Club Focus West Coast Eagles 2023

[PMBangers]

Data from footywire. To check the draft order see the thread here.

Footywire says: "While we make every effort to keep up to date with player contracts, it is likely that our data may at times be out of date, incomplete or inaccurate. If you find any player contracts that need updating, please let us know using our brand new contract submission form."

 

[Jeremias]

Eww gross. West Coast need proper building blocks, not just a bunch of above average types.
1-> 6 + 7 sounds good until you realise you get something equivalent to Clark and Coffield (who are pretty much busts)

Lots of 'proper' building blocks can be found in the top 10 and beyond.
6 + 7 may get you a Clark and a Coffield (not sure why you've chosen them), but they also might get you two very good footballers.

 

[dinnaz]

Lots of 'proper' building blocks can be found in the top 10 and beyond.
6 + 7 may get you a Clark and a Coffield (not sure why you've chosen them), but they also might get you two very good footballers.

So why the "might" when #1 or #2 is a much surer thing.

 

[CountryLad]

I think West Coast need to find a way to turn pick 1 into as many first round selections as possible. They may not bring in the top end talent with that strategy but they can bring in a lot of really solid long term players like that which is something they desperately need given their lack of youth.

No way we need quality. The role player best 22 types can come from 2nd/3rd round picks , trades, rookies and MSD drafts.

This looks alright at the start of a rebuild
Ginbey
Hewett
Reid 2023 ( Hypothetical)
Top 5 midfielder 2024 (Hypothetical)

These guys look best 22/role player.
Chesser
B Williams
Hough
Bazzo
Long
Culley
Maric

To early to tell.
J Williams
Barnett
Burgiel

By the end of 2024 draft another 3 2nd round picks. 3 third round picks and two MSD picks not to mention rookie listings. It’s at least another 5 kids ( @ 50% strike rate) that fall in the best 22 role player category to go with what’s mentioned above.

Add that to established players that will still be at the club in 2025 in Allen, Duggin, Barrass , Kelly, Cole, Hunt, Ryan and Jermaine Jones and things can turn pretty quickly.

Also the Eagles will have opportunities with Free Agency. The club should have a fair bit of salary cap space coming into effect in the next couple of off seasons.

Lots of those kids mentioned above will have played 30-60 games by the end of 2025. I think we can be similar to Adelaide and turn the list around pretty quickly and become competitive in a 5 year period.

Personally think having that top end quality is important to have around the role players best 22 types.

 

[Jeremias]

So why the "might" when #1 or #2 is a much surer thing.

May be a surer thing, but there is never a guarantee that the player picked at #1 is going to be the best of the lot. That's probably only happened a handful of times in the history of the AFL draft, if that.

There are a lot of reasons why they may choose to move the pick.

Perhaps they see the 'sure thing' as a flight risk.
Perhaps the club sees adding volume of quality a far better or more important thing to do at this stage of your list build.
Perhaps the club recognizes that the #1 pick's value is very unlikely to be any higher than it will be leading into the draft, so it's a good opportunity to cash in.

That's just three potential reasons, but there would be many others.

 

[bzparkes]

Getting Reid this year and a top midfielder next year would finalise that part of the rebuild.

We already have Allen, Williams(x2) and Maric as the talls for the froward line.

Bazzo is a KPD for the future, then there's always Barrass, Edwards and Jamieson who could play down there.

The last thing we actually need is to split the highest pick we'll have had since Naitanui, to get some 'serviceable' types.

WCE can round out the list with free agents/trades later on.

 

[CountryLad]

May be a surer thing, but there is never a guarantee that the player picked at #1 is going to be the best of the lot. That's probably only happened a handful of times in the history of the AFL draft, if that.

There are a lot of reasons why they may choose to move the pick.

Perhaps they see the 'sure thing' as a flight risk.
Perhaps the club sees adding volume of quality a far better or more important thing to do at this stage of your list build.
Perhaps the club recognizes that the #1 pick's value is very unlikely to be any higher than it will be leading into the draft, so it's a good opportunity to cash in.

That's just three potential reasons, but there would be many others.

You are right that the best player of the draft with hindsight doesn’t go often at pick one. The last two drafts will probably show that but Daicos and Ashcroft weren’t available at pick one either.

The likelihood of getting a good player at pick one however is far greater than at lower picks.
Still 4-5 months till draft night and a lot will change.

In terms of flight risk I think the Eagles have understood this issue for a long period of time and have always picked players that they feel they can retain.
By all reports our current group of interstate kids have adjusted fine to living in Perth. There will be always the odd exception (Judd) but West Coast have a good record of retaining players.

If the Eagles feel they can get Harley to settle in the West and and he’s best available they will pick him. I think most people in WA feel the Harley Flight Risk story is very Vic Media driven.

 

[dinnaz]

May be a surer thing, but there is never a guarantee that the player picked at #1 is going to be the best of the lot. That's probably only happened a handful of times in the history of the AFL draft, if that.

There are a lot of reasons why they may choose to move the pick.

