Forgot it was Woosha's 5th year?
Prediction Round 1, 2025: Starting 23
- Thread starter mezaire
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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
Same. Another pretty good side on paper
Good omissions
Keys
Looking for a cloud to yell at
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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
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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.
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
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sorry I spelt it wrong O Allen at CHF, B Allan right on the edge of selection.Bo at CHF? the captain left out of the side?
B..dy clubs got 2 Allens, 2 Williams and 2 Reids
Hopefully has 2 Warners in 2026!
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?
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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
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What i;'ve seen in the best 23 so far is a long way off the mark, i didnt realise we are that bad.
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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
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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.
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.
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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)
The last 3 Years didn't give you a clue?
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.)
TheBudgies
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Don't mind this. Baker is playing back/mid so I think probably a straight swap with Ryan who will play forward with stints in the mid. Otherwise this seems reasonably likely injuries allowing.
That Bazzo pick probably flexes based on oppo hight right? Some games Hough/Ginbey might play on a 3rd tall so we can get more pace at Bazzos expense.
Not seeing Sheed and Cripps in many teams.
WA footy mad
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Sheed and cripps only if major injuries occur during the season
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Cripps is a near certainty to start if fit, Sheed will need WAFL kms and form to break into the side.
WCE777
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agree.
Cripps might play in a FP and Ryan HF, still way to good not to start.
Nobody has his spot yet?
B- Cole, Edwards, Hough
HB- Ginbey, Gov, Baker
C- Duggan, Kelly, Hunt
HF- Graham, Waterman, Ryan
FF- Cripps, Allen, Owies
FOL- Flynn, Yeo, Reid
INT- JW, Hewett, Maric, Hutchinson, Hall.
Be interesting where Duggan plays, whether he plays defensive mid or wing which will determine if Kelly plays wing or mid.
JW play support ruck and fwd.
Hewett rotate mid.
Maric to rotate KDEF role with HW.
Hutch can rotate wing and rotate mid like he did last game.
Hall is next up/sub, can rotate mid and wing.
B Allan probably next up from training reports.
As part of our rebuild in 2025 we badly need to trade or develop a replacement for Gov who has probably got 2-3 yrs left if his body stands up.
We also badly need a decent full back, Edwards is way too slow he gets easily turned inside out like a pair of used undies.
WCE777
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true.
HW is better than that.
2025 will be very much an exploratory season for the KP players on our list.
Maric appears to be training with backs and looks like he might be Gov type interceptor with a bit of development.
A Reid also looks like he can play either end, perhaps be 1 of Reid or Shanahan who develop KDEF.
Barnett also looked very good at FB in the couple of WAFL games later in last year, seems he was carrying an injury for most of the year so not writing him off yet whether that is ruck or KDEF.
Still think WC are a KDEF short and without inside knowledge would expect they are scouring the AFL and state leagues for a mature KDEF in the 22-24yo bracket that can play straight away in 2026.
Believe they tried hard to get Busslinger from WB and would think a player like J Blight equivalent might be on the shopping list, if Brock doesn't make the cut?
