Prediction Round 6, 2026: Changes vs Fremantle - With or Without Sultanas

[Miguel Sanchez]

A little bit disappointing that the WAFL side had a good win and zero players from the game were rewarded with selection in the extended squad.

 

[sharps24]

Look I'm a massive Loosh fan but last year when he and Oscar both went out I saw the silver lining in it and ultimately decided it was a positive. Shanahands wouldn't be Shanahands without that happening. Feel like it'll be pretty similar losing Dev and Graham.

That is if and only if Yeo stays fit. But if he does, a combo of Yeo, Reid and Kelly [being the top 3 rated mids anyway] is going to hurt us less than we think if it means more first rotation centre clearance attendances from Alan and Duursma particularly, with some combination of Milan, Hough, Baker and eventually Gross, Hall, Hutchinson.

I don't watch Eagles games for Graham and Robertson appreciation so on balance I'm more excited by the upside of seeing more of our gun first rounders playing second fiddle than I would be them playing wings and flanks. Also completely comfortable rolling with Brock and Young week in week out for the foreseeable future. I don't think we lose much at all, in fact couldn't really ask for a better development scenario than what we now have.

Edit: in essence, all our A grade talent is still out there [and really for the first time of this era] and that is the important thing. Players like Graham and Dev move the needle less than people think, arguably by opening round 2027 they'd be borderline best 23 selections and due to this development opportunity for their replacements thats even more likely to be the case. Which is a positive.

 

[juice568]

A little bit disappointing that the WAFL side had a good win and zero players from the game were rewarded with selection in the extended squad.

One good game doesnt warrant selection and we already have yeo and murdock coming back in

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

One good game doesnt warrant selection and we already have yeo and murdock coming back in

Maric, Cripps and Flynn were also included.

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

View attachment 2584416

I’d love to see what that pub looks like if we win.

They have a great spot there in South Freo. Shame their beers are so mediocre.

 

[Mop]

Champion not in the squad is a bit stiff after that outing. If he backs it up we could be on there.

As I keep banging on about, the best thing for Malakai Champion is sustained WAFL football, learn the craft. Having him yoyo in and out of the senior side is the worst thing for him in my eyes.

He's one of the few players I'd not pick on form merit because big picture, he fills a need we desperately lack quality in. Sustained development matters more.

 

[stallon]

With Graham and Dev out, im hoping Allan gets a really good run in the middle over the next couple of months at least - before Graham comes back in, especially if Yeo misses any more games.
Allan could replace Grahams minutes, McCarthy to take Devs minutes.

More run and burst from the middle but less contested work obviously, but Allan should definitely be decent midfielder minutes over the rest of the year imo.
I just think he brings the most contested work or power to the midfield in the absence of our 2 mature contested mids, out of all the young mids on our list.
Hall is a bit off it lately, prefer Allan to get a go.

Def: Brock, Young, Ginbey, Duggan, Hough, Baker, Lindsay (7)
Mid: Harley, Kelly, Yeo, Allan, McCarthy, Hewett (6)
Wing: Davis, Duursma (2)
Ruck: BW, CDT (2)
Fwd: Waterman, Archer, Shanahan, Murdock, Cripps, Schoenberg (6)

Hewett, Harley, Kelly, CDT to rotate around the forward line as the 7th fwd
Allan and McCarthy to cover the wings as required, McCarthy could even swap with Duursma for small periods to give Worm a bit of CBA time?

Flynn/Owies/Maric to be the emergencies this weekend obviously.

 

[juice568]

Maric, Cripps and Flynn were also included.

Flynn and maric wont make the 23. Cripps unfortuntely will

 

[stallon]

Flynn and maric wont make the 23. Cripps unfortuntely will

Would you prefer Owies?

 

[juice568]

Would you prefer Owies?

Cripps over owies. Would prefer to pump games into champion over both

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Flynn and maric wont make the 23.

Yes, so one or both of those spots could have been used to reward one of the players from the Falcons win.

 

[eagles rule]

As I keep banging on about, the best thing for Malakai Champion is sustained WAFL football, learn the craft. Having him yoyo in and out of the senior side is the worst thing for him in my eyes.

He's one of the few players I'd not pick on form merit because big picture, he fills a need we desperately lack quality in. Sustained development matters more.

