Turning Point?

[jod23]

I really feel that we could be in a spot of bother. I just have this feeling that we could start slipping away, dont really know why but just with the weekends performance and a few injury worries starting to spring up i am starting to think that we could start to slip.

We need to dig our heels in now and attack the middle part of the season with vigour starting with this weekends game against the Hawks. A REAL DANGER GAME! We let one get away against Richmond and the boys will be disappointed with the result and may come out flat, plus every loss we accumulate away, the pressure builds to keep winning at home.

If we can win on the weekend i think we could have our best chance yet to string two wins in a row with an away game to StKilda, then we have Sydney at home and Carlton away.

A very important month coming up for the Eagles so i really hope the boys can dig deep and come up with the goods. If we lose to the Hawks our confidence could be shot and we may go across to Melbourne and hand the Saints 4 points...real danger time of the year now.

Thoughts?

 

[Methuselah]

I think the loss to Richmond underlines that we are not yet a top 8 side.
The results so far this year are very encouraging, and there is no doubt we have improved dramatically, but there is still a long way to go.
The proof of the improvement is that every week we now consider there is a chance of a win no matter who the opposition is, and in all the games we have lost, there have been real chances to win.
The team is still in a changeover mode from the winning model of the 90's and at least some of the players will not be there for that much longer - Matera, Milli, Jako, and maybe even Banfield? I think our defence is a problem at present.
A lot of the younger players are only just starting out at this level and for many of them it is not clear at this stage whether they can individually step up and produce consistently each week, and whether they can play together as a team. We expect a lot of Kerr as a second year player, and even of Judd as a first year!
What everyone can be sure about is that the right coaching team is now in place to get the best out of the available personnel, and to make them play a good team game.
But it takes time.
I for one am just very pleased we have shown the core of skills and determination is already present - now it just needs to be developed and refined.
We may well fall away at some time during this year, but I anticipate a better win:loss ratio at years end, and some very good things for the eagles in 2003.

 

[carlyp]

I wouldnt count this year off just yet. I think if we can get thru the next month with maybe 3 out of 4 wins and no injuries then we may start to hit our straps.
All we can ask of the guys is that they do their best and try hard for the full game! Thats all we can expect!

 

[WA]

Good post Methuselah.

jod - yeah our confidence may have taken a little of a battering, but imagine St Kilda's at present?! I truly believe we will win against them, and Wilson will continue on from his great performance against them last year - although he will be more accurate this year

 

[Voice of Reason]

I'm still just taking it one game at a time.

I know that my cliches irritate a lot of you (and understandably so - if I start saying "yeah, no, blah blah blah", hit me and call me Matthew Lloyd) but this one is the one to hold on to.

The turning point argument often relies on hindsight ("if only we'd won that game, then....") or is a cause of lost confidence in the team and the individuals ("now that Roo's injured, we don't have a pinch-hitter at HBF or midfield"). Woosha's job is largely to make sure that the 22 who run out do the best they can in every game and gradually by doing it right, one game at a time, you build consistency. Consistency is really just a string of "one games", but the confidence it engenders improves the whole performance.

I also think that Woosha will be looking to help the players as individuals develop the leadership qualities that he, Bluey, Monkey, Jako and many others had in the early nineties. By doing this, individuals will be able to stand up and deal with any negative turning-points that face us in the coming months and influence the outcome. At the moment, we're still (IMO) a bit reliant on Cuz & Jako. But I see signs of this leadership in players as young as Kerr and Judd.

I'm going to the St Kilda away game, so we'd better win!

 

[Frodo]

One week at a time is the right way to go but on what we have seen so far finals footy is a good possibility.
We beat Brisbane so we can beat anyone at home. Now lets say we drop one game at home.....that's 10 wins. So we need to win another 1 or 2 games. Well freo is always a good chance. Then there will be teams that once they realise they are unlikeley to make the finals will play kids and be demotivated, there is always a good chance of a win against those teams away in the second half of the season.

 

[carlyp]

Originally posted by Frodo
One week at a time is the right way to go but on what we have seen so far finals footy is a good possibility.
We beat Brisbane so we can beat anyone at home. Now lets say we drop one game at home.....that's 10 wins. So we need to win another 1 or 2 games. Well freo is always a good chance. Then there will be teams that once they realise they are unlikeley to make the finals will play kids and be demotivated, there is always a good chance of a win against those teams away in the second half of the season.

FRODO...you took the words right out of my mouth!

 

[GoEagles]

Originally posted by carlyp



FRODO...you took the words right out of my mouth!

You meatloaf fan, you

Our next 2 away games are against St Kilda and Carlton. Going by their current form, they should both be very winable games.

 

[carlyp]

Yep GO EAGLES! We SHOULD be able to win both matches! That could very easily be for on the trot for us which would put us in a very comfortable spot on the ladder!

 

[noodle]

hawthorn is going to be an important game for us next week. when you have a 50-50 win loss ratio each fortnight every game is important. i agree that we should win away against carlton and st kilda. but where does that leave us?

i honestly believe that we are a 9th or 10th position team this year. a bit of luck and passion may see us finish higher but even if it does we will be making up numbers for the finals. i think that we are about the level of North, Richmond, Sydney and Freo (shudder).

 

[Raelene]

I agree with you Jod, but then again I have that feeling every match.
I just wish they would play with as much fervour in the away matches as they do in the home games. I think that is why I have this feeling of doubt every week.
I know the time will come when we do lose a match at home, but let's hope it is not this week.

 

[Goldenblue]

Injuries are a bit of a worry Jod, but I also think that the players are playing for their coach and those who do replace those injured players will work hard to get into the side.

Fletcher is a great example. Played a beauty against the shockers, but slipped away after resting on his laurels, he was then dropped for a few matches and came back playing well again.

We do have some games coming up against lower sides and they are a good chance for us to win away and build upon a successful season for the WCE.

Hawthorn may be a danger game for us at home, but I also think they are not in that great a form as they like to think they are. Sure, they have belted a couple of sides recently, but look at who they played. (No disrespect to those sides)

I think we are still a 50/50 chance to win this match as much as Hawthorn are. A certain Hawk / Shocker/ Judgy lover is a little over confident, and getting a little ahead of her self. If we do win this match, its an added bonus to this clubs season, if we lose, never mind, its a learning curve for our team.

Try not to worry Jod, look back so far on what we have done and be proud of that. After all, how many teams did stop the Lions winning streak??

That to me is a good reason to feel proud of our side......

 

[jod23]

With the old jumpers back...i feel more confident of a win, we play better wearing the old strip. Would love a win this week which would put us in perfect stead to finally sing the song against the Saints the following week.