mos
Most looks Ok but I think your a bit harsh on Jeremy
no way is his actual a B- and then Josh is B in my eyes
Most looks Ok but I think your a bit harsh on Jeremy
no way is his actual a B- and then Josh is B in my eyes
-
AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Analysis Mid-season report card
- Thread starter Candiru
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Good write up and the only changes I picked were noise in the scheme of things.
I would also say that our coaches deserve a great rating as would our match committee who have had the right mix of you and experience. It will be interesting to see the changes for Sydney as EP were not flash today and there are players returning and some loss of our brand against the Saints with some poor performances
I would also say that our coaches deserve a great rating as would our match committee who have had the right mix of you and experience. It will be interesting to see the changes for Sydney as EP were not flash today and there are players returning and some loss of our brand against the Saints with some poor performances
North Melbourne were 10-1 in 2016 and won about 2 games from there on. As long as that doesn't happen I'm pleased with this season
Outback Eagle
Rookie
Love your report card.
I draw your attention to one factor I noticed in the St Kilda game.
We had speed in the back line, but it did not explode from the centre forward.
We were missing some dash. The speed weapon from Liam Ryan, Jack Petruccelle, & Daniel Venebles, to impact the play forward of centre.
Occasionally we see it from our defense and mids, but when our small forwards show that turn of speed, it is lethal for opposing teams.
It is this speed that compliments our ability to go coast to coast and makes the opposition backs hesitate about going for a dash into their forward line.
It puts the opposition defense on the back foot. When this is combine with accurate disposal we were unlucky not to be 11-0
I'm looking forward to seeing these boys back on the park.
Jako Darling
Team Captain
Disagreed, it is based on what we expect vs what we have received. Hurn has been IMMENSE for example compared to his usual solid play.
Great effort OP 
So far this season has been everything we've hoped for and more.
To think just three months ago we were ripped apart to the tune of ten goals by the team down the road; we looked abject, Kennedy was months away and his ankle gained a piece of bone in his knee; and Naitanui's recovery was continually getting longer and longer.
We were mired in a half-hearted rebuild after trading away our first round pick in this years' strong draft. Instead of selecting midfielders and addressing the need in the middle the club picked talls with long-term transition in mind, and backed our current list to perform - the general feeling was that we would be fodder for any team in the competition with a decent midfield.
The mood was 2018 was to be an abortion. Get some games into the kids, see Hurn, Lecras and possibly Kennedy go around one more time and hope the damage from the pick swap with Gold Coast isn't too bad.
It hasn't turned out like that at all, much to our bemusement and delight.
All of the questions hanging over the squad: we were still wondering if Naitanui would even be able to leap again, let alone if Darling could fill Kennedy's boots or if Yeo and Redden could make up for Priddis and Mitchell; they have all been resoundingly answered in the positive.
So many happy accidents.
For example: If Kennedy starts the season fit, Waterman doesn't play - would Darling then be having the same influence as he is now? Unlikely.
Even our singular blip, the Round 1 loss courtesy of Buddy kicking eight goals has proved positive. Since that match we have never played three key defenders, removed the spare and have played 6 up front and 6 down back. Intercept power in McGovern and Barrass giving the ball to specialist kickers in Hurn and Jetta, sending the ball rapidly to a forward line of mobile talls supported by a fluid midfield of gut-runners. This is exactly what I have been hoping to see from this team for a long time - and wow even my best expectations have been exceeded.
Move the ball fast; use good disposalists by foot to break open zones; only handball if it's creating space; lock it in up forward and take advantage of the stoppages.
I think the new midfield heads in Mitchell and Van Berlo should get some of the praise in addition to Simpson for what has happened so far. Our stoppage setup is more secure defensively yet has more options on the outside offensively. Replacing the role of defensive spare with a midfield gut-running sweeper has been a masterstroke and has provided a way for the club to utilise Masten's strengths very effectively. The use of space and decision-making improvement has probably surprised us all. The use of rotations to ensure all our key winners are well rested for the decisive stages of matches. The midfield development is simply beyond even best hopes. From a team with just a single recognised top-tier contested midfielder in pre-season (Shuey), we now have amazingly just a few months later the opposite enviable situation where contested midfielders who are performing well will miss out simply because there are not enough places. Gaff has developed a "Mitchell-step" and an inside game. Since the Round 6 epiphany against Fremantle, Redden has rated among the top 30 midfielders in the competition. Take away the three minute-three possession performance from Shuey in Round 7 and he ranks just outside the top 10. Yeo since going full-time into the midfield in Round 4 ranks in the top 5. He has arrived as an elite player this year.
Our midfield has not been this good since 2007.
Darling who couldn't mark anything during pre-season has morphed into a modern version of Wayne Carey. It's so deliciously ridiculous I'm giddy.
Hurn who was openly queried about his leadership before the season is now being touted as All-Australian captain.
