West Coast worst list in the AFL

[WestCoast05]

I'm looking forward to West Coast proving a lot of experts/haters wrong this season.
It seems a switch has been flicked with our vets and I would love to see them wreak some carnage and play spoiler. Geelong's geriatrics just won a flag I don't see why the likes of Shuey, Yeo, Kelly, Barrass, Gov, Ryan and Darling couldn't rip some teams apart (along with the support of the rest of the team course).

And if I'm wrong I look forward to intensely following the draft thread.

 

[Marlin01]

The list is on improve but through bad list management we will have a massive exodus of experienced players which will bring us backwards again.

I believe this commonly held opinion is a fallacy. Yes, we will have a "mass exodus", but it will be a mass exodus of players well past their best. We'll have to replace 2023 Luke Shuey, not 2018 Luke Shuey and the same for the other former greats of the club.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

"Mass exodus" of oldies is down to three isn't it?

Hurn
Shuey
Nic Nat

 

[bzparkes]

"Mass exodus" of oldies is down to three isn't it?

Hurn
Shuey
Nic Nat

Nic Nat's contracted until 2024.

Probably just Hurn, Shuey and some list cloggers.

 

[Keys]

"Mass exodus" of oldies is down to three isn't it?

Hurn
Shuey
Nic Nat

Depends on who you consider oldies but it’s likely more staggered than an exodus would suggest - based on existing contract dates :

2023 - Hurn (4/9/87), Shuey (2/6/90)

2024 - Naitanui (4/5/90), Gaff (16/6/92), Cripps (23/4/92)

2025 - McGovern* (15/4/92), Darling (13/6/92), Yeo* (1/10/93)

* Assuming Gov gets a new 2 year deal as his contract expires this year and that Darling and Yeo get another year on their 2024 contracts. Cripps might also get another year depending on firm/fitness

Yeo turns 30 this year, the others are already reached that age

Kelly the next oldest on our list (turns 29), followed by Sheed, Hunt and Barrass (28 this year)

 

[Astro7]

Call it a gut feeling, no facts and figures, just a whimsical notion flying in the face of many a naysayer - I reckon going by the vibe around the club and players, the fitness base of both seniors and juniors, and a resolve to right the wrongs of the immediate past, a new 'game plan' tweak (dare I mention those words?) and of course some new raw talent - we will pull some pants down and kick some butt! In short, we're the smokies, the outside runners, the unknowns, the forgottens -we barely get any media coverage anywhere in the footy media and that's great!
Don't know how long it will last, but we will be the surprise package and do better in 2023 than most predict.
Hell, why not, it's the period of optimism, before the reality of the season sets in? ((;

 

[stylish]

People forget we are being compared to the other bottom 4 teams.

Not top 4 teams.

I look at Freo's list and after Brayshaw, Jackson and Serong it isnt loaded with proven elite talent on the rise. Fyfe, Walters and Pearce all have their best behind them and have injury history. Still yet to solve their KP forward woes, Amiss may help but he needs support.

If Freo had our injury issues from last season they would finish 2nd last. Most teams would.

Our playing group needs to get fit and stay fit. If they do then the opinion on how good or not the list is will change.

Simple.

Not so sure about that. Young is a serious talent and Chapman isn't far behind. It's not hard to imagine Darcy getting better given his age ditto Brennan Cox. Jordan Clark was also good last year and at 22 you'd imagine he will continue to improve.

But you're right about injuries - they decimate clubs. Unfortunately they tend to happen more the older you get and WC do have an older bunch.

 

[garlic munchers]

Not so sure about that. Young is a serious talent and Chapman isn't far behind. It's not hard to imagine Darcy getting better given his age ditto Brennan Cox. Jordan Clark was also good last year and at 22 you'd imagine he will continue to improve.

But you're right about injuries - they decimate clubs. Unfortunately they tend to happen more the older you get and WC do have an older bunch.

