Unofficial Preview Changes for Round 11 v St.Kilda @ ES

[Winky]

Interesting in early training and nab cup Hutchings, Cripps, McGovern, Sinclair, Dazzle, Carter all stood out because they were showing some appetite for the contest. Most other players (Priddis an exception) seemed to train and play (nab) at half pace - no appetite because "it didn't matter." The trainers should have stamped on that from way back then.
We now have a whole bunch of players who either haven't realised the season has started or don't have the fitness base and appetite to get stuck in.
So I agree "the appetite for hard work and absolute commitment that we had in 2011/12 is missing", but we all saw this from early on - surely the coaches did too - what have they done about it.
Watching Choco Williams last night getting every last ounce out of his players was exhilarating. Our coaches seem to think that our players will play at the top of their game just because they are in the team - hey guys, it's not working, get the big stick out! It's not gonna help us but I'd love to see Choco get hold of the Melbourne team.

If Priddis trained at half pace he would be going backwards

 

[Winky]

Yeh i've been saying this all season. Apparently he played 3 or 4 ELITE games as an offensive mid last year, but he really is becoming the next Priddis.

Already played 100 games and can't see him getting a whole lot better.

Is a great tagger, and shouldn't be expected to do any more. If we played him as a tagger and played Ebert ahead of McGinnity in 2011, then perhaps our midfield would be better today? Who knows, I never rated Ebo that much either...

Actually last year he was kicking reasonably well but this year he simply throws the ball on his foot without looking. There are three options for this...He was told to just get it in quick for the marks to be taken (Quite possible); He is panicking and nonone is telling him he has time..or..he is frightened of being tackled. (I doubt this and sincerely hope not)

When he first came to the club he had good skills but could not protect himself and got cleaned up often. This improved and he has been on a gradual improvement but he is now heading backwards despite a huge effort to get the ball. I think he is simply trying too hard and panicking a bit rather than settling.

 

[SpaceClef]

Actually last year he was kicking reasonably well but this

When the side was dominating, and when the opposition's pressure was down, he kicked reasonably well. When the midfield was under the pump, he just kicks to packs, or he shanks them. He's never had the footskills of an A-grade attacking midfielder, nor the handballing ability, regardless of when he's been in top form or not.

He's not A grade midfield quality. Him and Priddis in the middle is a recipe for mediocrity. We will likely not win a flag if those two are our main midfielders.

 

[jaxxon]

Never thought I'd agree with you there Scotland, but there you go, sometimes crusty old bastards like myself can change. The guy was not the worst but I'd rather determine if Tunbridge, Smith, Cripps, Brennan et al have something more to offer before the end of the season.

Agree with this sentiment. We aren't going to win the flag, so might as well try and get something out of the year. I'd love to see (pending fitness and somewhat decent WAFL form - doesn't have to be stellar form) Tunbridge, Cripps, Wilson, Newman, Colledge, McInnes, Smith all running around. Do we have any LTIs at the moment?

 

[Eastern Rangers]

yeh, nah.

75% last year for a midfielder is very good.

68% this year isn't.

 

[Hairy Lager]

Can anyone recall when was the last time, one of our players off loaded a play on pass to Hurn, for a goal like last year? What happened to us?

 

[SpaceClef]

75% last year for a midfielder is very good.

68% this year isn't.

Disposal efficiency goes up when kicks go further than 40m to a one-on-one contest. He can bomb it long to a pack, no doubt about that.

 

[The_Reaper]

Gaff on the HBF.

Need some run off half back and Gaff needs more of the ball.

 

[ep2018]

I dunno, part of me wants to finish as low as possible for a good pick, then trade a decent player plus said pic for a DECENT MID

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Gaff on the HBF.

Need some run off half back and Gaff needs more of the ball.

Nah. You need to be able to win one on ones playing on a HBF, something Gaff wouldn't be able to do.

Sending him there to get the cheapest ball possible on the rebound won't do anything for his game either.

 

[WCEbrody]

Problem with Gaff is his size really,i've seen him go hard in a few finals games now so i don't reckon he's soft or anything but he's a massive liability in the centre because of how small he is. It's on the wing or nothing for gaffy at the moment.

