Woosha

[WCErevival]

Woosh was right though. He did get us "well into the 8" in that time period.

 

[Eagle87]

Woosh was right though. He did get us "well into the 8" in that time period.

We haven't challenged for a Premiership. We aren't about to enter "a period of 6 or 7 years of challenging for a flag WITH THIS GROUP"...

2011 was on the back of stellar seasons from older players and a bump from the kids. As the older players have fallen away, so has the performance. There is no way the group of kids we had in 2010 I.e THIS GROUP is going to be challenging for a flag each year for the next 6 or 7 years..

Woosh overestimated the quality of the list. 2011 has ended up being unfortunate because we didn't properly rebuild the midfield (which was identified as slow and average way back in 2010) because of stellar work from Cox, Kerr, Embley, Lynch.. Our slow forwards were glossed over because of Nico and we talked ourselves into believing we were better than we were...

We are worse now because Embley, Selwood, Nico are gone. Kerr & Cox are just about done and so on...

The kids haven't turned out collectively to be as good as Woosh thought and we've stuck with a structurally flawed midfield ...

Woosh was wrong

EDIT: 2011 was our best year and have a look at how we went in finals... We weren't close to Cats or Pies for quality ...

 

[Tiff]

Well I heard today at our fathers day lunch that Roos really has moved his family to Perth. My uncle in-law has close ties to him here.

Seems if he has moved here there is only one reason he would do this.

Hopefully goodbye Woosh.

I think your uncle was telling porkies

 

[The Dodger]

Speed in the midfield is overrated

Give me players who are one touch below the knees, accurate quick hands and make good decisions

Our midfield as a collective would be quicker than Hawthorns as an example

Our issue is we don't have much of either.

Its true but it has been highlighted as an area of weakness and then left unaddressed. More symbolic of Worsfolds perceived success in going where he wants to go with this group.

Again he said the midfield was the biggest weakness after the semi final loss last year.
We traded for Wellingham which I thought was in line but you cant trade in everything you need to fix a perceived weakness you need to also change a few things from within with the cattle you do have but we lined up more or less the same (when fit) and nothing changed.

 

[Jack_the_Ninja]

Did you hear about the last game of Chess Woosh played ? he tried to crown a pawn ! the last game of draughts he played most of his pieces ended up outside the board on the flanks. The last game of snakes and ladders he played ended up with ....? you finish it.

 

[Smotie]

I think your uncle was telling porkies

Do you know my uncle?

 

[Tiff]

Do you know my uncle?

Good point. I adjudge your source validated.

 

[Jack_the_Ninja]

Do you know my uncle?

Rolf Harris ?

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Its true but it has been highlighted as an area of weakness and then left unaddressed. More symbolic of Worsfolds perceived success in going where he wants to go with this group.

Again he said the midfield was the biggest weakness after the semi final loss last year.
We traded for Wellingham which I thought was in line but you cant trade in everything you need to fix a perceived weakness you need to also change a few things from within with the cattle you do have but we lined up more or less the same (when fit) and nothing changed.

Shuey, wellingham and gaff are fast enough as a core component in the midfield

It's more a matter of whether they and the rest of the group are good enough.

I'm not defending worsfold, the team played without spirit for at least half the year. And there are certainly structural issues within the midfield. I just don't buy into the "we lack pace" group.

I think it is more that we lack strength and composure over the ball and in contests.

Our midfield looked fast enough when NN was putting it into space for them over the last 2 years. It is a different kettle of fish when the ball is dropped at the feet of the ruckmen and it's a battle of strength

 

[The Dodger]

Shuey, wellingham and gaff are fast enough as a core component in the midfield

It's more a matter of whether they and the rest of the group are good enough.

I'm not defending worsfold, the team played without spirit for at least half the year. And there are certainly structural issues within the midfield. I just don't buy into the "we lack pace" group.

I think it is more that we lack strength and composure over the ball and in contests.

Our midfield looked fast enough when NN was putting it into space for them over the last 2 years. It is a different kettle of fish when the ball is dropped at the feet of the ruckmen and it's a battle of strength

Yeah I didnt thin you were defending him just that it wasn't about the actual pace of our midfield but that he said it was an issue and years later its not like you could really say he has addressed it. Just a KPI not reached type of thing.

I agree the issue is not pace alone, its choosing the right time to spread, having confidence in your team-mates to win their share of 50/50's and all of those combined with 1 touch players make you quicker. IMO its just that we are deficient in all of most of not all of those areas.
My post about the semi final was not just about pace as well, Worsfold said that the midfield as a whole was a weakness and that we took Wellingham as a fix but then did not try anything else to fix the issue as drafting and trading is not going to fix an Achilles heel of a potentially top 4 side. Just a note that perhaps there needed to be a few other things tried.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Despite a stumbling start to the season when Worsfold clearly had planned to play finals in September, Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett has thrown full support behind his coach's long-term development policy.