I feel the same about Hewett , let him grow his game in the WAFL until he starts showing some leadership and desperation ..Playing a bit role in the AFL will keep him from having that hunger to succeed .

 

[Proeagle]

Maric, Cripps and Flynn were also included.

Lets hope those 3 are wearing the eagles mascot uniform.

 

[stallon]

As I keep banging on about, the best thing for Malakai Champion is sustained WAFL football, learn the craft. Having him yoyo in and out of the senior side is the worst thing for him in my eyes.

He's one of the few players I'd not pick on form merit because big picture, he fills a need we desperately lack quality in. Sustained development matters more.

I wouldnt mind TWilliams and Champion to play minimal if any AFL time this year, but look to set them up to be both named in round 1 next year in place of Cripps and Schoenberg/Yeo(if retire)/something.

 

[Bender_]

They have a great spot there in South Freo. Shame their beers are so mediocre.

At half price their beers are still overpriced for the quality.

 

[Rowan18]

View attachment 2584416

I’d love to see what that pub looks like if we win.

That could cost them a lot of we have another of our slow starts

 

[Seadog]

At half price their beers are still overpriced for the quality.

Don't think too many people are going to rush down there to get one $7 pint of cats piss*.

* I don't mind the joint but never stay for more than a couple.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Surely only 1 of Owies or Crippa plays.
Schoenberg to spend more time in the midfield. Maybe a bit for Hewett too.

 

[Elite Pete]

Really need to see why they signed Macrae and Schoenberg, rather then make them go through the SSP process over the next 6 weeks.

 

[West Fest]

Look I'm a massive Loosh fan but last year when he and Oscar both went out I saw the silver lining in it and ultimately decided it was a positive. Shanahands wouldn't be Shanahands without that happening. Feel like it'll be pretty similar losing Dev and Graham.

That is if and only if Yeo stays fit. But if he does, a combo of Yeo, Reid and Kelly [being the top 3 rated mids anyway] is going to hurt us less than we think if it means more first rotation centre clearance attendances from Alan and Duursma particularly, with some combination of Milan, Hough, Baker and eventually Gross, Hall, Hutchinson.

I don't watch Eagles games for Graham and Robertson appreciation so on balance I'm more excited by the upside of seeing more of our gun first rounders playing second fiddle than I would be them playing wings and flanks. Also completely comfortable rolling with Brock and Young week in week out for the foreseeable future. I don't think we lose much at all, in fact couldn't really ask for a better development scenario than what we now have.

Edit: in essence, all our A grade talent is still out there [and really for the first time of this era] and that is the important thing. Players like Graham and Dev move the needle less than people think, arguably by opening round 2027 they'd be borderline best 23 selections and due to this development opportunity for their replacements thats even more likely to be the case. Which is a positive.

You are a very optimistic person. Love your work. I can't see to much positive development though, if we get flogged every week. I hope you are right.

 

[FKASC]

A little bit disappointing that the WAFL side had a good win and zero players from the game were rewarded with selection in the extended squad.

It’s absolute horse shit. What’s the bet the WAFL side gets thrashed this weekend

 

[RookiePick]

It’s absolute horse shit. What’s the bet the WAFL side gets thrashed this weekend

Kulcha!

 

[FKASC]

Kulcha!

That's it for me for the year lads. I'm only coming back to post AFLW Eagles stuff but as far as the men's side goes I'm scorched.

Catch everyone come finals time

 

[Astro7]

People keep saying CDT needs a rest, how tf do people here know?

Just because he had a quiet game last week vs the Cats?

Hes fine

Even podcasters were saying it. Curious, what suggests he needs a rest, other than a quiet game? Waterman, Harley and others have quiet games, don't need a rest. It's presumed his fitness base is diminished as a young one new to the demands of AFL, meanwhile Duursma is still running around out there. Maybe the oppo had him covered, maybe he had a cold, maybe he's fine?

 

[bzparkes]

Even podcasters were saying it. Curious, what suggests he needs a rest, other than a quiet game? Waterman, Harley and others have quiet games, don't need a rest. It's presumed his fitness base is diminished as a young one new to the demands of AFL, meanwhile Duursma is still running around out there. Maybe the oppo had him covered, maybe he had a cold, maybe he's fine?

Young tall + 5 games = rest needed to nuffies.

It's very surface level stuff.