2024 best 22

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ToastieBoy18 said:
Reading what Ive read from Steve Allen, this morning, this still looks very accurate to what we will put out in Rd 1

Witherden preferred over Jones at HB, however we will play 7 defenders, so assuming that will be Jones still in the team.

Reid and Duggan to rotate between HB and mid.

Maric preferred over Waterman.

Sounds like Brockman had a strong showing and I would be shocked if he didn't play Rd 1.

I think it is looking something like this, assuming we all stay fit

B Cole Barrass Hough
HB Witherden McGovern Reid
C Gaff Yeo Hunt
HF Maric Darling Cripps
F Brockman Allen Long
R Flynn Kelly Duggan
I Gibney B.Williams Jones Petruccelle
S Chesser
E Hall Waterman Bazzo

Hewett, Sheed and Ryan all would be in the 26 if they were fit.
Click to expand...
Sounds like everyone is on the same page regarding round1.

Gaff only plays whilst sheed/hewett/burgiel injured

Petrucelle and Waterman been on the list for ages now and still havent cemented a spot, unless they are dominating the wafl give maric/hall/johnston/burgiel first crack

Chesser has missed heaps of footy he needs minutes so wouldn't have him as sub personally.
 
mat11 said:
Sounds like everyone is on the same page regarding round1.

Gaff only plays whilst sheed/hewett/burgiel injured

Petrucelle and Waterman been on the list for ages now and still havent cemented a spot, unless they are dominating the wafl give maric/hall/johnston/burgiel first crack

Chesser has missed heaps of footy he needs minutes so wouldn't have him as sub personally.
Click to expand...

Waterman and Petruccelle have been two of the better performers this preseason so far

The lead up games will provide more clarity on the pecking order

Hall is definitely putting his hand up for a spot as well
 
Keys said:
Waterman and Petruccelle have been two of the better performers this preseason so far

The lead up games will provide more clarity on the pecking order

Hall is definitely putting his hand up for a spot as well
Click to expand...
Hall also the type of player that will dominate WAFL level (stats as an underage player were very impressive). So if he doesnt start in the team, he will get opportunity early in the season.
 

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stallon said:
Bazzo is into his 3rd year, he needs to be doing full games. A KPD as a sub is just bad planning tbh, ill be disappointed if we run only Gov and Barrass as our talls for most of the year. Bazzo has never had the chance to play with both Gov and Barrass, every time hes played hes had to do way too much. He will be fine
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Can’t currently see Bazzo being heavy enough to handle most KPFs. But he could be a good 3rd tall. Either way i agree he needs games to improve (and I don’t see the point of playing Witho and especially Rotham - both have had more than enough games and have now been passed).

Plus it seems unclear right now who our next KPD is. And given Gov’s unreliability I’d have thought it a bit of a priority. But HEd doesn’t seem up to AFL and then there’s ????
 
Keys said:
Waterman and Petruccelle have been two of the better performers this preseason so far
Click to expand...
This seems to be the same script as in seasons past. And then barring the odd good game it’s the same old mediocre for most part. At least now both have real competition for their spots. So they either perform better more often - or they’re Beagles.
 
Grahame said:
Can’t currently see Bazzo being heavy enough to handle most KPFs. But he could be a good 3rd tall. Either way i agree he needs games to improve (and I don’t see the point of playing Witho and especially Rotham - both have had more than enough games and have now been passed).

Plus it seems unclear right now who our next KPD is. And given Gov’s unreliability I’d have thought it a bit of a priority. But HEd doesn’t seem up to AFL and then there’s ????
Click to expand...
BUSSLINGER!!!
 
eaglevision said:
BUSSLINGER!!!
Click to expand...
Western bulldogs will be stoked when we grab busslinger and English next year

Harry edwards would've been very handy if it wasn't for his injury last year. Bazzo prob still ahead of Edwards, h.edwards handy back up prob is on the list as insurance where as rotham gets delisted once contract runs out
 
Omitting Sheed, Hewett and Ryan for fitness reasons

Cole Barrass Hough
Hunt Gov Yeo
Chesser Kelly Gaff
Cripps Darling Reid
Long Allen Brockman
Flynn Ginbey Duggo
Petrol, Maric, Jones, B Williams
 
Thought I'd give this a go.



