Offseason Changes + Road to the 2021 Premiership

[06Premiers]

Hopefully we get a slightly more favourable draw next year, having finished 7th at seasons end. If it’s a full season, we should be getting only Port Richmond and Brisbane once, with all them being due to come over here and play us. I know it should be anytime, anywhere etc, but getting the good teams at home, and easier away games will help greatly. Hopefully it’s only Pies twice as the top 6 double up.

I'm over playing Pies.
In the last 3 seasons (18-20), we've played them 7 times compared to Richmond only 3 times.
In fact, haven't doubled vs Richmond since 2009 when they recruited Ben.

Thumbs down cause I don’t like the sound of that, not cause I disagree. We know they’ll shaft us somehow, but I’m hoping that we’ve done our time in Brisbane the last few years, and it’s time they came over here.

Totally agree with this. I'd like to see Brisbane cop a heap of travel to make up for this year.
Perth twice, Tassie, NT, China, the lot!

Brisbane, Adelaide, Richmond have only played at Optus twice each.
Brisbane never played us there, or us in Perth overall since 2017.

 

[Cuzz09]

We are due to play Port at AO also.

And due to play Carl in Melb.

and prob geel in geel and syd at scg

who knows if it will even go back to 23 rounds

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[DanWCE]

We are due to play Port at AO also.

And due to play Carl in Melb.

and prob geel in geel and syd at scg

who knows if it will even go back to 23 rounds

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

Fixture had some good parts this year before it was scrapped and changed to a shortened, made up on the fly version.

Robbed!

 

[06Premiers]

We are due to play Port at AO also.

And due to play Carl in Melb.

and prob geel in geel and syd at scg

who knows if it will even go back to 23 rounds

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

If we're going by who we're due to play, our doubles will be Richmond/Geelong (top 6), Freo/Carlton (middle 6), Norf (bottom 6).

Team	Last Double
Adelaide	2019​
Brisbane	2016​
Carlton	2010​
Collingwood	2019​
Essendon	2013​
Geelong	2010​
GC	2015​
GWS	2018​
Hawthorn	2019​
Melbourne	2019​
Norf	2012​
Port Adelaide	2018​
Richmond	2009​
St Kilda	2017​
Sydney	2018​
Western Bulldogs	2018​

 

[FKASC]

not a change per se but I think maintaining Ryan’s development over the off-season is integral.

The last thing we need is for him to go off the rails over the break for whatever reason (hopefully the car incident was the last of the off field issues).

If he can maintain this level of performance - damn, that’s someone you can build a team around almost.

 

[CM9000]

Do people feel picking the right assistant coach would make a big difference? I remember being quite worried in 2018 when Mitchell announced he was leaving, and both Rosa/van Berlo aren’t exactly of the same calibre. Of course, I’m not taking anything away from Simmo, but we’ve always performed the best with a great midfield coach.

Would Don Pyke make a massive difference, or someone like that?

 

[FreeTK]

If we're going by who we're due to play, our doubles will be Richmond/Geelong (top 6), Freo/Carlton (middle 6), Norf (bottom 6).

Team	Last Double
Adelaide	2019​
Brisbane	2016​
Carlton	2010​
Collingwood	2019​
Essendon	2013​
Geelong	2010​
GC	2015​
GWS	2018​
Hawthorn	2019​
Melbourne	2019​
Norf	2012​
Port Adelaide	2018​
Richmond	2009​
St Kilda	2017​
Sydney	2018​
Western Bulldogs	2018​

The AFL is also keen to try and keep as much of the fixture from last year as it has already been approved by the broadcasters.

I can see the AFL giving us a double up with Collingwood, first because it was in the 2020 fixture, second because of Saturday's game guarantees big build up and 3rd it'd give us one of the 3 games we request at the MCG.

I also think we will keep our double up with Port, rather than Adelaide.

I think the Geelong stuff has blown over, there is nothing in it from a hype perspective as the two teams have already played.

