Trial Run for 2004

[Exeter]

Despite the Eagles looking very wobbly at the business end of the season, I reckon they've far exceeded expectations for the year.

My view is that they won't finish top 4, and may even struggle to make top 8 in the worst case scenario. Without a home final, I don't like their chances.

2004 on the other hand is looking good provided we get a backline from somewhere (Christ knows where!) and some of the younger players like Staker, Sellwood, Johnson, Lynch, McDougall, Adkins, Nicoski, Rudeforth, Seaby, Hansen and Edwards step up to the next level. Not convinced about Gaspar, reckon he might be another one of those poor unfortunates whose body just isn't up to it, and I don't think he's as good as what people are hoping. Also Glass, is clearly not up to it when left to his own devices

In addition to losing McIntosh, we will (or should) get rid of players like Wilson, Carroll, Sierakowski, Morrison, Munro and Beeck.

 

[noodle]

every team is confident at the start of the year.
- no injuries (or very few)
- a heap of youngsters showing potential
- all the players have another year of experience under their belt.

the true test comes in surpassing the opposition in these areas.

 

[Exeter]

I'd like to get a feel for how good our young players are relative to other clubs. The simple fact is that I just don't know.

Every team talks up there chances and there's been a lot said about the Gaspars and Stakers and their ilk but little real analysis and assesment of their likely ability to make the transition.

Do we have any reason to believe that our squad is any better than most of the other teams in the comp?

 

[eagleskickass]

Beeck isnt on our senior list, hes on our Rookie list. Im interested to know why you would want to get rid of him just as he starts showing promise, he is dominating at WAFL level just as much as the other young players you said are, if not more so. We've stuck with him thus far id like to think we'd promote him at years end to get some benefit out of him.

 

[ONE EYE]

Underrate Gaspar at your own peril. Those same people that underestimate him I guess are the ones who said the same of Embley. Mark my words if he stays fit he will make a difference. He is the tall option we need at CHF. He is our Lucas.

Morrison he coming back from a Knee reconstruction. Think how good he was before that. Another preseason will make difference.

 

[Mr Q]

Originally posted by ONE EYE
Underrate Gaspar at your own peril. Those same people that underestimate him I guess are the ones who said the same of Embley. Mark my words if he stays fit he will make a difference. He is the tall option we need at CHF. He is our Lucas.

Four very important words: if he stays fit. Certainly our best choice, but he has to be able to get onto the field to make an impact.

 

[Mead]

There is a certain naivete about saying 'next year is the year'. More or less EVERY single team in the competition can make a compelling case for why they'll be a better side next year.
The biggest reason I can see for us moving forward is that we have a coach who knows what he's doing and a team which believes in their coach. Thats where the big improvement will come from. the longer this group plays together under Worsfold, the better I believe they'll be. I'm firmly convinced Woosh has it in him to be a premiership coach, and there are probably only a handful of other teams on the up who can say the same.

The rest of the arguments - promising youngsters, less injuries et al, can be trotted out by pretty much every team, in some cases these factors will push teams forwards, in other instances they won't.

Having said that, I am very very excited about certain youngsters on our list. Judd, McDougall, Sampi and Staker all look to have big futures, and probably have a fair amount of improvement left in them.
Without a doubt Gaspar has talent to burn, but next year is probably the critical year of his career in terms of staying fit- unless he can string a full season together, he'll turn 24 without having played anything remotely close to 50 games- at that point, the clock will be ticking.

 

[eagleskickass]

Yeah i can just see Beeck being delisted now given he was today added to the senior list, gotta be a hack of the highest order

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Originally posted by eagleskickass
Yeah i can just see Beeck being delisted now given he was today added to the senior list, gotta be a hack of the highest order

Not that long ago we were questioning his very existance

 

[larrikin]

Originally posted by eagleskickass
Yeah i can just see Beeck being delisted now given he was today added to the senior list, gotta be a hack of the highest order

We had a deadline and a gap - i wouldn't read too much into it.....