For R1 vs Port:

FB: Cole - Barrass - Hough
HB: H. Reid - McGovern - Yeo
C: Gaff - Kelly - Hunt
HF: Cripps - Darling - Long
FF: Brockman - Allen - B. Williams
R: Flynn - Ginbey - Duggan

IC: Jones - Maric - Petruccelle - Witherden

E: Hall (SUB) - Chesser - Waterman - H. Edwards


Strongly considered bringing in one of Bazzo or Harry Edwards in for Witherden given Port usually like to play the three talls - Dixon, Marshall and Finlayson. In the end I thought it's more likely that we go two tall backs, and have Hough and Yeo share the role of taking the third tall.

Harley Reid and Yeo to play a similar role - starting down back and then rotating with Ginbey and Duggan for bursts in the midfield. Yeo is currently dominating in the middle in match sim but I'm still not confident enough in his body to name him as a starting mid.

Wanted to bring Hall into the 22 but couldn't find a like for like to omit, so have named him as sub for now.

Pretty confident we go taller up forward with Allen, Darling and Bailey Williams at least, and I reckon we'll go one more tall - one of Maric, Waterman or Jack Williams. I feel at this point it's down to Maric v Waterman, and currently I think Maric is just ahead in that race. Was impressive in match sim on Friday. A few weeks ago I probably would've said Waterman was ahead, so this may well change again based on performances in match sim and preseason games.

Right now I think Gaff will play round 1, but I'm very aware of the possibility he gets overtaken by Chesser, Johnston or some other young mid before then. Gut feel though is that we back him in to start with.



Leaves this WAFL Eagles side for the practice match that's on that weekend:

FB: Ruscoe - H. Edwards - Rotham
HB: Baker - Bazzo - Burgiel
C: Johnston - L. Edwards - Chesser
HF: Waterman - J. Williams - Dewar
FF: Rawlinson - A. Reid - Barnett
R: Livingstone - Culley - Trew

IC: Jamieson - Nelson - Creasey - Gillbee

*Bolded = AFL-listed player


In reality there will no doubt be injuries that pop up between now and R1 which will allow some of our better WAFL-listed players - Hansen, Burke, Deegan, McCarthy, etc - to play.

It's a very tall forward line, with Waterman, Archer Reid and Jack Williams as our main talls, backed up by Jamieson, Livingstone and Barnett who will spend time up forward too depending on the ruck situation. Really shows the depth we have up forward now - many of them not AFL ready, but still good to have a lot of cover in that area.



I didn't consider Ryan, Sheed or Hewett due to injury. You could make a case for Sheed getting up for R1 but given he hasn't done any real running since early December, my gut feel is that he'll return a couple of weeks later.

I think Culley will be available, he's knocking the door down at training to start competitive work and I think there's enough time for him to be ready. Still think though after such a long layoff he'll be in the WAFL to begin with.

Also assuming Rotham (groin) will recover in time for R1 - probably won't play the practice games though. Same goes for Archer Reid (knee).
 


The defensive logjam

Such a novelty to have competition for spots

The maths: Fifteen into six won’t go.
And for that reason, the Eagles’ backline is going to be one area of the ground where Adam Simpson will be spoilt for choice as he tries to pick a team which can drag itself off the bottom of the ladder.

There are going to be other areas of the ground where he won’t have choices. There are going to be other areas of the ground where his options are going to be too few or too young to be effective and successful in 2024.

But in defence Simpson’s toughest questions, barring another injury epidemic, are going to be which players he leaves out or has to find other positions for.

He has two tall defenders, Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass, who are both established stars of the AFL competition.