Our drafting and development suddenly looks fantastic as well - Six debutants (seven including Ah Chee) and none have looked out of place. Indeed the enthusiasm, confidence and quality of the kids has been a major catalyst for the rejuvenation and reinvention of this side.
In Round 8 we fielded a side that featured 10 players who had played less than 60 AFL matches.
That match was away, against GWS, without Naitanui, McGovern, Shuey, Sheed and Jetta.
A team that had beaten us by 11 goals at that venue last September.
We won comfortably that day.
That was the moment I became convinced that this team may be capable of doing something very special.
And here we are now, at the halfway mark 10-1, top of the ladder and a game clear of the competition, with 10 wins in a row (the third best winning streak in club history) and 4/4 interstate wins, three of them in Victoria.
I remember thinking in pre-season about the renewal around the club; new logo, new shirts, new players, new stadium and how hopefully it would bring new success with it - so it has, and long may it continue.
So far this season has been everything we've hoped for and more.
To think just three months ago we were ripped apart to the tune of ten goals by the team down the road; we looked abject, Kennedy was months away and his ankle gained a piece of bone in his knee; and Naitanui's recovery was continually getting longer and longer.
We were mired in a half-hearted rebuild after trading away our first round pick in this years' strong draft. Instead of selecting midfielders and addressing the need in the middle the club picked talls with long-term transition in mind, and backed our current list to perform - the general feeling was that we would be fodder for any team in the competition with a decent midfield.
The mood was 2018 was to be an abortion. Get some games into the kids, see Hurn, Lecras and possibly Kennedy go around one more time and hope the damage from the pick swap with Gold Coast isn't too bad.
It hasn't turned out like that at all, much to our bemusement and delight.
All of the questions hanging over the squad: we were still wondering if Naitanui would even be able to leap again, let alone if Darling could fill Kennedy's boots or if Yeo and Redden could make up for Priddis and Mitchell; they have all been resoundingly answered in the positive.
So many happy accidents.
For example: If Kennedy starts the season fit, Waterman doesn't play - would Darling then be having the same influence as he is now? Unlikely.
Even our singular blip, the Round 1 loss courtesy of Buddy kicking eight goals has proved positive. Since that match we have never played three key defenders, removed the spare and have played 6 up front and 6 down back. Intercept power in McGovern and Barrass giving the ball to specialist kickers in Hurn and Jetta, sending the ball rapidly to a forward line of mobile talls supported by a fluid midfield of gut-runners. This is exactly what I have been hoping to see from this team for a long time - and wow even my best expectations have been exceeded.
Move the ball fast; use good disposalists by foot to break open zones; only handball if it's creating space; lock it in up forward and take advantage of the stoppages.
I think the new midfield heads in Mitchell and Van Berlo should get some of the praise in addition to Simpson for what has happened so far. Our stoppage setup is more secure defensively yet has more options on the outside offensively. Replacing the role of defensive spare with a midfield gut-running sweeper has been a masterstroke and has provided a way for the club to utilise Masten's strengths very effectively. The use of space and decision-making improvement has probably surprised us all. The use of rotations to ensure all our key winners are well rested for the decisive stages of matches. The midfield development is simply beyond even best hopes. From a team with just a single recognised top-tier contested midfielder in pre-season (Shuey), we now have amazingly just a few months later the opposite enviable situation where contested midfielders who are performing well will miss out simply because there are not enough places. Gaff has developed a "Mitchell-step" and an inside game. Since the Round 6 epiphany against Fremantle, Redden has rated among the top 30 midfielders in the competition. Take away the three minute-three possession performance from Shuey in Round 7 and he ranks just outside the top 10. Yeo since going full-time into the midfield in Round 4 ranks in the top 5. He has arrived as an elite player this year.
Our midfield has not been this good since 2007.
Darling who couldn't mark anything during pre-season has morphed into a modern version of Wayne Carey. It's so deliciously ridiculous I'm giddy.
Hurn who was openly queried about his leadership before the season is now being touted as All-Australian captain.
Our drafting and development suddenly looks fantastic as well - Six debutants (seven including Ah Chee) and none have looked out of place. Indeed the enthusiasm, confidence and quality of the kids has been a major catalyst for the rejuvenation and reinvention of this side.
In Round 8 we fielded a side that featured 10 players who had played less than 60 AFL matches.
That match was away, against GWS, without Naitanui, McGovern, Shuey, Sheed and Jetta.
A team that had beaten us by 11 goals at that venue last September.
We won comfortably that day.
That was the moment I became convinced that this team may be capable of doing something very special.
And here we are now, at the halfway mark 10-1, top of the ladder and a game clear of the competition, with 10 wins in a row (the third best winning streak in club history) and 4/4 interstate wins, three of them in Victoria.
I remember thinking in pre-season about the renewal around the club; new logo, new shirts, new players, new stadium and how hopefully it would bring new success with it - so it has, and long may it continue.
