What are we Missing

[worsfold]

Ok we know we lost a couple of champs from the midfield, Woosha was after a trade for a more mature midfielder last year, we showed an interested in Farren Ray and Chris johnson.
Kerr still needs help, so should we be looking to trade for a more mature mid or will our youngsters (masten, ebert, Selwood) be mature enough to play a greater role next year?

 

[bunsen burner]

kids. We will have one maybe two top fives on top for next season. Just keep playing them until they come good. We are in a good position.

 

[faisan]

I think that we have the right young players. They just need time to develop and improve.

I would only trade away a high draft pick for an absolute Gun who is young ie 23 or younger. I can only really think of Joel Selwood right now and I doubt he would come over.

 

[bodazoka]

I am warming to the idea of picking up Lids for pick #4 and mabye a fringe player... Our gap of talent between the ages of 21-24 scares me a little bit. Does anyone think it could lead to a false dawn if our kids dont come on for another 3 years and in that time Hunter, Cox, Embley, Glass, Stinga either retire or start to waine.

In 3 years if we are relying on those above players (Cox and Glass especially) to have good games for us to be competetive then we are in some trouble, and when they start to retire it might stifle our over all development. It could lead to a false dawn down the track followed by atleast one very bad year...

 

[Level_Headed]

I reckon that we are missing experience.

Some of the newer players will be much more match hardened with a few pre seasons and 50ish games to their name.

That is when we will start to get consistent and not go missing for extended periods of time and therefore lose winnable games.

Of course trading for future stars like cyril rioli would be great... But that is not really realistic!

 

[eagles06]

We are missing players in the midfield that have the ability to break tackles like Cousins and Judd could. LeCras I believe has that ability however thats also why he is a good smallish forward, he can duck, weave and swivel the hips to get around those guys. This is what we are struggling with atm, teams are tackling our guys way too easily IMO.
I know thats not all thats missing but its a major factor

 

[worsfold]

I am warming to the idea of picking up Lids for pick #4 and mabye a fringe player... Our gap of talent between the ages of 21-24 scares me a little bit. Does anyone think it could lead to a false dawn if our kids dont come on for another 3 years and in that time Hunter, Cox, Embley, Glass, Stinga either retire or start to waine.

In 3 years if we are relying on those above players (Cox and Glass especially) to have good games for us to be competetive then we are in some trouble, and when they start to retire it might stifle our over all development. It could lead to a false dawn down the track followed by atleast one very bad year...

I think the development of Brown Mckenzie, spangher, schofield and now Nick Nat will cover the older players you mentioned or at least reduce the reliance on them but the midfield is still a worry as not mature enough in the body. though the rule is about 3 years so the 07 draftees should be ok next year but we may still be short unless shuey, swift, develop real quickly.

 

[worsfold]

We are missing players in the midfield that have the ability to break tackles like Cousins and Judd could. LeCras I believe has that ability however thats also why he is a good smallish forward, he can duck, weave and swivel the hips to get around those guys. This is what we are struggling with atm, teams are tackling our guys way too easily IMO.
I know thats not all thats missing but its a major factor

yep we could play lecras and hurn in the middle that would give us more power but then we need to replace
1. our leading goal kicker
2. one of our best small defenders and quarter back as i'm lost for better words.

 

[no1bankteller]

What we are missing is a good team song!

Man did a cringe with envy at the game last week when they played the Richmond song.

 

[Embers]

Well in 5 years

FB: X X J.Jones
HB: Hurn McKenzie S.Selwood
C: LeCras Masten Swift
HF: Ebert M.Brown X
FF: X Kennedy X
R: Natanui Shuey A.Selwood
I/C: Cox Kerr Priddis Rosa

We need to fill in the Xs

 

[worsfold]

Well in 5 years

FB: X X J.Jones
HB: Hurn McKenzie S.Selwood
C: LeCras Masten Swift
HF: Ebert M.Brown X
FF: X Kennedy X
R: Natanui Shuey A.Selwood
I/C: Cox Kerr Priddis Rosa

We need to fill in the Xs

that could be us in 3 years let alone 5
No Waters, cockie, butler, macnamara, schofield, Mcginnity, spangher plus we will draft a minamum of 3 new blokes per year

 

[Embers]

that could be us in 3 years let alone 5
No Waters, cockie, butler, macnamara, schofield, Mcginnity, spangher plus we will draft a minamum of 3 new blokes per year

Waters injuries worry me. IMO the players I have left out either wont make it or are bit part players.

