Coach Welcome to West Coast: Andrew McQualter

[Barrybran]

maybe but we are not winning games

we can't continue going down this path..

we need to see improvement next year and thats wins

I like mini but at the end of the day results is all that matters

this trade off season is massive for the club and the AFL in general .....the AFL can't afford the eagles being shit

We're not winning games because we don't have a midfield due to poor drafting, Yeo being dead and Kelly falling off a cliff.

Then there's the fact our 2 KPFs are first and second year players.

Clubs will look plenty of other metrics during a rebuild than the W/L column. Wins and losses are what fans care about most but clubs will look at statistics in game to ensure they are headed in the right direction. If we won the Essendon, Richmond and North games we were close in, we'd be on 4 wins but ultimately, the state the team is in would be exactly the same as it is today and wouldn't make much, if any, impact on the club's plans for the next few years.

Another preseason into the kids will mean they'll be bigger, stronger and fitter and will be able to get closer to properly running out 4 quarters, as well as hold their own in contests.

And we'll likely still be bottom 2-3. Don't watch the ladder. Watch the games.

 

[Rowan18]

And we'll likely still be bottom 2-3. Don't watch the ladder. Watch the games.

Exactly. The middle third of the season was the best football we'd played since first half of 2021. Gameplan was effective, we just lacked the personnel to do it consistent. Coach knows what he is doing and let's not forget that he's also a rookie. Let's see him after 50 games as well.

I think this off season will be savage. He has rotated through the squad and tried out players in many positions (remember Reid at Half back?). He knows what he has and what he lacks. Says as much in the press conferences.

A solid ruck (D Cameron?) A solid inside mid (Robertson/phillips/Erasmus?) and an outside player with good disposal (?) is the shopping list for this off season. Would be nice to get a top end mid from somewhere (even if a Lachie Neale type for a couple of seasons) but I don't think that will happen until the team gets into the mid table. Give him what he needs and maybe next year is that year (8 wins and much better %).

Let's also remember the young guys start hitting 50 games next season which should see the wheel turning. We currently have the following on the threshold:

Harley: 39
Hewett 30
Maric 48
Hutchinson 23
Dewar 21
Chesser 33 (maybe he's not delist material?)
J Will 42
Bazzo 25

Also a few that hit 50 this year who should be solid next year:
Edwards
Brockman
Hough

 

[Wet Toast Rule]

View attachment 2381821

What that graph shows is that the cliff cometh for Collingwood and Melbourne...and quite possibly St Kilda / Carlton after that

 

[DorothyG]

What that graph shows is that the cliff cometh for Collingwood and Melbourne...and quite possibly St Kilda / Carlton after that

You would like to think that, but all those clubs are Melbourne based and benefit from the almost negligible travel burden when compared to us.

Our guys, for whatever reason (all signs point to travel) seem to die a lot earlier in there careers, around the 29/30 age. We are always going to be in a race against the clock to have the list profile at the ideal point. Our window will always be smaller.

We will never have the luxury of relying on a large cohort of “old timers” in the +34 range

 

[WCErevival]

Exactly. The middle third of the season was the best football we'd played since first half of 2021. Gameplan was effective, we just lacked the personnel to do it consistent. Coach knows what he is doing and let's not forget that he's also a rookie. Let's see him after 50 games as well.

I think this off season will be savage. He has rotated through the squad and tried out players in many positions (remember Reid at Half back?). He knows what he has and what he lacks. Says as much in the press conferences.

A solid ruck (D Cameron?) A solid inside mid (Robertson/phillips/Erasmus?) and an outside player with good disposal (?) is the shopping list for this off season. Would be nice to get a top end mid from somewhere (even if a Lachie Neale type for a couple of seasons) but I don't think that will happen until the team gets into the mid table. Give him what he needs and maybe next year is that year (8 wins and much better %).

Let's also remember the young guys start hitting 50 games next season which should see the wheel turning. We currently have the following on the threshold:

Harley: 39
Hewett 30
Maric 48
Hutchinson 23
Dewar 21
Chesser 33 (maybe he's not delist material?)
J Will 42
Bazzo 25

Also a few that hit 50 this year who should be solid next year:
Edwards
Brockman
Hough

Spins me out that Maric has played almost 50 games. Feel like he's only played half that.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

And we'll likely still be bottom 2-3. Don't watch the ladder. Watch the games.

Damn hard work at the moment. They're pretty unwatchable.

 

[Couchpotato]

Mini next season really needs to do what all the other coaches do in these times - deliberately pick the games you will get up for and win.