Darcy already moving like an old man, Chapman can hardly lift his arm above shoulder height, you couldn’t get Clark to tighten up on his player if you used a ring spanner on him (there is a reason why the Cats wouldn’t play him at the end), midfield looking midget like without Mundy, Pearce a foot injury waiting to happen, Fyfes head a danger to anyone in the changerooms and O’meara’s knees going to last on the hard Optus surface about as long as Ross Lyon takes to say nubile.

Mind you, O’Driscoll, Young and Amiss would look good in blue and yella (but anyone would after wearing purple).

 

[Obeanie1]

Not so sure about that. Young is a serious talent and Chapman isn't far behind. It's not hard to imagine Darcy getting better given his age ditto Brennan Cox. Jordan Clark was also good last year and at 22 you'd imagine he will continue to improve.

But you're right about injuries - they decimate clubs. Unfortunately they tend to happen more the older you get and WC do have an older bunch.

And all those listed we can compare to like players on every list give or take a year or two in age profile.

No doubt Freo gelled last season and had a decent run with injuries.

And they still lack quality tall forwards.

If they had Oscar and Darling they would be contending. But they dont. Amiss at 19 cant carry a top 4 forward line. The rest are unproven or injury prone.

 

[WestCoast05]

Darcy already moving like an old man, Chapman can hardly lift his arm above shoulder height, you couldn’t get Clark to tighten up his player if you used a ring spanner on him (there is a reason why the Cats wouldn’t play him at the end), midfield looking midget like without Mundy, Pearce a foot injury waiting to happen, Fyfes head a danger to anyone in the changerooms, O’meara’s knees going to last on the hard Optus surface about as long as Ross Lyon takes to say nubile.

Mind you, O’Driscoll, Young and Amiss would look good in blue and yella (but anyone would after wearing purple).

I think you need to adjust your expectations as to where Freo's list is at - they are looking the goods, have drafted and recruited well and should have a very good next 5 years.

You are better off pinning your hopes to a quick West Coast turn around rather than hoping the wheels fall off at Freo.
The good news is that it took them 7 years to get back in contention and I don't think it will take us that long.

 

[bzparkes]

I think you need to adjust your expectations as to where Freo's list is at - they are looking the goods, have drafted and recruited well and should have a very good next 5 years.

You are better off pinning your hopes to a quick West Coast turn around rather than hoping the wheels fall off at Freo.
The good news is that it took them 7 years to get back in contention and I don't think it will take us that long.

They have a very massive hole in their forward line and will be hoping a second year player in Amiss comes on very rapidly.

Don't see them as serious contenders for at least 3 years, tbh.

 

[Obeanie1]

They have a very massive hole in their forward line and will be hoping a second year player in Amiss comes on very rapidly.

Don't see them as serious contenders for at least 3 years, tbh.

They won't contend until they fix that forward line.

Smalls don't win flags.

 

[VicBased]

Don't see them as serious contenders for at least 3 years, tbh.

Could be them and us in a Granny in 3 years, now wouldn't that be something.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

I think you need to adjust your expectations as to where Freo's list is at - they are looking the goods, have drafted and recruited well and should have a very good next 5 years.

You are better off pinning your hopes to a quick West Coast turn around rather than hoping the wheels fall off at Freo.
The good news is that it took them 7 years to get back in contention and I don't think it will take us that long.

Fremantle has with the exception of Amiss got nada across the forward line. Sturt hasn't shown enough or had his body together, Walters is an old flopper, Fyfe can't kick to save himself. Good thing for them that they've got a stacked midfield that can work lesser players Frederick, Shultz & Switkowski into the game and give them a good supply of lball to get dangerous.

I see them a bit like Melbourne, though they lack the weapons of Petracca and Oliver they're a good midfield side with a sure defence that has zero hurt factor forward of centre (front running aside). This is why they've taken the dartboard approach to key forwards, draft lots of them in the hope one sticks.

 

[Agent93]

Could be them and us in a Granny in 3 years, now wouldn't that be something.

Won't happen. Freo will screw the pooch after we serve the advantages to them on a platter.