Perhaps they see the 'sure thing' as a flight risk.
Perhaps the club sees adding volume of quality a far better or more important thing to do at this stage of your list build.
Perhaps the club recognizes that the #1 pick's value is very unlikely to be any higher than it will be leading into the draft, so it's a good opportunity to cash in.

That's just three potential reasons, but there would be many others.

I didn't say best, and that's a fallacy with the #1 being seen as the "best".
Im almost certain Reid won't be the best from this draft when looking back in 15 years. *not just from hindsight looking at other drafts.
Players go #1 because they are good yes but more importantly have proven performances on the board and are safe shots for a 200 game player at an above average level minimum.

The same security cant be said about the 10th best etc

 

[dinnaz]

We will have #2 again so it doesn't really matter anyway when discussing Reid
Keep it.

 

[Jeremias]

You are right that the best player of the draft with hindsight doesn’t go often at pick one. The last two drafts will probably show that but Daicos and Ashcroft weren’t available at pick one either.

Yes, though that's a little different given the 'compromised' nature of the selections.

Even without FS/NGA and other academies, it's rare for the #1 pick to be the best player in a draft.

The likelihood of getting a good player at pick one however is far greater than at lower picks.

Greater, not sure about far greater. The likelihood in the top 5 and top 10 is still high.

In terms of flight risk I think the Eagles have understood this issue for a long period of time and have always picked players that they feel they can retain.
By all reports our current group of interstate kids have adjusted fine to living in Perth. There will be always the odd exception (Judd) but West Coast have a good record of retaining players.

Maybe that's right. You'd know a lot more about the history of the club and I'm not going to dispute that.

If the Eagles feel they can get Harley to settle in the West and and he’s best available they will pick him. I think most people in WA feel the Harley Flight Risk story is very Vic Media driven.

I agree with this. And I would back a strong club like the Eagles to be able to comfort Harley or anyone else from interstate enough to convince them to stick around, at least beyond the initial contract.

 

[Jeremias]

The same security cant be said about the 10th best etc

No, but you may get a greater sense of security that the players selected at those picks will stick around for longer, especially if (as seems likely) it takes the Eagles a number of years to turn things around.

 

[dinnaz]

No, but you may get a greater sense of security that the players selected at those picks will stick around for longer, especially if (as seems likely) it takes the Eagles a number of years to turn things around.

Nah **** that, we're not the tin rattlers like North & Brisbane are. It's not even a consideration. We are the biggest club, with the most supporters, with the best stadium, the best facilities, with the best weather.

Our home ground advantage doesn't allow for extended stays at the bottom. The only time we are dogshit are when there's 20 players on the injury list for the season and evfen then North are still worse both years.

Go home factor is just something for the footy media to fill in their 5 minutes dedicated to West Coast as they pretty much know nothing about whats going on in WA.

 

[WilloTree]

Lots of 'proper' building blocks can be found in the top 10 and beyond.
6 + 7 may get you a Clark and a Coffield (not sure why you've chosen them), but they also might get you two very good footballers.

Indeed. Doesn't even have to be 6 + 7. Just 2 good picks.

 

[Jeremias]

Nah * that, we're not the tin rattlers like North & Brisbane are. It's not even a consideration. We are the biggest club, with the most supporters, with the best stadium, the best facilities, with the best weather.

Yeah, and none of that will ultimately matter if the player wants to go home.

I'm not saying he will or he won't return to Victoria, but I'm certain he won't say "oh I am terribly homesick but the Eagles have a nice gym so I'll stay here".

Of course it's a consideration. In this day and age it has to be. That doesn't mean you don't pick him because of it, but every recruiting team would be asking the question.

Our home ground advantage doesn't allow for extended stays at the bottom. The only time we are dogshit are when there's 20 players on the injury list for the season and evfen then North are still worse both years.

Not sure what North has to do with the discussion.

As for home ground advantage not allowing a team to bottom out for more than a few years, yeah...that sounds more like hope than anything based in reality.

Go home factor is just something for the footy media to fill in their 5 minutes dedicated to West Coast as they pretty much know nothing about whats going on in WA.

No, the go-home factor is very much real and it would be a consideration for all clubs. Even clubs in Victoria because obviously it works both ways, it's not just players returning to Victoria though with 10/18 clubs based here it's more prevalent.

It's absurd you would even suggest it has anything to do with West Coast specifically being poor, it's been around for a lot longer than that.

 

[dinnaz]

Not sure what North has to do with the discussion.

JHF as the biggest example and what I suspect is in a lot of peoples minds.

As for home ground advantage not allowing a team to bottom out for more than a few years, yeah...that sounds more like hope than anything based in reality.

It's a massive factor. Check 30 years of data. Geelong have the best HGA followed by WA teams. West Coast win ~10 games at home every season, our away success actually determines ladder position. Freo once they stopped being a basket case have enjoyed it too.

No, the go-home factor is very much real and it would be a consideration for all clubs. Even clubs in Victoria because obviously it works both ways, it's not just players returning to Victoria though with 10/18 clubs based here it's more prevalent.

