Game Day Round 4, 2025: West Coast vs GWS

[TY24]

ORANGE TEAM v. WEST COAST
Sunday, April 6 - 11.10am bouncedown @ ENGIE Stadium


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Yeah, I'll be real ladies and gentlemen, the only thing that's lower than our chance of winning this game is probably going to be the attendance on Sunday.

Our brutal start to 2025 continues, a 4th game in a row against a finals bound side, and a 2nd road trip against a side with a decent shot at the flag.

Welcome to the big time, Mini!

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It's not all doom and gloom though. We've got 3 exciting young blokes earning their wings this week:

Introducing... THE YOUF


#27: Tom Gross


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It's safe to say this young man has just about been the most hyped draftee we've had since that other bloke we got last year. The Oakleigh Chargers product is seen as an absolute steal for us, taken at pick #46. He seriously impressed in pre-season and has been the standout performer in the Beagles two WAFL pre-season wins. Go well young fella.

#38: Hamish Davis


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I'll be honest, I don't know a heap about this young bloke, and I think his debut has taken a few of us by surprise. A local Perth boy, Hamish was taken at pick #65 after an impressive body of work at Claremont, highlighted by being named BOG in a Colts Premiership. I'm not 100% sure what his role in the side will be but I hope he tears it up wherever he plays.

#41: Sandy Brock


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I think most of us are pretty excited to see what this guy is made of. Sandy joined us in the 2025 Supplemental Selection Period after spending most of the pre-season as a train-on player with us. It took him a little bit to come out of his shell as an Eagle. but since signing on the dotted line, he's gone from strength to strength and has earned his senior call-up.

LAST TIME THEY MET:

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Ugly. Not much to talk about there. Our recent record against the Giants isn't awful, we somehow snagged one of our 3 wins in 2023 against them.

CAN WE WIN?
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I mean, there's always a chance. But no, probably not. Damage control will be the name of the game here. Get on the plane, crack in for 4 quarters, try not to disgrace ourselves, get back on the plane.

I think most of us will be happy to see some green shoots and the margin looking somewhat respectable. Anything beyond that is a bonus. After the week this club has had in the media, giving them the satisfaction of being able to pile on after another heavy defeat will be super deflating.

I'm looking forward to tuning in and seeing these young faces have a crack. I've heard nothing but good things about Gross and Brock, hopefully we can give them an opportunity to lock down a spot in the 23. I'm also interested to see what Davis has to offer.

Lastly, I'd love nothing more than for Oscar Allen to put this last week behind him and put in a real skippers performance. Let your footy do the talking, young man.

As an aside, at least the temperature doesn't start with a 3 this week:




Prediction: GWS by a lot, but not too much. Tom Gross to win 14 brownlows, Sandy Brock to enter the stadium driving his uncle's Monaro and do some donuts on the Showground for Livestock, match attendance to be halved when we cull the extended bench this afternoon.

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[TY24]

Lineups:



GWS CHANGES:
IN: Riccardi
OUT: Keefe (omitted)


WCE CHANGES:
IN: Brock, Gross, Hall, Davis
OUT: McGovern (inj), Ryan (illness), Hewett (inj), Edwards (omitted)

 

[sharps24]

Exceptional changes, all it needs now is Cripps/Long late out for Rawlinson and these are the most satisfying changes in the last 5 years. Allen to play back obviously.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Pretty shocking to go in with a debutant as the only recognised KPD.
Seems like Mini really doesn't rate Harry Edwards.
Best of luck to Maric!

 

[Biggie]

Danger Game

WCE by 25

 

[TY24]

Danger Game

WCE by 25

 

[quackish]

Interesting to see how our slow unskilled mids go against their fast highly skilled mids. Should be a close game

 

[EagleEgo]

Maric on Cadman will be a good one:
1) Both were number 1 pick with 6 months separation. (National draft vs MSD)
2) Both were midfielder before growth spurts.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Not stoked to see my big pumpkin headed snookums Harry Edwards left out of the side, but hey that's footy. I still reckon there's a player in there somewhere and hope one day he can work on his deficiencies and play more to his strengths.

Now for the ins...very erect, they're doing viagra like things to me. Expect a loss, laced with some exciting moments from the young guns and plenty of energy and swagger.

: GWS by 40 points

: Eagles by 2 points

 

[darksquare]

: GWS by 40 points

: Eagles by 2 points

Line betting: GWS by 54.5...

 

[flyinghi64]

Nice little write up on 5 minutes notice

Unfortunately I see nothing but pain this weekend.

Just show some fight and competitiveness and I will be happy.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Line betting: GWS by 54.5...

Thanks Browny

 

[BSD]

Pretty shocking to go in with a debutant as the only recognised KPD.
Seems like Mini really doesn't rate Harry Edwards.
Best of luck to Maric!

Don't blame Mini, Edwards is a list clogger that should never have been drafted.
His relatives would be the only ones that rate him as a player.

 

[Broken_Chairs]

Damning for Edwards - subbed out and then dropped.

Hope Brock goes well - & Maric/Ginbeast on Stringer probably isn't a bad match up.

 

[sharps24]

Damning for Edwards - subbed out and then dropped.

Hope Brock goes well - & Maric/Ginbeast on Stringer probably isn't a bad match up.

Oscar Allen runner up for most humiliated player on the list this week, if he wasn't so horribly out of form you'd of backed him to take the honours but here we are.

 

[Hoskin300]

Pretty shocking to go in with a debutant as the only recognised KPD.
Seems like Mini really doesn't rate Harry Edwards.
Best of luck to Maric!

Edwards was bad last week but Barrass also had shocking games when the supply was too high. Pretty harsh.

