Prediction Round 1, 2025: Starting 23

[WCE_phil]

Personally I think Jack Williams is already a better around the ground ruck than Bailey Williams. Bailey definitely better in the centre but from throw ins Jack seems to have much better body positioning.

Also if your second ruck/third tall forward averages a goal a game, brings the ball to ground in marking contests and breaks even in his ruck contests he's done his job.

We need to be careful with Archers body. His brother has shown that he is very injury prone and I have seen time and again that tends to run in families. Particularly things like backs, knees and soft tissue injuries. He may well be the tallest on the list but he shouldn't be rucking at all unless he proves to be durable and it's during his peak years.

 

[We_The_West]

I'm thinking BW if played in the same position would be double JW output in R1. And until the door is being banged down leave it like this.

The weird question is that people think gifting games improves the team? I believe that a few games before you are ready is good in that it let you see where you need to reach.
JW has had that taste but surely having 6 or 7 shots and 20 disposals and dominating the game in the WAFL is better for experience than 5 disposals and 1 in the AFL?

I'd love to see BW dominate a wafl game or two to earn his spot... a great athlete and could do with a big confidence boost. Kicking a bag for the Beagles would do him the world of good.

I agree with WCE_phil that BW is better in centre bounces when he can use his leap. But JW has a much higher footy IQ and his body positioning in ruck throw ins and general marking contests in the fwd line is much better.

 

[flyinghi64]

I think next season starting 23 could be anyone.
The best 23 will line up.
No credits in the bank.
Whether its a first year player or 10+ yr vet I don't think there are any guarantees this coming season.
There are your obvious ones in Oallen, Waterman, Gov, Yeo, Reid, Duggan, Ginbey but they are also up there with the hardest trainers and/or best in their position so would be rare for their magnets to be far from the board.
But the next line will be the interesting ones, Ryan, Cole, Cripps, both Williams, Edwards, Maric, Petch etc, even Kelly will be having massive competition for spots now and whoever adapts best to the new game plan and shows it, will probably get the nod. The new recruits and draftees will be doing their utmost to prove they should be playing round 1 so a few walk up starters this year won't be next.

Going to be so good to actually have some strong competition for spots and there is going to be a lot of "He was stiff to not get a game"
Great stuff, but don't envy the the match committee's job.

 

[Scotland]

We really butchered our selection of talls this year. As we have done in previous years.

Waterman's break out season was great but the MC had no idea what to do with Allen, Waterman, Darling and 2 x Williams all available. Darling became a square peg and like Gaff should've been dropped sooner. Flynn not being available until late in the year didn't help. Feels like every year BW trains to be a forward then ends up in the ruck.

Hopefully we get back to the position where guys are unlucky to be playing WAFL rather than getting a game every week because they are senior listed. Or the MC think we need 23 talls.

 

[WCErevival]

We really butchered our selection of talls this year. As we have done in previous years.

Waterman's break out season was great but the MC had no idea what to do with Allen, Waterman, Darling and 2 x Williams all available. Darling became a square peg and like Gaff should've been dropped sooner. Flynn not being available until late in the year didn't help. Feels like every year BW trains to be a forward then ends up in the ruck.

Hopefully we get back to the position where guys are unlucky to be playing WAFL rather than getting a game every week because they are senior listed. Or the MC think we need 23 talls.

Same situation as with Cox. Wouldn't remove him because of his status with the club. 2015 freed things up.

 

[Scotland]

Same situation as with Cox. Wouldn't remove him because of his status with the club. 2015 freed things up.

Cox was keeping Lycett/Sinclair out of the side but between the 4 of them they only played 53 games for the 2014 season. Sinclair was OK as a forward but better as a second ruck who could rest forward.

This season Williams (x2), Darling, Waterman, Allen played 93 games between them and Allen only played 11 due to injury. We did manage to briefly get Flynn and both Williams into the side but not all 6 at once.

 

[eaglevision]

This is how I’d like to see us start on the basis that Edwards foot will limit his preseason. Ryan will need a big preseason otherwise I’d be happy for Long or Dewar to take his spot in the forward line.