It is understood Worsfold and his match committee have launched a harsh assessment of their current playing stocks with final decisions on playing futures planned for end-of-season reviews.

Recruiting priorities to bolster the current list are already being considered.

West Coast is crying out for experienced players as well as a crucial injection of speed through its midfield and at ground level around goals.

If our long term development was sound why would we be crying out for experienced players.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Speed in the midfield is overrated

Give me players who are one touch below the knees, accurate quick hands and make good decisions

Our midfield as a collective would be quicker than Hawthorns as an example

Our issue is we don't have much of either.

You just described Dayne Beams.

 

[QS]

Amazing that speed in midfield was identified as an issue in 2010....

That is what stood out to me. Why on earth (correctly) identify a need and then proceed to do nothing to address it?

I'm not wielding a pitchfork here, I'm just curious whether the club remember these things, and if so what consideration does it receive?

 

[dajesmac]

That is what stood out to me. Why on earth (correctly) identify a need and then proceed to do nothing to address it?

I'm not wielding a pitchfork here, I'm just curious whether the club remember these things, and if so what consideration does it receive?

Since 2010 we've recruited Gaff, Wellingham, Newman, Carter and Hutchings - all very quick mids - and relegated Adam Selwood from the midfield.

 

[QS]

Since 2010 we've recruited Gaff, Wellingham, Newman, Carter and Hutchings - all very quick mids - and relegated Adam Selwood from the midfield.

How has that gone?
Hutchings? Gaff? Quick? Carter is not being used as a mid?

 

[dajesmac]

How has that gone?
Hutchings? Gaff? Quick? Carter is not being used as a mid?

Hutchings ran a <2.9s 20m sprint.
Gaff is very quick and breaks lines, he just doesn't use it in his current role.
Carter is quick and long-term will be a mid. Newman likewise.
Wellingham is very quick, probably our fastest.
Jamie Cripps traded in also.

I'm just saying there has been a reasonable focus on speed since 2010. The only measure we stopped short of was ousting Priddis.

 

[QS]

Hutchings ran a <2.9s 20m sprint.
Gaff is very quick and breaks lines, he just doesn't use it in his current role.
Carter is quick and long-term will be a mid. Newman likewise.
Wellingham is very quick, probably our fastest.
Jamie Cripps traded in also.

I'm just saying there has been a reasonable focus on speed since 2010. The only measure we stopped short of was ousting Priddis.

I disagree about Gaff and Hutch, but that's okay. Hutch has been run down several times, and Gaff cannot catch a cold, his current role as predominantly a wingman is where we need his speed most! Have not seen enough of Carter to comment.
Assuming you are correct, something isn't right; why are we so slow?

 

[ChampRevesby]

Hutchings ran a <2.9s 20m sprint.
Gaff is very quick and breaks lines, he just doesn't use it in his current role.
Carter is quick and long-term will be a mid. Newman likewise.
Wellingham is very quick, probably our fastest.
Jamie Cripps traded in also.

I'm just saying there has been a reasonable focus on speed since 2010. The only measure we stopped short of was ousting Priddis.

He is quick and a good kick at pace but that's about it. Never seen him break a tackle or evade a pack of players.
Hutch may be quick but he has very poor awareness (run down a few times) but I think with more games he will get better.

 

[eagles rule]

Hutchings ran a <2.9s 20m sprint.
Gaff is very quick and breaks lines, he just doesn't use it in his current role.
Carter is quick and long-term will be a mid. Newman likewise.
Wellingham is very quick, probably our fastest.
Jamie Cripps traded in also.

I'm just saying there has been a reasonable focus on speed since 2010. The only measure we stopped short of was ousting Priddis.

The main reason for not ousting Priddis besides shoddy recruiting was his ability to absorb punishment in the middle, in and under the packs he was the durable one getting gang tackled whilst the mids were developing,
Meanwhile a tale was unfolding , Kerr was getting injured,Masten and Shuey were weak bodies suseptible to injuries ,Rosa was soft ,Scooter and Ebert were tough but had average skills, Sheppard is hopeless,Stevens/Swift/Weedon were tragic as pretend mids .

 

[dajesmac]

I disagree about Gaff and Hutch, but that's okay. Hutch has been run down several times, and Gaff cannot catch a cold, his current role as predominantly a wingman is where we need his speed most! Have not seen enough of Carter to comment.
Assuming you are correct, something isn't right; why are we so slow?

Gaff is a run-all-day type mid who rarely deviates from his cruising speed. I've seen him use his burst-speed before and it's quite impressive. I think a reason why we didn't see him bursting away from contests this year is because he rarely enters a contest and leaves with the ball in hand.

Hutchings has pace, I've seen him use it to effect at WP. At AFL level he was always rushed with the ball and this will continue to happen as he gets more comfortable with experience. His speed in a linear direction though is quite reasonable, albeit not elite by any stretch.

