Game Day Round 1, 2023: West Coast Eagles vs North Melbourne - “A Walk in the Park”

[Dark Sharks]

If some of those established players aren’t feeling some pressure, they should be. Plenty of younger players pushing for their chance

Really? I actually reckon it'll initially be the opposite, with the oldies given a bit of extra leeway at the selection table (even more than usual) due to:


- Simpson "allowing" a bit of extra time for everything to "click" getting all these players back (Sheed, McGovern, Yeo, Cole, Allen) and seeing the apparent game plan operating properly. AKA Synergy.

I expect at some point he'll highlight this in his presser and point out the "lack of football the squad has collectively played together over the past 24 months".

- There's no WAFL games being played for a few weeks, so guys like Hewett/Hough aren't getting the opportunity to show their wears and push for selection properly.


Free swing right now if you're an established senior player IMO. New game plan, and no secondary comp to worrry about

 

[WCErevival]

Really? I actually reckon it'll initially be the opposite, with the oldies given a bit of extra leeway at the selection table (even more than usual) due to:


- Simpson "allowing" a bit of extra time for everything to "click" getting all these players back (Sheed, McGovern, Yeo, Cole, Allen) and seeing the apparent game plan operating properly. AKA Synergy.

I expect at some point he'll highlight this in his presser and point out the "lack of football the squad has collectively played together over the past 24 months".

- There's no WAFL games being played for a few weeks, so guys like Hewett/Hough aren't getting the opportunity to show their wears and push for selection properly.


Free swing right now if you're an established senior player IMO. New game plan, and no secondary comp to worrry about

WAFL preseason games start on Saturday

 

[Keys]

Really? I actually reckon it'll initially be the opposite, with the oldies given a bit of extra leeway at the selection table (even more than usual) due to:


- Simpson "allowing" a bit of extra time for everything to "click" getting all these players back (Sheed, McGovern, Yeo, Cole, Allen) and seeing the apparent game plan operating properly. AKA Synergy.

I expect at some point he'll highlight this in his presser and point out the "lack of football the squad has collectively played together over the past 24 months".

- There's no WAFL games being played for a few weeks, so guys like Hewett/Hough aren't getting the opportunity to show their wears and push for selection properly.


Free swing right now if you're an established senior player IMO. New game plan, and no secondary comp to worrry about

WAFL practice matches start this weekend - Beagles are scheduled to play Claremont on Saturday arvo. Then there’s games each weekend prior to their round 1 match against the salary cap cheats on April 8

So the players who miss out will get an opportunity to show their wares (not wears)

Now I agree that there’ll likely be some sort of grace period of maybe a couple of weeks but if one or more those fringe players are tearing it up in the WAFL there’s going to be heat on any underperforming senior players

I understand your scepticism but it’ll be interesting to see where things stand a month from now - it’s been a long time since we’ve had this many healthy players pushing for spots

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Hey gaiz WAFL Eagles are playing over the next 3 weekends in preseason games.
The players not selected will have a chance to push for selection there.

 

[Truckosaurus]

3 of those were impact injuries as well, so not much S&C could do to prevent them

Should have had them doing spleen strengthening exercises.

 

[Dark Sharks]

I understand your scepticism but it’ll be interesting to see where things stand a month from now - it’s been a long time since we’ve had this many healthy players pushing for spots

It's Whares*


This is what I'm suggesting. Can't imagine there being too many changes to the side or senior players being axed in the first month. Even after quiet games, or a loss. After that..

I realise there's practice games, but they're practice games. Better than nothing I'll admit, but gee, not sure how much weight that performance would carry.

Hewett going to dislodge Sheed/,Gaff from the Senior AFL team after a 25 disposal 2 goal effort in a WAFL practice game Is he? Nah bruv.

 

[Yeo_Check_Out_ma_Flow]

Should have had them doing spleen strengthening exercises.

Stop stealing WCErevival 's jokes mate

On SM-N985F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Bender_]

Any idea when the WAFL practice games start? Really wanna get a good look at our fresh young talent in Bock & Gunston.

 

[Keys]

Any idea when the WAFL practice games start? Really wanna get a good look at our fresh young talent in Bock & Gunston.

