2nds West Coast Eagles WAFL Watch

[Barrybran]

Where do you watch the wafl?

AFL site

AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results - AFL.com.au

Australian Football League. All the latest AFL news, video, results and information

www.afl.com.au

 

[amazingjoshy]

Micale call to disband West Coast reserves comes from deep knowledge

John TownsendTony Micale was the South Fremantle coach in 1999 when the Bulldogs became the first WAFL team to align with Fremantle.A year later, and after losing the grand final in his sole season at the port, Micale switched to East Perth when the Royals replaced Claremont as West Coast’s...

www.sportfm.com.au

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Micale call to disband West Coast reserves comes from deep knowledge

John TownsendTony Micale was the South Fremantle coach in 1999 when the Bulldogs became the first WAFL team to align with Fremantle.A year later, and after losing the grand final in his sole season at the port, Micale switched to East Perth when the Royals replaced Claremont as West Coast’s...

www.sportfm.com.au

I think this is the key. The WAFL side’s woes are very much a product of the record high unavailability of the AFL list.

That’s the issue that needs to be addressed.

 

[WCE_phil]

We should seek an alignment with one of these club's. Extra travel obviously but if Perth don't want our money then align with a proper club with reserves and 18u rather than a bunch of ammos.

Might be biased being Melb based. Frankston would be perfect.

Going to ****ing Frankston is never a good idea. It makes armadale look classy.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

I'm Vic based so if this is a stupid question, I apologise in advance.

But has anyone considered allowing the Beagles to build a WAFL squad under the same rules as every other WAFL side?
Let the Beagles build their own WAFL brand, history, traditions, etc and not exist purely as a "reserves" side.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

I'm Vic based so if this is a stupid question, I apologise in advance.

But has anyone considered allowing the Beagles to build a WAFL squad under the same rules as every other WAFL side?
Let the Beagles build their own WAFL brand, history, traditions, etc and not exist purely as a "reserves" side.

None of the existing clubs would want to give up any of their zones, it’s their general reticence to lose any players to the Beagles that’s been the major driver of the recruiting limitations.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

 

[amazingjoshy]

View attachment 1403106

I think this is the key. The WAFL side’s woes are very much a product of the record high unavailability of the AFL list.

That’s the issue that needs to be addressed.

I don't argue that this year has been exceptional, but I don't see a world where it works. Even at full strength we're filling the Beagles with between 5-10 ammos.

This is the issue for me

West Coast won three flags and played in two other grand finals during the period that they distributed their players across the league. The benefits of that model were obvious – players were in a competitive environment where they had to play with intensity and purpose rather than go through glorified training drills with team-mates who were often well below league standard.

But West Coast are adamant that they prefer their players to remain together, even if their development is compromised by the circumstances of the time.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

I don't argue that this year has been exceptional, but I don't see a world where it works. Even at full strength we're filling the Beagles with between 5-10 ammos.

This is the issue for me

West Coast won three flags and played in two other grand finals during the period that they distributed their players across the league. The benefits of that model were obvious – players were in a competitive environment where they had to play with intensity and purpose rather than go through glorified training drills with team-mates who were often well below league standard.

But West Coast are adamant that they prefer their players to remain together, even if their development is compromised by the circumstances of the time.

I don’t think the record from the 1990s is overly relevant. Footy’s become more and more professional and technical, and I think the benefits of playing your reserves in the same system are much greater now than they would have been 20-30 years ago. As evidenced by the fact that every other club is now set up that way.

Spreading our players around the WAFL would be preferable to the current setup where we’re struggling to field a side and getting thrashed every week. But it’s not preferable to a setup where we have a proper functioning reserves side. That’s what we should be working towards.

 

[Chad in Vegas]

Pretty sure the 'golden triangle' around Nollamara, Westminster, Mirrabooka, Girraween, Balga area is actually the murder capital of WA.

KGB (Koondoola, Girrawheen, Balga) represent!

 

[amazingjoshy]

I don’t think the record from the 1990s is overly relevant. Footy’s become more and more professional and technical, and I think the benefits of playing your reserves in the same system are much greater now than they would have been 20-30 years ago. As evidenced by the fact that every other club is now set up that way.

Spreading our players around the WAFL would be preferable to the current setup where we’re struggling to field a side and getting thrashed every week. But it’s not preferable to a setup where we have a proper functioning reserves side. That’s what we should be working towards.

We can say we think it's not ideal (to spread the players out).... but we know for a fact that the current system definitely isn't working.

We'll never have a proper functioning reserves side in the WAFL unless we get another alignment going, which also looks impossible.

So how long do we continue with it (screwing up our kids development in the meantime) when it's clearly not going to satisfy us or the WAFL clubs?

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

We'll never have a proper functioning reserves side in the WAFL unless we get another alignment going, which also looks impossible.

I’m not convinced that’s true. There’s a middle ground somewhere that allows us access to enough decent WAFL-grade players to ensure the side is relatively competitive regardless of how many AFL players are available.

Case in point: in 2019 we had McInnes (he was actually on the AFL list though), Grey, Petrie for half a season, and Fisher who was a bit of a surprise packet, and we finished fourth. This season, apart from Pickett who’s not fit and has played about a quarter of footy, we’ve got no one with AFL experience and barely anyone with WAFL experience.

