Prediction Round 1, 2025: Starting 23

[Broken_Chairs]

If everyone is fit (knock on wood), we actually have a pretty competitive team on paper.

Will be nice to see some real competition for spots.

 

[bUCKET__]

A big preseason can do a lot for young players. Bit of muscle onto A. Reid could see him smashing down the door to b22. Barrass doing this early on in his career changed the look of our squad massively.

Likewise, if someone like Brockman builds a tank in the way that Rioli did after his second preseason with us, the effect could be similar.

Hutch Jr getting into his first ever AFL pre-season (hopefully as an inside midfielder) is going to be fun to watch.

Exciting times to watch the squad develop. And big props to anyone who gets more than half the teamsheet for round 1 at this stage in the year, haha.

 

[Astro7]

FB: Hough HEdwards Duggan
HB: Baker McGovern Ginbey
C: Hutchinson Kelly Maric
HF: Hewett Waterman Cripps
FF: Ryan Allen JWilliams
R: Flynn Reid Yeo
IC: Graham Owies Cole Dewar Long

Best depth: BWilliams Chesser Hunt Bazzo Sheed

Still a pretty weak looking side on paper if we're being totally honest but it should at least bring a bit of mongrel. Dewar and Long both options to provide a bit of spark in the middle hopefully

Doesn't look like a weak team to me? Looks mighty fine, however you move the magnets!
We already look better than last year. Factor in new coach and game plan, maybe some positional changes and pick 12, we've got a decent team with pace and depth!

 

[Obeanie1]

More importantly what is changing game plan wise and how will that affect the team selected?

I read that we will take on a faster gameplan that has similarities as the Tigers when they were in contention and some defensive structures from Melbourne FC.

So speed, pressure and run and gun off halfback.

With that in mind round 1

Hough H Edwards Hunt
Ginbey McGovern Baker
Duggan Reid Maric
Long Allen Cripps
Owies Waterman Hewett

F Fynn, Yeo and Kelly

Int: J Williams, Graham, Hutchinson, A Reid and Bazzo

EMG: B Williams, Chesser, Hall, Cole

Thinking we take Lindsay at pick 15 will need to wait for a debut.

 

[kerrazy]

I feel like we so bloody god dam need our rookie/late pickups to become elite. Hutchinson in the midfield must be persisted with at all costs. Just imagine if he becomes the ball pig we saw in that second half against Geelong, racking up 30 touches consistently.

Seeing those dick eaters turn dud picks into stars infuriates me.

 

[Broken_Chairs]

I feel like we so bloody god dam need our rookie/late pickups to become elite. Hutchinson in the midfield must be persisted with at all costs. Just imagine if he becomes the ball pig we saw in that second half against Geelong, racking up 30 touches consistently.

Seeing those dick eaters turn dud picks into stars infuriates me.

He looked good - but we were also 100 points down at half time and Geelong had taken the foot off the pedal. I want to believe but prob need to see a bit more consistency before I get too excited.

 

[sharps24]

Going with Graham straight in there to play the guardian angel role with Reid and Yeo first bounce of 25. Kelly moved to half forward permanently. Baker forward [pocket] as well cause there aint no room in the backline. Still have no idea who we play on the wing, suspect Luke Edwards is the best fit for one of them but no way he gets into the 22 on football ability. Hutchinson part of the midfield rotations from the jump but have named him on that wing. Petch 23rd picked, under threat from any of Baker, Johnston, even Hall I guess. No room to even consider Cripps or Cole and I see most others haven't picked them either, which is pleasing. I like the look of this side a lot. Bazzo would be in this team and Duggan moved to the bench to be in mid rotations if 3rd tall required. I've moved Maric to defence which I don't love but he's got to go somewhere and I don't want another Brander situation happening, Jake and Oscar look set up forward for years to come.

B: Hough, Edwards, Maric
HB: Duggan, Gov, Ginbey
C: Hunt, Yeo, Hutchinson
HF: Ryan, Allen, Kelly
F: Oweez, Waterman, Baker
Fol: Williams, Reid, Graham
Int: Hewett, Chesser, Long, Williams, Petch

My second team if I'm throwing the magnets around and being a crazy McWalter. Elevate Bazzo straight into fullback and put our tallest and strongest player Harry Edwards into the ruck. Ryan onto the wing and Harvey J into the side. I obviously want to see how Harry Edwards goes as a fullback this year because I love him as a player and he's been chomping at the bit to take over from Barrass, but I do have some concerns about his speed. He'll be found out at times by fast leading forwards, but that's been true of Gov and Tom on occasion too so really depends on how well he goes playing to his strengths.