Five long minutes after Ginbey stubs his toe

 

[THE A5]

Preseason game starts at 2. Excited to see captain Nelson lead the Beagles

 

[THE A5]

Edwards went from a meme to two players on the list. Eagerly waiting for us to draft a Bock and a Gunston in the coming years to put the icing on a cake

 

[Yeahnahmate]

Need to incorporate more spleen strengthening exercises. Get ahead of the game.

Jack is just getting into his spleenhab as we speak. He’s recently been spotted in the gym getting it going again with some simple spleen presses, curls and spleen-ups. In 3-4 weeks he’ll likely progress to spleenlifts and maybe even a few spleen and jerks

 

[THE A5]

All fun and again till a couple more cop spleen injuries and Wiley the eagles want the whole S&C gone

 

[Avalor]

Edwards went from a meme to two players on the list. Eagerly waiting for us to draft a Bock and a Gunston in the coming years to put the icing on a cake

Or a Gock and Bunston, perhaps.

 

[Matera92]

Hey, I'd be happy to see Reuben sitting in a bath with a Brownlow around his neck some day

 

[Cuzz09]

Get the win for us Ruebs

Woweee!!

Can't wait to see this kid start his journey.

Beast

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[Carbine Chaos]

Have to feel for poor Sheezel, it’ll be one game and done after Ginbey runs through him.

 

[Nuke Fremantle]

Have to feel for poor Sheezel, it’ll be one game and done after Ginbey runs through him.

Turn him into a Cheezel.

 

[Fatty rules]

Pissed about no spot for Hewett.
Hope he rips it up in the preseason game and earns a spot in round 2.
Deserves to debut on his own anyway...

If he debuts on his own he'll get torn apart by the 23 players on the other team. At least let him line up with a coupla mates...

 

[Free Agent]

I'm actually excited to see Long in action.
His had one more pre season on the belt in his 2nd year and by all his regarded as a quality small forward which is what we desperately need.

 

[Free Agent]

With today’s announcement, it leaves 3 spots to be filled (including the sub) by my reckoning

Assuming they’re fit, there’s 14 definite starters -

Backs - McGovern, Barrass, Hurn, Duggan, Cole
Mids - Shuey, Yeo, Kelly, Sheed, Gaff
Forwards - Darling, Allen, Cripps, Ryan

Williams and Jamieson will share the ruck then add the 3 debutants plus Hunt as confirmed starters and it makes 20

The backline looks full which would likely rule out Witherden and Hough

One spot for a mid out of Culley, O’Neill, Clark or West

One spot for a forward out of Petruccelle, Waterman, Jones or Petrevski-Seton

The sub to come from one of the leftover mids or forwards

If some of those established players aren’t feeling some pressure, they should be. Plenty of younger players pushing for their chance

* I deliberately left Hewett out on the basis that since he wasn’t named today he’s likely not playing but he’ll be with the others pressing for an opportunity

Culley for the mid spot and most likely Petruccelle as been great in both pre season games think he deserves it.

Waterman Jones Seto been pretty quite in there games.

 

[shooshka]

Culley for the mid spot and most likely Petruccelle as been great in both pre season games think he deserves it.

Waterman Jones Seto been pretty quite in there games.

Jones is almost the perfect sub also.

Can play forward or back, and chop out in the midfield if required.

 

[The wily weagle]

I just can't help but shake the feeling that Culley isn't going to be named this weekend, which would be bizzare:

-he was the star of pre season training
-club was talking him up
-plays well enough in the first pre season game
-bizarrely, gets omitted from the second pre season game
-club hasn't mentioned him since

 

[Marlin01]

I'd be playing Hough ahead of both Duggan and Gaff, either wing or HB, depending on where the need is greater. I consider Hough to be one of the most natural footballers on our list and we need these types of players to pick our way through opposition defences.

We also need Hurn to reverse the trend of getting more and more conservative with his ball usage. Yes, he nails virtually every kick he takes, we need him to be more creative.

 

[Yeahnahmate]

I'm actually excited to see Long in action.
His had one more pre season on the belt in his 2nd year and by all his regarded as a quality small forward which is what we desperately need.

Just a heads up he’s also a first year from the most recent crop of draftees