How far will West Coast go in 2006?

[Arcadion]

Gee, I guess that doesn't count either.

?????

 

[Debaser]

Top four at least.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

3 from 3 without getting out of first gear.

 

[CursoryMercenary]

Travelling along very nicely. Thankyou very much!

 

[Arcadion]

Still too early to tell.

 

[Helix]

3 from 3 without getting out of first gear.

West Coast have had three good wins, but to suggest you aren't out of first gear is rediculous.

 

[woosh_era]

Yeah, we might have wound it out in 2nd and given it a quick stab in 3rd.... but to suggest that we are firing on all cylinders at this stage is... well, rediculous.

Woosh learnt about peaking too early last year. This year will be deliberately different.

 

[Grimreepah]

West Coast have the youngest AFL list in the competition, and were able to go within a hairs bredth of winning an AFL premiership in what was ostensibly a 'development' year.

Debatable

West Coast will again be nigh on impossible to beat at Subi, and should win more away games then they lose. With this in mind then i believe they will be set up again, for two home finals and then another final crack on the last Saturday in September.

The challenge will be winning in Melbourne. West Coast are not known as good travellers (except to Brisbane), despite improvement last year. I agree are nigh unbeatable at home.

Am also concerned that there was a bit of a fade out last year. Not sure why, don't know if it will happen again, but it's in the back of my mind.

 

[Carn the Coasters]

I love how we are crap travellers, yet we have won 7 of our last 12 interstate. How many other teams can boast that?

We have won three times in Melbourne, twice in Adelaide and in Brisbane and Tasmania in that time.

I wouldn't say we are bad travellers.

 

[Mountain West]

Just curious to gauge whereabouts the BigFooty community thinks West Coast will finish in season 2006.

Here are the Pro's

* West Coast have the youngest AFL list in the competition, and were able to go within a hairs bredth of winning an AFL premiership in what was ostensibly a 'development' year.

* Travis Gaspar's return will provide another option at CHB, thus allowing Adam Hunter to spend more time in the forward line.

* All indications are that 2003 AA Ruckmen Michael Gardiner will be going back into the ruck for season 2006.

* Although admittidley unproven at AFL level and coming back from a ACL reconstruction, Brad Smith would appear to have all the attributes of a goalkicking full forward with a real understanding of where and when to lead, and body strength that few defenders should be able to match.

* Best midfield in the comp, hands down.

Cons

* Forward Line

In my opinion, albeit a biased one, West Coast will again be nigh on impossible to beat at Subi, and should win more away games then they lose. With this in mind then i believe they will be set up again, for two home finals and then another final crack on the last Saturday in September. I dont believe this is arrogance, but merely a logical assesment of the potential that exists at West Coast. Potential on its own means nothing, but a four point loss in a GF with such a young group indicates that there is a real possibility of that potential being capitalized upon at some time in the short term future.

Thoughts?

They have no excuse not to finish in the Top 4.

 

[The_Eagles]

I think we'll win the cup this year

 

[Bestbird]

I think we'll win the cup this year

Better to say i hope we will good enough

Some good signs so far this year but it's still very early in the season

 

[sydney eagle]

I would expect a top four finish, hope for a top two and want to see the Eagles in the grand final again. However it is a long season and we are only just getting started. The Eagles have already HAD some serious injuries (Smith's knee, two players out for long periods with Osteitis Pubis) so any more could have a very detrimental effect on the Eagles chances. What we Eagles fans CAN say at the moment is "so far, so good" !

 

[Ted38]

Top 3 but wont win a Premiership without a dominant FF.

 

[macca69]

Top 3 but wont win a Premiership without a dominant FF.

who was Adelaide's FF in 97 and 98?

 

[geelong_boy]

Yeah, we might have wound it out in 2nd and given it a quick stab in 3rd.... but to suggest that we are firing on all cylinders at this stage is... well, rediculous.

Woosh learnt about peaking too early last year. This year will be deliberately different.

I can't say I know alot about footy but surely clubs in the AFL can't try and control their form so as to be playing in gears 1,2,3 in the early part of the year and then hit gears 4 and 5 later in the year in the lead-up to the finals?

 

[Helix]

who was Adelaide's FF in 97 and 98?

M Ricciuto was FF in 88 and S Ellen in 87.M Robran was CHF for both, and he was a key forward. Why, are you getting them? That would help.

 

[scottywiper]

Yeah, we might have wound it out in 2nd and given it a quick stab in 3rd.... but to suggest that we are firing on all cylinders at this stage is... well, rediculous.

As rediculous as your spelling?

 

[macca69]

M Ricciuto was FF in 88 and S Ellen in 87.M Robran was CHF for both, and he was a key forward. Why, are you getting them? That would help.

yeh we are Shane Ellen away from getting a premiership. The only two undefeated teams in the AFL atm are the bulldogs and west coast, just coes to show you that the days of needing a dominant key forward to win games is gone. Quick and skilled midfielders are just as important now, if not more so. I'll back our midfield + Sampi, Hansen, Staker and Hunter to kick a winning score each week. Got within 4 points of a premiership last year with the youngest list, players missing and underdone players in the side. Can see us going all the way this year, and whether we have a Shane Ellen or not will not change that.

 

[Helix]

yeh we are Shane Ellen away from getting a premiership. The only two undefeated teams in the AFL atm are the bulldogs and west coast, just coes to show you that the days of needing a dominant key forward to win games is gone. Quick and skilled midfielders are just as important now, if not more so. I'll back our midfield + Sampi, Hansen, Staker and Hunter to kick a winning score each week. Got within 4 points of a premiership last year with the youngest list, players missing and underdone players in the side. Can see us going all the way this year, and whether we have a Shane Ellen or not will not change that.

You conveniently ommitted Robran. Lol.

 

[macca69]

You conveniently ommitted Robran. Lol.

Initially I was responding to Ted's comment.

Top 3 but wont win a Premiership without a dominant FF.

 

[Helix]

Initially I was responding to Ted's comment.

You quoted mine. Still ignored the key CHF.

 

[macca69]

You quoted mine.

AFTER you quoted my response to Ted.

But, for us, CHF isn't really an issue, that are not renound for kicking bags of goals, just presenting and helping the team get it inside 50 to the FF. Hansen (and to a lesser extent Staker) does this well enough IMO to give us enough chance of kicking a winning score. I thought that the issue for us is FF, which I can somewhat understand, but to suggest we have a defiency at CHF is silly IMO, its a non-issue.

 

[woosh_era]

As rediculous as your spelling?

Quite possibly more

And yeah, i believe that woosha is saving another gear. Wait till he unleashes Chipper Adkins in Round 15. Look out.

 

[Helix]

Quite possibly more

And yeah, i believe that woosha is saving another gear. Wait till he unleashes Chipper Adkins in Round 15. Look out.

That is ludicrous. I can accept that perhaps you have not reached your peak in terms of fitness or skill, but to suggest that you are 'saving another gear' is the height of stupidity, and dare I say, arrogance.