He has another two, Harry Edwards and Rhett Bazzo, who will be waiting for opportunity in a tall defender’s berth.

He has four players, Bazzo, Brady Hough, Alex Witherden and Josh Rotham, who have the potential to play a third tall defender’s role.

He has 2018 premiership back Tom Cole who will probably command one of the small defender positions.

Youngster Coby Burgiel has been played mainly as a running defender in his brief periods in between hamstring injuries, while Jamaine Jones — recruited after spending time as a forward at Geelong — has played his best AFL football as a dasher from defence.

Simpson may have to push Jayden Hunt to a wing from defence just to squeeze him into his best team.

But what is going to make defensive selections a delicate balancing act for Simpson is the number of players, we would say four, who are set to be in the Eagles best team who Simpson will want running through his midfield but who also will need periods of respite in defence: Elliot Yeo is getting older and has been injury prone for four years, Harley Reid is young and Simpson has already declared his wish to play him in a mix of roles off half back and midfield.

New captain Liam Duggan was successful while splitting time between half back and midfield last year, and while Reuben Ginbey held up reasonably well in a baptism of fire in the midfield during his first AFL season in 2023, it would also make sense to give him a break from the midfield and send him to half back for a spell at times.

To make the selection meetings even trickier, West Coast — the AFL’s most injury ravaged club in the past two seasons — only has one defender, Rotham, in the rehab group at the moment.

West Coast’s main injury concerns lie elsewhere.

Forward Jack Darling tweaked a minor hamstring in match simulation on Friday and walked and jogged laps at training on Monday.

Forward-midfielder Elijah Hewett is being sent for specialist help to try and ease sesamoiditis in his feet and forward Liam Ryan is facing a long lay off after hamstring tendon surgery.

Midfielder Tim Kelly was in main training for much of Monday’s session after a minor hamstring niggle.

Reid was subbed out of training early but that move was flagged by Eagles footy manager Gavin Bell before training started.

Burgiel did most of the main session after a pre-season hamstring niggle. Other defenders are all present and accounted for

The Eagles' defensive pecking order

Jeremy McGovern
The four-time all-Australian's commanding 22 disposals and nine marks as the Eagles upset the Western Bulldogs in round 23 last year was a reminder of his talent — his durability is the question. Has played just 19 games in the past two seasons and has missed at least six games every season since the end of 2019, but is still their best backman when fit.

Tom Barrass
Won the Eagles best and fairest in 2022 and is a vice captain now. Simpson will want him on the opposition’s most dangerous tall forward. His strength in the air will be critical in a backline likely to be under pressure in a lot of games this year.

Liam Duggan
As a co-captain he is definitely playing, just a question of how much Adam Simpson uses him to bolster a young midfield. He spent significant time there in 2023 and appeared to grow into the role as the season went on.

Tom Cole
He is a premiership player and well regarded as a specialist defender, so he should slot in at the back. Has enjoyed a strong summer and will add experience to the Eagles’ defence at 26 with 90 games behind him now.

Elliot Yeo
He is going to play, it's just how confident he and Simpson are in his body. The coach left him midfield for a little too long a couple of times in 2023 and he ended up injured. The Eagles need their powerhouse out there so it would make sense to protect him with breaks spent in defence.

Harley Reid
If he is fit, he is playing round one. The coach has already declared that half back will be one of the spots he plays with a few bursts through the middle. Has to be looked after with the long term firmly in front of mind.

Reuben Ginbey
Played mainly midfield last year and looked exhausted. Fitter and stronger now but may still need a spell across half back from time to time. The dual roles likely to be played by Yeo, Duggan and Reid should allow the flexibility to do it.

Brady Hough
Highly rated and he probably plays in West Coast’s best 23, with a strong chance he gets the job as the third tall in defence. The Eagles could also push him to a wing if they run out of spots in defence.

