Expectations for 2025

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

Ever wonder why those more knowledgeable than you never appointed Sumich to a senior role?
I guess maybe every single one of them could just be idiots.

I wouldn't describe the Eagles board that appointed Simpson as particularly knowledgeable. At least about football. The majority of them had no football experience.

 

[kranky al]

I’m pretty bullish tbh.

TB leaving is a short term hurt but a long term win if we draft well out of it or get Warner. TB is a massive injury risk and I understand the hawks have the best injury management in the league… they are likely to get more out of him than we will and he’s not travelling every second week so good luck to him.

We have turned the pick swap awfulness into a win on draft day looking at it whilst delisting cloggers and trading in solid performers.

A lot depends on Hewitt coming along this year - hopefully the injury curse is mostly behind him.

I’m hoping for some incremental improvement with natural growth of players along with a new game plan, couple of rungs up the ladder and less bad losses.

Actual contention for finals or nudging it in 2026 and window well and truly open 2028 on.

 

[kranky al]

My expectation is that the opposition will be waiting for the ball to be kicked to the below location following a behind.

View attachment 2154112

I sincerely hope I never see us kick it there...

Gets fxxxn old doesn’t it.

Especially when it’s our no 1 marker mcgov kicking it to where he isn’t

 

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

Well, he never made it as a head coach, so we'll never know.

No point fantasizing that he'd be better than an actual premiership coach, especially when he supposedly said when going for the WCE job after Woosha left that the squad needed a cleanout and rebuild.

Guess he was completely wrong on that part, eh?

No one's fantasizing about anything. We're just expressing and justifying our different opinions even if they're sometimes unpopular. That's what a discussion forum is all about. Otherwise, all you have is an endless circle jerk. As to the squad cleanout/rebuild have you compared the playing lists for 2011 and 2018? I see a lot of crucial differences myself.

West Coast Playing List for 2011 - Draftguru

www.draftguru.com.au

West Coast Playing List for 2018 - Draftguru

www.draftguru.com.au

 

[bzparkes]

No one's fantasizing about anything. We're just expressing and justifying our different opinions even if they're sometimes unpopular. That's what a discussion forum is all about. Otherwise, all you have is an endless circle jerk. As to the squad cleanout/rebuild have you compared the playing lists for 2011 and 2018? I see a lot of crucial differences myself.

West Coast Playing List for 2011 - Draftguru

www.draftguru.com.au

West Coast Playing List for 2018 - Draftguru

www.draftguru.com.au

Simmo's been discussed ad nauseum on this board and Sumich has nothing to do with 2025's expectations.

Also, if you want to say you 'see differences', feel free to list them for discussion.

Maybe compare them to this year's squad.

 

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

Simmo's been discussed ad nauseum on this board and Sumich has nothing to do with 2025's expectations.

I know what the thread is about and I don't think it was out of order of me to mention him in my first post in the thread.

• #117

Also, if you want to say you 'see differences', feel free to list them for discussion.

Have a look yourself. There's plenty. No point in sidetracking the thread any further though discussing each one.

 

[Keys]

This is the 2025 expectations thread

Not a discussion about a coaching appointment made a ****ing decade ago

Hit your nails on the head somewhere else

 

[Grahame]

I wouldn't describe the Eagles board that appointed Simpson as particularly knowledgeable. At least about football. The majority of them had no football experience.

I guess you’re right. They knew so little about footy that they picked Simmo who was a spud who had no success.

Maybe just put down the shovel.

 

[SAweagle]

Expectation is Jagga Smith turns into the next Harry Sheezel while Baker Owies and Bo Allan combine for 20 disposals (at 50% DE) and 0.1

 

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

I guess you’re right. They knew so little about footy that they picked Simmo who was a spud ...

Correct!

Anyway, how do you think the new coach will go this year?

 

[WCE777]

Back to Expectations for 2025, I’m more concerned about percentage than ladder position. And maybe that might mean a couple more wins.

I’d say it’s a transition season. New coach so new game plan. Also it may mean some experimenting with older players while finding the best position for the newer ones.

Hopefully, Hewett plays most of the season as he could be our star ‘recruit’.

Also we develop a back up KPD as HEd is unproven and Gov is a warrior but showing his age. (Bazzo and maybe Maric are Will Schofield not KPDs.)