However, since we have basically no #1 ruck I often think about what would have happened if he didn't injure himself in that pre-season [22?] before Nic did his achilles, where we were trialing Edwards as a second ruck over summer and weighing him up there compared to Bailey. Obviously the answer to that question was that Bailey got the nod due to being the only bloke who could take the field in subsequent seasons. But maybe a sliding doors moment for former midfield talent Harry Edwards. Since he continues to grow 5-10cm each year I have him currently behind only Flynn as our biggest boy. He's definitely got a bigger melon than pinhead Flynn, and does almost everything football related better than Flynn. Great reader of the play. Strong enough to body most blokes. Speed not likely to hold him back.. I'd just like to see what it would look like. He's a fantastic reader of the ball and a great mark so I'd imagine that's something that could translate into decent tap work in time. Dunno, just an idea.

B:Maric, Bazzo, Ginbey
HB:Hough, Gov, Duggan
C: Hunt, Yeo, Ryan
HF: Kelly, Allen, Baker
F: Oweez, Waterman, Hewett
Fol: H Edwards, Reid, Graham
Int: Hutchinson, Chesser, Long, Williams, Johnston

 

[JA56]

Duggan Edwards Hough

Ginbey McGovern Yeo

Hunt Kelly Chesser

Long Waterman Cripps

Owies Allen Ryan


Ruck: Flynn Reid Baker

Int: Hewett Graham Cole Williams

Sub: Hutchison

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

So many of our 22s have 7 players under the age of 25 and 12 between 25-30

So why did we add 3 more in that age range?

Its sad to see

 

[Lazzas]

So many of our 22s have 7 players under the age of 25 and 12 between 25-30

So why did we add 3 more in that age range?

Its sad to see

Because the team got consistently steamrolled, loosing was becoming a habit. Some fresh competitive blood, it's the same reason the coach was changed. A circuit breaker.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Because the team got consistently steamrolled, loosing was becoming a habit. Some fresh competitive blood, it's the same reason the coach was changed. A circuit breaker.

Where does that best 22 finish do you think? I still have us pegged down for a bottom 3 finish

 

[Lazzas]

Where does that best 22 finish do you think? I still have us pegged down for a bottom 3 finish

Yes you said it "Still have us pegged down for a bottom 3 finish" Still is the key if the split pick and Baker trade had not have happened,still bottom 3.

What most fans want to see is a competitive effort, heart and grit. What most fan's want to see is improvement and we will with a few older battle hardened player's driving standard's.

 

[DorothyG]

What most fans want to see is a competitive effort, heart and grit. What most fan's want to see is improvement and we will with a few older battle hardened player's driving standard's.

Please.

More Swans/Lions type losses, less Hawks/Adelaide performances.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Yes you said it "Still have us pegged down for a bottom 3 finish" Still is the key if the split pick and Baker trade had not have happened,still bottom 3.

What most fans want to see is a competitive effort, heart and grit. What most fan's want to see is improvement and we will with a few older battle hardened player's driving standard's.

Huh? Im saying we will stil finish bottom 3 with this trade. Im just asking what you think we will finish this year with it

Most fans dont want to see that. We want to see us win a premiersihip. This move takes us further away from that aim.

Its up to Mini to drive player standards. If he cant sack him at the end of the year. Its his job, not Liam Bakers

All we had to do here is simply. Wait another 12 months to achieve the above. We just needed to suck it up and deal with 1 more year of crap and then hit the trade market. Hit it for Chad Warner not Liam Baker and make our moves at the right time. All we did is rush it due to a lack of patience.

 

[stallon]

All we had to do here is simply. Wait another 12 months to achieve the above. We just needed to suck it up and deal with 1 more year of crap and then hit the trade market. Hit it for Chad Warner not Liam Baker and make our moves at the right time. All we did is rush it due to a lack of patience.

I dont consider going for Baker "rushing". Its clear the list had issues, Baker can help alleviate some of those.
The idea of adding players of that 25-28 year old bracket is great, just a shame it cost so much to accomplish.

