I thought I might just take a close look at the Eagles side for 2001 and see exactly what it looks like. I will make a few comments that I think on each player. It's quite lengthy so it may take a while to read.
Andrew McDougall- Great raps and is considered our best pick-up. Will probably get a game and should do well. A possible future champ.
Daniel Kerr- Played in the U/17 Australia vs Ireland side and got u/18 All Australian selection. Should be a good player in the future.
Jeremy Humm- Another u/18 rep. Half Forward/back with a tremendous work ethic.
Trent Carroll- Ex-Freo, started well but had a bit of a slow year. Could develop into a good backmen given a few more games. Has the size and strength to match it with the big centre-half forwards.
Dean Kemp- Reckon should have got the Club Champion award, is ageing but Should have 1 more good and consistent year left in him. Great Skillful Player.
David Antonowicz- Made his debut in 2000 and could get more game time.Should develop into a good player. Possible Centre-Half-Forward
Chad Morrison- Had a good season and is a good all-round player. Has got the skill and experience to have another good year.
Drew Banfield- Past Club champion and good midfielder who is looked up to by the other midfielders. Has great skill and is a handy player.
Ben Cousins- Is living up to his raps and could possibly get the captaincy. I a great young player and will take the Eagles to their future success i believe.
Michael Braun- Another good solid player who when in form is wonderful to watch. If that knee holds up will be great for the Eagles this year.
Ashley McIntosh- Has been great but is ageing. May find he struggles but may find him back to good footy.Knee problems could hamper his year.
Josh Wooden- Can't say i like him and hasn't consistently shown that he should get a spot. Has shown glimpses of great footy but consistency is a major problem.
David Sierakowski- I think was a good pick-up and should fit in well wherever he is placed. If played back will add good strength to the backline. Could be that Hard man some thought rintoul would be.
Scott Cummings- If can stay injury free will majorly boost the Eagles. After winning the Coleman medal in 99 had trouble with injury. Can kick goals and lenty of them.
Callum Chambers- Showed that it was worth keeping him on the list for 3 years without playing him. Part of the future of the eagles.
Michael Prior- Needed a change to bring his carrer back on track. Could be very handy wherever he gets played and has the skills to really be useful.
Rowan Jones- Will be a great player. Showed in the last 2 seasons that he will play hard and keep going. Has really impressed selectors this pre-season.
Michael Gardiner- N.O. 1 ruckman who will really come on. Everyone predicts it and it looks like happening. is having a great pre-season and should really help our nidfield get plenty of the ball. Is very agile for a big man.
Darren Glass- Another 2000 debutant who will with game time come on and be an important part of the eagles team. Looks like being a good player.
Michael Collica- Don't know much about him but have heard he can be a good player. Perhaps a winger that the eagles definately need.
Travis Gaspar- A future Key position player who may make his debut in 2001. Can't say anymore as I don't know anymore.
Glen Jakovich- 4 Times Club Champion and and AFL great. Will go great guns in 2001 and could be captain. He is the front-runner. Will be the CHB until he retires but there aren't really any signs that that will be soon.
Greg Harding- From my hometown. Needs to stay injury free to have any chance at doing any good. Have been told by freo supporters he wuld be good if stays fit.
Peter Matera- A west coast eagles great but has struggled in recent times. I reckon this is his last season but will give it all he has got and may play more up forward where he has shown he can kick a goal or 2.
Kane Munro- 2000 debutant, there were so many. Should get more time this year and will grow in the game and should do well. Has good skill and a good footy mind.
Andrew Embley- Good skill and courage makes him good team player who really helps the Eagles out. Will show that he will show he means business this year. Phil Matera- Along with Cummings are the main prong of the attack. Kicks a lot of good goals and it is great to watch him rake the defenders down trying to outrun him. Has come on and will do really well.
Phil Read- Gutsy player who is a team asset. A hard man with a strong will and knows the task. Can go a little over the top but will hopefully find the happy medium
Andrew Williams- Has done well but now needs a good season to show he is the real thing. Can paly well and has the skill too but doesn't always show it.
David Haynes- Should develop into a good player for the eagles. An athletic player who is best suited at half forward or wing. At the 99 draft camp showed an extroadinary marking ability.
Adam Hunter- A potential fuul forward who could get some game play if cummings struggles. Will come on hopefully and show his talent.
Chad Fletcher- Good mid fielder who will come into his own showing his skill and ability to get the ball. Has a good look about him and should do well for the eagles in 2001
David Wirrpunda- Great to watch dashing from the backline. Superb player who if gets a whole season will carve his opponent to shreds. One of the best players on the list that will really help the Eagles this year.
Kasey Green- Showed in 2000 he wants a game and will play well and hard to get it. Should do well and show why he should get a game straight away this year.
Dean Cox- Our second ruckman who along with gardiner will probably carry a fair slice of the work after getting used to AFL. Has a lot of potential and could develop into a good ruckman.
Ryan Turnbull- Even though is still a good player this premiership player may struggle to get a game with the youth now started to come through. Gardiner and Cox are his opponents for a spot and they will probably get the nod. Has been a good player and could get a game in some other teams.
Richard Taylor- Has shown he can play but I don't think consistent enough. Don't know much else about him.
Andrew Donnelly- Did he get delisted and then picked up again. Also may struggle to get a spot but if can show the footy he has played then may still get a spot.
There, finished. From what I have seen it isn't really that bad of a list. A fair bit of youth now, only a couple of old guys like Kemp, McIntosh and Pe.Matera. The main factor that will make or break the Eagles is if that terrible Injury factor that hopefully won't hit again. If it doesn't I reckon you will see them as a 6-8 contender. I won't say they will win the premiership but they won't go ll that bad. What do you think.
