Game Day Preseason Game 1 vs Harley Reid & Mates
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Ummm... obvious to say Jackson has the ruck back up covered all things being equal. But Treacy has shown that he has ruck chops in his armoury and can provide cover in case of injury, fatigue, flexibility etc.
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To be fair the Eagles supporter you responded to is supporting a team where the teams own coaches are so 'optimistic' about their teams potential they're playing one of the most talented half forward/onball prospects in recent years in defence because they think it will keep him in the play more than if he played in the positions he dominated in as a junior.
Great to see my mate Jordy play so well, and O'Meara was always superior to Henry.10 things we learnt from West Coast, Fremantle practice match including the value of a fit Nat Fyfe and Elliot Yeo’s dominant day
The value of a fit Nat Fyfe? Elliot Yeo’s dominant day in the midfield? And is the Harley Reid hype real? We reveal the 10 things we learnt from Fremantle and West Coast’s pre-season clash.
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February 25, 2024 - 12:42AM
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Pre-season derby: 10 things we learnt
Pre-season has officially hit another gear as West Coast and Fremantle clashed at Mineral Resources Park.
The Dockers had the better of the Eagles, prevailing 14.14 (98) to 5.16 (46).
Here are the 10 things we learnt.
1. Nat Fyfe could be devastating for Fremantle this year based on one thing and one thing alone – football smarts. Fyfe’s football IQ was on full display in the first quarter when he received the ball in traffic and dished it off to Sam Switkowski in space who snapped accurately for Fremantle’s third goal. That give and get mentality is what the Dockers missed sorely last year from retired midfield great David Mundy. It was also an improvement on Fyfe’s first effort when a ‘don’t argue’ gone wrong ended in a turnover and Eagles scoring shot. If Fyfe can draw numbers on the inside, it allows his teammates to sit wider in space and instantly become more effective when they get on the end of the veteran’s decision making.
Jaeger O'Meara was used on a wing at times. Picture: Getty Images
2. It shaped as one of Fremantle’s biggest selection queries this pre-season and it appears the Dockers’ wing roulette is still in full swing. Liam Henry’s departure has opened up a spot out wide. But an oversupply of inside midfielders forced Fremantle to get creative against West Coast. At the opening bounce, it was Nathan O’Driscoll and Matthew Johnson who started on the wings. At the start of the second, it was Andrew Brayshaw and Jaeger O’Meara, both traditionally inside midfielders. Jeremy Sharp was a supposedly late withdrawal with illness which caused a tactical reshuffle. The Dockers will fight hard to make room for a surplus of midfielders but the risk they run is lacking the qualities that a specialist wingman supplies – someone who can run end to end all day. Throwing an inside midfielder out there is fixing one selection problem but potentially creating another elsewhere.
Tom Emmett looks promising. Picture: Getty Images
3. Tom Emmett is in seat 1A when it comes to Lachie Schultz’s vacant position up forward. Emmett was one of Fremantle’s most lively in the opening half, kicking an excellent goal and just scraping the post from a set shot. What also stood out was his work rate, getting himself into position on the lead around the ground and his ferocity around the ball. Didn’t quite finish his work as well as he could’ve but he’s getting himself into the right spots and playing with vigour.
4. Fremantle’s half-backs are going to be a headache for opposition clubs this season. Hayden Young’s move to the midfield threatened to rob the Dockers of considerable drive out of defence but fans need not worry because Jordan Clark and James Aish look set to form a formidable pairing. Clark was everywhere all at once, his overlap running a highlight as Fremantle attempted a more daring game style this season. While after playing almost every position except ruck, Aish looks like a natural on the flank with his composure important when West Coast applied pressure.
5. Fremantle’s three-pronged forward line looks set to take the next step this year. The Dockers have undertaken a mountain of work to improve their connection in attack after it let them down at stages last year. And a large body of that work focused on Luke Jackson, Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy. Pleasingly, the trio kicked seven goals between them on a productive day at the office. Amiss kicked three in a single quarter to underline his progression into an AFL key forward. Jackson kicked two including a delightful dribble kick from the pocket in the fourth quarter. And Treacy kicked two. Albeit the Eagles were missing Jeremy McGovern, the combination is growing in confidence.
6. West Coast will ask a lot of Bailey Williams this season…again. Just before bounce down we learnt that Eagles recruit Matt Flynn had injured his hamstring tendon during the club’s captain’s run on Friday. A knick to the tendon is never good news and in some cases means surgery. The Eagles are still assessing the extent of the injury but you’d think Flynn definitely misses round one and probably longer. The news scuppers West Coast’s plans to send Williams up forward. The good news is that Williams rucked solo the majority of last year and as a result, looks more comfortable in the number one role. But the bad news is that West Coast’s prized recruit is out of action for the foreseeable future, terrible timing given just how good he’s looked this pre-season. You can never have enough ruck depth.
