to bring in a decent experienced mid would cost a fortune either in picks, money or both.

Will he last the 2 yr deal? I doubt it, I suspect he calls it sometime next year especially if we manage to bring in more experience in the middle.

A lot on here didn't mind the extension.

But why on earth wasn't it for one year?
No club would've been chasing Kelly and it's highly unlikely he would move interstate for one year anyway.

Two years was just mind boggling.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Flight leaves at 2pm, so hopefully we get some reports from the airport shortly.

 

[Astro7]

I like that TK dropped himself. Shows at least some awareness of his own form issues and rather than paper over the cracks he's going back to work on it.
Will he break back into the mids? I doubt it. But the WAFL has been screaming for an experienced head around the mid group all season so having him back there for more than 10 minutes is going to be huge.

May not impact at AFL level directly anymore but can still have a helping hand in the 2's.

For the rest of the team selection it's going to be a fascinating watch for the bench. Some players going to be stiff to miss which is a good place to be.

Agree, it's honest and shows some pride, contrary to many a popular opinion.

 

[bzparkes]

Well now, that depends...

If he goes back and phones it in all he is teaching is how to drop off contests looking for a cheapie and pointing at other people to cover your man because you CBF chasing.

TK has never really been a leader, hopefully he's just worn down from the weight of expectation to be the #1 guy. A spell down where there's less pressure is hopefully the tonic he needs to find some spark again before next season.

Even if he's not the greatest on field leader(we wouldn't as we don't play with him but the young guys speak quite highly of his leadership, especially the last time he played WAFL), he's still a rock hard seasoned man who will draw attention away from the younger brigade.

Currently, the BEagles only have ammos players doing that, if at all.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

On one hand it's great professional self-awareness and honesty.

On the other hand, he signed on knowing he wasn't playing good footy, which contradicts this.

(Not that him being offered a contract is in any way his fault. It's just deplorable list management and somebody should be held accountable for not encouraging Tim to work hard for it later in the season).


Idk. 2026-27 will be dark and full of terrors, maybe Tim still has a role to play in the war to come. Get us a win in the WAFL and 30 plus touches this weekend and we'll go from there.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

From Horsley after Kelly’s earlier WAFL game

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Bazzo in, no Gross

 

[UseR2006]

Bazzo in, no Gross

View attachment 2364949

"West Coast defender Rhett Bazzo poised to make Eagles return as midfielder Tom Gross left out​

West Coast defender Rhett Bazzo is on the plane to Adelaide and looks set to play just his second game in two years.
Bazzo is poised to take the place of pre-season recruit Sandy Brock in the backline to take on Port Adelaide and Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The rangy backman has played 21 games since debuting in 2022 but has battled a string of serious injuries, including a foot fracture he suffered in January.
The 21-year-old has returned to play 12 matches for West Coast in the WAFL this season.
That has included an impressive run of games where he has been used as a roll-off interceptor. He had 30 disposals in a loss to Claremont a fortnight ago.
Small forward duo Matt Owies and Noah Long were both also on the Eagles’ flight to Adelaide on Friday after they were included in the extended team off the back of seven goals between them at WAFL level last week.
Midfielder Tom Gross was the only member of the extended bench not on the plane.
More to come"

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Not sure why we need two emergencies.

 

[THE A5]

Thank **** Tim dropped himself cause it was never going to happen. Hopefully he actually cracks in from the first quarter this time. He needs a solid few weeks in the 2’s cause we all know he is a league above for WAFL.

 

[Mulldogg]

 

[squashface]

Hopefully Bazzo get a block of games. Kid has talent.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

**** off campaigner?

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

Not sure why we need two emergencies.

You seen us play?

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

You seen us play?

And how does an extra bloke sitting in the Adelaide Oval stand help us play better?

 

[jdisc]

Noah schlong on the plane as per social media post

Maric to watch the Garfield movie

 

[Elite Pete]

And how does an extra bloke sitting in the Adelaide Oval stand help us play better?

Someone must be under an injury cloud or taking the extra incase of weather? Would prefer only the one travelling emergency considering the WAFL have the bye next week too.

 

[squashface]

Noah schlong on the plane as per social media post

Maric to watch the Garfield movie

He also said he wanted to watch a movie from his childhood so I assumed it was the 2004 Bill Murray one but then he showed a thumbnail of the 2024 one to the camera. Interesting.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Noah schlong on the plane as per social media post

Maric to watch the Garfield movie

Makes sense...Garfield is like the pope to ginger people

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

And how does an extra bloke sitting in the Adelaide Oval stand help us play better?

Gut feel is if its pouring with rain we leave out J.Williams to go with Long

Mini I feel has the tactical nous to do something like that

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

And how does an extra bloke sitting in the Adelaide Oval stand help us play better?

It was a joke, bruz.

 

[flyinghi64]

Gross must be thinking WTF do I have to do?
Hope he kills it again in the WAFL and Kelly helps him out.