Prediction Round 1, 2025: Starting 23

[Astro7]

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.

Forgot it was Woosha's 5th year?

 

[Obeanie1]

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.

The forward six lacks the foward defensive pressure we need and Mini wants. He wants us to pile on the chase and tackle in the forward half to create turnovers in dangerous positions

Ryan and TK dont defend enough.

Allen, Waterman and J Williams struggle defending and stopping rebound running

 

[Jez1974]

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.

Same. Another pretty good side on paper
Good omissions

 

[Keys]

Forgot it was Woosha's 5th year?

3 of our 4 premierships have come in the respective coach’s 5th year

The outlier is Malthouse who also won a flag in his 3rd year

They all made, and lost, a GF before winning one - Malthouse and Simpson in their 2nd year as coach. Worsfold was in his 4th

None of them won a flag after their flag winning 5th year or even made a GF. Worsfold in 2011, his 10th year, is the only one who got back to a prelim

So McQualter has until 2028 to make a GF and 2029 to win a flag. And then should be replaced

Oh, and Malthouse and Worsfold made finals in their first year as coach. Simpson missed finals by percentage in his first year and then made the GF in his second

No pressure Mini

 

[WCE777]

B: COLE, EDWARDS, HOUGH
HB: GINBEY, GOV, BAKER
MID: HUTCH, DUGGAN, HUNT
HF: GRAHAM, ALLAN, RYAN
F: CRIPPS, WATERMAN, OWIES
FOLL: FLYNN, YEO, REID
INT: KELLY, HEWETT, MARIC, J WILLIAMS
SUB: HALL
With some changes in positions with new coach, can see some new roles ad new look.
Duggan takes mid role, defensive mid and can be rotated with Ginbey at HB if needed.
Hutch gets wing role over Hall as last game he showed a huge amount as a mid, can also go inside.
Kelly rotation with Duggan depending on team or Graham at HF.
Hewett rotate with Reid.
Maric to rotate with Edwards at FB in new role.
J Williams to rotate in ruck and FWD when needed.
Next in line Bazzo, Allen, Long, Dewar.

 

[stallon]

B: COLE, EDWARDS, HOUGH
HB: GINBEY, GOV, BAKER
MID: HUTCH, DUGGAN, HUNT
HF: GRAHAM, ALLAN, RYAN
F: CRIPPS, WATERMAN, OWIES
FOLL: FLYNN, YEO, REID
INT: KELLY, HEWETT, MARIC, J WILLIAMS
SUB: HALL
With some changes in positions with new coach, can see some new roles ad new look.
Duggan takes mid role, defensive mid and can be rotated with Ginbey at HB if needed.
Hutch gets wing role over Hall as last game he showed a huge amount as a mid, can also go inside.
Kelly rotation with Duggan depending on team or Graham at HF.
Hewett rotate with Reid.
Maric to rotate with Edwards at FB in new role.
J Williams to rotate in ruck and FWD when needed.
Next in line Bazzo, Allen, Long, Dewar.

Bo at CHF? the captain left out of the side?

 

[WCE777]

Bo at CHF? the captain left out of the side?

sorry I spelt it wrong O Allen at CHF, B Allan right on the edge of selection.
B..dy clubs got 2 Allens, 2 Williams and 2 Reids
Hopefully has 2 Warners in 2026!

 

[Astro7]

3 of our 4 premierships have come in the respective coach’s 5th year

The outlier is Malthouse who also won a flag in his 3rd year

They all made, and lost, a GF before winning one - Malthouse and Simpson in their 2nd year as coach. Worsfold was in his 4th

None of them won a flag after their flag winning 5th year or even made a GF. Worsfold in 2011, his 10th year, is the only one who got back to a prelim

So McQualter has until 2028 to make a GF and 2029 to win a flag. And then should be replaced

Oh, and Malthouse and Worsfold made finals in their first year as coach. Simpson missed finals by percentage in his first year and then made the GF in his second

No pressure Mini

Insightful info there Keys!
However if Mini makes a GF and wins a flag by 2029 (and then should be replaced according to stats) Surely he gets to roll again for a chance of back to back? Only in place for 5 years? If we start sliding post GF (not getting ahead of ourselves of course?) then Mini should start packing his wheely bag by 2031?

Also if you if you're on the happy pills, according to some, we could make finals, even a GF by 2027? In 2025 we consolidate like a crusty pavlova, in 2026 we rise like a saucy souffle, in 2027 we break out like a stripper in a surprise birthday cake, and by 2029 or later we crumble like a month old stale muffin?

 

[Rowan18]

Insightful info there Keys!
However if Mini makes a GF and wins a flag by 2029 (and then should be replaced according to stats) Surely he gets to roll again for a chance of back to back? Only in place for 5 years? If we start sliding post GF (not getting ahead of ourselves of course?) then Mini should start packing his wheely bag by 2031?

Also if you if you're on the happy pills, according to some, we could make finals, even a GF by 2027? In 2025 we consolidate like a crusty pavlova, in 2026 we rise like a saucy souffle, in 2027 we break out like a stripper in a surprise birthday cake, and by 2029 or later we crumble like a month old stale muffin?

