West Coast are the real deal

[JackOutback]

This discussion all depends on how you define "real deal"

If by "real deal", you mean they're a real deal for a 5th-8th spot in the finals? Then yes, absolutely they are.

But if by "real deal", you mean they're a premiership threat.... well whoever those people are, I'd love some of what you're smoking!

West Coast are better than Richmond at the moment, they showed that tonight, but that doesn't make them the "real deal" whatsoever... unless somehow beating the Tigers has become the benchmark of being a contender???

They deserved to win tonight because they played better than us, and we definitely came out sluggish after the bye as well, but they've had an incredibly soft draw up to this point.

They've beaten:

Carlton - 18th
Gold Coast - 17th
Brisbane - 16th
St. Kilda - 14th
Essendon - 13th
Port Adelaide - 10th
Geelong - 9th
Richmond - 8th
GWS - 6th

They've lost to:

North Melbourne - 12th
Western Bulldogs - 10th
Fremantle - 1st

So tonight is only the 3rd time in their first 12 games that they've played a current Top 8 team, and GWS is not really quite ready to be declared a finalist imo, so that was also a bit of a soft kill also. Still, even giving them GWS as a "scalp" as well, the only other Top 8 team they have played this year is Fremantle, who absolutely smacked them.

Their remaining 10 weeks, they have:

Melbourne - currently 15th
Adelaide - currently 7th
Collingwood - currently 4th
Sydney - currently 3rd
Gold Coast - currently 17th
Hawthorn - currently 5th
Fremantle - currently 1st
Western Bulldogs - currently 11th
Adelaide - currently 7th
St. Kilda - currently 14th.

With that draw, it's almost a given that they'll play finals, as they get a crack at 3 of the bottom 5 teams again, but it's very possible that they may make it there without beating a side that actually finishes in the Top 8, with the likelihood that Richmond and GWS will most likely fall out. Their best chance of beating a team that might actually make the Top 8 is probably Adelaide, who they get 2 cracks at, but I'd rate the Crows as pretty solid favorites in those two matches, considering how hard they pushed the Hawks last night.

If they finish the year with 7 or 8 wins from that 10, and knock off a couple of Top 4 contenders along the way, then you could say they're a threat, or the "real deal". But right now all they are doing are beating Bottom 10 teams.

Come back to me when the Eagles have beaten Hawthorn, Fremantle, or Sydney, and then maybe it's a discussion worth having.

When you are second or third on the ladder, pretty much everyone is a lower ranked opponent.

Freo haven't beaten anyone above them on the ladder...pretenders.

 

[ReaperX]

they are a top four team. Check the ladder, or is there something I'm missing?

It's Round 12 mate.

And as I explained in my previous post, they've yet to play any serious contenders yet, most of their wins have come against Bottom 10 teams.

The Top 4 in terms of talent is Fremantle, Sydney, Hawthorn, then quite a decent gap, followed by Port Adelaide and North Melbourne.

Port are in bad form, and North are a bit scratchy themselves, but if it came down to a finals match against either of those two teams, I doubt you'd beat either of them to be honest. And you certainly wouldn't come close to Fremantle, Hawthorn, or Sydney.

You're a 5th-8th team that's beating Bottom 10 teams, just like us in 2013. Wouldn't be surprised whatsoever to see you finish 5th or 6th, get 14/15 wins, but then drop an Elimination Final.

 

[shoebox]

This discussion all depends on how you define "real deal"

If by "real deal", you mean they're a real deal for a 5th-8th spot in the finals? Then yes, absolutely they are.

But if by "real deal", you mean they're a premiership threat.... well whoever those people are, I'd love some of what you're smoking!

West Coast are better than Richmond at the moment, they showed that tonight, but that doesn't make them the "real deal" whatsoever... unless somehow beating the Tigers has become the benchmark of being a contender???

