We're absolute trash, and you all know it.
We enter the game against Richmond as $2.53 underdogs. Richmond, last year's wooden spooners, who since then have lost two of their best players in Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli. (Liam Baker and Jack Graham also departed). They were tipped to potentially win no games at all in 2025, albeit by pundits with a poor grasp of probability. But lose to Richmond on Sunday, and we'll be 3 games behind them.
So this must be rock bottom, right? The only way is up?
Maybe. The vultures are circling, hoping to pick our carcass clean. Oscar Allen, Harley Reid, Liam Ryan are all considered gettable in this off-season. In 2026, we might be left with nothing but the promise of youth.
But is there a glimmer of hope this weekend? Who better to unpick the Richmond game plan than Andrew McQualter, who in 2023 led them to 7 wins from his 13 games in charge? Who better to pinpoint the inadequacies of their list than Matthew Clarke? (Liam Baker and Jack Graham also left Richmond and will be playing). Does this give us unparalleled insight into the opposition, or is this just another swing on the merry-go-round of mediocrity?
What we need is someone to lift. And it's the WCE BigFooty board, for mine. If we want to turn things around, we need to get back to doing what we're best at. Tired, unfunny jokes. Endless pedantic arguments. Wildly improbable predictions. We can put the team on our back, and lift them to victory. At which point, some version of the song will play, although I can barely remember the last time I heard it. For all I know, it was Auld Lang Syne.
Seriously, though - we're not without a chance. We've shown glimpses of form, and against Essendon we even nearly held on for a win. From last week's loss to Melbourne, we can bring in reinforcements from the Beagles, who are on a glorious one-game winning streak. Will we see a debutant in Malakai Champion, Lucca Grego or Jobe Shanahan, to add to a 2025 list that already contains Bo Allan, Sandy Brock, Hamish Davis, Tom Gross and Archer Reid? (Liam Baker, Jack Graham and Matt Owies also debuted for the club).
Despite all the negativity (in this preview as well as on the board as a whole) I think we'll win. Reuben Ginbey to blanket Sam Lalor, by legal means or otherwise. Liam Baker to kick the winning goal, and shout "Pick 3!" in triumph. Harley Reid to sign a contract extension in celebration.
Eagles by a point.
We enter the game against Richmond as $2.53 underdogs. Richmond, last year's wooden spooners, who since then have lost two of their best players in Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli. (Liam Baker and Jack Graham also departed). They were tipped to potentially win no games at all in 2025, albeit by pundits with a poor grasp of probability. But lose to Richmond on Sunday, and we'll be 3 games behind them.
So this must be rock bottom, right? The only way is up?
Maybe. The vultures are circling, hoping to pick our carcass clean. Oscar Allen, Harley Reid, Liam Ryan are all considered gettable in this off-season. In 2026, we might be left with nothing but the promise of youth.
But is there a glimmer of hope this weekend? Who better to unpick the Richmond game plan than Andrew McQualter, who in 2023 led them to 7 wins from his 13 games in charge? Who better to pinpoint the inadequacies of their list than Matthew Clarke? (Liam Baker and Jack Graham also left Richmond and will be playing). Does this give us unparalleled insight into the opposition, or is this just another swing on the merry-go-round of mediocrity?
What we need is someone to lift. And it's the WCE BigFooty board, for mine. If we want to turn things around, we need to get back to doing what we're best at. Tired, unfunny jokes. Endless pedantic arguments. Wildly improbable predictions. We can put the team on our back, and lift them to victory. At which point, some version of the song will play, although I can barely remember the last time I heard it. For all I know, it was Auld Lang Syne.
Seriously, though - we're not without a chance. We've shown glimpses of form, and against Essendon we even nearly held on for a win. From last week's loss to Melbourne, we can bring in reinforcements from the Beagles, who are on a glorious one-game winning streak. Will we see a debutant in Malakai Champion, Lucca Grego or Jobe Shanahan, to add to a 2025 list that already contains Bo Allan, Sandy Brock, Hamish Davis, Tom Gross and Archer Reid? (Liam Baker, Jack Graham and Matt Owies also debuted for the club).
Despite all the negativity (in this preview as well as on the board as a whole) I think we'll win. Reuben Ginbey to blanket Sam Lalor, by legal means or otherwise. Liam Baker to kick the winning goal, and shout "Pick 3!" in triumph. Harley Reid to sign a contract extension in celebration.
Eagles by a point.
it’s game day
