- Aug 21, 2008
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I think you may be stranded in 2018
-
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Where do we need to improve next year?
- Thread starter hugecannon
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- Dec 29, 2000
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Which of our last 5 years first round picks have bombed?
- May 14, 2017
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I wasn't at AO. Watching on TV I miss a lot of player movement off the ball and who's watching whom.
I agree that the initial match-ups were not the main problem. It was Nicks' stubborn resistance to change when things were not working. That inflexibility costs us, week after week.
By contrast, in the Suns/Brisbane game Fagan made a change onto Ben King after he'd kicked two goals and he was shut out the rest of the game (another poster pointed that out as well, but my mate pointed it out to me on Sunday morning on the way to fishing).
If you meant Keane on Gunston, it's hard to say before the game (nearly same height, Keane heavier), but in hindsight it was certainly a shit match-up. In support of your observation, Gunston is a canny 250-gamer, while Keane's best is not so much one-on-one lockdown and when isolated with one opponent he tends to give away frees ==> goals against.
However,
Ch9's footy show highlighted how Keane (who loves to spoil and intercept) left Gunston, giving him anywhere from 10-20 metres separation. Big mistake, because the Hawks ball-deliverers looked for Gunston and found him alone.
That was compounded by Nicks either not seeing that Keane was getting beaten badly or not doing anything about it.
It beggars belief that Nicks left it unchanged; really poor Coaching.
- Sep 25, 2014
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One positive is that Nicks is out of contract in 12 months. Lets hope he ends up like Sando and shown the door. Adam Simpson, Longmire are available. Id take any of those over Nicks. The club better NOT resign him before the season starts.
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- Sep 25, 2014
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Petracca will improve us but no way he is coming here..
Not sure you can improve too much on an 18 wins minor premiership. That won't happen again for a long time I'm tipping.
Finals performance though, streeewwwth!
Gameday finals coaching is what we need.
Finals performance though, streeewwwth!
Gameday finals coaching is what we need.
That's the worrying part.
In six years, Nicks hasn't shown much ability to learn from his mistakes.
He is so rigid in his football philosophy that he just doesn't appear to be able to change, even when the evidence is there that it's not working
- May 14, 2017
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It certainly is!
Until Davis, I'd say almost none at all and even after Davis, his inflexibility was on show.
I agree; I'm both confounded and infuriated by it.
When something is not working, change it up.
It's LIFE 101, not just footy.
Keep doing the same things, and get the same results
- May 14, 2017
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Tex was talking on the radio today.
Bad news: he's been Nicksed
and I quote:
"As for what the group took out of the past fortnight, Walker said there was a plethora of learnings that would help drive the group into 2025 and beyond." (AFC website)
A plethora of learnings; Heaven help us.
Bad news: he's been Nicksed
and I quote:"As for what the group took out of the past fortnight, Walker said there was a plethora of learnings that would help drive the group into 2025 and beyond." (AFC website)
A plethora of learnings; Heaven help us.
GreyCrow
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- Mar 21, 2016
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I dont think Tex has ever used plethora in his life beforeTex was talking on the radio today.
Bad news: he's been Nicksed
"As for what the group took out of the past fortnight, Walker said there was a plethora of learnings that would help drive the group into 2025 and beyond." (AFC website)
A plethora of learnings; Heaven help us.
Tex was talking on the radio today.
Bad news: he's been Nicksed
"As for what the group took out of the past fortnight, Walker said there was a plethora of learnings that would help drive the group into 2025 and beyond." (AFC website)
A plethora of learnings; Heaven help us.
- May 16, 2015
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We need tex. In some capacity in the forward lines. He is the general.
GreyCrow
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Kane McGoodwin
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The biggest learning is very obvious.... Nicks is not capable of being a gun coach because he lacks the IQ.Tex was talking on the radio today.
Bad news: he's been Nicksed
"As for what the group took out of the past fortnight, Walker said there was a plethora of learnings that would help drive the group into 2025 and beyond." (AFC website)
A plethora of learnings; Heaven help us.
Coaching
Selection
Midfield
Midfield
Midfield
Selection
Midfield
Midfield
Midfield
- Aug 6, 2021
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Originally I would have assumed that he’d go to a Melbourne club with a big fan base. However, if the reports that he’s open to moving outside of Victoria are true I’d say we have as good of an opportunity as anyone.
- May 14, 2017
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Yep, he's been Nicksed.
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I hope you’ll pardon the intrusion- I went looking for a positives thread.
Main reason I went looking for a positives thread was although you’ve been knocked out in the fashion you have, this year is still a resounding success. I say that in particular as an eagles fan watching you guys jump in the manner you have has provided a certain level of optimism my club will be able to do that, albeit several years down the road.