They deserved to win tonight because they played better than us, and we definitely came out sluggish after the bye as well, but they've had an incredibly soft draw up to this point.

They've beaten:

Carlton - 18th
Gold Coast - 17th
Brisbane - 16th
St. Kilda - 14th
Essendon - 13th
Port Adelaide - 10th
Geelong - 9th
Richmond - 8th
GWS - 6th

They've lost to:

North Melbourne - 12th
Western Bulldogs - 10th
Fremantle - 1st

So tonight is only the 3rd time in their first 12 games that they've played a current Top 8 team, and GWS is not really quite ready to be declared a finalist imo, so that was also a bit of a soft kill also. Still, even giving them GWS as a "scalp" as well, the only other Top 8 team they have played this year is Fremantle, who absolutely smacked them.

Their remaining 10 weeks, they have:

Melbourne - currently 15th
Adelaide - currently 7th
Collingwood - currently 4th
Sydney - currently 3rd
Gold Coast - currently 17th
Hawthorn - currently 5th
Fremantle - currently 1st
Western Bulldogs - currently 11th
Adelaide - currently 7th
St. Kilda - currently 14th.

With that draw, it's almost a given that they'll play finals, as they get a crack at 3 of the bottom 5 teams again, but it's very possible that they may make it there without beating a side that actually finishes in the Top 8, with the likelihood that Richmond and GWS will most likely fall out. Their best chance of beating a team that might actually make the Top 8 is probably Adelaide, who they get 2 cracks at, but I'd rate the Crows as pretty solid favorites in those two matches, considering how hard they pushed the Hawks last night.

If they finish the year with 7 or 8 wins from that 10, and knock off a couple of Top 4 contenders along the way, then you could say they're a threat, or the "real deal". But right now all they are doing are beating Bottom 10 teams.

Come back to me when the Eagles have beaten Hawthorn, Fremantle, or Sydney, and then maybe it's a discussion worth having.

This discussion all depends on how you define "real deal"

If by "real deal", you mean they're a real deal for a 5th-8th spot in the finals? Then yes, absolutely they are.

But if by "real deal", you mean they're a premiership threat.... well whoever those people are, I'd love some of what you're smoking!

West Coast are better than Richmond at the moment, they showed that tonight, but that doesn't make them the "real deal" whatsoever... unless somehow beating the Tigers has become the benchmark of being a contender???

They deserved to win tonight because they played better than us, and we definitely came out sluggish after the bye as well, but they've had an incredibly soft draw up to this point.

They've beaten:

Carlton - 18th
Gold Coast - 17th
Brisbane - 16th
St. Kilda - 14th
Essendon - 13th
Port Adelaide - 10th
Geelong - 9th
Richmond - 8th
GWS - 6th

They've lost to:

North Melbourne - 12th
Western Bulldogs - 10th
Fremantle - 1st

So tonight is only the 3rd time in their first 12 games that they've played a current Top 8 team, and GWS is not really quite ready to be declared a finalist imo, so that was also a bit of a soft kill also. Still, even giving them GWS as a "scalp" as well, the only other Top 8 team they have played this year is Fremantle, who absolutely smacked them.

Their remaining 10 weeks, they have:

Melbourne - currently 15th
Adelaide - currently 7th
Collingwood - currently 4th
Sydney - currently 3rd
Gold Coast - currently 17th
Hawthorn - currently 5th
Fremantle - currently 1st
Western Bulldogs - currently 11th
Adelaide - currently 7th
St. Kilda - currently 14th.

With that draw, it's almost a given that they'll play finals, as they get a crack at 3 of the bottom 5 teams again, but it's very possible that they may make it there without beating a side that actually finishes in the Top 8, with the likelihood that Richmond and GWS will most likely fall out. Their best chance of beating a team that might actually make the Top 8 is probably Adelaide, who they get 2 cracks at, but I'd rate the Crows as pretty solid favorites in those two matches, considering how hard they pushed the Hawks last night.