 

[WestCoast05]

Fremantle has with the exception of Amiss got nada across the forward line. Sturt hasn't shown enough or had his body together, Walters is an old flopper, Fyfe can't kick to save himself. Good thing for them that they've got a stacked midfield that can work lesser players Frederick, Shultz & Switkowski into the game and give them a good supply of lball to get dangerous.

I see your angle.

But if you agree they have talent across the mids and backs then I'm sure between Jackson, Darcy, Tabs, Amiss and Treacy they can boot some goals as well as halve contests to give Freddy, Schultz and Switta look in.

(I need to take a shower after advocating for Freo but just calling it how I see it)

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

All this negativity about Freo makes me cringe. Freo supporters have been so fixated about West Coast that they are blinkered. the are irrational. They are difficulty to engage in a meaningful conversation with. Please, we are a better supporter base than that.

A fit Taberner at FF alongside a developing Amiss as 3rd tall and better coached Jackson at CHF and they are sorted. Those complaining about Fyfe - I would gladly have him on a HFF in our team (minus his attitude of course).

Better use of time is to look at what our list is likely to be and stop reading the socials about idiots who predict next season based on last season and those mesmerised by the bigusdikus competition when in fact they are waiting for their balls to drop.

 

[Rowan18]

All this negativity about Freo makes me cringe. Freo supporters have been so fixated about West Coast that they are blinkered. the are irrational. They are difficulty to engage in a meaningful conversation with. Please, we are a better supporter base than that.

A fit Taberner at FF alongside a developing Amiss as 3rd tall and better coached Jackson at CHF and they are sorted. Those complaining about Fyfe - I would gladly have him on a HFF in our team (minus his attitude of course).

Better use of time is to look at what our list is likely to be and stop reading the socials about idiots who predict next season based on last season and those mesmerised by the bigusdikus competition when in fact they are waiting for their balls to drop.

How do you think West Coast will go this year? I struggle to separate my emotions from the new season optimism, so am interested to hear some analysis from people who know a bit more about footy.

I find the hardest part of predictions is the mistake of assuming the trend will continue from the year before. I find myself thinking we'll bounce back toward top 8 with less injuries, but that also relies on our previous best players capturing their form. Guys like: Gov, Darling, Allen, Nic Nat are another year older. Our midfield is also a big question mark; will Yeo get back to his best, will the young guys step up, can Kelly get back to his Geelong form?

 

[FKASC]

A fit Taberner at FF alongside a developing Amiss as 3rd tall and better coached Jackson at CHF and they are sorted. Those complaining about Fyfe - I would gladly have him on a HFF in our team (minus his attitude of course).

Short memories on here considering Melbourne won a flag 18 months ago kicking a massive score with a weak forwardline.

 

[Keys]

How do you think West Coast will go this year? I struggle to separate my emotions from the new season optimism, so am interested to hear some analysis from people who know a bit more about footy.

I find the hardest part of predictions is the mistake of assuming the trend will continue from the year before. I find myself thinking we'll bounce back toward top 8 with less injuries, but that also relies on our previous best players capturing their form. Guys like: Gov, Darling, Allen, Nic Nat are another year older. Our midfield is also a big question mark; will Yeo get back to his best, will the young guys step up, can Kelly get back to his Geelong form?

Predictions are quite futile. The difference in talent from the best list to the worst isn’t as big as people think so luck with injury as a huge impact. And that’s just one factor

One thing you can usually predict with some certainty is that there’ll be 2-3 changes in the teams that make finals each year. Picking which ones is not so easy

From ‘21 to ‘22, Port (who’d finished 2nd), GWS and Essendon all fell out of the 8 replaced by Collingwood (who’d finished 17th), Fremantle and Richmond.

Essendon and GWS both finished bottom 4 after making finals

The Bulldogs were a bees dick away from losing their spot to Carlton which would have meant 4 changes

It’s really hard to make a case for us to surge up the ladder. It’s possible if a lot of things go our way like they did for Collingwood last year, but it’s improbable

I’ve no doubt we’ll improve but more into the 11-14 range

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

How do you think West Coast will go this year? I struggle to separate my emotions from the new season optimism, so am interested to hear some analysis from people who know a bit more about footy.