Jayden Hunt
Pre-season indications are that West Coast will push the speedster to a wing to fit him into the team and add some dash. Played mainly coming out of defence for Melbourne but a shift to the wing may serve the greater good.

Rhett Bazzo
The Eagles would love to get the 20 year old some more experience after 20 games across his first two AFL seasons, but he may have to wait for injury to either McGovern or Barrass with Hough potentially just ahead as the third tall.

Alex Witherden
He played 22 of the 23 games last year and played some of the best football of his seven-year, 103-game career but he is 25 and would probably have to displace the younger Hough to squeeze in. With West Coast needing to think long term he may be outside the team in round one.

Jermaine Jones
A good chance to play (although he is nursing some groin soreness at the moment). But the Eagles have options to use him in positions other than defence and with forward Liam Ryan injured that may be where his early season opportunity lies. Does add some speed and dash when he plays in defence.

Harry Edwards
Has added significant bulk to his frame and looks like he will be ready to trade weight with big AFL tall forwards but he probably needs injury to one of McGovern or Barrass to play. He turns 24 this year and has played just 30 games so needs to start to make some headway.
Cody Burgiel
His speed offers a number of opportunities for roles at AFL level, but he was used primarily as a defender in 2023. Had a string of hamstring concerns last year and is just getting over another one now.

Josh Rotham
Two years ago he looked the likely successor to Shannon Hurn as the third tall in defence but Hurn lasted longer than expected and Rotham has not come on as expected. He has had injury interruptions this year and is back in the pecking order at the moment. Still, worth noting he was injured several times last year and still managed 13 games.
Click to expand...
 
Grahame said:
Can’t currently see Bazzo being heavy enough to handle most KPFs. But he could be a good 3rd tall. Either way i agree he needs games to improve (and I don’t see the point of playing Witho and especially Rotham - both have had more than enough games and have now been passed).

Plus it seems unclear right now who our next KPD is. And given Gov’s unreliability I’d have thought it a bit of a priority. But HEd doesn’t seem up to AFL and then there’s ????
Click to expand...
I think he is more of a like for like with Gov, but he still needs to be able to handle a KPF matchup at AFL level. If Barrass takes the guys like Hawkins, Tex, etc, then Bazzo can take the second or more mobile of the KPFs on the other team. Gov will still be around to assist, I think it would be ideal to bring Bazzo in and get him comfortable. Gov has never seemed super comfortable having to guard a single player
 
Not going to lie, left training with a bit of a hard on after seeing the boys back from injury and have to update the 22 accordingly. Happy to prioritise youth and start R1 like this:

B: Cole Barrass Duggan
HB: Reid McGovern Hough
C: Hunt Kelly Chesser
HF: Cripps Darling Brockman
F: Long Allen BWilliams
R: Flynn, Ginbey, Yeo

I/C: Burgiel, Maric, Hall, Johnston

Sub: Culley

Unavailable
Hewett
Ryan
Sheed
 
eaglevision said:
Not going to lie, left training with a bit of a hard on after seeing the boys back from injury and have to update the 22 accordingly. Happy to prioritise youth and start R1 like this:

B: Cole Barrass Duggan
HB: Reid McGovern Hough
C: Hunt Kelly Chesser
HF: Cripps Darling Brockman
F: Long Allen BWilliams
R: Flynn, Ginbey, Yeo

I/C: Burgiel, Maric, Hall, Johnston

Sub: Culley

Unavailable
Hewett
Ryan
Sheed
Click to expand...
So happy to see a team without Gaff named, odds are Simmo has him in the starting 18 though. **** I hope Pyke has some influence over decision making.
 

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PremiershipNo4 said:
So happy to see a team without Gaff named, odds are Simmo has him in the starting 18 though. * I hope Pyke has some influence over decision making.
Click to expand...
Like him or not, he's still our hardest runner into space. He'll play an important but likely thankless role throughout the year.
 
