Prediction Round 1, 2025: Starting 23

[Ambrose Burnside]

Picture it: Round 1 vs the Saints at home.
Starting Mid of Flynn, Reid, Graham and Yeo.
Windhanger is hanging off Reid before the siren even sounds and the umpire gives him a knowing wink (I see nothink!).
Ball goes up, Graham crosses right behind Reid and levels Windhanger with the People's elbow, and Flynn in his follow through lands 2 knees into his kidneys.
Reid bursts onto the ball, stiff arms 4 opponents, take 3 bounces and kicks goal of the year with the first possession of 2025.
Graham gets a 6 week holiday, nobody is game to go near Reid for the rest of the season and he goes on to get the Brownlow/Norm Smith double and take WC to an unthinkable 5th flag.
Clarke gets a statue built out the front of Gate 3 at Optus.

Make it happen Mini.

 

[We_The_West]

Fox Footy have dropped theirs:

B: T.Cole, H.Edwards, B.Hough

HB: J.Hunt, J.McGovern, L.Baker

C: L.Duggan, E.Yeo, R.Ginbey

HF: J.Graham, J.Waterman, L.Ryan

F: M.Owies, O.Allen, J.Cripps

FOLL: B.Williams, T.Kelly, H.Reid

I/C: J.Williams, J.Hutchinson, E.Hewett, J.Petruccelle, C.Chesser

Not too far off I don’t think - Ginbey probably heads back as the 3rd tall.

No Noah Long but he’s a wait and see I think on where he fits - talent but yet to nail a position.

They noted choosing Williams over Flynn - I would agree with this initially but it’s gotta be up for grabs in the Pre-season.

So yeah.

Our depth is horrifying.

I find it quite surprising how many people believe Tom Cole is in our B22. Given Baker has come in and Duggan is predicted to go back to defense then you would assume he is surplus to needs in the backline.... possibly mini could re-deploy him into the career-ruining, team-first wing role that all the younger players get assigned to and never work out how to play.

I feel like WCE needs to field it's strongest team with the inclusion of the most in-form youngsters (5-7 max) for the first part of the season. Wins early season will help us get Harley's signature and we need to create selection integrity for our AFL team.

Improving the competitiveness of the Beagles is a huge priority and having players like Tom Cole and Sheed in there will definitely help. As long as Mini has a Voss-like entry and gives everyone a blank canvas and picks the team based on form and game style fit.

 

[Altum Volantes]

I find it quite surprising how many people believe Tom Cole is in our B22. Given Baker has come in and Duggan is predicted to go back to defense then you would assume he is surplus to needs in the backline.... possibly mini could re-deploy him into the career-ruining, team-first wing role that all the younger players get assigned to and never work out how to play.

I feel like WCE needs to field it's strongest team with the inclusion of the most in-form youngsters (5-7 max) for the first part of the season. Wins early season will help us get Harley's signature and we need to create selection integrity for our AFL team.

Improving the competitiveness of the Beagles is a huge priority and having players like Tom Cole and Sheed in there will definitely help. As long as Mini has a Voss-like entry and gives everyone a blank canvas and picks the team based on form and game style fit.

If Cole is going out, Baker in and Duggan heading back again, who is in the middle?

I would expect both Baker and Duggan to spend time in the middle. Still likely to be a place for Cole in the backline as an experienced small defender.

By the by - this is a Round 1 thread - will Cole be in our B23 for Round 1?

More likely than unlikely.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

What makes people think Liam Baker

3

Liam Baker

Age

26

Ht

173cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

7.9

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.6

4star

MG

222.2

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

7.9

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

3star

MG

191.9

3star

D

14.4

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

224.2

4star

is a HB btw? He has spent all year at HF/Midfield.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I find it quite surprising how many people believe Tom Cole is in our B22. Given Baker has come in and Duggan is predicted to go back to defense then you would assume he is surplus to needs in the backline.... possibly mini could re-deploy him into the career-ruining, team-first wing role that all the younger players get assigned to and never work out how to play.

I feel like WCE needs to field it's strongest team with the inclusion of the most in-form youngsters (5-7 max) for the first part of the season. Wins early season will help us get Harley's signature and we need to create selection integrity for our AFL team.

Improving the competitiveness of the Beagles is a huge priority and having players like Tom Cole and Sheed in there will definitely help. As long as Mini has a Voss-like entry and gives everyone a blank canvas and picks the team based on form and game style fit.

Tom Cole is ultra versatile on who he can match up on. If we drop him then Hough moves over to that role which isnt a best use of his talents.

We wanna bring Baker in to help nurture young talent and then people wanna drop Tom Cole who is doing the same thing. Makes no sense

 

[bzparkes]

What makes people think Liam Baker is a HB btw? He has spent all year at HF/Midfield.

Because he said that's where he sees himself from his interview the other day.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Because he said that's where he sees himself from his interview the other day.

Didnt see or hear that.

Thats fricken disappointing. Makes his signing even dumber then it was before

 

[bzparkes]

Didnt see or hear that.

Thats fricken disappointing. Makes his signing even dumber then it was before

Not really.

He said that in response to the interviewer's questions, because he said the forward line already has a lot of talent/is stacked, especially since we just picked up Owies.

I imagine he'll rotate through there also.

 

[Bender_]

Baker will go where he's needed.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Baker will go where he's needed.