FB: Baker Bazzo Hough
HB: Maric Gov Ginbey
C: Kelly Yeo Hutchinson
HF: Hewett Waterman Cripps
FF: Owies Allen Ryan
R: Flynn Reid Graham
IC: JWilliams Hall Allan Duggan
S: Chesser
E: Johnson Cole Long

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

This is how I’d like to see us start on the basis that Edwards foot will limit his preseason. Ryan will need a big preseason otherwise I’d be happy for Long or Dewar to take his spot in the forward line.

FB: Baker Bazzo Hough
HB: Maric Gov Ginbey
C: Kelly Yeo Hutchinson
HF: Hewett Waterman Cripps
FF: Owies Allen Ryan
R: Flynn Reid Graham
IC: JWilliams Hall Allan Duggan
S: Chesser
E: Johnson Cole Long

Good assessment. Minor point but Allen has to play CHF leaving Waterman at FF. Snake plays the role much better and Simmo stuffed up when Oscar returned early and was “protected” at FF.

If Oscar’s body cannot allow him to play CHF, then he goes to FB.

I like the move of Kelly to a wing or a HFF and occasional runs as a midfielder

 

[mat11]

Hough Edw Maric
Ginbey Gov Hunt
Baker Yeo Dewar
Ryan Snake TK
Owies Allen JWill

BWilliams Reid Duggan

Cole(wing/back), Graham(mid), Hewett(mid) Long(fwd), Hutch(mid/fwd)

Emg - Cripps Allan Johnston

Cole, Long and Hunt are players who might struggle to be best 22 but think they balance out with their role playing well. Obviously Hutch and bbw possibly underdone come R1 due to injured pre season. Tk to hff and duggan/Graham alternating in the mid tightens up our defensive efforts in the Midfield. I like Dewar on the wing for 2 reasons, 1 I think we need to get games into him and 2 I think we lack that pace and polish of a linking player ie jetta of the past.

 

[Obeanie1]

Factoring in Harley not starting preseason as well as we would like could we see him at half back early on? If he needs to build fitness early in the season?

Assuming Harry Edwards may also be out.

Baker Bazzo Hough
Harley Gov Ginbey
Maric Yeo Hunt

Maric on his wing role is to push back to help Bazzo and can also cover Harley going on a run with a handball chain. For kick outs Maric is another tall exit option.

Nice way to free Harley up from a tag as well and get him involved. We will need plan A, B and C for Reid to break tags.

 

[Keys]

Factoring in Harley not starting preseason as well as we would like could we see him at half back early on? If he needs to build fitness early in the season?

Assuming Harry Edwards may also be out.

Baker Bazzo Hough
Harley Gov Ginbey
Maric Yeo Hunt

Maric on his wing role is to push back to help Bazzo and can also cover Harley going on a run with a handball chain. For kick outs Maric is another tall exit option.

Nice way to free Harley up from a tag as well and get him involved. We will need plan A, B and C for Reid to break tags.

If we’re going to ease Harley into the season it’ll more likely be as a half forward rather than half back.

I know he played back a bit in his underage year before being drafted but he doesn’t look suited to that role at AFL level. We planned to do it last year but quickly shelved the idea when it became apparent he was better utilised elsewhere

That said, he looks close to returning to full training after the break and has plenty of time to get himself ready for R1

 

[Obeanie1]

If we’re going to ease Harley into the season it’ll more likely be as a half forward rather than half back.

I know he played back a bit in his underage year before being drafted but he doesn’t look suited to that role at AFL level. We planned to do it last year but quickly shelved the idea when it became apparent he was better utilised elsewhere

That said, he looks close to returning to full training after the break and has plenty of time to get himself ready for R1

Can see it as an option in breaking a tag. Especially with the new game plan.

Easing him into the season at half forward if he is underdone robs us of a hard running half forward. And Minni's game plan asks for tthe half forwards to work hard up and down tthe wings.