Yze this year made sure to rest his experience at certain times and then have them peaking in the right patch - probably the last 4 weeks before this round. Got him some wins and the pressure is off.

Clarko the same. Simmo also did it last year to peak really early. Woosha definitely prioritised home games in our building years.

You’d argue that NM and Richmond have been able to gloss over their 80-90 point losses because they’ve won a few.

There have been times this year where we were really competitive away against a top team and then the tired / old bodies can’t pull up for the week after at home.

No it’s not sustainable, but a couple more wins this year would have been the sugar hit for the boys, and him as a new coach.

 

[ziad]

What that graph shows is that the cliff cometh for Collingwood and Melbourne...and quite possibly St Kilda / Carlton after that

Potential cliffs if they dont manage their list well, we are in free fall. (well a bit emotive but its the vibe)

 

[Grahame]

You would like to think that, but all those clubs are Melbourne based and benefit from the almost negligible travel burden when compared to us.

Our guys, for whatever reason (all signs point to travel) seem to die a lot earlier in there careers, around the 29/30 age. We are always going to be in a race against the clock to have the list profile at the ideal point. Our window will always be smaller.

We will never have the luxury of relying on a large cohort of “old timers” in the +34 range

Would even the most biased vAFL journalist think Pendlebury would still be playing if he was at WA club? Not a hope in hell. The travel would have beaten his body or exhausted his mind.

But, of course, next breath they’d say it’s just an excuse the WA clubs use.

 

[southcoast]

You would like to think that, but all those clubs are Melbourne based and benefit from the almost negligible travel burden when compared to us.

Our guys, for whatever reason (all signs point to travel) seem to die a lot earlier in there careers, around the 29/30 age. We are always going to be in a race against the clock to have the list profile at the ideal point. Our window will always be smaller.

We will never have the luxury of relying on a large cohort of “old timers” in the +34 range

Good response and I'd also add free agency attraction.

 

[FKASC]

Mini next season really needs to do what all the other coaches do in these times - deliberately pick the games you will get up for and win.

Yze this year made sure to rest his experience at certain times and then have them peaking in the right patch - probably the last 4 weeks before this round. Got him some wins and the pressure is off.

Clarko the same. Simmo also did it last year to peak really early. Woosha definitely prioritised home games in our building years.

You’d argue that NM and Richmond have been able to gloss over their 80-90 point losses because they’ve won a few.

There have been times this year where we were really competitive away against a top team and then the tired / old bodies can’t pull up for the week after at home.

No it’s not sustainable, but a couple more wins this year would have been the sugar hit for the boys, and him as a new coach.

It’s a really good point

 

[southcoast]

Exactly. The middle third of the season was the best football we'd played since first half of 2021. Gameplan was effective, we just lacked the personnel to do it consistent. Coach knows what he is doing and let's not forget that he's also a rookie. Let's see him after 50 games as well.

I think this off season will be savage. He has rotated through the squad and tried out players in many positions (remember Reid at Half back?). He knows what he has and what he lacks. Says as much in the press conferences.

A solid ruck (D Cameron?) A solid inside mid (Robertson/phillips/Erasmus?) and an outside player with good disposal (?) is the shopping list for this off season. Would be nice to get a top end mid from somewhere (even if a Lachie Neale type for a couple of seasons) but I don't think that will happen until the team gets into the mid table. Give him what he needs and maybe next year is that year (8 wins and much better %).

Let's also remember the young guys start hitting 50 games next season which should see the wheel turning. We currently have the following on the threshold:

Harley: 39
Hewett 30
Maric 48
Hutchinson 23
Dewar 21
Chesser 33 (maybe he's not delist material?)
J Will 42
Bazzo 25

Also a few that hit 50 this year who should be solid next year:
Edwards
Brockman
Hough

Good analysis - we also need a replacement for Gov. A CHB with presence (not sure who) but at the moment the defence is undermanned and with ball coming in so easily they are exposed. Duggan and Cole who were 'bit players' when our defence was loaded now have to carry that role and they're not up to it.

 

[Cainozz]

Mini next season really needs to do what all the other coaches do in these times - deliberately pick the games you will get up for and win.

Yze this year made sure to rest his experience at certain times and then have them peaking in the right patch - probably the last 4 weeks before this round. Got him some wins and the pressure is off.

Clarko the same. Simmo also did it last year to peak really early. Woosha definitely prioritised home games in our building years.