I find the hardest part of predictions is the mistake of assuming the trend will continue from the year before. I find myself thinking we'll bounce back toward top 8 with less injuries, but that also relies on our previous best players capturing their form. Guys like: Gov, Darling, Allen, Nic Nat are another year older. Our midfield is also a big question mark; will Yeo get back to his best, will the young guys step up, can Kelly get back to his Geelong form?

How will we go? Very good question.

How different will our game plan be? A game plan normally takes a full season to implement and we did very little of it in 2022. Therefore expectations should be tempered especially at the top of the club. Do not give us a spiel of crap.

I have some very different views/emotions on the 2023 season.

If I was Nesbitt, I would be setting Simpson some KPI's.
The old adage that we have to make finals is not the case in 2023. This is a reset for the future and it could fast track our next flag. But to do that means some major changes in attitude, selection and accountability.

2023 KPI's
1. A new game plan needs to be both visible in its implementation and there must be signs Simpson's strategy can be competitive in the current world. This would include the need for WAFL team to be starting to play a consistent game plan.
2. I want to see consistency of effort (games, quarters, etc) where we show the endeavour at winning contested football. Number of tackles, ground ball gets, etc. No longer credits in the bank and rushing old farts back without going through the WAFL. No more of Gaff going to a centre bouncedown. No playing Sheed, Gaff and Kelly as the clearance trio. Getting player X fit by selecting them in the seniors is a travesty.
3. Development of our youth. We need to balance getting games into the youth and match committee integrity. Start giving players a run of 3 or 4 games in their right position. Example - if Ginbey is not capable physically of playing full time inside mid yet, then OK with him as a defender with stints on the ball. I would want to see at least 4 players under 22 in the team each week. We have 15 of them so it should be doable. Hough, Bazzo, Culley are certainly ready. I would think Chesser (not R1) and Ginbey will be pushing for selection. Try out Hewitt, Long or Burgiel as a small forward. We also have Trew, LEdwards and Winder.

I personally do not think we are good enough to compete at the serious end of the able in 2023. Going flat out with the oldies might (just might) get us to 8th or 9th. It would be at the expense of our youngsters and hence I wold consider it a wasted year.

If we have a more competitive side that plays competitive and entertaining football whilst blooding some youth, I will gladly take a bottom 4 finish. Load up again in the 2023 draft and we start a serious rise towards the top in 2024. Our aim should be a GF in 2026 and another 2 flags by 2031.

 

[Shueygod]

All this negativity about Freo makes me cringe. Freo supporters have been so fixated about West Coast that they are blinkered. the are irrational. They are difficulty to engage in a meaningful conversation with. Please, we are a better supporter base than that.

A fit Taberner at FF alongside a developing Amiss as 3rd tall and better coached Jackson at CHF and they are sorted. Those complaining about Fyfe - I would gladly have him on a HFF in our team (minus his attitude of course).

Better use of time is to look at what our list is likely to be and stop reading the socials about idiots who predict next season based on last season and those mesmerised by the bigusdikus competition when in fact they are waiting for their balls to drop.

That’s a shithouse forward line, Tabs is decent. Amiss and Jackson are not top 4 KPF’s.

For those quoting Melbournes, Bailey Fritsch is a better forward than any Freo has by a country mile and their kids kick far more goals.

Melbourne probably has the 3 best forwards between the two teams and they still have one of the weakest in the 8.

 

[WCErevival]

Freo's forwards only need to be serviceable. They dont need to be all Buddy Franklins.

 

[Keys]

Fremantle were 12th for points scored in the 2022 H&A and they lost their leading goal kicker so scoring is an issue for them

Fortunately for them, they are one of the best defensive teams in the comp, only Melbourne conceded less (by just 3 points). Ross Lyon would be proud

 

[Marlin01]

What about Treacy? I thought he looked pretty good