PremiershipNo4 said:
So happy to see a team without Gaff named, odds are Simmo has him in the starting 18 though. * I hope Pyke has some influence over decision making.
Click to expand...
Carbine Chaos said:
Like him or not, he's still our hardest runner into space. He'll play an important but likely thankless role throughout the year.
Click to expand...
Gaff will play games. Johnston, Chesser and perhaps Hunt will need a rest either due to form or injury at some point. Would rather give the kids first crack and see what they can do. We don’t want to flog them in their first couple of seasons so Gaff will have opportunity to show the club he deserves another year. If all these 3 have a terrific year or form doesn’t warrant it then Gaff’s been a wonderful servant of the club and has worn the #3 with distinction. Really feel for him that he wasn’t on the ground in 2018. Let’s not forget that he’s been a terrific player for us over a long period of time.
 
Carbine Chaos said:
Like him or not, he's still our hardest runner into space. He'll play an important but likely thankless role throughout the year.
Click to expand...

Out of the senior core, Gaff is the one who’s most in danger of losing his place in the 22

Nobody should ever question his commitment as he always gives everything he has and often plays through injury. At times to his own detriment

But the reality for Gaff is that he’s had the most difficulty adjusting from our old game plan to how the game is now played and how Simpson wants to the team to play going forward

Predominately, and unfortunately for Gaff, this is because whilst his skillset was ideally suited to how we used to play it is the antithesis of where the game is heading.

Initially I think he’ll be in the 22 largely because Sheed likely won’t be ready but once Sheed becomes available then the pressure will come as we can’t afford to have both of them in the same side

I’d love him to prove me wrong and be a genuine top 22 contributor but imo he’s up against it
 
With Hough growing to 192cm and having added 10kg since arriving at the club, it should give him the ability to start playing on taller players as well as small.

It’s handy because it reduces the need to play a third tall defender - H. Edwards, Bazzo, Rotham - and means we can get away with a shorter and speedier backline.

We saw the job he did on Charlie Cameron at the Gabba, if he can apply the same skills to taller players now he could become a very important player for us quickly - in the Brad Sheppard mould.
 
Do we think Hough has the ability to play a loose defender 3rd tall role, something similar to a Tom Stewart style? Or is he just probably going to match up on a 2nd/3rd tall to let somebody else like Gov play more loose
 
I think Hough is more suited to playing on the best opposition small/mid forward, with the ability to provide real run and aggression on the offensive.

Very similar to Shep.

Showed last year he was a good match up for charlie cameron, but feel there are other difficult match ups around the league that he would be suited to.

Bailey Fritch, De Goey when forward, Dusty when forward, Heeney are a few examples as the type of guys I think he should be given the responsibility of playing on.

From the training session I went to in Jan, he was matched up on Liam Ryan (before injury), and this is a good indication they see him as our best option to play on oppo most dangerouns small/mid size forward.
 
ToastieBoy18 said:
I think Hough is more suited to playing on the best opposition small/mid forward, with the ability to provide real run and aggression on the offensive.

Very similar to Shep.
Click to expand...
IMO Shep was better as an aerial player than a ground level player. His intercept marking as third man up in contests was elite for someone that size. His ability to shut down smalls was not so elite IMO.
 
Hough = 2024 Adam Hunter swing Man

chuck him fwd for a few unexpected bags

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
Gonna have a crack at my Round 1 side and it’s probably going to be very similar to others already posted. Oh well.

Not considered: Ryan, Sheed, Hewett, Culley (curse)

Backs: Barrass, McGovern, Hough, Duggan/Reid, Cole, Witherden, Jones
Mids: Gaff, Hunt (wings), Kelly, Yeo, Ginbey, Reid/Duggan
Rucks: Flynn, Billiams
Forwards: Allen, Darling, Maric, Cripps, Long, Brockman, Petruccelle
Sub: Waterman
Emergencies: Chesser, Hall, Bazzo
Emergencies for the emergencies: Jilliams, Rotham, Hedwards, Jamieson, Ledwards, Johnston, Burgiel, everyone else
 

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