Expectations for 2025

[PremiershipNo4]

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

There’s some very healthy competition for spots now across every line, baker into the starting 18 in defence, Graham in the guts and Owies up forward, combine that with the players returning from injuries, Long, Hewett, Bazzo, Flynn etc, new draftees, and a new coach without any credits.
A very healthy position to be in.

 

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

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.

I agree Cransberg was one of the exceptions. I know he played for Swan Districts. Simmo was a very polished public speaker and had other good qualities. I just think he wasn't the best coach. Hopefully the new guy is a lot better. I expect he will be.

 

[Grahame]

I agree Cransberg was one of the exceptions. I know he played for Swan Districts. Simmo was a very polished public speaker and had other good qualities. I just think he wasn't the best coach. Hopefully the new guy is a lot better. I expect he will be.

Most (but obviously not all) supporters would take two GFs - one successful - from a guy who ‘wasn’t the best coach’.

So for our new coach to be ‘a lot better’ that’s gotta mean at a minimum two but probably more like three plus flags.

 

[eaglesnutcase]

Definitely finals in 2026.
Could we sneak into finals in 2025? Everything and I mean everything would need to go right. It will probably take a year to bed down a new system and new players.
Let’s hope Mini isn’t afraid to throw newbies into the cauldron.

 

[WA footy mad]

Expectations new game plan, see more younger guys in the team, improved tackling, full forward to stay at home and lead towards the player with the ball, hold our position dont flood the backline, allow our full back to hit a moving target not bomb it out of the backline to see it go over his head.

 

[We_The_West]

I feel like I'm being conservative here.... but I honestly think if Mini and Woosha can get the boys playing together and driven to compete then we may have a cheeky 7+ win season.

Insert into B22: Baker, Graham, Owies, Flynn, Harry Edwards (9 games '24)

Organic Improvement: Harley Reid, Hewett, Ginbey, Jack Williams, Bazzo, Maric, Long

Due for a good year: Duggan, Hunt, Kelly, Oscar Allen

 

[Scotland]

Most (but obviously not all) supporters would take two GFs - one successful - from a guy who ‘wasn’t the best coach’.

Simmo still has a positive win loss record after 2021-24. A 66% win rate over 7 years is nothing to sneeze at. Richmond didn't even have that and they won 3 flags.

We either overachieved a bit 2015-18 or underachieved a bit 2019/20. We were never the dominant team in the comp over successive years like in previous eras. Hard to argue he's a dud, though once the rot set it in it really set in.

There are no WC players left who have played under anyone else at WC. Only Hunt, Kelly etc. who came in from other clubs and now Baker, Owies, Graham. Be interesting to see which players respond to a different voice.

 

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

Simmo still has a positive win loss record after 2021-24. A 66% win rate over 7 years

This doesn't make sense. Have you written it right?

 

[Scotland]

This doesn't make sense. Have you written it right?

That's 2014-21. I.e. the period when we were good. He ended up almost bang on 50% overall.

Not even Geelong and Sydney are 60-70% win sides every year. Every team still has dips.

 

[ioppolo]

There are no WC players left who have played under anyone else at WC. Only Hunt, Kelly etc. who came in from other clubs and now Baker, Owies, Graham. Be interesting to see which players respond to a different voice.

I wrapped my head around this trying to catch you out, and I did get one. Crippa's first season here was Woosha's last.

 

[kranky al]

For no particular reason I’m posting a pic of me indoctrinating our now dead pup spike :

He was gaddamned cute

 

[WA footy mad]

top 2 for next year, I'm thinking Richmond may beat us to the number one position but at 2 we should be able to get a very good player.

 

[We_The_West]

List analysis: Which club has the most goalkicking firepower?

Who has kicked 100-plus career goals, and who has booted 50-plus in a season before?

www.afl.com.au

I found the above article really interesting in relation to the spread of goal kickers for successful teams in the modern era.

The article talks identifies players who have kicked 20+ goals in a season, with the leading teams fielding 6-8 each.

Expecting Mini to adopt a similar attacking game style to the Tigers during their successful era, I've looked at the players who kicked at least 10 goals in a season just to get a visual around their spread of the attacking load.