Not true. It depends if we will hurt his feelings by having him in the midfield. Matt Clarke wouldnt dare hurt his feelings

 

[Bender_]

Not true. It depends if we will hurt his feelings by having him in the midfield. Matt Clarke wouldnt dare hurt his feelings

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I can see it now

Reporter - "Can you explain your rational behind putting Liam Baker on Jeremy Cameron today"
Mini - "Well he really really wanted to do it. The smile on Liams face when I said he would get the job just made it all worthwhile"

 

[flyinghi64]

I can see it now

Reporter - "Can you explain your rational behind putting Liam Baker on Jeremy Cameron today"
Mini - "Well he really really wanted to do it. The smile on Liams face when I said he would get the job just made it all worthwhile"

 

[Altum Volantes]

I heard that Clarke is only drafting Malakai Champion because Liam Baker

3

Liam Baker

Age

26

Ht

173cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

7.9

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.6

4star

MG

222.2

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

7.9

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

3star

MG

191.9

3star

D

14.4

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

224.2

4star

refuses to be the shortest player on our list.

 

[Broken_Chairs]

Haven’t looked too far into round 1 but J.williams needs to be a mainstay and backed in next year. Kid looked great last season once he settled into the aide. He’ll be of the right age next season for a break out year. With No Darling he’ll become a more of a focal point up forward. What hurst him and any fwd/ruck for us is Billiams/flynn aren’t really the types of rucks that can shoulder majority of the workload in the ruck

I think he almost automatically keeps his spot as a backup ruck.

 

[Broken_Chairs]

I heard that Clarke is only drafting Malakai Champion because Liam Baker refuses to be the shortest player on our list.

Clarke really needs to get his priorities straight, he should be drafting Malakai Champion because he's got the dopest name in AFL

 

[Smeagle_WC]

Does anyone know how Hewett is going? Last I heard he had hot spots on his feet and they shut him down for the year after he worked hard to get back from the previous injury? No news is good news I suppose at his time? Definitely best 22 for mine if he's fit and firing, almost the second most exciting talent on our list behind Reid.

 

[We_The_West]

Tom Cole is ultra versatile on who he can match up on. If we drop him then Hough moves over to that role which isnt a best use of his talents.

We wanna bring Baker in to help nurture young talent and then people wanna drop Tom Cole who is doing the same thing. Makes no sense

"Ultra versatile" is probably not how I would describe Tom Cole - he's average at best, but I agree has a leadership role to play in the wafl eagles.
View attachment 2149952

 

[FKASC]

Clarke really needs to get his priorities straight, he should be drafting Malakai Champion because he's got the dopest name in AFL

Malakai Champion vs Shadeau Brain

Round 1
Fight!

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

"Ultra versatile" is probably not how I would describe Tom Cole - he's average at best, but I agree has a leadership role to play in the wafl eagles.
View attachment 2149952

He is best suited to being verstaile by playing either small or 3rd tall. We have seen Hough given that role and not do so well at it. He has shown ability to go onto a wing and contribute too

Im thinking if Baker gonna play HB then him and Cole rotating between HB/Wing may be the way to go. Then we can more or less have Duggan in as a full time midfielder

 

[We_The_West]

To be fair, I think you’re right and he would play the team first wing role well.

 

[Tugga27]

I can see it now

Reporter - "Can you explain your rational behind putting Liam Baker on Jeremy Cameron today"
Mini - "Well he really really wanted to do it. The smile on Liams face when I said he would get the job just made it all worthwhile"

Give it rest mate.

You're sounding like an absolute tool.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Give it rest mate.

You're sounding like an absolute tool.

Have a relax. Life aint as serious as you are making it

 

[West123]

OK.....for better or worse, let's have a crack at our Round 1 team.

I am going to assume Bo Allen gets selected at pick 12 and Champion comes in as well.

B: Duggan, McGovern, Hough
HB: Baker, H. Edwards, Ginbey
C: B. Allen, H. Reid, Graham
HF: Cripps, B. Williams, Maric
F: Owies, O. Allen, Waterman

Foll: Yeo, Kelly, Flynn

Int: Long, Hewitt, Hutchinson, Culley
Sub: Hunt

Close: Sheed, Champion, Cole, Bazzo

Actually looks like a team with a bit of run/speed and flexibility

Baker, Yeo, Ginbey and B. Allen can all play HB or Mid

Long, Culley, Hutchinson and Hewitt can play Fwd or Mid

Plenty of goal kicking mids.

Would like to see Cripps out or Champion at some stage

Tough break when your Rd.1 22 doesn't last a week before one of them is delisted.

 

[We_The_West]

Ok this is my ideal AFL side for the better part of 2025

Back	Bazzo	H.Edwards	Baker
HB	Duggan	McGovern	Ginbey
Centre	Hunt	Graham	Cripps
HF	Hutchinson	Waterman	Ryan
Fwd	J.Williams	O. Allen	Owies
Followers	Flynn	H.Reid	Yeo
Interchange	Hewett	Hall	Maric
	Long	Johnston/Dewar

Beagles 2025

Back	Cole	Jamieson	Pick 26 / other
HB	Chesser	Barnett	Pick 26 / other
Centre	L.Edwards	Pick 12	Johnston/Dewar
HF	Rawlinson	A.Reid	Petruccelle
Fwd	Champion	B. Williams
Followers	Livingston	Sheed	Brockman
Interchange

Key points: Selection integrity, no more than 10 players in AFL team with <30 games exp. Giving players the opportunity to develop their craft in the WAFL, such as Chesser heading back to the HBF where he won U16 AA.