7. There’s been a lot of talk about whether Andrew Gaff will feature in Adam Simpson’s round one side. The answer appears to be yes. The veteran wasn’t the Eagles best but he wasn’t their worst either. Gaff presented well and gave West Coast an outlet out of the defence. He doesn’t do a lot with the footy but when he had it, it meant that Fremantle didn’t.
8. Why not both? Ryan Maric and Jake Waterman have given Adam Simpson plenty to ponder after the pair both had an impact against the Dockers. With Jack Darling still to come back from a hamstring injury, it was thought that there would only be room for one of them playing as a third tall supporting Oscar Allen. But after both showed glimpses against Fremantle, it’s worth considering whether there’s a place for both of them come round one. Maric is a natural footballer and his skills and his positioning were good. While Waterman is a genuine workhorse and helped the Eagles keep their structure up forward.
9. The Harley Reid hype wasn’t the headline act despite the number one pick making his first unofficial appearance for West Coast…although he would’ve drawn a fair chunk of the 5000 fans. Starting in the midfield at the first centre bounce, Reid had a few nice touches around the ground. The Eagles sent him to play on Nat Fyfe at some stoppages which is all part of the learning process. And Reid took the game on, most notably playing on from a kick-in, running through three Dockers only to turn the kick over. Then there was Reid’s ‘welcome to the AFL’ moment in the third quarter when he attempted to fend off Andrew Brayshaw only to be brought to ground in a tackle. Reid sent a scare through the Eagles camp late in the fourth quarter when he was undone by cramp.
10. A fit Elliot Yeo immediately changes the dynamic of West Coast. But he needs more of his teammates to lift to his level. Yeo’s intensity was a cut above and it quickly became clear how much the Eagles had been missing their midfield brute. His speed and power allows him to break away from stoppages cleanly, the highlight coming in the second quarter when he hit Jake Waterman on the lead from a clearance. Capped his day with a goal on the run in the final quarter.
It was only a match simulation, but glad our guys took it seriously. It wasn't about the result on the scoreboard; WCEs looked really unfit and had the same old game plan. Some WCEs members are in. denial and believe Adam Simpson is hiding his plans for 2024. Attitude starts as soon as you put on a jumper that represents you and your club.
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But can he service your plumbing? Lachie might still have the upper hand in that department.better looking too
Although the oppo was putrid, I was relieved to see how we set up and stood up behind the ball in the back half…
No alarm bells like last year when we played Port and the Crows at Cockburn- we were horrible last pre-season and it took half a year to get going….
Looking forward to the game against Port, less witches hats and no Harley mania…
Poor kid…
Freo look fit and some of the kicking was creative and bullet like - Aisha’s kicking was amazing at times.
But please no Ethan Hughes, he takes on the tackler inside 50 far too often and gets caught …in season he will be pinged when the umps get caught up with the crowd noise…. He is an absolute liability
No alarm bells like last year when we played Port and the Crows at Cockburn- we were horrible last pre-season and it took half a year to get going….
Looking forward to the game against Port, less witches hats and no Harley mania…
Poor kid…
Freo look fit and some of the kicking was creative and bullet like - Aisha’s kicking was amazing at times.
But please no Ethan Hughes, he takes on the tackler inside 50 far too often and gets caught …in season he will be pinged when the umps get caught up with the crowd noise…. He is an absolute liability
Would love an unheralded forward to break out and become a B22 lock this year that keeps opposition coaches awake at night worrying about them.
Despite amiss being the real deal, we still have not invested enough draft capital in the forward 6 of the ground in my view.
However the midfield should be a lot better in 2024 which is enough to lift us towards finals I hope.
Despite amiss being the real deal, we still have not invested enough draft capital in the forward 6 of the ground in my view.
However the midfield should be a lot better in 2024 which is enough to lift us towards finals I hope.
I think the footy Gods have smiled upon our club with our selection of Cooper Simpson. He looks to have all the goodies in his sack of tricks.
He looked cool calm and collected last night from what I saw of him.His kicking looked A grade and hand skill and footy nous right up there.Almost a no frill player that will keep onm giving.
Though the Eagles will struggle again this season, they are a young team that will take a long time to develop, I thought our boys set the standard very early. We looked ver cool and calm. Never at any stage looed under pressure.