The comp is actually pretty weak and I think we have enough talent to be in the large middle pack (teams from 8-15). Luck with injury and the fixture could see us scrape into the 8 next year. I'm not expecting it though, because it depends on how quickly McQualter can get the young talent to perform and how quickly the team can adapt to a new gameplan.

 

[Astro7]

The comp is actually pretty weak and I think we have enough talent to be in the large middle pack (teams from 8-15). Luck with injury and the fixture could see us scrape into the 8 next year. I'm not expecting it though, because it depends on how quickly McQualter can get the young talent to perform and how quickly the team can adapt to a new gameplan.

Agree, I won't mention the 8, but would be quite unsurprised if we landed in the middle order, higher up than many think. Despite all the stats and historical evidence, there are always wildcard factors that can happen for and against you each season - things such as organic growth and development within the younger group who have been there 2-3 years now - and the chemistry, dynamics and skillset between a group of random players brought together can gel to create something special; another group in another club mightn't be so lucky. Clutching at straws or wishful thinking maybe, but I feel there is something special brewing? Or is the vacuum we're in between pre Xmas and post Xmas training affecting my judgement already?

The main thing I'm excited about is we start from scratch, credit-less, and every position is up for grabs, and there is enough depth across the lines to put pressure on most positions in the 23; a very healthy situation and nothing like the last few years...

 

[WA footy mad]

What i;'ve seen in the best 23 so far is a long way off the mark, i didnt realise we are that bad.

 

[Into The Black]

I think we will start really well. But if high intensity footy is how we are going? We have too many bad users . Under pressure ? expect a heap of cough ups. All seems nice and positive and it gives us crew hope, but the game plan, if that is where we are going is out dated. Need to be ahead of the pack. But hey, I seem to know less about the game I once knew. More football people on here than I first appreciated.

 

[We_The_West]

I think a lot will depend on our form in Home games. If we can win most of those and at least stay competitive then we can build confidence from that.

Then you can really generate an underdog culture in the away games if you’ve taken some top 8 scalps at home.

We really need to get 55k+ fans at every home game so that playing in a win at home with the roaring crowd becomes the best experience of their lives to which the whole young squad then buys in that it’s their responsibility to earn that at every chance possible.

 

[ArdentEagle]

What i;'ve seen in the best 23 so far is a long way off the mark, i didnt realise we are that bad.

Funny....I thought the exact opposite.
First time in a long time, I'm excited about the direction we're heading.

Change in coach, new game style and ethos, exciting talent bought in from the draft, Hewett like a new recruit. Reid, Ginbey and all the young guys organic development.

Hell, I even suspect the older guys will relish it.

Mini won't be afraid to try things either, unlike Simmo which was plan A or die.

Ruck is my biggest area of concern but if BW can get some real mongrel and aggression in him, our new system should suit well.

Flynn has a bit more but he lacks athleticism.

Kicking skill and creativity my 2nd biggest area hence me wanting to play Ryan on a HBF. and used in the Jetta role.
Keeps him involved too as he can wander mentally. (We've got heaps of other options forward)

 

[Keys]

What i;'ve seen in the best 23 so far is a long way off the mark, i didnt realise we are that bad.

We’ve won 10 games in three seasons and finished 17th,18th,16th in those years

How have you not realised we’re bad?

It shouldn’t be a surprise

 

[Tugga27]

What i;'ve seen in the best 23 so far is a long way off the mark, i didnt realise we are that bad.

The last 3 Years didn't give you a clue?

 

[Jez1974]

Funny....I thought the exact opposite.
First time in a long time, I'm excited about the direction we're heading.

Change in coach, new game style and ethos, exciting talent bought in from the draft, Hewett like a new recruit. Reid, Ginbey and all the young guys organic development.

Hell, I even suspect the older guys will relish it.

Mini won't be afraid to try things either, unlike Simmo which was plan A or die.

Ruck is my biggest area of concern but if BW can get some real mongrel and aggression in him, our new system should suit well.

Flynn has a bit more but he lacks athleticism.

Kicking skill and creativity my 2nd biggest area hence me wanting to play Ryan on a HBF. and used in the Jetta role.
Keeps him involved too as he can wander mentally. (We've got heaps of other options forward)

Totally agree! New coach, young combined with new experience and older quality. Won't win a flag next year but will be better to watch for sure

 

[Grahame]

Totally agree! New coach, young combined with new experience and older quality. Won't win a flag next year but will be better to watch for sure

Yep. I think we’re slowly getting rid of the obvious duds. Our ‘average’ player is getting better. Can always take more talent but this year is going to be really interesting to see who improves markedly and who falls by the wayside. And also who plays where.

I feel like we’ve now got the rebuild heading in the right direction. Wins are good for morale but I’d be happy with an improving percentage - as we experiment a bit. And, if we don’t climb appreciably then it’s better for our draft hand. (Plus death riding the Hawks.)