This season has been, to say the least, a disappointment. We've underachieved, our MC ****ed us over on numerous occasations, and now David King has been added to my list of clueless pricks. Supporters have demanded immediate change, and there doesn't seem to be any easy solutions.
Turmoil oftentimes reveal one's own true colours, separating those with true grit through adversity from the meek who squander the opportunity. Admittedly, I've been outraged with our form this season, but it's made me realise how essential belief is to the chemistry and success of a team playing at the highest level.
It's no wonder 2011 and 2015 have been our most successful in recent seasons. Against the odds, we've soared (probably moreso in 2011) and reached a level built up by every coach, player and supporter of our great club. Ignoring circumstances and everything else, the simple fact of those years is that we truly believed we could go somewhere; you wouldn't find common courtesy or a weak underbelly, we just refused to submit and ****ed over a bunch of teams in the process.
But you can't simply ignore circumstances. We've had every opportunity this season to create a guise of momentum, and yet, the playing group has ****ed up on numerous occasions. Collingwood, the ****ing Colliwobbles beat us in a fourth quarter that will surely go down as one of the worst in club history. We're old, tired, weak, at a bad point with the list; the logical conclusion would be that the West Coast Eagles are cooked and a grim future is on the horizon.
In response, Adam Simpson has said the following: "The guys put so much into preparing and training, so to be in this position and to give up is ridiculous. We won’t be doing that."
The head honcho has decided a "**** you" is the way to go, so it seems the club won't be conceding until we're well and truly finished. A top 4 list doesn't produce a season like this, 2017 simply just doesn't come out of the blue, so Simpson has remained steadfast; the West Coast Eagles have poured everything into 2017, and by God we're going to get something out of it.
While not an indictment on his ability, Simpson's hand will be forced to act over the next 5 weeks to make radical changes without sacrificing this season, and if history can provide us with anything, Simpson seems to thrive under immense pressure. If that perfect mix and balance can be found, belief will flow from there.
On Sunday, our season starts again; forget any of our bad performances or lost opportunities, this is chance for everyone that cares about our club to build something out of the ashes of 2017 and achieve something, by any means necessary.
And who are the ones to drag us back from hell?
And last, but certainly not least:
Here's the key matchups:
* JK Vs Harris Andrews:
Harris Andrews was drafted with Pick 61 in 2014, and according to most Brisbane supporters on here (from memory), he's been doing pretty damn well for a 20 year old against the AFLs best forwards. Unfortunately, he's coming up against a man whose won the past 2 Colemans in a row on his way to a third, so he's got a big task ahead of him. You'd expect JK to have a day out against an inexperienced KPD, but I wouldn't be ruling out a good battle.
* Eric Mackenzie Vs Eric Hipwood:
With Eric Mackenzie a good chance to come back from injury this week, I expect Simmo to line him up on the Lions most promising tall. Hipwood has been in hot form this season as Lance Franklin's indirect protege, and even more impressive is the fact he's thriving the comps youngest list. However, Mackenzie himself was slowly gaining form before a 3 week hiatus after a disappointing 2016. While on the older side, I expect him to start from where he left off and close Hipwood out of the game.
* Luke Shuey Vs Tom Rockliff:
Our midfield is under immense pressure after a terrible fourth quarter against Collingwood. Fortunately for us, Dayne Zorko is out with a suspension, and I expect us to rebound strongly with the proper changes and mix. Hutchings should tag Brisbane captain Dayne Beams, so that leaves Tom Rockliff to go head to head with Shuey, and while Rockliff might be in some good form this season, I expect Shuey to have the wool over him.
* Nathan Vardy/Jonathan Giles/Fraser McInnes Vs Stefan Martin:
The ever-injured Lycett will likely miss the rest of the season, so Nathan Vardy will be facing up against Brisbane ruckman Stefan Martin, who, according to this article, is in the best form of his career. Vardy has been under an injury cloud as of late, and his effort against Brodie Grundy was quite low by his standards. If the MC decide to rest him, dedicated ruckman Jonathan Giles is the most likely replacement to take on Martin. However, while a chance to break even in the hitouts, Giles isn't exactly the most versatile player, so Fraser McInnes could be given a run to offer more around the ground.
Conclusion:
I wrote this preview with an idea that change is certain: we've been hammered on all sides by everyone, got our backs against the wall, in a position no club wants to be in. Times like these are ****ing awful, but it will show us what the club is made of.