It's absurd you would even suggest it has anything to do with West Coast specifically being poor, it's been around for a lot longer than that.

Specifically West Coast. For all the reasons above we have lost SFA players over our history. Successful clubs don't lose players (Adelaide aside) and would back their programs to settle and retain players.
The only player we have really lost is Judd who wanted to stay in vic. Tough luck it's a draft, and he didn't sook it up and leave but built a career achieved a lot and moved which no one can begrudge. The only thing I would think is a consideration would be massive red flags over behavior.

 

[Lia]

Leaning more and more towards just keeping pick 1

 

[RanaNaved]

No way we need quality. The role player best 22 types can come from 2nd/3rd round picks , trades, rookies and MSD drafts.

This looks alright at the start of a rebuild
Ginbey
Hewett
Reid 2023 ( Hypothetical)
Top 5 midfielder 2024 (Hypothetical)

These guys look best 22/role player.
Chesser
B Williams
Hough
Bazzo
Long
Culley
Maric

To early to tell.
J Williams
Barnett
Burgiel

By the end of 2024 draft another 3 2nd round picks. 3 third round picks and two MSD picks not to mention rookie listings. It’s at least another 5 kids ( @ 50% strike rate) that fall in the best 22 role player category to go with what’s mentioned above.

Add that to established players that will still be at the club in 2025 in Allen, Duggin, Barrass , Kelly, Cole, Hunt, Ryan and Jermaine Jones and things can turn pretty quickly.

Also the Eagles will have opportunities with Free Agency. The club should have a fair bit of salary cap space coming into effect in the next couple of off seasons.

Lots of those kids mentioned above will have played 30-60 games by the end of 2025. I think we can be similar to Adelaide and turn the list around pretty quickly and become competitive in a 5 year period.

Personally think having that top end quality is important to have around the role players best 22 types.

**** you for not putting SeLong in Ginbey, Hewett group.

 

[RanaNaved]

You are right that the best player of the draft with hindsight doesn’t go often at pick one. The last two drafts will probably show that but Daicos and Ashcroft weren’t available at pick one either.

The likelihood of getting a good player at pick one however is far greater than at lower picks.
Still 4-5 months till draft night and a lot will change.

In terms of flight risk I think the Eagles have understood this issue for a long period of time and have always picked players that they feel they can retain.
By all reports our current group of interstate kids have adjusted fine to living in Perth. There will be always the odd exception (Judd) but West Coast have a good record of retaining players.

If the Eagles feel they can get Harley to settle in the West and and he’s best available they will pick him. I think most people in WA feel the Harley Flight Risk story is very Vic Media driven.

The 'flight risk' element is absolutely overblown.

 

[mezaire]

I'm starting to think that keeping or trading pick 1 will come down to what other 1st rd picks WC can get...

For example....
Barrass gets traded to Sydney for pick 4
and
WC can make a pick swap with GC for pick 7

then trading pick 1 makes no sense!!

 

[Foxx]

Andrew Gaff

3

Andrew Gaff

Age

33

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.6

5star

K

15.9

5star

HB

10.7

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

2.5

4star

D

24.5

5star

K

15.6

5star

HB

8.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.0

3star

CL

2.5

4star

D

11.2

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.6

3star

CL

0.6

3star

is open to a trade.

Salary dump with one of the Eagles GWS picks.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Andrew Gaff is open to a trade.

Salary dump with one of the Eagles GWS picks.

The interest is the other way. Gaff wants to leave to a club who can promise him game time and a more competitive team.

The reality is he wont get that and will just plug away in the WAFL. We dont really have any salary cap issues at present.

 

[eastfreo75]

The interest is the other way. Gaff wants to leave to a club who can promise him game time and a more competitive team.

The reality is he wont get that and will just plug away in the WAFL. We dont really have any salary cap issues at present.

Salary cap dumps is more about having extra cap space in the future than current cap issues.

Eagles could really a huge warchest straight away.

Trade out Gaff, and let McGovern go free agency. Retire Nick Nat put him on the rookie list. Half of wage won’t be considered in the cap.

That’s the Eagles three highest paid players.

 

[bzparkes]

Salary cap dumps is more about having extra cap space in the future than current cap issues.

Eagles could really a huge warchest straight away.

Trade out Gaff, and let McGovern go free agency. Retire Nick Nat put him on the rookie list. Half of wage won’t be considered in the cap.

That’s the Eagles three highest paid players.

WCE don't need a 'war chest' this off season and nearly all the big contracts come to a head at the end of next season.

If Gaff wants out then I wish him well but WCE certainly don't need to get rid of him as part of a salary dump.

 

[Keystone agony]

WCE have 2 mill cap room next acc to journos

Theyd be the last to dump

 

[Foxx]

WCE have 2 mill cap room next acc to journos

Theyd be the last to dump

Yeah true. I was tired when I suggested that

 

[Keystone agony]

Yeah true. I was tired when I suggested that

Alot of people think similar because id say this year theyre right at the limit but it frees up massivily next year and beyond apparently