If they finish the year with 7 or 8 wins from that 10, and knock off a couple of Top 4 contenders along the way, then you could say they're a threat, or the "real deal". But right now all they are doing are beating Bottom 10 teams.

Come back to me when the Eagles have beaten Hawthorn, Fremantle, or Sydney, and then maybe it's a discussion worth having.

so much offended in this post. If we beat contemporary top 4 contenders ala GWS and Richmond we are crap cos they are crap. If we beat last years top 4 teams ala geelong and port we are crap cos they are crap. But when Richmond beat port toot toot all aboard the tigger train, next stop pretender land

 

[ReaperX]

When you are second or third on the ladder, pretty much everyone is a lower ranked opponent.

Freo haven't beaten anyone above them on the ladder...pretenders.

Fremantle have beaten Sydney though.

so much offended in this post. If we beat contemporary top 4 contenders ala GWS and Richmond we are crap cos they are crap. If we beat last years top 4 teams ala geelong and port we are crap cos they are crap. But when Richmond beat port toot toot all aboard the tigger train, next stop pretender land

3/4's of your wins have been against teams ranked 11th or lower.

I'm not saying West Coast is shit, they're a Top 6 team in their current form. But being a Top 6 team doesn't make you a premiership threat is all I am saying.

If the Eagles finished 5th or 6th, won their home EF, and then went out in the Semi's to say a North Melbourne or a Hawthorn, I would think you'd be quite happy with that outcome, wouldn't you?

 

[shoebox]

It's Round 12 mate.

And as I explained in my previous post, they've yet to play any serious contenders yet, most of their wins have come against Bottom 10 teams.

The Top 4 in terms of talent is Fremantle, Sydney, Hawthorn, then quite a decent gap, followed by Port Adelaide and North Melbourne.

Port are in bad form, and North are a bit scratchy themselves, but if it came down to a finals match against either of those two teams, I doubt you'd beat either of them to be honest. And you certainly wouldn't come close to Fremantle, Hawthorn, or Sydney.

You're a 5th-8th team that's beating Bottom 10 teams, just like us in 2013. Wouldn't be surprised whatsoever to see you finish 5th or 6th, get 14/15 wins, but then drop an Elimination Final.

Im not your mate. You talk about top 4 then list 3 teams. Hurr durr. Then list teams the Eagles have beat as being out of form and better than them. You can have your opinion on who you think the real deal teams are but the facts defy you. I think we are all bearing witness to the fact that Simpson is just a really good coach and has the premier ruckman feeding it down the throat of a brownlow medallist kicking it to the most potent forward line in the league. But you believe what you want.

 

[shoebox]

Fremantle have beaten Sydney though.


3/4's of your wins have been against teams ranked 11th or lower.

I'm not saying West Coast is shit, they're a Top 6 team in their current form. But being a Top 6 team doesn't make you a premiership threat is all I am saying.

If the Eagles finished 5th or 6th, won their home EF, and then went out in the Semi's to say a North Melbourne or a Hawthorn, I would think you'd be quite happy with that outcome, wouldn't you?

No I wouldn't be happy with this outcome because we don't accept mediocrity at west coast. We aren't richmond.

 

[EaglesVille]

the toothless tigers nice fluffy cloud has evaporated . weren't they the form team of the competition ?

 

[ep2018]

the toothless tigers nice fluffy cloud has evaporated . weren't they the form team of the competition ?

To be fair a lot of teams come out sluggish after the bye... thank goodness Melbourne will also be coming off their bye when we play them in two weeks.

 

[Farang83150]

West Coast will lose at least another 4 games before the end of the season despite their easy draw. Adelaide will easily push for a top 4 spot.

So who will win when we play the crows in Perth in a few weeks?

 

[Evo47]

It's Round 12 mate.

And as I explained in my previous post, they've yet to play any serious contenders yet, most of their wins have come against Bottom 10 teams.

