Keys
Looking for a cloud to yell at
- Moderator
- #1
West Coast v Brisbane: Sunday, March 23 - 10.10am at the Gabba
Unfortunately, the first page in our next chapter was depressingly familiar to many in our recent history
Almost an entire preseason build up of optimism and hope was washed away in a flood of midfield dominance from Gold Coast. The lopsided numbers in hitouts (77-19), centre clearances (16-8), stoppage clearances (34-25), contested possession (145-10 and inside 50’s (67-34) led to a disappointing 87 point loss - 7.7 (49) to 20.16 (136).
We won’t mention the lopsided 10-20 free kick count - the media certainly seem to have lost interest in them of late. Noise of affirmation is only a thing when we’re winning apparently
But I digress
There needs to be a response to a performance like that but that will be a challenge given we play the reigning premier on their home deck - a venue they rarely lose at. We’ve lost our last 5 games there by an average losing margin of 9 goals. Our last win was in our premiership year of 2018 when Brisbane were shit
Team Selection
Those who were hoping for McQualter to make a statement at the selection table that there are consequences for substandard performance will no doubt be disappointed with the team named
A sole unforced change with Flynn being omitted after being outclassed by Witts and replaced by Bailey Williams who gets his turn to lead the ruck
Two forced changes with Waterman (back/calf) replaced by Liam Ryan who missed R1 with a hamstring complaint whilst Petruccelle swaps hammies with Hutchinson to make his first appearance in 2025 - ahead of Harvey Johnstone who would have been a more popular pick with the play the kids crew
Age profile of team selected (ages at 1/1/25) :
21-24 : 4
<20 : 7
And vastly less experienced than Brisbane
The Brisbane line up
Notable omissions for Brisbane are Charlie Cameron and Lohmann up forward whilst Brandon Starcevich is missing from their reliable back 6
Even with those outs they’re still a formidable team as you’d expect with 18 of their premiership 23 lining up
Midfield
After being embarrassed by Gold Coast, the task doesn’t get any easier for our midfield group against a Brisbane group boasting Neale, Dunkley and McLuggage supported by Berry, Fletcher and a pair of Ashcrofts. McInerney is also a more than capable ruck
It starts with the hitouts. I doubt Williams is going to win that contest but he needs to halve as many as he can to avoid the sort of silver service Rowell and co got from Witts
Neale was successfully tagged by James Jordon last week and will be keen to redeem himself this week. Jack Graham, or maybe Duggan, look the most promising to run with Neale but neither are genuine taggers
A lot will be needed from Kelly after a very lacklustre effort last weekend. Reid and Hewett will get their fair share of CBAs and hopefully both will be better for last weeks run
Expect that Dewar will move up onto the wing after playing HB against the Suns with Hunt (who was another disappointment last weekend) on the other wing
It’s an alarming mismatch and could easily tread a familiar path - McQualter sounded confident he’d identified what went wrong and was bullish about improving outcomes. I hope he’s right
Defence
In some ways, our backline held up reasonably well against the Suns given the frequency and quality of their inside 50 entries. But ultimately they still conceded 20 goals, due in part to their inability to clear the ball effectively- the Suns scored something like 10 goals from front half turnovers which is unacceptable
Hipwood shapes as a problem as he’s likely too athletic for Edwards but we have no one else that goes close to matching his height. Ginbey is a left field option after he had success v Mac Andrew last year and Hipwood isn’t a strong contested mark for his size
After being the sub last week, I think Maric who looked good in defence when he came on will start this week, most likely on Morris. Leaves McGovern (or Edwards) to stand Day
Brisbane also have in Rayner, Ah Chee and Bailey a trio of very good small/medium forwards even without Cameron and Lohmann. Hough, Cole and Baker will have their hands full
Forwards
Lack of supply was an issue but our front half looked dysfunctional against the Suns. Losing Waterman, who was arguably our most dangerous forward, won’t help
Big game for Oscar Allen who needs to stand up as a leader - likely opposed by Andrews who he’s struggled against in the past
Archer Reid is our only other tall target in attack so he’ll need to have his sticky mitts on if he’s to provide any sort of aerial support
That leaves us with a swarm of small forwards - Cripps, Owies, Petruccelle, Brockman, Ryan and Long - albeit one of them likely will be the sub
It suggests more erratic ball movement inside 50 with low kicks/groundballs in preference to high kicks that can be more easily intercepted. The sort of game plan sides deployed against us to nullify McGovern’s influence
Those small forwards will also likely be given some midfield bursts with Reid and Hewett in particular spending time inside F50
Someone will need to be accountable for Zorko to limit his drive out of defence
Conclusion
It’s hard to summon any optimism for this being anything other than yet another hiding but, collectively, they need to find a way to compete. Be hard to play against
We’re $13.00 outsiders to win this whilst Brisbane are an unbackable $1.02 favourites. The line is 60.5 points so the betting market is as you’d expect- if we cover the line that would be a welcome result
Better effort. More evidence of a functional game plan and a losing margin of less than 8 goals would be a win for where we are at
McQualter has by and large backed the team to respond. I’ll join him
Go Eagles
Unfortunately, the first page in our next chapter was depressingly familiar to many in our recent history
Almost an entire preseason build up of optimism and hope was washed away in a flood of midfield dominance from Gold Coast. The lopsided numbers in hitouts (77-19), centre clearances (16-8), stoppage clearances (34-25), contested possession (145-10 and inside 50’s (67-34) led to a disappointing 87 point loss - 7.7 (49) to 20.16 (136).
