Mega Thread WCE: When is the first win? How do we fix this mess? Can we see any improvement at all?

[Patron]

Look I hope so.

To be honest today I'm more angry about losing than depressed. I guess that's an upgrade?

Yeah totally, I'm not there with you - full depression about this one.

 

[Cuzz09]

It's getting into dangerous territory in history terms.

We are only about 60 losses away from levelling up our wins/losses in WCE history.

This bad run is changing history and generations of kids think we are a shit club that has never won anythinb

 

[Roobs321]

that loss to the Saints last year (the breakout Windhager tag, Reid suspension (into the North clash), Waterman absence) changed the fortunes of both clubs, so I’d be reticent to get our hopes up at all. We were sailing nicely towards a 7-8 win season until then and fancied ourselves. That result ultimately killed Simmo, things just started to go wrong and there was always 1-2 stars missing each week. Saints on the flipside woke up and became a more watchable outfit.

 

[Cuzz09]

Yeah we were 2 goals up in the last qtr too despite all that and got over run. Frustrating

 

[Cuzz09]

Hopefully get a MSD sugar hit soon and a 2nd half of season improvement on the scoreboard abd W/L column

 

[kid_a]

Yeah we were 2 goals up in the last qtr too despite all that and got over run. Frustrating

My first game at the ground since moving back to WA after a couple of years away in the NT & NZ.

What a welcome back it was

I almost destroyed the empty seat in front of my after repeated angry kicks when they did Harley for that tackle.

 

[kid_a]

I'll say Norf in Bunbury for first win btw

Norf--- 11.14(80)
Eagles--- 13.8(86)

 

[WCErevival]

So if North win against Richmond this week that locks us in for the spoon right?

 

[javaguice]

So if North win against Richmond this week that locks us in for the spoon right?

Probably already locked in.....I know I can't see us winning 2 games from here.

 

[Cuzz09]

Yeah it's gonna take a pretty crazy form reversal to climb up now.

Be cool though.

I'd be stoked to show some fight and climb off the bottom even if meant missing no.1 pick.

Would love Dyson Sharp though lol (but not convinced we'd even pick him)

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

So if North win against Richmond this week that locks us in for the spoon right?

North have more wins in them. Not so sure about Richmond. I wouldn't say it's a lock, but we're raging favourites.

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

Yeah it's gonna take a pretty crazy form reversal to climb up now.

Be cool though.

I'd be stoked to show some fight and climb off the bottom even if meant missing no.1 pick.

Would love Dyson Sharp though lol (but not convinced we'd even pick him)

Some phantom drafts have him outside the top 10. The difference between pick 1 and pick 3 won't be a lot this year.

 

[bzparkes]

Yeah it's gonna take a pretty crazy form reversal to climb up now.

Be cool though.

I'd be stoked to show some fight and climb off the bottom even if meant missing no.1 pick.

Would love Dyson Sharp though lol (but not convinced we'd even pick him)

Vics are all frothing over CDT anyway.

Whether that actually means recruiters will actually see him as a viable #1 pick remains to be seen though.

Not exactly a good track record over the journey with picking talls that early.

 

[darksquare]

I can see plenty of improvement around the corner.

For a start, we've been experimenting with alternative positions at both AFL and WAFL.

Baker (MID/DEF)
Hough (MID/DEF)
Duggan (MID/DEF)
Gross (MID/FWD)
Kelly (MID/FWD)
Brockman (FWD/MID)
Ryan (FWD/MID)
H Reid (MID/DEF/FWD)
Allen (KPF/KPD)
Grego (DEF/MID)
Shanahan (KPF/KPD)
Plus Ginbey and Maric settled back, Hutchinson midfield

Rounds 8 and 9 are the only games where we've played the same spine. And in those, we had Allen playing back. (Counting genuine KPPs here, not others like Ginbey playing tall)

Round 1: McGovern, Edwards, Flynn, A Reid, Allen, Waterman
Round 2: McGovern, Edwards, B Williams, A Reid, Allen, NA
Round 3: McGovern, Edwards, B Williams, J Williams, A Reid, Allen
Round 4: Brock, NA, B Williams, J Williams, A Reid, Allen
Round 5: Brock, Edwards, B Williams, J Williams, A Reid, Allen, Waterman
Round 6: McGovern, Edwards, Flynn, J Williams, A Reid, Waterman
Round 7: McGovern, Allen Flynn, J Williams, A Reid, Waterman
Round 8: McGovern, Allen, Flynn, J Williams, A Reid, Waterman
Round 9: Brock, Edwards, Flynn, B Williams, A Reid, Waterman

You can even see we've experimented with the number of talls. Round 2 vs Brisbane we went with a small line-up (but still ran out of legs). Round 4 we also went small against GWS, and got pummelled. Round 5 we swapped back to Land of the Giants against Carlton, and that went no better. But at least we're having a look at our options.