The Top 4 in terms of talent is Fremantle, Sydney, Hawthorn, then quite a decent gap, followed by Port Adelaide and North Melbourne.

Port are in bad form, and North are a bit scratchy themselves, but if it came down to a finals match against either of those two teams, I doubt you'd beat either of them to be honest. And you certainly wouldn't come close to Fremantle, Hawthorn, or Sydney.

You're a 5th-8th team that's beating Bottom 10 teams, just like us in 2013. Wouldn't be surprised whatsoever to see you finish 5th or 6th, get 14/15 wins, but then drop an Elimination Final.

The reality is any one of the top 10-12 teams can knock each other off at anytime. Who would've thought Richmond could beat Freo, not many...

 

[FatPizza]

To be fair a lot of teams come out sluggish after the bye... thank goodness Melbourne will also be coming off their bye when we play them in two weeks.

I didn't realise that. As stupid as it might sound that makes me feel quite a bit better. I certainly hope we can do the job against Melbourne in Darwin, I'm going to the Adelaide game the following week and it's a little deflating going to a game after a loss.

 

[JackOutback]

Looking at the draw, all the contenders either have a tough run coming up or are playing each other. Eagles are well placed and it will be tough to dislodge them from the top four.

 

[ep2018]

Looking at the draw, all the contenders either have a tough run coming up or are playing each other. Eagles are well placed and it will be tough to dislodge them from the top four.

Out of all the top 8 contenders, North and Bulldogs have the easiest runs home, and neither of them are sitting in the 8 at present! Looking at our draw, we have three games I think we'll lose (Hawks, Sydney and Freo again) but the rest are winnable.

 

[the harry]

3/4's of your wins have been against teams ranked 11th or lower.

They are 11th or lower because we have beaten them. If your club won tonight they'd be slightly higher than they are.

 

[JackOutback]

Out of all the top 8 contenders, North and Bulldogs have the easiest runs home, and neither of them are sitting in the 8 at present! Looking at our draw, we have three games I think we'll lose (Hawks, Sydney and Freo again) but the rest are winnable.

Agreed...Adelaide the other major contender, especially if they beat us in a couple of weeks. And Richmond, despite tonight, find their draw opening up a little.

 

[FatPizza]

Out of all the top 8 contenders, North and Bulldogs have the easiest runs home, and neither of them are sitting in the 8 at present! Looking at our draw, we have three games I think we'll lose (Hawks, Sydney and Freo again) but the rest are winnable.

Obviously a lot can happen in a couple of months, but I think the Freo game will be mighty interesting if Johnson's hammy doesn't heal in time and we can remain relatively injury free. The prognosis was 10 weeks, which would mean he's due back for the next Derby.

 

[Oneiros]

So many people still having a crack at our draw. Its really no different to the other teams around us.

Here's the problem, with only three universally recognised serious teams, everyone has a soft draw unless they get more than one of those teams twice. Proving yourself is nigh on impossible because you can't simply beat teams around you to do it. You have to beat teams around you and beat those top three, and if you can do that, well you're probably leading the ladder anyway.

 

[ReaperX]

Im not your mate. You talk about top 4 then list 3 teams. Hurr durr. Then list teams the Eagles have beat as being out of form and better than them. You can have your opinion on who you think the real deal teams are but the facts defy you. I think we are all bearing witness to the fact that Simpson is just a really good coach and has the premier ruckman feeding it down the throat of a brownlow medallist kicking it to the most potent forward line in the league. But you believe what you want.

It is all opinion at the end of the day, Eagles are in terrific form, but it's a long season, and I just don't think they will be able to maintain the form required to win the 15 matches usually required for Top 4

FWIW, I believe North will click into gear and storm into the Top 4 at the Eagles' expense, whilst Hawthorn will replace the Magpies.

Given they're 9-3 though, the Eagles shouldn't finish any lower than 6th though, so you have probably locked up a home EF at the least with this win tonight.