Mark Merenda (8 at Richmond)
Andrew McDougall- Great raps and is considered our best pick-up. Will probably get a game and should do well. A possible future champ.
Daniel Kerr- Played in the U/17 Australia vs Ireland side and got u/18 All Australian selection. Should be a good player in the future.
Jeremy Humm- Another u/18 rep. Half Forward/back with a tremendous work ethic.
Trent Carroll- Ex-Freo, started well but had a bit of a slow year. Could develop into a good backmen given a few more games. Has the size and strength to match it with the big centre-half forwards.
Dean Kemp- Reckon should have got the Club Champion award, is ageing but Should have 1 more good and consistent year left in him. Great Skillful Player.
David Antonowicz- Made his debut in 2000 and could get more game time.Should develop into a good player. Possible Centre-Half-Forward
Chad Morrison- Had a good season and is a good all-round player. Has got the skill and experience to have another good year.
Drew Banfield- Past Club champion and good midfielder who is looked up to by the other midfielders. Has great skill and is a handy player.
Ben Cousins- Is living up to his raps and could possibly get the captaincy. I a great young player and will take the Eagles to their future success i believe.
Michael Braun- Another good solid player who when in form is wonderful to watch. If that knee holds up will be great for the Eagles this year.
Ashley McIntosh- Has been great but is ageing. May find he struggles but may find him back to good footy.Knee problems could hamper his year.
Josh Wooden- Can't say i like him and hasn't consistently shown that he should get a spot. Has shown glimpses of great footy but consistency is a major problem.
David Sierakowski- I think was a good pick-up and should fit in well wherever he is placed. If played back will add good strength to the backline. Could be that Hard man some thought rintoul would be.
Scott Cummings- If can stay injury free will majorly boost the Eagles. After winning the Coleman medal in 99 had trouble with injury. Can kick goals and lenty of them.
Callum Chambers- Showed that it was worth keeping him on the list for 3 years without playing him. Part of the future of the eagles.
Michael Prior- Needed a change to bring his carrer back on track. Could be very handy wherever he gets played and has the skills to really be useful.
Rowan Jones- Will be a great player. Showed in the last 2 seasons that he will play hard and keep going. Has really impressed selectors this pre-season.
Michael Gardiner- N.O. 1 ruckman who will really come on. Everyone predicts it and it looks like happening. is having a great pre-season and should really help our nidfield get plenty of the ball. Is very agile for a big man.
Darren Glass- Another 2000 debutant who will with game time come on and be an important part of the eagles team. Looks like being a good player.
Michael Collica- Don't know much about him but have heard he can be a good player. Perhaps a winger that the eagles definately need.
Travis Gaspar- A future Key position player who may make his debut in 2001. Can't say anymore as I don't know anymore.
Glen Jakovich- 4 Times Club Champion and and AFL great. Will go great guns in 2001 and could be captain. He is the front-runner. Will be the CHB until he retires but there aren't really any signs that that will be soon.
Greg Harding- From my hometown. Needs to stay injury free to have any chance at doing any good. Have been told by freo supporters he wuld be good if stays fit.
Peter Matera- A west coast eagles great but has struggled in recent times. I reckon this is his last season but will give it all he has got and may play more up forward where he has shown he can kick a goal or 2.
Kane Munro- 2000 debutant, there were so many. Should get more time this year and will grow in the game and should do well. Has good skill and a good footy mind.
Andrew Embley- Good skill and courage makes him good team player who really helps the Eagles out. Will show that he will show he means business this year. Phil Matera- Along with Cummings are the main prong of the attack. Kicks a lot of good goals and it is great to watch him rake the defenders down trying to outrun him. Has come on and will do really well.
Phil Read- Gutsy player who is a team asset. A hard man with a strong will and knows the task. Can go a little over the top but will hopefully find the happy medium
Andrew Williams- Has done well but now needs a good season to show he is the real thing. Can paly well and has the skill too but doesn't always show it.
David Haynes- Should develop into a good player for the eagles. An athletic player who is best suited at half forward or wing. At the 99 draft camp showed an extroadinary marking ability.
Adam Hunter- A potential fuul forward who could get some game play if cummings struggles. Will come on hopefully and show his talent.
Chad Fletcher- Good mid fielder who will come into his own showing his skill and ability to get the ball. Has a good look about him and should do well for the eagles in 2001
David Wirrpunda- Great to watch dashing from the backline. Superb player who if gets a whole season will carve his opponent to shreds. One of the best players on the list that will really help the Eagles this year.
Kasey Green- Showed in 2000 he wants a game and will play well and hard to get it. Should do well and show why he should get a game straight away this year.
Dean Cox- Our second ruckman who along with gardiner will probably carry a fair slice of the work after getting used to AFL. Has a lot of potential and could develop into a good ruckman.
Ryan Turnbull- Even though is still a good player this premiership player may struggle to get a game with the youth now started to come through. Gardiner and Cox are his opponents for a spot and they will probably get the nod. Has been a good player and could get a game in some other teams.
Richard Taylor- Has shown he can play but I don't think consistent enough. Don't know much else about him.
Andrew Donnelly- Did he get delisted and then picked up again. Also may struggle to get a spot but if can show the footy he has played then may still get a spot.
There, finished. From what I have seen it isn't really that bad of a list. A fair bit of youth now, only a couple of old guys like Kemp, McIntosh and Pe.Matera. The main factor that will make or break the Eagles is if that terrible Injury factor that hopefully won't hit again. If it doesn't I reckon you will see them as a 6-8 contender. I won't say they will win the premiership but they won't go ll that bad. What do you think.
Mark Merenda (8 at Richmond)