 

[Luke124]

One word....

Skills

 

[eagles06]

yep we could play lecras and hurn in the middle that would give us more power but then we need to replace
1. our leading goal kicker
2. one of our best small defenders and quarter back as i'm lost for better words.

Yep very true, but if we are to develop LeCras into a midfielder then may as well start now, not saying full matches but I think half a match in the middle would be good for him. I doubt he will play forward for the rest of his career. Hurn has been very good off half back, he knows that role well now and will probably spend most of his career across half back so I reckon we can afford to leave him there.
But I mean we may as well experiment a bit more this year, as winning will harm the club in the long run really. Win 2 more and no more priority pick, if we were to win say 4 or 5 more I would be happy but if we won 2 more you would wonder what the point is.

 

[bodazoka]

This is our list of guys who are under 21 at the start of next year who you would have faith in to turn into at least solid players. In 3 years all of these guys will be around 22-23, except for Brown and McKenzie who will be 24 and Hurn who will be 25.

FB: X, McKenzie, Scooter
HB: Hurn, Brown, X
C: X, Swift, Ebert
HF: X, Kennedy, X
FF: Notte, X, X
Ruck: Naita, Masten, Shuey
Interchange: X, X, X, X

A.Selwood (29), Kerr (30), Waters (26), Priddis (27), Butler (26), Q-Stick (29), Rosa (26), Nico(29), LeCras (26) will fill the rest of those places. To make a team that I would consider full of solid AFL players and not many passengers (theres still 3 spots missing).

Basically we have no "A" grade players in the team right now that will be around the 24-25 mark in 3 years....In terms of A grade talent the midfield will have Masten/Ebert/Scooter who will be 23, Swift/Shuey who will be 22 and then Kerr who will be 30...

I dont think our window will open up untill Swift/Shuey start to hit 24/25, thats when we might look at being genuine contenders again. That way Masten/Ebert/Scooter will be 25/26 and Swift/Shuey will be 24/25 and our midfield then will be awesome.. but thats in 5/6 years. And in that amount of time we wont have Kerr/A.Selwood/Priddis/Q-Stick/Nico.

The only way we can be a top 4 team in 3 years is if we either:

1. Trade draft picks for at least one gun A grade midfielder who can compliment Kerr now, and allow the kids more freedom in the middle.

2. At least one, more likely two of the kids become genuine A graders a year or two ahead of time. aka Judd's.

3. Do both of the above....

This is why Worsfold was looking around for midfielders with a few years in the system, because he knows that if we let nature take its course there will only be a slight chance that we will be back on top in 3 years.

Hunter, Glass, Cox, Embley, Jones, Stinga will be 32+ meaning that basically all of them will be retired.

 

[spEKTre]

kids. We will have one maybe two top fives on top for next season. Just keep playing them until they come good. We are in a good position.

Luckily you are a deluded psychopath and have no say in the Eagles management because if I didn't know any better it appears you have been advising Melbourne and Richmond for the last 3 years.

 

[bodazoka]

Luckily you are a deluded psychopath and have no say in the Eagles management because if I didn't know any better it appears you have been advising Melbourne and Richmond for the last 3 years.

I know you didnt quote me but... where did that come from? It was like a run away train that appeared from no where.

 

[drexel]

I don't see the arguement with Lecras RE taking away our leading goalkicker... because who cares about goalkicking right now since we are not winning games/flags this year or next.

I too think we are missing the middle aged type player ala Chick, Braun, Stenglein from a developing squad. Not so much their age but their proffessional attitudes, work ethic, leadership, hunger etc.