It is, EXCEPTIONALLY difficult to make the jump from bottom 4 to finalists, let alone top. Everything designed to equalise the competition is working against you, yet you’ve taken that step.
Did it count for anything in the end? Maybe not this year, but you can really see the nucleus of a contention for the next 4-5 years at least. There’s another level when it comes to finals and I think the one thing that caught you out this year was dealing with inexperience and weight of expectations which is usual for a side that has been waiting a long time to get to this moment. You’ll be better for it.
You play footy in the right way, strong across all lines, really. You attack with genuine key forwards up front and some really strong key backs.
Worrall has elevated his game this year, if he remains fit will be a lock in the AA next year. Curtin has emerged as a genuine midfielder and I would 100% take him over Murphy Reid (who I feel will struggle with the physical attention he will get next year) every day of the week. Thilthorpe is a genuine Coleman threat next year.
You’ve got a bit of natural development to come in Draper, Taylor, Michallaney, Rachelle as well who should all make you better next year.
In terms of what is next on your list- I think up til now your recruitment has been sound with your acquisitions. Personally would be in on Petracca if you could make that happen. I think even if he has 3 years left as a part time footballer/chef he would be an excellent get in the contested stakes.
Otherwise, I’d be looking at Jack Steele who should be on the cheap at St Kilda. I want him at WC, but as a bigger bodied mid it would allow Dawson to be more creative on the outside and I think as a stop gap he would be a good get to allow Draper to fully develop into the player we know he will be.
Anyway, lots of reason for optimism. I wish you well this offseason.
Main reason I went looking for a positives thread was although you’ve been knocked out in the fashion you have, this year is still a resounding success. I say that in particular as an eagles fan watching you guys jump in the manner you have has provided a certain level of optimism my club will be able to do that, albeit several years down the road.
It is, EXCEPTIONALLY difficult to make the jump from bottom 4 to finalists, let alone top. Everything designed to equalise the competition is working against you, yet you’ve taken that step.
Did it count for anything in the end? Maybe not this year, but you can really see the nucleus of a contention for the next 4-5 years at least. There’s another level when it comes to finals and I think the one thing that caught you out this year was dealing with inexperience and weight of expectations which is usual for a side that has been waiting a long time to get to this moment. You’ll be better for it.
You play footy in the right way, strong across all lines, really. You attack with genuine key forwards up front and some really strong key backs.
Worrall has elevated his game this year, if he remains fit will be a lock in the AA next year. Curtin has emerged as a genuine midfielder and I would 100% take him over Murphy Reid (who I feel will struggle with the physical attention he will get next year) every day of the week. Thilthorpe is a genuine Coleman threat next year.
You’ve got a bit of natural development to come in Draper, Taylor, Michallaney, Rachelle as well who should all make you better next year.
In terms of what is next on your list- I think up til now your recruitment has been sound with your acquisitions. Personally would be in on Petracca if you could make that happen. I think even if he has 3 years left as a part time footballer/chef he would be an excellent get in the contested stakes.
Otherwise, I’d be looking at Jack Steele who should be on the cheap at St Kilda. I want him at WC, but as a bigger bodied mid it would allow Dawson to be more creative on the outside and I think as a stop gap he would be a good get to allow Draper to fully develop into the player we know he will be.
Anyway, lots of reason for optimism. I wish you well this offseason.
I would love to know what actually happened.
Nicks is known for saying “defence wins finals”
Did he actually change our whole game style to an ultra boring defensive style pre finals? Was it due to the suspension of rankine?
I agree you need to be strong behind the ball to win finals, however stacking ball movement if what wins finals.
Or was it simply the players chocking and not performing under finals pressure
Our midfield is not good enough.
Lack a genuine blue chip midfielder and this was exposed in Finals.
Dawson is our best, and he is not really a true mid. Neither is Rankine.
Sog is second tier. And still young. He ran out of steam by the end of the year. His improvement will be important.
We need to go after Pettracca or Meeret etc. Roll the dice. This is what we need to improve.
Even Zac Bailey improves our midfield greatly.
Our bookends are still good. Ah Chee will be a good get.
I have concerns over Murray though. Feel Butts is better, post Murray knee. Butts needs to stay, and play IMO.
Lack a genuine blue chip midfielder and this was exposed in Finals.
Dawson is our best, and he is not really a true mid. Neither is Rankine.
Sog is second tier. And still young. He ran out of steam by the end of the year. His improvement will be important.
We need to go after Pettracca or Meeret etc. Roll the dice. This is what we need to improve.
Even Zac Bailey improves our midfield greatly.