 

[amazingjoshy]

I’m not convinced that’s true. There’s a middle ground somewhere that allows us access to enough decent WAFL-grade players to ensure the side is relatively competitive regardless of how many AFL players are available.

Case in point: in 2019 we had McInnes (he was actually on the AFL list though), Grey, Petrie for half a season, and Fisher who was a bit of a surprise packet, and we finished fourth. This season, apart from Pickett who’s not fit and has played about a quarter of footy, we’ve got no one with AFL experience and barely anyone with WAFL experience.

I doubt we ever get given that same player access again and/or have the ability to attract (decent WAFL standard) players given how the last 3 years have gone.

But the biggest question is how long do we keep trying to get it right?

At the very least i agree with Micale that we should abandon it this year. And there's a fair argument to say that's a call that should've been made at the start of the year given the covid situation

 

[LittleFires]

Sumich escapes suspension as Eagles set to face Falcons

West Coast are set to have no problems filling a WAFL side for their clash against West Perth on Saturday despite the club’s injury troubles continuing.

thewest.com.au

It is believed West Coast could have up to six AFL players and 20 WAFL listed players available for their big game against the second-placed Falcons in Joondalup.

Rhett Bazzo, Zane Trew and Brady Hough all played at the weekend, while Jack Williams (COVID-19) and Luke Strnadica (illness) are set to be available and will likely play in the WAFL.

Guess there's an answer on where Jack Williams and Luke Strnadica have been.

Up to six AFL-listed players, not bad. Doubt it'll be that many though.

Including Duggan, Yeo, Shuey, Gaff, Trew and Bazzo I've counted 29 available players. Those guys I listed all would have some element of doubt over whether they're available/ready though.

If we're travelling to Sydney with two emergencies, then by my calculations the best-case scenario would be 5 AFL-listed players.
Trew, J. Williams, Strnadica, Bazzo, Yeo?

This is bloody hard to keep track of.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

I actually don't mind the players being distributed among the clubs, makes me interested in watching multiple matches per week.

 

[Priddis Is Done]

I’m not convinced that’s true. There’s a middle ground somewhere that allows us access to enough decent WAFL-grade players to ensure the side is relatively competitive regardless of how many AFL players are available.

Case in point: in 2019 we had McInnes (he was actually on the AFL list though), Grey, Petrie for half a season, and Fisher who was a bit of a surprise packet, and we finished fourth. This season, apart from Pickett who’s not fit and has played about a quarter of footy, we’ve got no one with AFL experience and barely anyone with WAFL experience.

I've got a lot thoughts on the matter, for and against.

But I just cannot wrap my mind around recruiting and retaining players to lead the Beagles. That part is just... words escape me, foreign, alien, stupid?

 

[bzparkes]

Going to ******* Frankston is never a good idea. It makes armadale look classy.

It's fairly gentrified now, especially on the south side toward Mt Eliza.

 

[dinnaz]

R1 we were ahead most of the match. Was still with a lot of injuries in the AFL squad but we weren't far off. Covid protocols mean you lose 2 a week but get 2 back, hurts continuity but you have the players available which isn't the problem. In my eyes our injury toll with up to 18 players unavailable each week is obviously a one off situation that wouldn't really happen too often. Perhaps the last few weeks of a season with players put into cotton wool but WAFL finals aren't a major concern.
It seems to me a lot of our reserves team are guys with AFL ambitions who are putting their hand up for a year or two of being stuffed around before moving on.
I'd like to see a good WAFL level core of players who will hold up the team week in week out, only needs to be 3-4 in total, a midfielder, fwd, back and ruck as your good players taking pressure off 19 yr olds just off the plane. It would be a tough sell knowing finals aren't a goal and you are a lower priority than half the team. Peel, Perth & East Perth don't really make finals, and an alignment only increases the amount of internal unrest just keep the team.

 

[Biggie]

 

[Biggie]

Plus a Twitter celebrity drop in from our very own Miguel

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Better answer him Rhino, I heard he goes ballistic if he doesn’t get answers.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

In all seriousness, Simpson hinted that Bazzo or Trew might be sub. If they’re both travelling, we’ll probably have one emergency (Jack Williams) plus Strnadica as the only players available to play West Perth.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Strnadica and Trew named in the WAFL alongside 18 of our official top up squad and two guys I’ve never heard of, Pobjoy and Underwood. No Bazzo or Williams so I assume they travelled.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Also, “Pobjoy and Underwood” sound like the rival cop partners in an 80s buddy cop movie.

“Goddammit Turner! If you and Hooch can’t put aside your differences and work together, I’m benching you both and turning this case over to Pobjoy and Underwood!”

 

[LittleFires]

Strnadica and Trew named in the WAFL alongside 18 of our official top up squad and two guys I’ve never heard of, Pobjoy and Underwood. No Bazzo or Williams so I assume they travelled.

Isn't there a minimum three AFL-listed players that we need for games to go ahead?

If so, surely we'll get another player from the emergency list as a late in. Don't we usually travel with the 22 + 2 emergencies?

 

[TJG1996]

Riley Pobjoy is a smart and calm small defender who can be an okay reserves level player. He'll battle hard out there but won't win too many 1-on-1s. Josh Underwood is an outside midfielder who struggles by foot but will put his body on the line. He played 1 senior game at East Perth last year.