Player	2017​	2018​	2019​	2020​	2021​
Jack Riewoldt	54​	70​	24​	33​	51​
Dustin Martin	37​	31​	32​	22​	19​
Daniel Butler	30​	18​	5​
Jason Castagna	26​	26​	27​	17​	17​
Daniel Rioli	25​	13​	17​	12​	9​
Josh Caddy	21​	46​	17​	2​	2​
Trent Cotchin	17​	5​	3​	1​	2​
Jacob Townsend	16​	12​
Kane Lambert	13​	15​	18​	10​	6​
Shane Edwards	11​	14​	7​	5​	8​
Shaun Grigg	15​	3​
Toby Nankervis	11​	7​	4​	3​	1​
Shai Bolton	3​	1​	15​	15​	23​
Jack Graham	5​	6​	8​	2​	11​
Jack Higgins		15​	9​	5​
Tom Lynch			63​	32​	35​
Jake Aarts				14​	18​
Callum CJ					11​
	12​	10​	8​	8​	8​

Richmond obviously had Riewoldt and Lynch as their power forwards, and it is interesting to note the spread among the half forwards and mids.

With this in mind, I've looked at the Eagles spread for 2024.


With Darling gone, I'm excited to see which players end up playing a more attacking role.

My early assumption would be that there is improvement in the below players:
Brockman, Long, Hutch, Kelly, O.Allen

Who's in for a big year?

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

Definitely finals in 2026.
Could we sneak into finals in 2025? Everything and I mean everything would need to go right. It will probably take a year to bed down a new system and new players.
Let’s hope Mini isn’t afraid to throw newbies into the cauldron.

That’s a tad optimistic I think

 

[Astro7]

List analysis: Which club has the most goalkicking firepower?

Who has kicked 100-plus career goals, and who has booted 50-plus in a season before?

www.afl.com.au

I found the above article really interesting in relation to the spread of goal kickers for successful teams in the modern era.

The article talks identifies players who have kicked 20+ goals in a season, with the leading teams fielding 6-8 each.

Expecting Mini to adopt a similar attacking game style to the Tigers during their successful era, I've looked at the players who kicked at least 10 goals in a season just to get a visual around their spread of the attacking load.

Player	2017​	2018​	2019​	2020​	2021​
Jack Riewoldt	54​	70​	24​	33​	51​
Dustin Martin	37​	31​	32​	22​	19​
Daniel Butler	30​	18​	5​
Jason Castagna	26​	26​	27​	17​	17​
Daniel Rioli	25​	13​	17​	12​	9​
Josh Caddy	21​	46​	17​	2​	2​
Trent Cotchin	17​	5​	3​	1​	2​
Jacob Townsend	16​	12​
Kane Lambert	13​	15​	18​	10​	6​
Shane Edwards	11​	14​	7​	5​	8​
Shaun Grigg	15​	3​
Toby Nankervis	11​	7​	4​	3​	1​
Shai Bolton	3​	1​	15​	15​	23​
Jack Graham	5​	6​	8​	2​	11​
Jack Higgins		15​	9​	5​
Tom Lynch			63​	32​	35​
Jake Aarts				14​	18​
Callum CJ					11​
	12​	10​	8​	8​	8​

Richmond obviously had Riewoldt and Lynch as their power forwards, and it is interesting to note the spread among the half forwards and mids.

With this in mind, I've looked at the Eagles spread for 2024.
View attachment 2191388

With Darling gone, I'm excited to see which players end up playing a more attacking role.

My early assumption would be that there is improvement in the below players:
Brockman, Long, Hutch, Kelly, O.Allen

Who's in for a big year?

Cripps - 23 games, 27 goals, yet still he cops a lot of flak.
Kelly - 20 games for 4 goals!? Now that's a huge bust, especially when Chesser and Maric kicked more goals in less games...

 

[eaglesnutcase]

That’s a tad optimistic I think

Keep the faith brother!
The pieces of the jigsaw are coming together.
We will be in afar better space if we get a reasonable run with injuries.
With a good fitness base and positions harder to get players don’t seem to get as many niggles.
The days of moaning are over!!!

 

[Astro7]

My expectations for 2025 are to stay alive and watch some good footy!

 

[D-N-R]

I know some people on here are very critical of Liam Ryan, and not without cause. He can show his frustrations on the field which can translate to poor performance.