You’d argue that NM and Richmond have been able to gloss over their 80-90 point losses because they’ve won a few.

There have been times this year where we were really competitive away against a top team and then the tired / old bodies can’t pull up for the week after at home.

No it’s not sustainable, but a couple more wins this year would have been the sugar hit for the boys, and him as a new coach.

It's hard to say whether that strategy is better for the long-term development of the list. I get your point though, it's about biting off what you can chew, rather than trying to play our best footy against top-four sides. That said, we've matched teams like Adelaide, Collingwood, Brisbane, and Geelong for two to three quarters and three of those games were away from home, which makes it even more impressive.

Being competitive against the best teams could have long-term benefits, especially for our younger players. It shows them that the top sides aren’t invincible. As long as you bring effort and intensity, you can match it with anyone. That kind of mental resilience is invaluable.

I also like that Mini’s bringing a ruthless attitude. He’s not just aiming to be competitive, but to win. That shift in mindset could really pay off in the future. It’s a stark contrast to Simmo’s approach of just turning home games into a fortress.

I'm not expecting us to suddenly climb the ladder next year, but I do think four wins should be the minimum target.

 

[Rowan18]

Spins me out that Maric has played almost 50 games. Feel like he's only played half that.

He has been very durable. Played nearly all games last year and this year.

 

[Cainozz]

He has been very durable. Played nearly all games last year and this year.

Maric reminds me a little of Brent Staker. Good skills for his height and can be used as a utility up forward or down back and even as a connection piece. Been a great pickup.

 

[ziad]

If we dont get a move on we will loose the young list tag quickly and still be struggling.

 

[Cuzz09]

He has been very durable. Played nearly all games last year and this year.

"That's what happens when you avoid manual labour your whole life"

 

[Priddis Is Done]

If we dont get a move on we will loose the young list tag quickly and still be struggling.

 

[JackOutback]

Mini next season really needs to do what all the other coaches do in these times - deliberately pick the games you will get up for and win.

Yze this year made sure to rest his experience at certain times and then have them peaking in the right patch - probably the last 4 weeks before this round. Got him some wins and the pressure is off.

Clarko the same. Simmo also did it last year to peak really early. Woosha definitely prioritised home games in our building years.

You’d argue that NM and Richmond have been able to gloss over their 80-90 point losses because they’ve won a few.

There have been times this year where we were really competitive away against a top team and then the tired / old bodies can’t pull up for the week after at home.

No it’s not sustainable, but a couple more wins this year would have been the sugar hit for the boys, and him as a new coach.

I was very unimpressed when they 'managed' Elijah Hewett for the Richmond game. We need to be doing everything to win those winnable games. manage him out of a trip east against a contender, ffs.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

I was very unimpressed when they 'managed' Elijah Hewett for the Richmond game. We need to be doing everything to win those winnable games. manage him out of a trip east against a contender, ffs.

What if he played and reinjured due to overloading, in what is ultimately a meaningless game as they all are at this stage of the year for us?

Much rather they follow the advice to keep an oft injured guy healthy. I’m sure they didn’t circle a date in the calendar on a whim.

 

[JackOutback]

What if he played and reinjured due to overloading, in what is ultimately a meaningless game as they all are at this stage of the year for us?

Much rather they follow the advice to keep an oft injured guy healthy. I’m sure they didn’t circle a date in the calendar on a whim.

Maybe they should have circled it in and picked a trip to Melbourne or Sydney or Adelaide to rest him. Double the benefit. Pick a game before that one if they were worried about overloading, remembering he didn't play in round 15. Resting someone against Richmond smacked of arrogance, that we thought we would just get a win at last against another struggling team, given we were at home and ran them close away.

 

[bzparkes]

Maybe they should have circled it in and picked a trip to Melbourne or Sydney or Adelaide to rest him. Double the benefit. Pick a game before that one if they were worried about overloading, remembering he didn't play in round 15. Resting someone against Richmond smacked of arrogance, that we thought we would just get a win at last against another struggling team, given we were at home and ran them close away.

Actually, Mini explained quite well in his presser when asked as to why Hewett was rested.

Or it might have been with Daniels on 7, I forget but you have to remember we don't see these guys on a daily basis. The coaches do.

 

[Matera92]

West Coast Calendar with all winnable games circled.

 

[RookiePick]

West Coast Calendar with all winnable games circled.

View attachment 2385745

The bye is gonna get us again too?

 

[JackOutback]

West Coast Calendar with all winnable games circled.

View attachment 2385745

Saints would like a word.