 

[bzparkes]

Edwards was bad last week but Barrass also had shocking games when the supply was too high. Pretty harsh.

Barrass at least knows when to punch the ball.

How many times has Edwards tried to mark it instead of spoil, only to fumble and the oppo immediately kick a goal?

 

[SAweagle]

Picking Allen is utterly nutless. Joke of an organisation

 

[Astro7]

Allen only has to have a good game and all is forgiven, if not this week, maybe against the Blues with Waterman back...

 

[BeornJ]

Should be an interesting game.

Hopefully we see individual improvement from Allen and Kelly and overall improvements in clearances.

Good to get more games into Da YOOF as well.

 

[Dark Sharks]

I must say I find this whole Hedwards omission on top of a McGovern injury and Allen into defense thing very bizarre. Both weird in their own right.

Firstly giving up on our key forward, who also happens to be our captain, playing defence just seems very... Premature. Also stupid. Particularly with Waterman not playing.

Without Hedwards he'll certainly have to go into defense which just seems like a cop out. "Oh he's in shit form as a forward for a couple week so let's just bin that idea and he can play defense..." Lel. Firstly he hasn't played defence properly in how long? Last time I recall consecutive games down back was 2018 or 2019? Secondly he's clearly a better forward than a defender. Nobody is recruiting him as a RFA in the open market to play defense. Whole thing is very weird.

Which then leads us into Hedwards. He was average last week and I don't particularly rate him in general, but gee whiz that's a bizarre call when he's clearly our next best KPD behind McGovern. He did a number on Larkey in that pre season game only weeks ago.

Remember when clubs were sniffing around after him in the offseason and we extended his contract because it was super important? Well that bloke has now been dropped in favour of a SSP pickup and a makeshift forward/defender. Hooley dooley. May as well just ask your manager for a trade right now.

Going to make for some delicious viewing.

 

[Matele]

I really want a win. Imagine 3 of the ‘big 4’ in the bottom 4 of the ladder. Delicious.

 

[Matele]

I really want a win. Imagine 3 of the ‘big 4’ in the bottom 4 of the ladder. Delicious.

View attachment 2272588

Plus Melbourne. **** the MFC.

 

[Bender_]

I must say I find this whole Hedwards omission on top of a McGovern injury and Allen into defense thing very bizarre. Both weird in their own right.

Firstly giving up on our key forward, who also happens to be our captain, playing forward just seems very... Premature. Also stupid. Particularly with Waterman not playing.

Without Hedwards he'll certainly have to go into defense which just seems like a cop out. "Oh he's in shit form as a forward for a couple week so let's just bin that idea and he can play defense..." Lel. Firstly he hasn't played defence properly in how long? Last time I recall consecutive games down back was 2018 or 2019? Secondly he's clearly a better forward than a defender. Nobody is recruiting him as a RFA in the open market to play defense. Whole thing is very weird.

Which then leads us into Hedwards. He was average last week and I don't particularly rate him in general, but gee whiz that's a bizarre call when he's clearly our next best KPD behind McGovern. He did a number on Larkey in that pre season game only weeks ago.

Remember when clubs were sniffing around after him in the offseason and we extended his contract because it was super important? Well that bloke has now been dropped in favour of a SSP pickup and a makeshift forward/defender. Hooley dooley. May as well just ask your manager for a trade right now.

Going to make for some delicious viewing.


View attachment 2272582

Weren't you shitting your pants about the likely lack of changes about 48 hours ago?

 

[Kegs15]

I must say I find this whole Hedwards omission on top of a McGovern injury and Allen into defense thing very bizarre. Both weird in their own right.

Firstly giving up on our key forward, who also happens to be our captain, playing forward just seems very... Premature. Also stupid. Particularly with Waterman not playing.

Without Hedwards he'll certainly have to go into defense which just seems like a cop out. "Oh he's in shit form as a forward for a couple week so let's just bin that idea and he can play defense..." Lel. Firstly he hasn't played defence properly in how long? Last time I recall consecutive games down back was 2018 or 2019? Secondly he's clearly a better forward than a defender. Nobody is recruiting him as a RFA in the open market to play defense. Whole thing is very weird.

Which then leads us into Hedwards. He was average last week and I don't particularly rate him in general, but gee whiz that's a bizarre call when he's clearly our next best KPD behind McGovern. He did a number on Larkey in that pre season game only weeks ago.

Remember when clubs were sniffing around after him in the offseason and we extended his contract because it was super important? Well that bloke has now been dropped in favour of a SSP pickup and a makeshift forward/defender. Hooley dooley. May as well just ask your manager for a trade right now.

Going to make for some delicious viewing.


View attachment 2272582

It is weird - not sure this'll happen but for the sake of mad experimentation I'd personally like Allen to stay forward if possible. Feel like their tall forwards would still kill us even with HEdwards in so maybe we're just thinking stuff it, we'll concede in the air and make them work on the rebound.

Brock on Hogan
Maric on Cadman
Ginbey on Riccardi

All will give up some size but are more mobile and bouncy on the rebound. I'm also just curious to see Brock in the deep end against an elite opponent, whether Maric can hold down a specific defensive matchup and whether Ginbey can play like Hurn and use his frame to properly defend someone 5-6cm taller.

If any of those three scenarios come out as a tick that's a win for discovery's sake at least. The Ginbey/Maric/Hough core is already looking like a 10 year backline, really figuring out the first 2 and their limitations will let us build the line around those three. And if Brock is to play alongside Gov he'd ideally take the best forward so Gov can rebound - this weekend gives us great info on whether that'll work.

All for discovery's sake and I'd rather we lose taking some big swings than lose in the same way we always do. Allen should play mostly forward and perhaps swing back for 5 min damage control when they get a run on.