Autopsy Round 1, 2025: Positives and Negatives vs Gold Coast

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

This is true but we also got a handful of players instead of just the one. Ended up being Baker, Graham, Shanahan and Gross I think. Would have loved Draper but it would have been him and nothing else

Barrass left remember?

The answer was fairly simple here. Keep Pick 3, get pick 14 + extras for Barrass and go into the draft with both Pick 3 and 14 instead of getting Baker and a pick in the 20s for 2025.

Everyone knew this was true except for 1 person

 

[EagleEgo]

Negative
1) The master Hardwick knew exactly what McQualter is doing.
2) WCE relied too much handballing out of the pack without shepherding and blocking, the ball is not moving well. (Especially in the 1st and 2nd qtrs)
3). Poor tackling, failed to stop GCS's ball movement.
4). AFL umpires want the Queensland market.

Positive:
1) Ginbey's second effort was excellent.
2. I always find Maric an excellent player, his tackle seldom fails. He should not be a sub

 

[Grahame]

I thought watching the game was bad enough. But the negativity here - after one game under a new coach with multiple new or ‘new’ players - is far worse. If the players have this mindset we truly are stuffed.

Did anyone die? Jeez … get some perspective it’s just a feckin game of football.

 

[ziad]

Negative
1) The master Hardwick knew exactly what McQualter is doing.
2) WCE relied too much handling out of the pack without shepherding and blocking, the ball is not moving well. (Especially in the 1st and 2nd qtrs)
3) poor tackling
4). AFL umpires want the Queensland market.

I think 4 is a WA shoulder chip we could do without.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I thought watching the game was bad enough. But the negativity here - after one game under a new coach with multiple new or ‘new’ players - is far worse. If the players have this mindset we truly are stuffed.

Did anyone die? Jeez … get some perspective it’s just a feckin game of football.

They do have that mindset.... thats our complaint/issue

 

[Chase1ne]

It felt like Gold Coast we're playing a video game, every centre bounce they just dominated. Like people have already said, there was no effort. Gold Coast have a midfield that will terrorize other teams throughout the year, but holy hell it was made easier for them with the complete lack of effort West Coast provided. Even when getting you're rear end handed to you, you can still show a measurable way to compete.

The backline did a good job considering the shellacking they copped. The smalls up forward didn't have a great game when the ball did come their way. Not that it mattered much, but 1 of Cripps and 1 of Owies should play. Not both.

Hopefully Mini gives them a spray and a tear. Put them to work this week, because the next 4 games are not going to be any easier. Drop Kelly if he wants to play like that, happy to take the paycheck but not enough to work for it, so send him to the WAFL, give a young guy a chance. Put Harley on notice. He was given a long leash in his 1st year, time to shorten it.

 

[Deepthroat]

Where was the tackle count people?

Cripps and Long - 0 each. That's pathetic.

Baker, Hunt and Dewar - 1.

No defensive intent.

Cripps, Baker and Hunt all senior heads.

This is not a culture shift. This is laying down stuff.

 

[The Gtrain]

I wonder if Oscar puts his hand up to play in the back line this week... get a taste of what the Brisbane delivery to the forwards is like.

 

[EagleEgo]

I think 4 is a WA shoulder chip we could do without.

1. It is a fact
2. WA teams need to do more to get better.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Looking forward to McQualter's response.

 

[flyinghi64]

Need to start sticking tackles, they just ran through our players all game.
Midfield pressure was pretty much non existent.
When we did step up the pressure and played better in the 2nd half they also stepped up even more.
Don't know why the umps gave them a massive leg up, they didn't need it.

Hough was good all game, gonna be a long term star that kid.
Baker, Graham and Owies proved to be very worth getting and showed even our more experienced players a thing or two.

Not the end of the world though, we have Brissy in Brissy next week, that could be.

 

[Deplorable trumpster]

Kelly is just picking up a pay cheque at this stage and doesn't really care. Probably focussed on other things in his life other than footy which does happen to some players when they get towards 30. He just wants to do enough to keep getting his pay cheque. Just like Simmo in his last 18 months. He didn't care. Knew he was going to be sacked at some point and ust wanted his pay out.

 

[Bender_]

Oh boy we're really at fold the club levels today eh?

As an aside I find it interesting how the actual posters (accounts) completely change when things are grim - suddenly there's a dozen people you rarely see popping in to take a dump on Tim Kelly and everything at the club post 2018. Misery loves company I guess.

 

[Obeanie1]

Oh I understand and agree 100%

Is a bit of a joke that the historically bad team only had access to pick one and and then nothing until 30 (or whatever it was in the 23 draft) thanks to the AFLs bastardisation of the draft.

But you also have to accept that we haven't done ourselves many favours at the draft/trade table in the recent past.