Hopefully, we also sort out the ruck situation. Either Flynn gets on the park and or …

Continued development for Long, Hough, Ginbey, Reid, JWill with Bazzo finally finding his feet. Hall to strut his stuff.

And we find if Dewar, Johnston, Brockman, Rawlinson and Burgiel(?) are up to it. Same for Barnett. And surely last chance for Jamo? Chesser? Petrucelle?

Meanwhile, Hutch and Maric show steady form and find their best possies.

AReid - and Livingstone? - improve to become best 30.

And hopefully the newer recruits improve so some are knocking on the door. And the rest are at least solid Beagles.

Of the senior players, they show serious spirit - regardless of reputation - or become mentors in the Beagles.

And the Beagles are competitive. Mid table or maybe even better.

Then hopefully in 2026 we’re in a position to start getting serious.

spot on, think Jamieson, Petruccelle, Rawlinson, Sheed are done end of 2025, Cripps depending on his body he might have 1 more year.
Chesser needs a solid year or he will be surpassed, hopefully Bazzo can stay on the park as I think he can be a solid player.
Think Maric finds a position, he has heaps of talent, could he play the Gov intercepting KDEF, yes I think so, Hutch looks like he has played himself into a mid/wing role with the last game against Geelong.
Brockman is contracted for 2 more years but if doesn't improve on and off the field he will be playing plenty of WAFL, same for Flynn, get on the park or won't get another contract, looks like a ruck coach at AFLW side is coming fast.
A Reid looks o have heaps of talent, Barnett apparently was injured most of the year but needs to improve or he will be a KDEF player based on his last couple of WAFL games.

 

[Grahame]

Correct!

Anyway, how do you think the new coach will go this year?

Love the editing …

As for The Q who knows? But the club is very different off and on field now compared with a year or two back. This season will bed it all down.
I think at the end of next year we should have a reasonable idea on when finals are realistic.

 

[WCE777]

Love the editing …

As for The Q who knows? But the club is very different off and on field now compared with a year or two back. This season will bed it all down.
I think at the end of next year we should have a reasonable idea on when finals are realistic.

totally agree with your assessment of the club now, looks like Pike and the new crew have started putting their stamp on it, probably 1 more large changeover of 6+ players from the bottom end next year and a year of consolidation and new game plan etc., love that the club has brought back heaps of experience around Mini, like Worsfold, new development coach, Bunga will drive hard standards. Looking forward to top 8 in 2027.

 

[Grahame]

Looking forward to top 8 in 2027.

Was thinking about what might be the best KPI for our (presumed) ascent. I think the single best KPI is percentage as it shows more than say wins or ladder position.



So, for 2025 hopefully 80-85%. 2026 = 90-95%. 2027 = 100-105%.

For most years it seems 108% is the percentage of the eighth team (very inconsistent though). So more than 100% in 2027 might mean we’d be knocking on the door, or just in. (Of course that’s assuming the percentage isn’t due to lots of really close losses and a few bigger wins!)

The KPI of percentage gets less relevant as you get into the top half where it’s all about Ws. But maybe it useful for a rebuilding side?

But what the path is then to a premiership … who knows?

 

[Cuzz09]

the path to a premiership is top 2 and 2 home finals.

Really the only way for us to win it.

Build up to 16+ wins over a few years and when you make it take your chance at it.




Sent from my SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[WCE777]

Was thinking about what might be the best KPI for our (presumed) ascent. I think the single best KPI is percentage as it shows more than say wins or ladder position.



So, for 2025 hopefully 80-85%. 2026 = 90-95%. 2027 = 100-105%.

For most years it seems 108% is the percentage of the eighth team (very inconsistent though). So more than 100% in 2027 might mean we’d be knocking on the door, or just in. (Of course that’s assuming the percentage isn’t due to lots of really close losses and a few bigger wins!)

The KPI of percentage gets less relevant as you get into the top half where it’s all about Ws. But maybe it useful for a rebuilding side?

But what the path is then to a premiership … who knows?

2027 or 2028 finals presumed ascent will be dependant on who WC can trade in over next 2-3 years, if they can nail a A+ talent like C Warner that will put them in the 2027 finals race, will probably need another 2-3 elite trades also over that time period. 2028 there will be no Gov, Kelly, Ryan, Yeo?