Our bookends are still good. Ah Chee will be a good get.
I have concerns over Murray though. Feel Butts is better, post Murray knee. Butts needs to stay, and play IMO.
One of the issues I think the finals exposed was our lack of flexibility in the midfield.
We tend to (and I suspect this is VB being a Neil Craig disciple) stick with 4 guys in the midfield and wherever possible we run them into the ground. By the time we get to the end of the season guys like Soligo and Dawson are running in mud.
Come finals this year, we suddenly hit panic stations and started doing weird shit as our mids got smashed. We threw Max in there against Collingwood despite only ever playing a half a game in the middle in his career. Then we resorted to Laird and Keays who both had barely seen midfield minutes in 2025.
I would want to hit 2026 with some real flexibility.
So I want the following guys training midfield over the preseason:
Dawson
Curtin
Soligo
Berry (also want him training with the forwards a bit)
Peatling
Rankine
Rachele
Draper
Max M
Milera
Keays
Draper
Dowling
Taylor
Edwards
Pedlar
Ideally, I would want:
Curtin full time mid
Dawson playing half back and mid 50-50
Milera and Max rotating with Dawson for the other 50% of mid time
Soligo mid and wing
Rankine, Rachele, Draper, Pedlar rotating mid and forward (always one of these guys in the middle)
Taylor having more midfield time
Edwards full time mid in SANFL, then a few games at AFL level
The others ready when needed.
My team for 2026 (Assuming we get a Petracca/Oliver type to add to midfield:
Worrell Butts Max M
Dawson Keane Milera
Soligo Curtin Keays
ANB Thilthorpe Draper
Ah Chee Fogarty Rachele
1R: ROB (
) Petracca Rankine
INT: Peatling Laird Pedlar Nankervis
We tend to (and I suspect this is VB being a Neil Craig disciple) stick with 4 guys in the midfield and wherever possible we run them into the ground. By the time we get to the end of the season guys like Soligo and Dawson are running in mud.
Come finals this year, we suddenly hit panic stations and started doing weird shit as our mids got smashed. We threw Max in there against Collingwood despite only ever playing a half a game in the middle in his career. Then we resorted to Laird and Keays who both had barely seen midfield minutes in 2025.
I would want to hit 2026 with some real flexibility.
So I want the following guys training midfield over the preseason:
Dawson
Curtin
Soligo
Berry (also want him training with the forwards a bit)
Peatling
Rankine
Rachele
Draper
Max M
Milera
Keays
Draper
Dowling
Taylor
Edwards
Pedlar
Ideally, I would want:
Curtin full time mid
Dawson playing half back and mid 50-50
Milera and Max rotating with Dawson for the other 50% of mid time
Soligo mid and wing
Rankine, Rachele, Draper, Pedlar rotating mid and forward (always one of these guys in the middle)
Taylor having more midfield time
Edwards full time mid in SANFL, then a few games at AFL level
The others ready when needed.
My team for 2026 (Assuming we get a Petracca/Oliver type to add to midfield:
Worrell Butts Max M
Dawson Keane Milera
Soligo Curtin Keays
ANB Thilthorpe Draper
Ah Chee Fogarty Rachele
1R: ROB (
) Petracca RankineINT: Peatling Laird Pedlar Nankervis
Dirty Bird
Pokémon Master
Midfield
Coaching
Maybe #3 tall forward
Coaching
Maybe #3 tall forward
It will be interesting to see how we bounce back from one of the most insipid final performances in AFL history. It was embarrassing and the club as a collective should hang their head in shame. Our non-competitive finals performances negate any positives.
Take out Dawson and our midfield is barely C grade (bottom 6 quality) so midfielders are the priority, STILL. Coaching and selection, as Crowked said, are still a problem. Gifting games into Murphy, Smith and Schoenberg while Draper, Edwards and Dowling were playing 2nds was laughable.
If we can't bring in an A grade, proven midfielder during the trade period I expect we will finish anywhere from 7th to 11th. There will, should, be alot of players seeking redemption for their soft, non-competitive final performances (Fogarty, Soligo, Peatling, Cumming, Hinge to name a few)
Take out Dawson and our midfield is barely C grade (bottom 6 quality) so midfielders are the priority, STILL. Coaching and selection, as Crowked said, are still a problem. Gifting games into Murphy, Smith and Schoenberg while Draper, Edwards and Dowling were playing 2nds was laughable.
If we can't bring in an A grade, proven midfielder during the trade period I expect we will finish anywhere from 7th to 11th. There will, should, be alot of players seeking redemption for their soft, non-competitive final performances (Fogarty, Soligo, Peatling, Cumming, Hinge to name a few)