We won’t mention the lopsided 10-20 free kick count - the media certainly seem to have lost interest in them of late. Noise of affirmation is only a thing when we’re winning apparently
But I digress
There needs to be a response to a performance like that but that will be a challenge given we play the reigning premier on their home deck - a venue they rarely lose at. We’ve lost our last 5 games there by an average losing margin of 9 goals. Our last win was in our premiership year of 2018 when Brisbane were shit
Team Selection
Those who were hoping for McQualter to make a statement at the selection table that there are consequences for substandard performance will no doubt be disappointed with the team named
A sole unforced change with Flynn being omitted after being outclassed by Witts and replaced by Bailey Williams who gets his turn to lead the ruck
Two forced changes with Waterman (back/calf) replaced by Liam Ryan who missed R1 with a hamstring complaint whilst Petruccelle swaps hammies with Hutchinson to make his first appearance in 2025 - ahead of Harvey Johnstone who would have been a more popular pick with the play the kids crew
Age profile of team selected (ages at 1/1/25) :
25-28 : 8
21-24 : 4
<20 : 7
And vastly less experienced than Brisbane
The Brisbane line up
Notable omissions for Brisbane are Charlie Cameron and Lohmann up forward whilst Brandon Starcevich is missing from their reliable back 6
Even with those outs they’re still a formidable team as you’d expect with 18 of their premiership 23 lining up
Midfield
After being embarrassed by Gold Coast, the task doesn’t get any easier for our midfield group against a Brisbane group boasting Neale, Dunkley and McLuggage supported by Berry, Fletcher and a pair of Ashcrofts. McInerney is also a more than capable ruck
It starts with the hitouts. I doubt Williams is going to win that contest but he needs to halve as many as he can to avoid the sort of silver service Rowell and co got from Witts
Neale was successfully tagged by James Jordon last week and will be keen to redeem himself this week. Jack Graham, or maybe Duggan, look the most promising to run with Neale but neither are genuine taggers
A lot will be needed from Kelly after a very lacklustre effort last weekend. Reid and Hewett will get their fair share of CBAs and hopefully both will be better for last weeks run
Expect that Dewar will move up onto the wing after playing HB against the Suns with Hunt (who was another disappointment last weekend) on the other wing
It’s an alarming mismatch and could easily tread a familiar path - McQualter sounded confident he’d identified what went wrong and was bullish about improving outcomes. I hope he’s right
Defence
In some ways, our backline held up reasonably well against the Suns given the frequency and quality of their inside 50 entries. But ultimately they still conceded 20 goals, due in part to their inability to clear the ball effectively- the Suns scored something like 10 goals from front half turnovers which is unacceptable
Hipwood shapes as a problem as he’s likely too athletic for Edwards but we have no one else that goes close to matching his height. Ginbey is a left field option after he had success v Mac Andrew last year and Hipwood isn’t a strong contested mark for his size
After being the sub last week, I think Maric who looked good in defence when he came on will start this week, most likely on Morris. Leaves McGovern (or Edwards) to stand Day
Brisbane also have in Rayner, Ah Chee and Bailey a trio of very good small/medium forwards even without Cameron and Lohmann. Hough, Cole and Baker will have their hands full
Forwards
Lack of supply was an issue but our front half looked dysfunctional against the Suns. Losing Waterman, who was arguably our most dangerous forward, won’t help
Big game for Oscar Allen who needs to stand up as a leader - likely opposed by Andrews who he’s struggled against in the past
Archer Reid is our only other tall target in attack so he’ll need to have his sticky mitts on if he’s to provide any sort of aerial support
That leaves us with a swarm of small forwards - Cripps, Owies, Petruccelle, Brockman, Ryan and Long - albeit one of them likely will be the sub
It suggests more erratic ball movement inside 50 with low kicks/groundballs in preference to high kicks that can be more easily intercepted. The sort of game plan sides deployed against us to nullify McGovern’s influence
Those small forwards will also likely be given some midfield bursts with Reid and Hewett in particular spending time inside F50
Someone will need to be accountable for Zorko to limit his drive out of defence
Conclusion
It’s hard to summon any optimism for this being anything other than yet another hiding but, collectively, they need to find a way to compete. Be hard to play against
We’re $13.00 outsiders to win this whilst Brisbane are an unbackable $1.02 favourites. The line is 60.5 points so the betting market is as you’d expect- if we cover the line that would be a welcome result
Better effort. More evidence of a functional game plan and a losing margin of less than 8 goals would be a win for where we are at
McQualter has by and large backed the team to respond. I’ll join him
Go Eagles