 

[wce4premiership]

I hope the eagles go undefeated through our hard weeks after the bye just to shut some people on here up.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Problem with Gaff is his size really,i've seen him go hard in a few finals games now so i don't reckon he's soft or anything but he's a massive liability in the centre because of how small he is. It's on the wing or nothing for gaffy at the moment.

We should persist with Gaff's contested game. It'll make him a better player and us a better team in the long run.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

I hope the eagles go undefeated through our hard weeks after the bye just to shut some people on here up.

I hope they shut me up with improved performances too. They have a lot to do to make that happen.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

I hope the eagles go undefeated through our hard weeks after the bye just to shut some people on here up.

So do i.

Hawthorn Away.
Essendon Home.
Adelaide Away.
Fremantle Home.
Sydney Home.

But if we win one of these I'll be happy. I see four obvious wins for the rest of the year, everything else we'll be starting as underdogs.

 

[Biggie]

So do i.

Hawthorn Away.
Essendon Home.
Adelaide Away.
Fremantle Home.
Sydney Home.

But if we win one of these I'll be happy. I see four obvious wins for the rest of the year, everything else we'll be starting as underdogs.

Good.

I'll be going in with ZERO expectations for the remainder of the year.

 

[Yellow Feathers]

How come we're not blooding players like Cripps, Morton, Brennan and Wilson over Embley and ASelwood? I already know the answer... Players need to earn a place in the side, and we can't just cut our veteran players. Right?

I just wish our selection panel was little more ruthless in regards to poor form, and more willing to blood some youth. Same old story I guess.

Any chance of us picking up a top-line midfielder in this years draft? We are looking at a top 10 pick, and this draft won't be as compromised as the last few years. Please, please not another Sheppard.

 

[eagles rule]

Gaff on the HBF.

Need some run off half back and Gaff needs more of the ball.

I think Gaff`s had 1 tackle in the last 3 games ,no-one is coaching this kid right by allowing such a easy run .
stupid developmental coaches what are they planning a game of netball.?

 

[Scotland]

Never thought I'd agree with you there Scotland, but there you go, sometimes crusty old bastards like myself can change. The guy was not the worst but I'd rather determine if Tunbridge, Smith, Cripps, Brennan et al have something more to offer before the end of the season.

Smith is worse, I don't want him anywhere near the side! Brennan doesn't win much ball and inspires zero confidence when he does have it, but I see potential in him defensively. Kinda like how Adam Selwood used to play games in defence and shut down dangerous smalls, I could see Brennan doing that. Cripps looked OK in Rd 1, but showed bugger all after that. He's young, so will be given time. We really need our half forwards getting midfielder numbers, not 10 touches a game. 10 touches a game is fine if you kick a bag of goals, but ours don't.

 

[beatlesmith]

Keep it simple-
OUT: A.Selwood, A.Embley
IN: B.Wilson, B.Waters

Wilson and Waters into the backline freeing Sheppard to play Wing/HFF.
Sheppard or Hutchings to be the sub, depending on how we judge the team balance and matchups to be.

 

[beatlesmith]

How do others rate S Selwood's games this year?

I know his possessions numbers are going OK but...................

Scored his first goal for the year last night (according to Fox)
Seems to bomb it long more often than not. Not sure if this is because he is too close to the pack and receiving the ball under pressure or his kicking skills are not up to scratch.
Not finding space in the midfield or running lines like last year.

Overall I would rate S Selwood's year as only average at this point in time.

Scott Selwood should only be tagging I think.
His kicking and decision making is diabolical at the moment, and he can't kick a goal to save his life.

 

[Jason223]

Sheppard needs more game time, can't be sub. Out embley, Selwood In waters, mcginnity

 

[Suma Magic]

Keep it simple-
OUT: A.Selwood, A.Embley
IN: B.Wilson, B.Waters

Wilson and Waters into the backline freeing Sheppard to play Wing/HFF.
Sheppard or Hutchings to be the sub, depending on how we judge the team balance and matchups to be.

+1

 

[Goldfish]

Keep it simple-
OUT: A.Selwood, A.Embley
IN: B.Wilson, B.Waters

Wilson and Waters into the backline freeing Sheppard to play Wing/HFF.
Sheppard or Hutchings to be the sub, depending on how we judge the team balance and matchups to be.

+1

+ another 1, so 2.

 

[Agent93]

+ another 1, so 2.

Waters won't play before the bye, it's a bonus week's recovery for him if they keep him off the park this week.