West Coast - When will the AFL step in?

[Shueygod]

Is he as powerful and explosive as Wardlaw???

Pretty much yes, you should try watching him sometime.

 

[ABAB]

Pretty much yes, you should try watching him sometime.

"Pretty much" means not really lol.

 

[Shueygod]

"Pretty much" means not really lol.

Have you watched him, I’d say Hewett is less powerful but more explosive.

 

[Scotland]

Melbourne are probably not the best example because at least they got up, played some finals, won a flag and then imploded.

But I think we can all agree that no one wants to be like Carlton, Saints or the Bombers - spend half a decade at the bottom rebuilding, rise up to have a couple of seasons making up the numbers in finals before sliding back to 12th-15th purgatory. It's my biggest fear for the Freo rebuild but I am optimistic we can push on to have a sustained 5+ years in the top/middle of the eight.

As for North - like you I can't figure them out. There's no way with the quality of some of their draft picks in recent years that they should be in the bottom three this year. I can only put it down to a deeply ingrained losing culture and general malaise about the club.

WC, Melbourne, St Kilda, Freo, Adelaide were all made GFs before falling into a hole. Hawthorn were never going anywhere after 2016 but to their credit (I guess?) they tried something. Didn't work as everyone knew it wouldn't but they ripped off the bandaid and started again. I honestly think people inside Carlton and Melbourne saw themselves as contenders this year and think they will contend next year. The longer they put off doing something to mix it up the worse it will be. There is something not right with the Goodwin/Oliver/Petracca dynamic and Carlton's only real move is to trade one of the talls.

North like WC are culturally damaged. They took a team that was competitive and actively made it worse because they at least recognised they had reached their ceiling and thought self harm was the solution. Whatever you do in footy you don't de-list Brent Harvey. He deserved better. They have a pretty young team when you consider Darling and Parker take up 600 games played but I don't really 'see' anything in them. When Brisbane were crap under Fagan you could see something and they needed time. North are OK but they won round 2, were crap for a month, had a month of close games with a win and a draw, a month with 3 close games and 2 wins, and have lost comfortably since. No pattern. Two of the last 3 WC vs North games have been eye-stabbingly unwatchable. Last week was trash from a WC perspective but at least the earlier Richmond game this year was a good contest.

WC were comfortable for too long and are now a very young side with Yaz (the only way is up!) playing in the background. New coach was overdue and new leadership group from next year required. Hopefully one or two more players from outside also just to balance the ratio of losers to non losers a bit. There are 25ish players on the list who don't know what a winning season looks like which is hardly their fault for walking into a shitshow. Definite reasons for why 2022-2024 went so poorly but once you are stuck in a rut of winning <5 games for a few years it's not realistic to expect the same playing group to just turn around and be good again. Not sold on the Pyke CEO appointment. Thought he would be good but he's pretty anonymous outside one or two awkward public appearances each year.

 

[CrowToon]

Won a flag in 2018. What the hell are they stepping in for?

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Won a flag in 2018. What the hell are they stepping in for?

Taking too much punishment. The fight should be stopped.

 

[CrowToon]

Taking too much punishment. The fight should be stopped.

Embarrassing take

 

[Grumpyshades]

Won a flag in 2018. What the hell are they stepping in for?

the thread is just a troll

 

[Rob]

You have to laugh - the AFL want clubs to be competitive but provide the perverse incentive not to be. They'll almost certainly get pick 2 for Allen, yet despite having seemingly loads of cap space will they go out and recruit free agents? Well no, because they'll lose pick 2.

 

[Obeanie1]

They traded pick 2 for 8 and 12 only 3 years ago and then traded pick 3 just last year that even their CEO had to do a press to explain why to their supporters. You can't award stupidity but thankfully Melbourne twice did with us for Petty and Oliver.

So Ginbey and Hewett for pick 2 was stupid?

Looking pretty good now isn't it?

Last year split pick 3. Time will tell if that was a smart move. Calling it stupid this early is stupid. Refer pick 2 trade comments looking silly.

Considering Baker is pretty well locked in for the captaincy in 2026 and will finish top 2 in this year's B&F. Bo Allan is a long term prospect as is Gross who has shown enough to get a contract extension. Love Gross and his competitive hard edge at 18.

So how about we let time decide who's correct.

 

[Grumpyshades]

You have to laugh - the AFL want clubs to be competitive but provide the perverse incentive not to be. They'll almost certainly get pick 2 for Allen, yet despite having seemingly loads of cap space will they go out and recruit free agents? Well no, because they'll lose pick 2.

WC (might) get pick 2 because it is what the rules dictate
The notion that it is some sort of charity is just a salty ignorant narrative

waits for Sam McClure (or what ever his name is) to confuse Priority picks and a compensation pick

 

[Rich01]

So Ginbey and Hewett for pick 2 was stupid?

Looking pretty good now isn't it?

Prefer Sheezel.

 

[Grumpyshades]

Prefer Sheezel.

sheezel is just another mummy's boy

yet another advantage Vic clubs get

 

[Shueygod]

Prefer Sheezel.

Was never an option + Ginbey and Hewett > Sheezel regardless.

 

[Rich01]

sheezel is just another mummy's boy

yet another advantage Vic clubs get

Was there for the taking.
But sounds like the club knew its culture wasn’t strong enough to keep him.

Also explains overlooking the better talent in Murphy Reid for local boy Bo Allan.

 

[Obeanie1]

Is he as powerful and explosive as Wardlaw???

Yes he is.

Wardlaw who did another hamstring Wardlaw?

Who has been struggling with form Wardlaw?

Versus Hewett PLUS Ginbey who will finish top 5 in the B&F this year holding down CHB.

 

[Obeanie1]

"Pretty much" means not really lol.

You have no idea.

Go do some research.

 

[Obeanie1]

You have to laugh - the AFL want clubs to be competitive but provide the perverse incentive not to be. They'll almost certainly get pick 2 for Allen, yet despite having seemingly loads of cap space will they go out and recruit free agents? Well no, because they'll lose pick 2.

Who are these quality free agents lining up to head West?

 

[Shueygod]

Was there for the taking.
But sounds like the club knew its culture wasn’t strong enough to keep him.

Also explains overlooking the better talent in Murphy Reid for local boy Bo Allan.

The same club that took Harley Reid?

Murphy Reid and Bo Allan were both rated around the same level.

 

[Rich01]

Murphy Reid and Bo Allan were both rated around the same level.

If that makes you feel better.

 

[Shueygod]

If that makes you feel better.

That was the general consensus at the time yeah, pretty funny a Richmond supporter is chirping after missing him with 4 picks though.

 

[tigs2010]

If the eagles don't make finals In 2025,

 

[Rob]

Who are these quality free agents lining up to head West?

Doesn't matter who they are, West Coast has no incentive to go after them. They're rewarded for losing them as well. The system rewards you not just for sucking, but continuing to suck. At least in the short term.

 

[Rob]

WC (might) get pick 2 because it is what the rules dictate
The notion that it is some sort of charity is just a salty ignorant narrative

That's my point though - they get rewarded more for losing free agents along with a huge disincentive to chase them from other clubs.

Im not having a go at West Coast here, I'm having a go at the AFL system.

End compo picks for losing free agents.

 

[Ash1337]

Expecting pick 2 for Allen is the minimum.

Really the bottom team should have a expanded rookie list for 3yrs as a base. It gives teams like eagles some flexibility in bringing in some mature players to cover their list issues. Maybe even being able to pre-select their F/S & NGA's as B rookies. Lastly Priority pick package as end of 1st and end of 1st next year similar to the package north got.