My guess on our double up:

Port
Collingwood
Fremantle
Carlton (MCG)
North (Tassie)

 

[eaglesnutcase]

Whoever we get as coaches it would help if they had a bit of spite in their nature.Something Simmo,Van Berlo and Graham sorely lack.Mitchell wasnt the toughest player going around but he was a nasty little man with a lot of niggle.

 

[ziad]

Do people feel picking the right assistant coach would make a big difference? I remember being quite worried in 2018 when Mitchell announced he was leaving, and both Rosa/van Berlo aren’t exactly of the same calibre. Of course, I’m not taking anything away from Simmo, but we’ve always performed the best with a great midfield coach.

Would Don Pyke make a massive difference, or someone like that?

I like Pyke.
Mitchell hasnt help the Hawks, and well Pyke hardly got the Crows firing

Sellwood and the Frank the Tank are good people with footy brains. What do they do next year

 

[Cuzz09]

Get Chocco Williams. Fire em up

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[CM9000]

I mean, I just feel that, with the midfield we have, it should’ve performed a lot better when it was fully on the park. Injuries aside, we should be dominating with the setup we have.

Could the assistant coaches we have in charge of it have a part to play in that? Remember, our midfield performed the best when Pyke and Mitchell were in charge of it in 2015/2018. You wouldn’t say Rosa and van Berlo are of the same ilk as those two - could that be a factor behind how we‘ve performed the past couple years?

 

[FreeTK]

Outside of that 5 game patch mid year where JK kicked 20 goals, he only went at about a goal a game. He has already declined and the question is has he got another pre season in him while turning 34 next year.

Whoever we get as coaches it would help if they had a bit of spite in their nature.Something Simmo,Van Berlo and Graham sorely lack.Mitchell wasnt the toughest player going around but he was a nasty little man with a lot of niggle.

I like Pyke.
Mitchell hasnt help the Hawks, and well Pyke hardly got the Crows firing

Sellwood and the Frank the Tank are good people with footy brains. What do they do next year

Get Chocco Williams. Fire em up

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

I don't think we will replace Van Berlo.

Hickmott would have lost his job as Beagles coach. Now that VB is moving on they will just reshuffle the development coaches around. It'd be interesting to see Bateman coach the midfield.

Eagles refresh coach structure

West Coast has revamped several roles in senior coach Adam Simpson's team

www.westcoasteagles.com.au

 

[MIKE85]

If we’re relying on the coaches to be the main motivators for our midfielders, then we’re in trouble. They should be able to get themselves up for games, not need someone to yell at them to fire them up. Having said that though, I do think maybe someone who’s a bit less “matey” with them all, might put a bit more pressure on them which could help. It’s really hard to know though, from the outside, exactly how our assistant coaches work, and how they are individually with certain players

 

[CM9000]

If we’re relying on the coaches to be the main motivators for our midfielders, then we’re in trouble. They should be able to get themselves up for games, not need someone to yell at them to fire them up. Having said that though, I do think maybe someone who’s a bit less “matey” with them all, might put a bit more pressure on them which could help. It’s really hard to know though, from the outside, exactly how our assistant coaches work, and how they are individually with certain players

It isn’t just about motivating the players, though. What I’m talking about is the structure of the midfield, and what tactics we use when setting it up. Remember, nowadays, assistant coaches are just as important as the head coach.

Look at Port Adelaide, and how they’re going with Schofield as an assistant. I know it‘s a bit of a joke, and I don’t want to take anything away from Simmo at all, but maybe a big part of our success next year could rely on who we replace van Berlo with. Who do you reckon should be that man? Despite how he finished up at the Crows, I think Don Pyke could be an option (and I do remember there being talk about him coming back last year, I think).

 

[Grahame]

All good points mate. No magic formula as you know.
A game plan change though is a must have, not radical but certainly transition from back to forward must be done quicker. That's on Simmo and I think he knows it needs a tweek.