As for targets, id like to see Daniel Wells come over... maybe for Staker.
Diledio for Pick 4 would be great but i don't want to lose Kerr for anything. Once the team steps up, Kerr will be back to gun level and its probably best that he doesn't kill himself in the meantime anyway.

Jetta and Matera are must haves aswell. I'd take Jetta with one of top picks to guarantee it rather than an interstate gun.

 

[bunsen burner]

What we are missing is a good team song!

Man did a cringe with envy at the game last week when they played the Richmond song.

I remember as a Claremont supporter as a little kid walking out of the ground after a well fought victory singing the Tigerland song and always thinking, "our song f***ing rocks, man".

Then when the Eagles started the hardest thing to get over were the bright yellow guernseys and the lame-arse song. It sucks bawlls.

 

[bunsen burner]

Luckily you are a deluded psychopath and have no say in the Eagles management because if I didn't know any better it appears you have been advising Melbourne and Richmond for the last 3 years.

1. Richmond aren't nicknamed Ninthmond for nothing. I certainly didn't advise them because what I would have had them do and what they actually did are miles apart. They sat mid table and paid the penalty.
2. You're on crack if you don't think Melbourne are quietly building themselves a very good side. They made the GF in 88 and 00. Neither occassion they had a team that was a chance. They just didn't have the cattle. This time they are doing it the right way.

I can't help but look at people like you with total disdain. You're just clueless. You like the people who sit in the right lane all the time and aren't smart enough to work out the courtesy is to sit left unless overtaking. And when someone points it out to you you still don't get it.

 

[spEKTre]

Bunsen
Funnily enough we barrack for the same team ( have to remind you of that ) and it seems you just think by writing a tonne of worthless dribble it automatically makes you an authority. Frankly you are an authority on being a knob

 

[bunsen burner]

Bunsen
Funnily enough we barrack for the same team ( have to remind you of that ) and it seems you just think by writing a tonne of worthless dribble it automatically makes you an authority. Frankly you are an authority on being a knob

Just happens I have a track record of getting it right on the big issues. I was right when everyone bitched and moaned about Ken Judge, I was right when everyone bitched and moaned about taking Judd over Polak, I was right in 2002 when I said we needed to build the midfield and worry about the rest later, I was right when I said Jako was never going to be captain, I was right when I said Priddis was over rated, and the chances are that I'm right this time too. Worthless dribble? Not so far.

 

[eagles rule]

kids. We will have one maybe two top fives on top for next season. Just keep playing them until they come good. We are in a good position.

It`s all well and good to say play the kids and keep playing them but I think we

are missing some hardnuts that can protect these kids.Kerr is not a kid and he`s

getting bashed and banged around and it`s taking it`s toll on his form.

In bygone years there was Woosha who used to threaten and intimidate

opposing players who served it up to his team-mates.

This is what is missing some players with big balls.

 

[Eagle Ant]

1)We need to trade kerr and let the young brigade learn off each other.

2)We need a small forward Crumber with that X factor we keep hearing about.

3)We need Waters back to add much needed aggression.

4) we need a Genuine FF that can kick more goals then behinds and consistantly.

5) We need to find a hitman in the midfield.

Then we will be successful

 

[bunsen burner]

It`s all well and good to say play the kids and keep playing them

It sure is.

but I think we are missing some hardnuts that can protect these kids.

1. Adam Selwood
2. Beau Waters

We aren't missing them, we have them. We are just not using them yet.

Kerr is not a kid and he`s getting bashed and banged around and it`s taking it`s toll on his form.

It's not just lack of playing hardnuts in block and biff positions, it's also our lack of midfield talent. Right now teams know our mastens, Eberts, Scotts etc are nowhere near their peak so they know all they need to worry about is stopping, niggling, and bashing Kerr. In time when our young mids step up and even the load, as well as being good enough for Adam to take a more defensive blocking role, Kerr will deliver the goods.

In bygone years there was Woosha who used to threaten and intimidate

opposing players who served it up to his team-mates.

This is what is missing some players with big balls.

All in good time. This isn't a priority right now.