Overall, Brisbane have been very impressive for a rebuilding side, with victories over Freo and Carlton as highlights, but I expect the boys to be fired up and ready to make a statement.
West Coast by 60 points
Turmoil oftentimes reveal one's own true colours, separating those with true grit through adversity from the meek who squander the opportunity. Admittedly, I've been outraged with our form this season, but it's made me realise how essential belief is to the chemistry and success of a team playing at the highest level.
It's no wonder 2011 and 2015 have been our most successful in recent seasons. Against the odds, we've soared (probably moreso in 2011) and reached a level built up by every coach, player and supporter of our great club. Ignoring circumstances and everything else, the simple fact of those years is that we truly believed we could go somewhere; you wouldn't find common courtesy or a weak underbelly, we just refused to submit and ****ed over a bunch of teams in the process.
But you can't simply ignore circumstances. We've had every opportunity this season to create a guise of momentum, and yet, the playing group has ****ed up on numerous occasions. Collingwood, the ****ing Colliwobbles beat us in a fourth quarter that will surely go down as one of the worst in club history. We're old, tired, weak, at a bad point with the list; the logical conclusion would be that the West Coast Eagles are cooked and a grim future is on the horizon.
In response, Adam Simpson has said the following: "The guys put so much into preparing and training, so to be in this position and to give up is ridiculous. We won’t be doing that."
The head honcho has decided a "**** you" is the way to go, so it seems the club won't be conceding until we're well and truly finished. A top 4 list doesn't produce a season like this, 2017 simply just doesn't come out of the blue, so Simpson has remained steadfast; the West Coast Eagles have poured everything into 2017, and by God we're going to get something out of it.
While not an indictment on his ability, Simpson's hand will be forced to act over the next 5 weeks to make radical changes without sacrificing this season, and if history can provide us with anything, Simpson seems to thrive under immense pressure. If that perfect mix and balance can be found, belief will flow from there.
On Sunday, our season starts again; forget any of our bad performances or lost opportunities, this is chance for everyone that cares about our club to build something out of the ashes of 2017 and achieve something, by any means necessary.
And who are the ones to drag us back from hell?
And last, but certainly not least:
Here's the key matchups:
* JK Vs Harris Andrews:
Harris Andrews was drafted with Pick 61 in 2014, and according to most Brisbane supporters on here (from memory), he's been doing pretty damn well for a 20 year old against the AFLs best forwards. Unfortunately, he's coming up against a man whose won the past 2 Colemans in a row on his way to a third, so he's got a big task ahead of him. You'd expect JK to have a day out against an inexperienced KPD, but I wouldn't be ruling out a good battle.
* Eric Mackenzie Vs Eric Hipwood:
With Eric Mackenzie a good chance to come back from injury this week, I expect Simmo to line him up on the Lions most promising tall. Hipwood has been in hot form this season as Lance Franklin's indirect protege, and even more impressive is the fact he's thriving the comps youngest list. However, Mackenzie himself was slowly gaining form before a 3 week hiatus after a disappointing 2016. While on the older side, I expect him to start from where he left off and close Hipwood out of the game.
* Luke Shuey Vs Tom Rockliff:
Our midfield is under immense pressure after a terrible fourth quarter against Collingwood. Fortunately for us, Dayne Zorko is out with a suspension, and I expect us to rebound strongly with the proper changes and mix. Hutchings should tag Brisbane captain Dayne Beams, so that leaves Tom Rockliff to go head to head with Shuey, and while Rockliff might be in some good form this season, I expect Shuey to have the wool over him.
* Nathan Vardy/Jonathan Giles/Fraser McInnes Vs Stefan Martin:
The ever-injured Lycett will likely miss the rest of the season, so Nathan Vardy will be facing up against Brisbane ruckman Stefan Martin, who, according to this article, is in the best form of his career. Vardy has been under an injury cloud as of late, and his effort against Brodie Grundy was quite low by his standards. If the MC decide to rest him, dedicated ruckman Jonathan Giles is the most likely replacement to take on Martin. However, while a chance to break even in the hitouts, Giles isn't exactly the most versatile player, so Fraser McInnes could be given a run to offer more around the ground.
Conclusion:
I wrote this preview with an idea that change is certain: we've been hammered on all sides by everyone, got our backs against the wall, in a position no club wants to be in. Times like these are ****ing awful, but it will show us what the club is made of.
Overall, Brisbane have been very impressive for a rebuilding side, with victories over Freo and Carlton as highlights, but I expect the boys to be fired up and ready to make a statement.
West Coast by 60 points
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