We struggle to generate fast ball movement because we rarely take clean possession from the centre even when we do win the clearance. Our clearances are 'slow' in the sense that it's very unclean possession and therefore it's hard to generate a clean break. When that happens how can our receivers generate any sort of space and then use it? Our mids are also small and weak over the ball, and not to mention poor distributors by hand, and therefore our clearances are a joke.

Just my take.

 

[dajesmac]

He is quick and a good kick at pace but that's about it. Never seen him break a tackle or evade a pack of players.
Hutch may be quick but he has very poor awareness (run down a few times) but I think with more games he will get better.

I shouldn't have phrased it like that as I made it sound like he does it consistently. I just meant he is capable.

 

[dajesmac]

The main reason for not ousting Priddis besides shoddy recruiting was his ability to absorb punishment in the middle, in and under the packs he was the durable one getting gang tackled whilst the mids were developing,
Meanwhile a tale was unfolding , Kerr was getting injured,Masten and Shuey were weak bodies suseptible to injuries ,Rosa was soft ,Scooter and Ebert were tough but had average skills, Sheppard is hopeless,Stevens/Swift/Weedon were tragic as pretend mids .

I agree that Priddis has been a handy commodity in that sense, while our midfield has been developing. What needs to happen now is guys like Shuey, Masten, Selwood, Wellingham need to consistently win clearances and improve around him. Until that happens we are kidding ourselves if we think Priddis is holding us back. Having said that, I agree with all those that think that Priddis should be a second rotation mid, and not the prime offensive mover.

Priddis' contested work is good and when he's on song he deserves a spot in the side but he has been off his game this season, partially due to lack of support, and it has hurt.

 

[ChampRevesby]

We struggle to generate fast ball movement because we rarely take clean possession from the centre even when we do win the clearance. Our clearances are 'slow' in the sense that it's very unclean possession and therefore it's hard to generate a clean break. When that happens how can our receivers generate any sort of space and then use it? Our mids are also small and weak over the ball, and not to mention poor distributors by hand, and therefore our clearances are a joke.

The Eagles are a predictable team, this is how you beat us.
You don't tag Priddis, let him get as much as the ball as you want. You man up the other outside mids because you know their role isn't to get the ball. You know Priddis will never run the ball out of a contest, he just doesn't do that, you know he will always handball it to an outside mid or just do a dinky kick/handball which doesn't relieve any pressure. If Priddis doesn't pick it up you know you have 3-4 of your own players that will go hard to get the ball because sure as shit we don't have anyone else that is willing to get a hard ball get. So all you do is pressure the receiver and then create a spillage, have 2-3 floating waiting for the drop (how many times have you seen this very passage of play at a contest to a guy under pressure? ALL THE ****ING TIME). Then you SPREAD, you run with pace away from the contest, get goal side of our defenders, who are now reeling, and the rest is a formality. So predictable its laughable.

How do you change it up?
Get a set of mids that can break the lines or at least get clear. That splits the pack and the stationary tags but more importantly generates space out in front so other can line up (like rugby) so the ball can be moved forward. We don't need a specialist mid to do that, someone with clean hands, speed and powerful hips to break the tackles. It would not hurt to try someone like Darling.

 

[Kaboodleer]

Hutchings ran a <2.9s 20m sprint.
Gaff is very quick and breaks lines, he just doesn't use it in his current role.
Carter is quick and long-term will be a mid. Newman likewise.
Wellingham is very quick, probably our fastest.
Jamie Cripps traded in also.

I'm just saying there has been a reasonable focus on speed since 2010. The only measure we stopped short of was ousting Priddis.

Hutchings sprint time absolutely blows my mind. He ran 2.84 which should make him faster than NN (2.86) and Shuey (2.92). What is going on? I imagine top speed must be the thing that sets them apart but still wow.

I mean Dangerfield ran 2.92 and he has a sub 11sec 100m sprint.

So it must be top speed, we don't have many that can really turn on the afterburners and break through the lines (Shuey and NN exceptions). To use a GoEaglesism we really need some more swervability.

The other thing though is that I suspect our game style makes it really hard to look fast because we so frequently kick to the wings.

 

[eagles rule]

I agree that Priddis has been a handy commodity in that sense, while our midfield has been developing. What needs to happen now is guys like Shuey, Masten, Selwood, Wellingham need to consistently win clearances and improve around him. Until that happens we are kidding ourselves if we think Priddis is holding us back. Having said that, I agree with all those that think that Priddis should be a second rotation mid, and not the prime offensive mover.

Priddis' contested work is good and when he's on song he deserves a spot in the side but he has been off his game this season, partially due to lack of support, and it has hurt.

with sUch a good pick this year ,its crucial to say the least, that we don`t murder it .WCE have to nail it this year ,no messing about it and no Players with injury doubts ..