Oppo Camp Non-Eagles Discussion 2025

[Forward Press]

I'm gonna be that naysayer and point out that plenty that dominate at WAFL level turn out to be duds at AFL level.

Sampi is the correct answer imo.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Sampi gets my vote.

 

[Goroyals22]

Ryan Burrows .. no one ever saw proof he existed so we just don’t know how good he was….

Ashley sampi is the obvious choice, also Andrew McDougall. For the talent he had he should have been much better.

One from left field Zac Beeck.. that guy could have been anything and played in the grand finalsahead of seaby if only he had something more than a pea for a brain.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

While not the standout candidate, I reckon Damien Cavka would have developed into a top wingman. Real shame there.

 

[PremiershipNo4]

Laurie Keene could have been an amazing AFL ruckman, if not for tearing his Achilles.

 

[WCE_phil]

Laurie Keene could have been an amazing AFL ruckman, if not for tearing his Achilles.

Doesn't match the timeline but I agree, most talented player on the WCE list to be torn down by injury.

 

[ioppolo]

I'm seeing a lot of what ifs regarding AFL premierships centering around a bloke who never played an AFL game. He may have been good but to turn one flag into 2/3?

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

I'm seeing a lot of what ifs regarding AFL premierships centering around a bloke who never played an AFL game. He may have been good but to turn one flag into 2/3?

From Pick 57 in the draft too!

 

[ioppolo]

From Pick 57 in the draft too!

Andrew Embley was a pick 57

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Andrew Embley was a pick 57

Last time I take your side in an argument!

 

[WCE_phil]

I'm seeing a lot of what ifs regarding AFL premierships centering around a bloke who never played an AFL game. He may have been good but to turn one flag into 2/3?

He's the best state league FF i've seen in the past 25 years. Had the size and ability to at the very least be an upgrade on Hansen and was very strong on the lead, with great hands and a great kick for goal.

Think of it this way, If you replace Gardiner in the 2005 GF with Smith it's an almost certain win. If you replace Hansen with Smith in the 06 grand final it likely becomes a stronger win.

The question becomes iffy around 07 a but fully fit team with Smith at FF against even such a strong Geelong side playing in their first grand final in a long time they could have got bullied and fallen to pieces. Now it turned the other way with Port being bullied and falling to pieces in probably the worst effort ever.

I may be going over to top and people are welcome to disagree with me, but of all our sides who got close or won a premiership and could have won more if it wasn't for injury to a specific player (who didn't already have a good career) Brad Smith is the name for me.

Others like Jakovich in 96 getting injured is outside the timeline and still had an amazing career so is irrelevant on both factors. Sampi had the ability to become a great forward pocket but fell out of love with the game and the combined mental and physical requirements to become a top line small forward or forward/mid.

 

[MrWoollie]

He's the best state league FF i've seen in the past 25 years. Had the size and ability to at the very least be an upgrade on Hansen and was very strong on the lead, with great hands and a great kick for goal.

Think of it this way, If you replace Gardiner in the 2005 GF with Smith it's an almost certain win. If you replace Hansen with Smith in the 06 grand final it likely becomes a stronger win.

The question becomes iffy around 07 a but fully fit team with Smith at FF against even such a strong Geelong side playing in their first grand final in a long time they could have got bullied and fallen to pieces. Now it turned the other way with Port being bullied and falling to pieces in probably the worst effort ever.

I may be going over to top and people are welcome to disagree with me, but of all our sides who got close or won a premiership and could have won more if it wasn't for injury to a specific player (who didn't already have a good career) Brad Smith is the name for me.

Others like Jakovich in 96 getting injured is outside the timeline and still had an amazing career so is irrelevant on both factors. Sampi had the ability to become a great forward pocket but fell out of love with the game and the combined mental and physical requirements to become a top line small forward or forward/mid.

Exactly my thinking on Smith.
It doesn't take much to turn a tiny loss to a win and a tiny win to a comfortable one.

Also agree that while we have been extremely successful, every premiership team was one player/one injury/one oppo injury from extra flags.
The big one that has written the history books as is is travel. Without travel and our regular drop off after mid/two thirds of the season we could have been a 8-10 cup club. Add 1991, 1993 or 95 or 96, 2005 and 2007, there's 8 without trying to jazz it up.

 

[WCErevival]

Ash Hansen wasn't that bad. He wasn't a big goal scorer at AFL level but he was an important link up CHF for us during our GF runs. At WAFL level he kicked a lot of goals. Kicked 11 against Peel in his final season with a number of bags in other games.

 

[EagleMan87]

He's the best state league FF i've seen in the past 25 years. Had the size and ability to at the very least be an upgrade on Hansen and was very strong on the lead, with great hands and a great kick for goal.

Think of it this way, If you replace Gardiner in the 2005 GF with Smith it's an almost certain win. If you replace Hansen with Smith in the 06 grand final it likely becomes a stronger win.

The question becomes iffy around 07 a but fully fit team with Smith at FF against even such a strong Geelong side playing in their first grand final in a long time they could have got bullied and fallen to pieces. Now it turned the other way with Port being bullied and falling to pieces in probably the worst effort ever.

I may be going over to top and people are welcome to disagree with me, but of all our sides who got close or won a premiership and could have won more if it wasn't for injury to a specific player (who didn't already have a good career) Brad Smith is the name for me.

Others like Jakovich in 96 getting injured is outside the timeline and still had an amazing career so is irrelevant on both factors. Sampi had the ability to become a great forward pocket but fell out of love with the game and the combined mental and physical requirements to become a top line small forward or forward/mid.

Agree with most of that, but you're selling Hansen a bit short there; he was good early on in the '06 GF, setting up our big lead with two first quarter goals. He dropped off later, but so did half the side, as Sydney came back roaring back into the match.

 

[Wooshaaaa]

Grand Final for 2025
GWS v Fremantle

GWS
Fremantle
Brisbane
Sydney
Collingwood
Gold Coast
Crows
Hawks

Cats
Carlton
North Melbourne
Western Bulldogs
Melbourne
West coast
Port Adelaide
Essendon
St kilda
Richmond

Brownlow – daicos
Coleman – Oscar allen
Rising Star – smillee
Free Agent of the Year – jack Graham.
Trade of the Year - Shai Bolton

Eagles wins and ladder position - 8/9 wins/14th
Eagles B&F – Harley reid.

Coaches last season in charge: Ken Hinkley, Luke Beveridge, Simon Goodwin.

On Pixel 6 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[amazingjoshy]

Ash Hansen wasn't that bad. He wasn't a big goal scorer at AFL level but he was an important link up CHF for us during our GF runs. At WAFL level he kicked a lot of goals. Kicked 11 against Peel in his final season with a number of bags in other games.

Spot on

He played 10 games of WAFL in 2012 and kicked 50 goals

 

[FarmerJoe2025]

Lee Walker > Glen Jakovich pre draft.

 

[Monocle]

Doesn't match the timeline but I agree, most talented player on the WCE list to be torn down by injury.

Laurie Keene fair call.

Also personally I think Lee Walker would have been something really special, had it not been for the knee injuries.