However, he was one of the few players this year who looked to attack once he got the ball. Always ready to play on and move the ball quickly. When he was moved to midfield this year I thought he was one of the few positives in those games.

I think he will do well in Mini's system and already has the attacking instinct and has a great football brain. If the system around him functions better he will enjoy the football more and stay focused on the game. One to watch imo.

 

[Keys]

Fair to say Schofield’s expectations for the Eagles in 2025 are low

Listening to him, it’s hard to argue that his views aren’t valid but it still comes across as him being overly negative for the sake of it.

Not sure why that is, and as I say he’s not really wrong. Maybe it’s his refusal to acknowledge any positives that might justify some hope for improvement

 

[Astro7]

Fair to say Schofield’s expectations for the Eagles in 2025 are low

Listening to him, it’s hard to argue that his views aren’t valid but it still comes across as him being overly negative for the sake of it.

Not sure why that is, and as I say he’s not really wrong. Maybe it’s his refusal to acknowledge any positives that might justify some hope for improvement

Well, as he admitted towards the end, his predictions can be wildly wrong - so clearly he doesn't know what's talking about. Needs to study BF more for all the finer details!?
Forget wooden spoon or finishing below 5 wins.

Agree, finals is fantasy stuff. But for an improvement on last season - 6 plus wins is quite feasible. I would suggest 10 wins is conservatively nudging the fantasy zone, but not impossible. Something around that mark would be akin to 'with a bullet' on the top 40 charts. Great reasons to rejoice!

2025 is such a completely unknown quantity and with many major changes, anything is possible - but I refuse to believe or accept the team will achieve 5 or less games! There have been many positive additions to the list and club, how it's all orchestrated will largely be a determining factor.

 

[garlic munchers]

Fair to say Schofield’s expectations for the Eagles in 2025 are low

Listening to him, it’s hard to argue that his views aren’t valid but it still comes across as him being overly negative for the sake of it.

Not sure why that is, and as I say he’s not really wrong. Maybe it’s his refusal to acknowledge any positives that might justify some hope for improvement

Anything above bottom 3 is wishful thinking, with Schoey rightfully not getting carried away with some green shoots.

6 wins would be a super result, 5 a solid result and 4 acceptable.

No 100 plus losses, maybe a couple of 10 goal plus losses with none of these being Derbies; and we should be satisfied.

 

[Nuffington Post]

Agree, that Schoey seemed overly negative in that 6PR interview. I think he does it to try and make a headline or trigger a response. He specifically requested the interviewer ask him for a prediction.

The sad news is he’s probably right. The only team I could see finishing below us is Richmond. That leaves us and North battling it out for second and third last. Would need another team to fall off a cliff to get any higher - possibly one of Saints, Dees, Crows or Bombers.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Rowan18]

There is no way we win less games than last year less we get hit by an injury crisis. We have a better playing list and have got rid of our absolute dud of a coach. A contemporary gameplan and natural improvement will see more wins. Hell, we almost won 7 or 8 games in 2024 if we'd converted the close home losses against Bombers/North/Saints.

I still think this season will be a bit like 2014. Pretty slow first half of the year as the new coach figures things out, then we'll go on a bit of a run in the backend. 8 wins is my guess.

Edit: remember last year when people were saying we'd win less games than 2023 and win the spoon again? Schoey sounds like those guys.

 

[WCE777]

There is no way we win less games than last year less we get hit by an injury crisis. We have a better playing list and have got rid of our absolute dud of a coach. A contemporary gameplan and natural improvement will see more wins. Hell, we almost won 7 or 8 games in 2024 if we'd converted the close home losses against Bombers/North/Saints.

I still think this season will be a bit like 2014. Pretty slow first half of the year as the new coach figures things out, then we'll go on a bit of a run in the backend. 8 wins is my guess.

Edit: remember last year when people were saying we'd win less games than 2023 and win the spoon again? Schoey sounds like those guys.

tend to agree.
About 7 wins, better list, new coach will take some adjusting also but better bottom end of list and players like Oscar, Hewett, Long, Flynn missing so much footy and natural progression from others make me excited.

 

[WCE_phil]

The thing is the club was realistically lucky to get the 5 wins we did this year.

I think the real metric for success is the development of younger players and %. Percentage of 80 or above no matter the win/loss column I would call significant improvement.