Well, after many many torturous months, the 2023 AFL season is finally upon us.
2022 was a disaster, no question. The team was hit with injuries to key players, Covid took a huge whack to the squad, and any chance Simpson had of implementing a new game plan was thrown in the crapper.
Two wins.
Two lousy wins is all the team had to show for itself at the end of the season...
Let's look at some silver linings though....
Silver Linings
1. Da Yoof!
One positive of having half your team injured or in Covid iso is being able to pump games into the youth of the squad. Players like Hough, Bazzo, O'Neill, H. Edwards and Jamieson played a fair chunk of games that they otherwise might not have. This will undoubtedly help in the years to come.
The following chart demonstrates the games played by every player, categorised by age:
2. Culley
The dreadlocked dynamo has arrived at our club with a reputation for inside grunt, hard work, and smokey poultry. He has not put a foot wrong since coming here, aside from shoving Kelly in the intraclub.
According to insiders he has had a breakout pre-season. Hopefully he can direct his passion, rage and power to opposition players and not to Kelly.
3. Lots of Practise for Defence
Our backline saw a lot of the ball last season so they should be the most hardened warriors in the league.
4. Ginbey, Hewett, Barnett, Burgiel, Long, Baker and Dewar
Sure, this is way, wwaaaaaayyy too early, but I think this may be one of our best drafts yet. All of these players have tremendous talent and potential. The future looks bright in their hands.
Predicted WCE Line up
Well, that brings us to round 1 baby!
Here is my predicted rd 1 line up.
I'm tipping Darling and B. Williams to recover in time. This pushes Waterman to be the sub.
Also, I have heard a rumour that Ginbey is out with a sore toe and that Longy will get some minutes, but I am yet to have that confirmed.
Game Plan
This will be ugly early days Eagles fans, make no mistake. After many seasons of kick-mark, of over-possessing, of switch to switch to switch, the team will be trying to move the ball with speed at every opportunity. This will result in mistakes. Someone, probably Witherden (even though I love him) will kick the ball straight to a Roos player on his own in the d50. This will happen in the first ten minutes. Players will kick the ball to where team-mates are not running. But, as the game progresses, this will get better and lead to more scoring opportunities. When it works it will look beautiful, when it doesn't, it will look ugly.
Predicted Result
WCE by 20 Ginbeys
It has been an off-season of introspection for West Coast players, staff, and supporters. Many an evening was spent gazing into a mirror asking:
Well, it's time to find out.
Bring it on!!!!
Announced team
2022 was a disaster, no question. The team was hit with injuries to key players, Covid took a huge whack to the squad, and any chance Simpson had of implementing a new game plan was thrown in the crapper.
Two wins.
Two lousy wins is all the team had to show for itself at the end of the season...
Let's look at some silver linings though....
Silver Linings
1. Da Yoof!
One positive of having half your team injured or in Covid iso is being able to pump games into the youth of the squad. Players like Hough, Bazzo, O'Neill, H. Edwards and Jamieson played a fair chunk of games that they otherwise might not have. This will undoubtedly help in the years to come.
The following chart demonstrates the games played by every player, categorised by age:
2. Culley
The dreadlocked dynamo has arrived at our club with a reputation for inside grunt, hard work, and smokey poultry. He has not put a foot wrong since coming here, aside from shoving Kelly in the intraclub.
According to insiders he has had a breakout pre-season. Hopefully he can direct his passion, rage and power to opposition players and not to Kelly.
3. Lots of Practise for Defence
Our backline saw a lot of the ball last season so they should be the most hardened warriors in the league.
4. Ginbey, Hewett, Barnett, Burgiel, Long, Baker and Dewar
Sure, this is way, wwaaaaaayyy too early, but I think this may be one of our best drafts yet. All of these players have tremendous talent and potential. The future looks bright in their hands.
Predicted WCE Line up
Well, that brings us to round 1 baby!
Here is my predicted rd 1 line up.
I'm tipping Darling and B. Williams to recover in time. This pushes Waterman to be the sub.
Also, I have heard a rumour that Ginbey is out with a sore toe and that Longy will get some minutes, but I am yet to have that confirmed.
Game Plan
This will be ugly early days Eagles fans, make no mistake. After many seasons of kick-mark, of over-possessing, of switch to switch to switch, the team will be trying to move the ball with speed at every opportunity. This will result in mistakes. Someone, probably Witherden (even though I love him) will kick the ball straight to a Roos player on his own in the d50. This will happen in the first ten minutes. Players will kick the ball to where team-mates are not running. But, as the game progresses, this will get better and lead to more scoring opportunities. When it works it will look beautiful, when it doesn't, it will look ugly.
Predicted Result
WCE by 20 Ginbeys
It has been an off-season of introspection for West Coast players, staff, and supporters. Many an evening was spent gazing into a mirror asking:
Well, it's time to find out.
Bring it on!!!!
Announced team
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