Agree but I think the problem is as much about slowing or preventing the ball coming out of our forward half. We don't have a Plan B for chaos ball teams or alternatively the personnel to have a Plan B.

 

[EagleMutt]

We are almost certain to play Brisbane in Brisbane. We have played them over there 29 out of the 34 years we have been in the league.

 

[FreeTK]

It isn’t just about motivating the players, though. What I’m talking about is the structure of the midfield, and what tactics we use when setting it up. Remember, nowadays, assistant coaches are just as important as the head coach.

Look at Port Adelaide, and how they’re going with Schofield as an assistant. I know it‘s a bit of a joke, and I don’t want to take anything away from Simmo at all, but maybe a big part of our success next year could rely on who we replace van Berlo with. Who do you reckon should be that man? Despite how he finished up at the Crows, I think Don Pyke could be an option (and I do remember there being talk about him coming back last year, I think).

Pyke is rich and doesn't need to work, and given the salary for assistant coaches will be significantly reduced with the new cap, I am not sure if it would be particularly attractive to him.

I remember the talk you are referring to. I thought the talk at the time was more around Pyke being a very good administrator more than him being interested in coaching again.

It's an interesting thought none the less.

 

[Cuzz09]

Yeah wasnt Pyke a multi millionaire mining money guy before he took up coaching?

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[CM9000]

Pyke is rich and doesn't need to work, and given the salary for assistant coaches will be significantly reduced with the new cap, I am not sure if it would be particularly attractive to him.

I remember the talk you are referring to. I thought the talk at the time was more around Pyke being a very good administrator more than him being interested in coaching again.

It's an interesting thought none the less.

You could say the same about Woosha though, and he went back into coaching only 2 seasons later. Money wouldn’t be as big a factor compared to whether Pyke actually wants to coach again.

Remember, he‘s already coached the majority of our midfield for two seasons already (Nic, Shuey, Gaff, Sheed etc were all there in 2014-15), and he has an existing relationship with the club already. It would be a perfect fit, so it mainly relies on whether he wants to coach, and if we were willing to take him on. Given he exited the club on good terms, and the degree of fault he has for Adelaide’s demise is debatable, I reckon we’d still be open to him coming in.

The main question is, then, whether Pyke feels like coaching again.

 

[ChampRevesby]

Yeah wasnt Pyke a multi millionaire mining money guy before he took up coaching?

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

How did he make his coin?

 

[FreeTK]

You could say the same about Woosha though, and he went back into coaching only 2 seasons later. Money wouldn’t be as big a factor compared to whether Pyke actually wants to coach again.

Remember, he‘s already coached the majority of our midfield for two seasons already (Nic, Shuey, Gaff, Sheed were all there in 2014-15) and has an existing relationship with the club already. It would be a perfect fit, so it mainly relies on whether he wants to coach, and if we were willing to take him on. Given he exited the club on good terms, and the degree of fault he has for Adelaide’s demise is debatable, I reckon we’d still be open to him coming in.

The main question is, then, whether Pyke feels like taking up coaching again.

Debatable is a good word to describe the Adelaide stuff. I certainly think it shows some degree of poor judgment, and he will never be a senior coach again because of that.

I'd be open to him being an assistant coach.

I've said previously, but Simmo likes to keep his friends and allies close to him and he and Pyke have worked together before.

How about we get big David King to come and take on a gig with us

 

[Chris_6678]

How did he make his coin?

Training camps.

 

[ChampRevesby]

Training camps.

He should leave that shit up to people who know how to conduct that stuff properly. Army style training is VERY specific in its purpose and outcome.

 

[Karim Abdul Yeo]

Nothing wrong with gameday melts but this level of stupidity two days after the game should really be a reportable offence

Go back and see my posts all the way back in 2017 criticising Simmo. This is no melt. I just don't rate him as a coach, period. He needs proper supporting cast or he is clueless.

 

[Chris_6678]

Mitchell and Pyke have been epic over seeing midfield's and coaching teams since they left WC.