Letting the list profile be void of those yearly/mid aged players, not moving on aging players fast enough, irresponsible contract, not identifying local talent, poor recruiting/drafting etc.

We just traded Barrass for close to the Hawks entire original 2025 draft hand.

20 20 hindsight saying we should have gutted the list like Richmond just did.

Positive there is they just rolled the Blues who were flag contenders.

So when does attitude of players become a factor?

I will say I am somewhat concerned about how Harley carried himself yesterday. He looked unfit and not interested. He wasted more energy mouthing off to opponents and pushing and shoving that actually playing football. He looked like he was cruising and in self preservation mode. Nothing like how he played last year.

 

[lmach]

gee i must be the only one here that's not suicidal

Old WCE supporters to new WCE supporters (if there are any):

 

[Astro7]

Sorry Sharkie, usually agree with you but not this time.

Kelly himself has said his heart's not in it, and he's playing like it. He needs to be pissed off and his spot filled with someone who wants to earn a game (even if that someone is objectively not as good) until he can find his passion. Giving games to blokes who dont wanna be there is a bad look for a club.

You see that's just not true, you're distorting the truth and what he actually said to suit your own perception of Kelly and how he plays. He implied his heart hasn't been in it over the past few years (not surprisingly given he carried the midfield on his shoulders and was one of the only mids to consistently front up, uninjured) -and that he was learning to love football again, which presumably he is under a new regime with a new coach and younger players. You seriously believe he is out there training and playing and doesn't want to be there, doesn't want his spot in the team? Do you think he would publicly announce 'my hearts not in it anymore' and expect to still have a career?

 

[Chris_6678]

Im not as depressed about it as some are.

Id be looking at the rebuild Hawks went through under Mitchell.

Took them from 2022-2024 midway of last year to really look like a dangerous side and it took time for him to implement a brand new style of football.

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

Im not as depressed about it as some are.

Id be looking at the rebuild Hawks went through under Mitchell.

Took them from 2022-2024 midway of last year to really look like a dangerous side

We’ve been rebuilding since 2020 really…

That’s why some are depressed

 

[Smotie2]

Sick and tired of the rhetoric about 3 kids short and not good enough rucks etc etc.

We have seen over the last 3 years in games where everyone pulled their finger out and decided to give a **** about playing that we can at least be competitive.

Make no mistake this result and all others the last 3 years is down to work rate, not talent.

I watched Reid, Kelly and most others playing off their man and giving half efforts and allowing thier opponents easy path through lack of tackling intent and work rate in not running defensively when required.

I thought this would change with a new coach but the same habits are in place for most except a select few like Gibney, Graham, baker and to lesser extent Hewitt.

It's up to mcqualter to choose whether or not he allows this to continue or do something about it like dropping Kelly and making a statement that it won't be tolerated having player choose when to work hard.

 

[Cuzz09]

Honestly you could line up every "positive and negative" thread for the last 3 years and they would all be the same.

Literally nothing has changed.



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[Coasters7]

Barrass left remember?

The answer was fairly simple here. Keep Pick 3, get pick 14 + extras for Barrass and go into the draft with both Pick 3 and 14 instead of getting Baker and a pick in the 20s for 2025.

Everyone knew this was true except for 1 person

Also true but then we need to add this years Hawthorns picks into the equation.

Overall the package wasn’t horrible (the trade at the time was), especially when it’s clear we need more than just young talent. We need to get a bit of identity and winning culture back.

 

[FKASC]

Im not as depressed about it as some are.

Id be looking at the rebuild Hawks went through under Mitchell.

Took them from 2022-2024 midway of last year to really look like a dangerous side and it took time for him to implement a brand new style of football.

Tbh this website prob makes people feel much worse than if they just watched the shit show and then got on with their lives. Similarly it’s a nice echo chamber when we are winning, but it might be time for some people to just log off.

 

[Chris_6678]

We’ve been rebuilding since 2020 really…

That’s why some are depressed

Not really?

I mean 2020 Simmo was still trying for a flag and ditto 2021 & 2021 but blamed injuries and covid for not getting a fair crack. 2023 we slowly started to re-build but still played older players who didn't deserve too. 2024 was similar but Simmo did at least get some games into some players.

2025 is a whole new gameplan which takes time to implement.

 

[Obeanie1]

Honestly you could line up every "positive and negative" thread for the last 3 years and they would all be the same.

Literally nothing has changed.



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How many players and staff have been turned over in the past 3 years?

A lot has changed.

Just aren't seeing results in game 1 of the new coaches reign.

No sugar hit for us.

 

[Barrybran]

Cripps and Long - 0 each. That's pathetic.

I imagine it's difficult to tackle when the ball is up the other end of the field

Baker, Hunt and Dewar - 1.

Likewise when you've done your job by getting the ball out of defense.

Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to work on. But reading the stat sheet is a little misleading sometimes.