Of the remaining 10 matches, with the teams you have to play, I can see you going 4-6, or potentially 5-5, and finishing 5th or 6th with 13-9 or 14-8.

The way you make Top 4 is if there are some teams in and around your position that drop a few easy ones to bottom teams, as your % should be quite strong at season's end. So if there's a couple of teams at 14-8 in those 4th-6th positions, that might sneak you into the Top 4.

But being a Top 4 team means making it to the Preliminary Finals, and honestly even if you sneak into 4th, I could see the Eagles going out straight sets much like Geelong and Fremantle did last year. You won't get to play a Bottom 10 team in a Semi Final.

So to declare you a premiership threat is a bridge too far for mine...

 

[ep2018]

FWIW, I believe North will click into gear and storm into the Top 4 at the Eagles' expense, whilst Hawthorn will replace the Magpies.

Looking at North's draw, holy shit. They could win their next 8 games.

 

[eaglespremiers]

It is all opinion at the end of the day, Eagles are in terrific form, but it's a long season, and I just don't think they will be able to maintain the form required to win the 15 matches usually required for Top 4

FWIW, I believe North will click into gear and storm into the Top 4 at the Eagles' expense, whilst Hawthorn will replace the Magpies.

Given they're 9-3 though, the Eagles shouldn't finish any lower than 6th though, so you have probably locked up a home EF at the least with this win tonight.

Of the remaining 10 matches, with the teams you have to play, I can see you going 4-6, or potentially 5-5, and finishing 5th or 6th with 13-9 or 14-8.

The way you make Top 4 is if there are some teams in and around your position that drop a few easy ones to bottom teams, as your % should be quite strong at season's end. So if there's a couple of teams at 14-8 in those 4th-6th positions, that might sneak you into the Top 4.

But being a Top 4 team means making it to the Preliminary Finals, and honestly even if you sneak into 4th, I could see the Eagles going out straight sets much like Geelong and Fremantle did last year. You won't get to play a Bottom 10 team in a Semi Final.

So to declare you a premiership threat is a bridge too far for mine...

 

[Vintage]

Looking at North's draw, holy shit. They could win their next 8 games.

Yeah, but it's north. They'll only win their next 8 if they're all against top 4 sides.

 

[Lost_Deputy]

I'm happy for WCE. Cracking season! 1 & 2 at the mid way point is pretty exciting IMO

 

[rEALdEAL86]

Every win its the same, 'but...but they havnt beaten a top team' yet leading up to the game 'Eagles are pretenders derrpp this is a big test derrppp' 'Tigers by plenty deeerrrrp'

 

[ReaperX]

Looking at North's draw, holy shit. They could win their next 8 games.

Had you beaten them last week in Hobart, that may have been the game that gave you the Top 4 edge. But I feel that they'll catch up the 4 games required with their draw.

North could conceivably win all 11 of their next 11 games if they click, their only really tough match is against Fremantle, but even that one is in Victoria.

As for you guys, well I'd say the two contests against Adelaide are crucial. If you could win both of them, that could be enough to get you Top 4 as well, but I would expect you to go 1-1 with them, along with the 3 wins against the those Bottom 5 teams mentioned, plus an expected win against the Doggies, that will be the 5 wins that gets you to 14 wins.

I just can't see you beating Fremantle, Sydney, Hawthorn, or Collingwood at the G, or Adelaide at AO.

Essentially the two Adelaide clashes, and the Collingwood clash, are your "Top 4" games. If you win 2 of those 3, and win all the other expected ones, then you will deserve Top 4.

I just don't think it'll happen though, and until it does, declaring that you're a premiership threat, or the "real deal", seems premature to me. Just as declaring that Richmond was a contender after we beat Fremantle was premature as well.

 

[smasha]

Too good West Coast.
Severely misjudged how good you are.
Congrats on the win.