This is exactly what I'd want a new coach to do. He's got a free swing at it this year, and we're not making finals anyway. Why not build some evidence about our players' strengths and weaknesses? The worst that can happen is a low finish, which will reward us with better draft picks.

At some point - and it was never going to be before the bye - we will start settling more players into their best spots. Improvement will come. Even more next year, when players train to their positions all pre-season.

 

[WeaponX]

How far away is Yeo ? he could be the catalyst we need right now.

 

[Deplorable trumpster]

At least the club is no longer in denial. It has sacked the people who needed to be sacked and turned the wheel. And the regular 100 point plus losses with senior and highly paid players jogging around with beer guts hanging out that we had to endure with the tail end of the Simpson era are not hapenning anymore. Even with no wins i have found this season easier to deal with than the aggravation from watching the absolute circus Simpson presided over in previous years. At least now they have done and are doing something to move the club forwards even if it isn't showing in the win/loss column yet.

 

[hudson2006]

Improvement will come. Even more next year, when players train to their positions all pre-season.

I mean, it better. I get that we’ve taken a step back in order to take two steps forward, but gee, we better be seeing some good signs by the middle of next season.

2025 has been worse (so far) than 2024, but not at the depraved levels of 2023 (yet).

Senior players across the board have regressed or stagnated horribly this year, despite a relatively healthy list.

They have fixed our fitness issues, and there are good signs that recruitment has improved. Development (particularly of midfielders) is the biggest question mark over this club right now.

 

[Astro7]

At some point - and it was never going to be before the bye - we will start settling more players into their best spots. Improvement will come. Even more next year, when players train to their positions all pre-season.

My thoughts also, that experimenting with player's positions must end eventually, and the players can settle into their roles and develop some chemistry or dare I say synergy. Then as you say, players train to their positions all pre-season, which is an important and essential step to the next stage.

Curious to see how the team goes over this next block of 5 games, all at home mostly, or with limited travel. Even if against some in form oppo, feel like something positive will emerge from this consolidating period. The MSD, the bye, regroup and.....?

 

[Jumpoff Joey]

Surely if we finish the season with 0-2 wins, the AFL is giving us something.

I cannot see a win except for Richmond at home.

 

[Jumpoff Joey]

The AFL wants the Dockers and Eagles to continue to fail for a very specific reason. They want control over all club licences and control over the state and junior leagues as well.

I think you'd be surprised just how much the AFL would be willing to compromise to help the WA clubs if the WAFC ceded control of WA footy and handed over the AFL club licences.

The VFL have never given a **** about WA/Eagles.

**** them. However, I am pissed the club is not vocal in calling out the consistent double standard. I would love for the Club to lead interstate group to push back on the AFL or threaten break-away league. Anything to change the shit show and state of the game.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

So if North win against Richmond this week that locks us in for the spoon right?

I dunno. I think we are seeing improvement all the time and we have a few winnable games coming up.

St Kilda this week, Norf in Bunbury, Richmond at Optus round 19 we should be expecting to win.
Freo and Carlton at Optus is not without chance either.
Dees away and Crows at Optus, if our improvement continues and some luck goes our way.

 

[ioppolo]

St Kilda at home is consistently touted as winnable yet we've lost the last three to them at Optus

 

[Broken_Chairs]

St Kilda at home is consistently touted as winnable yet we've lost the last three to them at Optus

Yeah but **** St Kilda

 

[Goroyals22]

The VFL have never given a **** about WA/Eagles.

**** them. However, I am pissed the club is not vocal in calling out the consistent double standard. I would love for the Club to lead interstate group to push back on the AFL or threaten break-away league. Anything to change the shit show and state of the game.

Threaten a breakaway league with what?? The team names for a start are off limits, would have no ground access in most states, players have contracts with the afl

 

[ep2018]

So if North win against Richmond this week that locks us in for the spoon right?

You can make the argument that Richmond winning locks us into the spoon because they are a very young side, they will tire in the second half of the season and will likely go on a losing streak to end the season almost as long as ours currently is. We would have to win 4 or 5 games to finish higher than Richmond if they win. Would not surprise me if North somewhat 'click' in the second half and win a few games. They also traded away their first rounder so them going the tank should not be a thing either.