Should we win 5 games only or more?

[Visro]

Well we all know that WC this season will most likely end up with a top 5 draft pick. Under our current performances this pick will be #2. If we 5 games or less however we will get another draft pick at around #5. Should we aim only to win 5 games or less so that we get this extra draft pick and bargaining power or does saving face become a priority? What does everyone think?

Vis

 

[Frodo]

It's areally hard one. I always want the Eagles to win but if we finish with 6 or 7 wins we really have thrown away a good draft pick. I look back to 1989 when we were 2-12 and then won I think 7 of the last 9. I'd love to see that and our squad is not that bad now combined with a much easier run of games. The youngsters playing in a winning team brings them on better too.
GRRRRRRRR....I can't decide what is best so I went for choice 3

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

As a supporter, yes we should attempt to win as many games as we can.

As a realist, we should play the youngsters with the purpose of developing them and not winning anymore than 5 games for the season.

IMO, we should take the latter option, only going for a win against Freo and St. Kilda. Worst thing i could imagine is us getting the wooden spoon, so staying in front of Freo should be one of our goals.

 

[Frodo]

Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
Worst thing i could imagine is us getting the wooden spoon, so staying in front of Freo should be one of our goals.

The stupidity of the situation is that the wooden spoon guarantees us the best two draft picks. Playing for draft picks is crazy. The whole system needs overhauling so everyone has incentive to win every game.

BTW we can win 5. So Fro, Saints and Melbourne maybe although I have this feeling about beating the pies!

 

[jod23]

Stupid question. Win as many as possible. We are already going to get a top draft pick anyways so why would we want to lose less than 5 to get another. I would rather have 1 good youngster and save face than be a laughing stock and get 2 good youngsters. The players would never go out there to lose anyway and expect a few more wins late in the year. If we try our best and still only win 4 or 5 games then bad luck but thanks for the picks

But im still sweating over being just 8 points in front of the Dockers, just think if they would have won the derby we would be sitting in wooden spoon territory. I DO NOT WANT THE SPOON. So i hope we can beat Collingwood this weekend and get a nice 3 game break over the shockers.

 

[Visro]

Well looking at the fixtures for the rest of the season, whether we win 5 or more is pretty much in the balance. We only need 4 more wins to miss out on the extra draft pick. The fixtures and our chances:

Rd 12: Collingwood - Loss
Rd 13: Melbourne - Loss
Rd 14: Adelaide - Loss
Rd 15: Kangaroos - Win
Rd 16: Geelong - Win
Rd 17: Sydney - Loss
Rd 18: St Kilda - Win
Rd 19: Fremantle - Win
Rd 20: Richmond - Loss
Rd 21: Essendon - Loss
Rd 22: Port Adelaide - Loss

Thats 4 more possible wins for the season which would mean we miss out on the extra top 10 draft pick. Now don't go on about me not being a faithful supporter when I say this but I think WC would benefit from only winning five games. With 1 top draft pick we could pick up a good player and with the other trade it for an established West Aussie from another club. The club would benefit in the long run. I would prefer to start looking to our future than salvaging the rest of the season and missing out on the finals anyway.

Vis

 

[Frodo]

I think you're calling it about right Vis but I would put Melbourne down as a win too. The nasty side of it is that if you are right we get to the Dockers game with 5 wins, the Freo match, and three almost certain losses afterwards because the last three teams will be peaking and playing for finals ladder positions and we will be playing rookies!.
What a dilema, do we beat the Dockers and lose a top draft pick!!!!

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Nothing is worth getting beaten by the dockers. I would rather have us finish with 6 wins than lose to Freo.

 

[Captain Random]

Nah, play to win at all times. A pick's a pick but sooner or later the team will have a win that really helps it turn the corner - like that St Kilda game in 1990 (?) where the Eagles came back from 9+ goals down to win. They learned what they could do that night. For mine that was one of the pivotal games in the Eagles' rise (but maybe I'm just building it up in hindsight)

The team's not as bad as they made out against Carlton. What if they knock off Collingwood this Friday? Imagine what that would do for the self-belief of the youngsters

Okay, back in the real world - but for the above, Visro, I think your list is pretty much spot-on

 

[jod23]

I agree with your list Vis but if it does come down to 5 wins and a game against Freo, then win it!! Nothing better than beating Freo. If we win 5 games and stay ahead of the Dockers, that would the dream scenario but i just dont believe that the Dockers will go through winless.

And were still not out of the finals, we just have to win our next 11