Think his mind has been elsewhere a bit this year which means he's not playing to his max - with becoming a father for the first time and his contract being up in the air. Let's hope in the second half of the season he lifts to being A grade again, and decides to resign and stay at the Club
- Sep 5, 2013
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Great post as alwaysGreat effort OP
So far this season has been everything we've hoped for and more.
Shep had a very good first year but went off the boil for a couple of years.I think he had soft tissue injuries.
Sorry, I never thought 2018 was going to be an abortion, I always felt it would be better than 2017!
All the signs were there, you just had to see them is all..glass half full.
Losing Sam and Priddis was never going to be anything but a bonus..too old+slow etc.
Like many, waited for midfielders to be drafted and was surprised/confused at the result.
Then realised we had Sam Van Berlo as coaches and our mids were already in place,
that there was a plan afoot.
Did expect to be competitive and playing finals again.
But never expected all the other bonuses in the playing group that have emerged
or to be so consistent, or to be 10-1! or to blood so much youth and for the youth to be so good.
Redden has been a revelation as has Waterman and a few others.
When Dom and Jetta and Venables and AhChee (Aka Brett Heady) find their mojo...so good.
The depth keeps improving, not falling away, now Brander gets a shot.
And remember Vardy, how good he was last year?
This is shaping up to be, arguably, the best Eagles team ever...
* Great post and insights btw Candiru and Mr. Dylan!
(I know this sounds over-reaching, great expectations etc - but I really think this team
will hit another gear somewhere in the 2nd term, when all the pieces finally come together and click, will be playing out whole games like their best against Tigers/Port etc, if not better!
Could be way wrong, they might drop away, then come back strong towards the end for finals, or may just continue to improve in a steady arc.
Even injuries don't seem to faze this team such is the depth. As long as they don't fall into the trap of 'lairising' or playing champagne footy.)
All the signs were there, you just had to see them is all..glass half full.
Losing Sam and Priddis was never going to be anything but a bonus..too old+slow etc.
Like many, waited for midfielders to be drafted and was surprised/confused at the result.
Then realised we had Sam Van Berlo as coaches and our mids were already in place,
that there was a plan afoot.
Did expect to be competitive and playing finals again.
But never expected all the other bonuses in the playing group that have emerged
or to be so consistent, or to be 10-1! or to blood so much youth and for the youth to be so good.
Redden has been a revelation as has Waterman and a few others.
When Dom and Jetta and Venables and AhChee (Aka Brett Heady) find their mojo...so good.
The depth keeps improving, not falling away, now Brander gets a shot.
And remember Vardy, how good he was last year?
This is shaping up to be, arguably, the best Eagles team ever...
* Great post and insights btw Candiru and Mr. Dylan!
(I know this sounds over-reaching, great expectations etc - but I really think this team
will hit another gear somewhere in the 2nd term, when all the pieces finally come together and click, will be playing out whole games like their best against Tigers/Port etc, if not better!
Could be way wrong, they might drop away, then come back strong towards the end for finals, or may just continue to improve in a steady arc.
Even injuries don't seem to faze this team such is the depth. As long as they don't fall into the trap of 'lairising' or playing champagne footy.)
Last edited:
Great post
Thanks for making the effort.
Thanks for making the effort.
Candiru
Premiership Player
- Jan 27, 2018
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Shit effort by the knob jockeys at AFL.com. But good to see The Hacksaw get a shout-out as our best young player.
Tad harsh. I think Cripps has been average with conversion, but otherwise sets the tone up front and deserves a solid B. Masto should get a B - he's doing his job. Also, if you're giving Lecca credit for defensive running you need to do the same for Masto, he's been excellent in this. Hutchy has done some major tag jobs on stars, making sure they're running on empty most of the game, so again is doing his job. All deserve a B IMHO.
It’s a fine effort except for Gov as fifth in our B&F
WE have got power to burn.NN,Lycett,Darling,Waterman,JK,Brander,Gov,Barass etc.That is a lot of VERY capable big men.Its getting the mix right for when those type of players tire towards the end of games.The club has got it fairly right so far and its the newbies doing it for us.The question we must ask ourselves is; when the Biggies tire who/what sort of player do you want taking up the slack?To me its not the Cripps,Leccas,Partingtons Mastens etc its the Riolis,Ryans,Petrucellis and Venables that can give us pizzaz,speed ,class and a lack of fear.These guys are not tainted by whats gone before,they are so skilful and fast they back themselves to beat anybody.I cant wait to get the whole side back together,we will be lethal.To reiterate,i think we are the new Hawthorn.They would win early in the season,establish a high possie in the pecking order.Then theyd doddle along mid season.Nearing the end of season with most of their squad reassembled they would front up for a big game at the 'G' often as underdog,and they would smash somebody and roar toward finals.That game is Collingwood.If we can get most players fit and on the park,we will smash them."we're a mighty team at Hawt.....Er?
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