Playing Reid forward to break a tag? Well he is still has a defender following him everywher tagging him and the opposition structures remain the same after changing ours.

Pop him at half back to get involved in running and handball chains and break the shackles. Opposition then are forced to turn a forward into a defender. And change their system.

Need more than plan A and B for hard tags shutting down Reid. And get the opposition off balance.

 

[stallon]

Can see it as an option in breaking a tag. Especially with the new game plan.

Easing him into the season at half forward if he is underdone robs us of a hard running half forward. And Minni's game plan asks for tthe half forwards to work hard up and down tthe wings.

Playing Reid forward to break a tag? Well he is still has a defender following him everywher tagging him and the opposition structures remain the same after changing ours.

Pop him at half back to get involved in running and handball chains and break the shackles. Opposition then are forced to turn a forward into a defender. And change their system.

Need more than plan A and B for hard tags shutting down Reid. And get the opposition off balance.

At least we have the flexibility and depth to be able to do that in 2025, swapping Baker into the middle and putting Reid back (assuming Duggan is already in the middle) would be easy enough to do at any time.

I still think that forward is the best bet to try to free him up or manage him when underdone though, dont have to sit him at half forward. Sit him deep and move Ryan or Owies or whoever was originally gonna sit deep up the ground a bit.

Im always going to prefer to keep the back 7 settled as much as possible during games, especially now that we have Baker, Ginbey, Maric and Edwards as relatively new additions back there. Need to get that synergy going

 

[UseR2006]

I think the solution to breaking a Reid tag is by forcing a re-focus on who to tag, having the option to roll Hewett through stoppages will be huge to make the oppo think twice about who to put the run with on. In previous years it was just too easy to sit a tag on Kelly, Yeo, Reid as we'd only have maybe one of them fit and available at a time.

Now having a good pool to run through there makes that decision a little harder especially if Hewett can live up to expectations.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

JW has nothing more to learn at WAFL level. He needs to play AFL. He could be one of our best players in a few years. To get there He needs consistency at AFL level. He needs to be playing every week while he shows he deserves it (training reports suggest he does). We just need him to be ok as 2nd ruck and make a contest. He absolutely does that.
In Contrast Bailey is marginally better in the ruck but way worse both around the ground and up forward.

I'd like to see him start kicking more goals. So far he's only kicked more than 1 goal on 2 occassions at AFL level.
Unfortunately a stint in the WAFL may not bear much fruit with the lack of supply unless we have a very fit squad.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Factoring in Harley not starting preseason as well as we would like could we see him at half back early on?

Not this again. Who was it that wanted him in the back pocket last year?

 

[eaglevision]

I'd like to see him start kicking more goals. So far he's only kicked more than 1 goal on 2 occassions at AFL level.
Unfortunately a stint in the WAFL may not bear much fruit with the lack of supply unless we have a very fit squad.

I actually think JW will be one of the first picked. Absolute no brainer as the second ruck and his forward craft is improving every match.

 

[Obeanie1]

At least we have the flexibility and depth to be able to do that in 2025, swapping Baker into the middle and putting Reid back (assuming Duggan is already in the middle) would be easy enough to do at any time.

I still think that forward is the best bet to try to free him up or manage him when underdone though, dont have to sit him at half forward. Sit him deep and move Ryan or Owies or whoever was originally gonna sit deep up the ground a bit.

Im always going to prefer to keep the back 7 settled as much as possible during games, especially now that we have Baker, Ginbey, Maric and Edwards as relatively new additions back there. Need to get that synergy going

If any coach can set up Harley to break a tag it should be Minni.

Plenty of years experience utilising Dusty and getting the best out of him

 

[Obeanie1]

Not this again. Who was it that wanted him in the back pocket last year?

Very narrow minded comment

Very.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Very narrow minded comment

Very.

You know the season doesn't start for quite some time though.

Then there's preseason games etc.

Why on Earth would Harley start the season off half back smh. I get called out for my bad calls too, it's nothing personal.

 

[squashface]

Harley is our best offensive weapon who needs to be either influencing on ball or kicking goals up forward.