 

[Mr Q]

As for The Q who knows?

Huh? What? Who's asking?

 

[Grahame]

Huh? What? Who's asking?

The Qualt. I don't like using 'Mini'.

 

[RookiePick]

Ever wonder why those more knowledgeable than you never appointed Sumich to a senior role?
I guess maybe every single one of them could just be idiots.

Not every single one but the track record of most clubs decision makers is bog average:

Flag Droughts:

Adelaide - 26 years
Carlton - 29 years
Essendon - 24 years
Freo - 28 years
GWS - 14 years (with nutso concessions)
North - 25 years
Port - 20 years
Aint's - 56 years (lel)

Plus several more who have only recently broken lengthy droughts of their own.

Maybe Suma would have sucked but saying not getting picked up by a club is proof he was a spud coach is flat out wrong. Lack of opportunity =/= lack of talent.

 

[Deplorable trumpster]

I don't think top 8 is on the cards at all in the next two years.

I think where we finish in the bottom 10 is dependent primarily on 3 things.

1. McQualter's ability to stamp out the attitudinal malaise that took hold of the team in Simpson's last years and that he refused to address. We were very poor with our effort in general, and specifically with things like second efforts, shepherding and blocking for team mates, tackling with intent rather than token tackles.

2. McQualter's ability to find a half way house between the game plan he wants us to eventually play and what we are capable of at the moment. We don't have the type or quality of personel to replicate the Richmond gameplan at the moment. That will take a few years of pre seasons and drafts. He is going to have take the squad to where he wants it to be in stages. If we try and play a gameplan we are not capable of we might open ourselves up to more 10 goal plus beltings.

3. The fitness and availability of McGovern and Yeo. We don't have anybody else who can play their roles with any near the competence required. If either or both are out for extended periods then that will leave a massive hole that will show on the scoreboard.

 

[wcns]

[emoji[emoji6]] to [emoji[emoji6]] wins. Percentage around [emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]].

I know I'm a month late but legit how does this happen? When I made the post it didn't look like this or have any emojis!

 

[Turky909]

I don't think top 8 is on the cards at all in the next two years.

I think where we finish in the bottom 10 is dependent primarily on 3 things.

1. McQualter's ability to stamp out the attitudinal malaise that took hold of the team in Simpson's last years and that he refused to address. We were very poor with our effort in general, and specifically with things like second efforts, shepherding and blocking for team mates, tackling with intent rather than token tackles.

2. McQualter's ability to find a half way house between the game plan he wants us to eventually play and what we are capable of at the moment. We don't have the type or quality of personel to replicate the Richmond gameplan at the moment. That will take a few years of pre seasons and drafts. He is going to have take the squad to where he wants it to be in stages. If we try and play a gameplan we are not capable of we might open ourselves up to more 10 goal plus beltings.

3. The fitness and availability of McGovern and Yeo. We don't have anybody else who can play their roles with any near the competence required. If either or both are out for extended periods then that will leave a massive hole that will show on the scoreboard.

Also Tim Kelly’s age might become a significant factor to his performance, But won’t affect the team as much as fitness of Yeo and Gov. But those three players declines will really hurt the eagles. But really could be mitigated if we get Warner and Bo can play the role.

 

[Rowan18]

I wouldn't describe the Eagles board that appointed Simpson as particularly knowledgeable. At least about football. The majority of them had no football experience.

Alan Cransberg was the chairman of the club at the time and he definitely knew football and business. I worked for him at Alcoa and he was quite open in 2013 that he thought they'd picked a gun and it turned out they had.

Simmo just burnt out at the end and the stupidly long contract meant he stayed past his used by date.

 

[jesterwester]

Honestly, I think we are probably at tipping point now in the rebuild. I don’t think we win the spoon, but with some luck we can move ourselves out of the bottom 4.

Slightly concerning news on the injury front at present, but I think we end up with 5-8 wins next year and a 75-80% percentage.

Given our youth i think we will be inconsistent in our performances next year, but, given how consistently poor our last few seasons have been it will feel like a significant step forward to many of us.

 

[jesterwester]

I am particularly curious though, to work out how we plan to play all of these guys off half back.

Are we going to start with 6-6-6 before turning into a 16-2 formation leaving Waterman and Allen deep forward? Or are we going to create a weagles web up the ground to get our turnover game working