Some very good passages of play with strong hard running from the back line. Messed up a few times with one hand ball too many in certain plays.
Some very good signs, Fyfe looked really on
Johnson looked very assured all nigh. Serong again all class but seemed like going half pace.Jackson superb.
Amiss worked hard as did Treacy.
Darcy needed the run I think. A bit under done at this stage.
Brodie impressed with his ability to find the ball and get it to a team mate.
Some good signs up forward with Emmett ,Switta doing good thing. Emmett and his pressure looked good.
Good to see Walker play some time. He tested his knee when he took the high mmark and laned on his bandaged knee,
I thought Tabs did OK for his limited time on ground. He did what Tabs does, led a long way down the ground to make room up forward. Also competed hard.
Davies and Draper looked very comfortable in their roles Draper is very silky in his movement.
Not sure I saw much down side to the performance other than the bad kicking for goal.
A much bigger test next week against Port.It will be interesting to see what sort of squad they send over.Maybe a look into how we will line up week one.
He looked cool calm and collected last night from what I saw of him.His kicking looked A grade and hand skill and footy nous right up there.Almost a no frill player that will keep onm giving.
Though the Eagles will struggle again this season, they are a young team that will take a long time to develop, I thought our boys set the standard very early. We looked ver cool and calm. Never at any stage looed under pressure.
Some very good passages of play with strong hard running from the back line. Messed up a few times with one hand ball too many in certain plays.
Some very good signs, Fyfe looked really on
Johnson looked very assured all nigh. Serong again all class but seemed like going half pace.Jackson superb.
Amiss worked hard as did Treacy.
Darcy needed the run I think. A bit under done at this stage.
Brodie impressed with his ability to find the ball and get it to a team mate.
Some good signs up forward with Emmett ,Switta doing good thing. Emmett and his pressure looked good.
Good to see Walker play some time. He tested his knee when he took the high mmark and laned on his bandaged knee,
I thought Tabs did OK for his limited time on ground. He did what Tabs does, led a long way down the ground to make room up forward. Also competed hard.
Davies and Draper looked very comfortable in their roles Draper is very silky in his movement.
Not sure I saw much down side to the performance other than the bad kicking for goal.
A much bigger test next week against Port.It will be interesting to see what sort of squad they send over.Maybe a look into how we will line up week one.
To me I don't think we lost a lot by him replacing Cox. Very good get for us, and in development terms with us approaching a finals window, an important piece.
Wagner was getting his mins from fourth quarter on after interrupted PS.
He looked pretty good albeit against WAFL bottom of the ladder team. He was good in the 4th. Quite like Walker’s efforts as well. I’d have both ahead of Hughes and Worner. Hughes didn’t do a lot wrong and is obviously in the mix for round 1. He had some very timely spoils. Worner has definitely improved. Still made a few errors. Both a very good depth.
Consider the starting backline I’d expect all of Cox, Walker and Wagner to be in contention for started back 6. Therefore McDonald, Worner and Hughes are the ones on the fringe. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hughes and McDonald do get the knows for round 1. That would be the case if Cox, Wagner and Walker need an additional week or two to get match consitoned. Cox from memory had his baby coming soon.
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Teeth will grind and gnash, eyes will roll and the intra-occular pressure will soar, and maybe skin will crawl and blister, but it's pretty clear that Longmuir likes Hughes in the 22.
Voss has played as a defender hasn't he? I think in time he should develop a second position.
It isn't that Treacy is impossible to shift from his position. Hitting the scoreboard could be what Voss does to force his way in. But neither of those two look like top line scorers, and both of them need to earn credits via some additional component of their game.
Treacy has that with his aggression, defensive pressure, and his almost plausible 2nd ruck work.
A genuine swingman may have a skill set that is very attractive. And I'm not looking at this through Eyes Wide Shut thinking.
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I didn't see the game last night, but I was wondering how Erasmus went? Was he one of the ones that came on at half time?
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He's frustrating! Tries to hard I think, needs to chill a bit. Easier said than done.
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They all played ok but if you rated them it would be JOM, Raz then Brodie for mine. JOM just reminded us that he is a class above the other two especially when delivering the ball to the forwards (the forwards will want him in the 22) great body use and clean skills. JOM was also a reasonable option on the wing for the game.
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Is it just me or did clark's disposal let him down? I noticed a couple of his kicks hung in the air and allowed the oppo to either spoil or intercept. Thats what frustrates me!
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His passing was brilliant. A class above indeed!
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I got really frustrated with Clark, potentially it was because he got it so often but a lot of his disposal wasn’t exactly first rate.
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