Putting him in the backline is a big nope from me.

 

[Astro7]

Was rewatching the 2006 GF (yes desperation) and was surprised by our attacking game style, same as Sydney back then. Even the commentators remarked on it several times through the game - "Eagles like to play on - will handball often to a passing team mate- the biggest handball team in the comp - watch them all surge forward" etc.

That combined with a primo midfield gave the impression that it was the early beginnings of the later developed 'fast play' and dare I say 'chaos ball' styles.
Judd always had a lot of group attention (tags) on him throughout the game, then Cuzz would get off the leash. When Cuzz had an impact on the game and scoreboard, he was tagged out, then Kerr was freed up and ran loose for awhile.

Swans were good to comeback in the premiership quarter and really took it up to the Eagles in the 4th. We might've been lucky to win that one by a point, another few minutes Swans may have overran us. But hey, Woosha was still a relatively inexperienced coach. Did well to swing Hunter+co around continually for the first half until Roos countered.

 

[Jez1974]

Hough Edw Maric
Ginbey Gov Hunt
Baker Yeo Dewar
Ryan Snake TK
Owies Allen JWill

BWilliams Reid Duggan

Cole(wing/back), Graham(mid), Hewett(mid) Long(fwd), Hutch(mid/fwd)

Emg - Cripps Allan Johnston

Cole, Long and Hunt are players who might struggle to be best 22 but think they balance out with their role playing well. Obviously Hutch and bbw possibly underdone come R1 due to injured pre season. Tk to hff and duggan/Graham alternating in the mid tightens up our defensive efforts in the Midfield. I like Dewar on the wing for 2 reasons, 1 I think we need to get games into him and 2 I think we lack that pace and polish of a linking player ie jetta of the past.

Noice looking side. No room for chesser?

 

[ArdentEagle]

At this stage, this is how I would like us to line up round 1 (not what I think will actually happen though)

B	Hough	Edwards	Bazzo
HB	Ginbey	McGovern	Ryan
C	Kelly	Duggan	Hunt
HF	Baker	Allen	Hewett
F	Owies	Waterman	J.Williams
FOLL	Flynn	Yeo	Reid
INT	Dewar	Graham	Allan
	Maric

* Hutchinson very close, I'd be playing as a mid/forward.

* Owies, Long and Gross - whoever has the best pre-season.

* Cripps unlucky but now first cab of the rank in reserves

* Ryan on HBF in Jetta role. (He's our best/most creative field kick...Gove doesn't get enough credit in this area either for mine.



This team has explosive power, pure running power, x-factor and some mongrel.
Excellent marking power too.


I'm very excited for 2025.

 

[Rowan18]

Was rewatching the 2006 GF (yes desperation) and was surprised by our attacking game style, same as Sydney back then. Even the commentators remarked on it several times through the game - "Eagles like to play on - will handball often to a passing team mate- the biggest handball team in the comp - watch them all surge forward" etc.

That combined with a primo midfield gave the impression that it was the early beginnings of the later developed 'fast play' and dare I say 'chaos ball' styles.
Judd always had a lot of group attention (tags) on him throughout the game, then Cuzz would get off the leash. When Cuzz had an impact on the game and scoreboard, he was tagged out, then Kerr was freed up and ran loose for awhile.

Swans were good to comeback in the premiership quarter and really took it up to the Eagles in the 4th. We might've been lucky to win that one by a point, another few minutes Swans may have overran us. But hey, Woosha was still a relatively inexperienced coach. Did well to swing Hunter+co around continually for the first half until Roos countered.

It's easy to forget just how defensive Simmo was. After our flag, scoring started to drop slightly every year and when we fell in a hole in 2021, he had no idea how to turn things around. Really felt like Ross Lyon at Freo - couldn't work put how to score in the end.

Woosha was in his 5th season and 2nd GF, so pretty experienced as a coach. Despite being criticised as being poor tactically and resistant to change, he adjusted to be more attacking from 05 to 06 and successfully implemented the forward press in 2011 after winning the spoon in 2010.