I think we are just trying to avoid ending up like North, or like how Richmond project to end up spending potentially 5+ years in the bottom 2.

Premiership lists are built in more than one way, the draft might be the obvious way to do it but if we think we can attract good players then why not just top up?
Take the shortcut that some of the big Vic clubs take.
We have the draw of being the biggest club in WA, and players wanting to come home without any particularly strong ties to either club will naturally consider us more highly than Freo just because of that.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I dont consider going for Baker "rushing". Its clear the list had issues, Baker can help alleviate some of those.
The idea of adding players of that 25-28 year old bracket is great, just a shame it cost so much to accomplish.

I think we are just trying to avoid ending up like North, or like how Richmond project to end up spending potentially 5+ years in the bottom 2.

Premiership lists are built in more than one way, the draft might be the obvious way to do it but if we think we can attract good players then why not just top up?
Take the shortcut that some of the big Vic clubs take.
We have the draw of being the biggest club in WA, and players wanting to come home without any particularly strong ties to either club will naturally consider us more highly than Freo just because of that.

We will finish bottom 3 anyway. Baker/Graham/Owies are not moving the needle I suspect.

 

[stallon]

We will finish bottom 3 anyway. Baker/Graham/Owies are not moving the needle I suspect.

Not this year, but we have a base of good senior players now who arent on the verge of retirement. As the young players get closer to the 50 games, and we obtain a couple more good mature players next year(im sure thatll be the aim) the side can improve pretty quickly.
Taking out genuine spuds and replacing them with B grade footballers can make a pretty big difference.

 

[Westend]

We will finish bottom 3 anyway. Baker/Graham/Owies are not moving the needle I suspect.

I can see us improving 7/8 wins for me

if we can have allen fit for 20 games we will improve

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I can see us improving 7/8 wins for me

if we can have allen fit for 20 games we will improve

So like 11th ?

Not sure that’s a worthy aim

 

[stallon]

So like 11th ?

Not sure that’s a worthy aim

7/8 wins this year would place us in 16th spot, same spot as this year. A much more attractive prospect for players considering a move to WA though, and a better environment for player development

 

[Lazzas]

Huh? Im saying we will stil finish bottom 3 with this trade. Im just asking what you think we will finish this year with it

Most fans dont want to see that. We want to see us win a premiersihip. This move takes us further away from that aim.

Its up to Mini to drive player standards. If he cant sack him at the end of the year. Its his job, not Liam Bakers

All we had to do here is simply. Wait another 12 months to achieve the above. We just needed to suck it up and deal with 1 more year of crap and then hit the trade market. Hit it for Chad Warner not Liam Baker and make our moves at the right time. All we did is rush it due to a lack of patience.

5 to 7 wins. Not rushing it at all. They are trying to bring back a winning culture. This in itself will accelerate the rise up the ladder.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

7/8 wins this year would place us in 16th spot, same spot as this year. A much more attractive prospect for players considering a move to WA though, and a better environment for player development

Why get here tomorrow and not 12 months times. Why not wait for the A grader instead of the B.

Not the thread for this talk but to me, the best 22 lacks balance. We need that 21-25 age range. It’s a big hole in our 22

 

[stallon]

Why get here tomorrow and not 12 months times. Why not wait for the A grader instead of the B.

Not the thread for this talk but to me, the best 22 lacks balance. We need that 21-25 age range. It’s a big hole in our 22

I know I said it to you before, but free agents are generally 25/26. Just target some free agents in 2-6 years time lol.
They dont have to be stars, just need to be best 22. We dont know who will be best 22 in 2-6 years time so dont know which free agents to target yet

 

[Westend]

So like 11th ?

Not sure that’s a worthy aim

Well the aim is to win the flag each year...as it should be

But in reality that can't happen so 7/8 wins is achievable with the list we have atm

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I know I said it to you before, but free agents are generally 25/26. Just target some free agents in 2-6 years time lol.
They dont have to be stars, just need to be best 22. We dont know who will be best 22 in 2-6 years time so dont know which free agents to target yet

We have likely committed 1.5 mill in new salary and 8 mill all up. Could have gotten a hell of a free agent with that as opposed to giving up draft picks for players 12 months away from free agency and 2 weeks away from delisting