Opinion Who is set for a big 2015?

[SpaceClef]

100% agree and not sure why we want him to be an inside me all of a sudden. Teams have to tag him because his outside run and delivery to the I50 is superb.Don't mind him rotating there but not full time.

I don't think it's a matter of people wanting him to be an inside mid, but contests happen all over the ground, whether it's under the ruckmen's feet or on a half back flank - if you lose most 50/50 contests then you're a liability regardless of how 'outside' your game is.

 

[SpaceClef]

Woosha made some strange decisions towards the end of his tenure.

Presuming it was Woosha's decision, and also presuming our guys aren't going to slim right down again closer to Round 1

 

[paran]

Im looking forward to seeing Hutchings and Selwood in the same team, at least you know they will make there opponents accountable ! Which I think has been our problem for a large part of the year !

I think our biggest problem was not turning game pressure and momentum into scoreboard pressure. There were too many times we dominated the play for an extended period of time yet were left without much of a lead (1.8 in a quarter against Freo). It takes a fair bit of energy to put the foot on the accelerator and if you don't get the gains from it you're left with less in the tank with not much to show. Then we get pantsed at the end when we run out of gas...

 

[flamingEMBERS]

This year really excites me as the team is now in the hands of the guys we've been calling the next generation for a while. They have to step up now. If not I hope they are replaced by players wanting a crack.

 

[steve hucka]

I think our biggest problem was not turning game pressure and momentum into scoreboard pressure. There were too many times we dominated the play for an extended period of time yet were left without much of a lead (1.8 in a quarter against Freo). It takes a fair bit of energy to put the foot on the accelerator and if you don't get the gains from it you're left with less in the tank with not much to show. Then we get pantsed at the end when we run out of gas...

It's the easy goals like the carlton game, If your accountable for your own opponent that shouldn't happen and it always starts in the middle if your not accountable for your opponent in the middle it makes it bloody hard on the defenders

 

[greatwhiteshark]

This year really excites me as the team is now in the hands of the guys we've been calling the next generation for a while. They have to step up now. If not I hope they are replaced by players wanting a crack.

This!!!
Most of the blokes talked about have been there and had ample chances for 5 years.
I am not expecting any improvement from Priddis, Selwood, Masten, Rosa. The improvement has to come from Wellingham, Shuey, Yeo, Bennell, Sheed, Gaff, Shepherd, Hutchings. They all have improvement in them. The others are what they are, we have all seen it for 5 years now. We should build around these others not what we have built around for the last 5 years.

Happy with the ruck stocks, big year for NN as the excuses are all over now. Time to perform as a top 10 player in the league as many rate him as. Lycett will be awesome I reckon.

The smokie for me is Fraser McInnes, if he can stand up and take CHF which will allow Darling to play HF that would be a huge bonus. Into his 4th season now and while he is still only 21 he should of played by now. If he does not make it this year I think he will be finished with us. But I reckon he could be the one that breaks out this year as a Key position player.

Still want to see Hurn play midfield but clearly the club is reluctant to do this, with Waters back then surely this can be looked at.

Also excited about next year but it still worries me greatly that almost certainly in round one our starting midfield will be Natanui, Priddis, Selwood and Shuey which is the same as it was 4 years ago. I am hoping it won't be but our club is pretty predictable.

 

[Hap Hapablap]

masten training the house down!?!!??!?!

 

[Matera LeNui]

Sheed will be getting a fair few more games under the belt and I think will be really damaging. I mean he pretty huge already

Looks more and more like Jobe Watson!

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

This!!!
Most of the blokes talked about have been there and had ample chances for 5 years.
I am not expecting any improvement from Priddis, Selwood, Masten, Rosa. The improvement has to come from Wellingham, Shuey, Yeo, Bennell, Sheed, Gaff, Shepherd, Hutchings. They all have improvement in them. The others are what they are, we have all seen it for 5 years now. We should build around these others not what we have built around for the last 5 years.

Happy with the ruck stocks, big year for NN as the excuses are all over now. Time to perform as a top 10 player in the league as many rate him as. Lycett will be awesome I reckon.

The smokie for me is Fraser McInnes, if he can stand up and take CHF which will allow Darling to play HF that would be a huge bonus. Into his 4th season now and while he is still only 21 he should of played by now. If he does not make it this year I think he will be finished with us. But I reckon he could be the one that breaks out this year as a Key position player.

Still want to see Hurn play midfield but clearly the club is reluctant to do this, with Waters back then surely this can be looked at.

Also excited about next year but it still worries me greatly that almost certainly in round one our starting midfield will be Natanui, Priddis, Selwood and Shuey which is the same as it was 4 years ago. I am hoping it won't be but our club is pretty predictable.

I cant believe people are still waiting to see Hurn play midfield, he never will. He's quickish in straight lines which allows us to use him at HB but he's nowhere near agile enough to be played in the midfield.

 

[Matera LeNui]

Nic Nat and Lycett should go up a gear naturally with more game time and fitness/experience

Yeo, McGov, Shep to keep on the upward curve

I think from the backline Hurn can go up another cog again and get into that elite HB status-would love to see an AA quality year for Hurn

Midfield I would think Shuey can keep improving and if all fit, Selwood can probably slip under the guard again. Expect Sheed to improve.

Darling can be elite, very close I expect 2015 to be his best

Small forward types there could be some competition which is exciting Hill/Cripps/Karpany/Newman. Would love to see Karpany and Newman have a great pre-season and both push for 10+ games. If Karpany and Newman keep pushing then Hill and McGinners will be depth which is what we need not the other way around.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

I cant believe people are still waiting to see Hurn play midfield, he never will. He's quickish in straight lines which allows us to use him at HB but he's nowhere near agile enough to be played in the midfield.

Probably more of the belief that as our midfield is pretty average we would have nothing to lose but everything to gain. I was thinking more wing than centre. Our club believes our midfield is pretty good though and hence this is why it is never addressed.

 

[Natho]

Jeremy Humm and Josh Wooden to really step things up.

 

[lmach]

Probably more of the belief that as our midfield is pretty average we would have nothing to lose but everything to gain. I was thinking more wing than centre. Our club believes our midfield is pretty good though and hence this is why it is never addressed.

He had stints in the midfield many times last year.

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

Probably more of the belief that as our midfield is pretty average we would have nothing to lose but everything to gain. I was thinking more wing than centre. Our club believes our midfield is pretty good though and hence this is why it is never addressed.

Not going by Simpsons' most recent comments

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

He had stints in the midfield many times last year.

Never started in the middle or if he did it was very, very rarely. Every now nd then he'd get the ball between the 50 arcs but as a HB you're expected to do that these days. He was also very, very rarely seen deep inside our forward 50, as in within 40m out, which is what most midfielders do these days.

I wouldn't say he had "stints" in our midfield

 

[Suma Magic]

Quick thoughts on everyone…

Brown – not expecting any improvement. If McGovern plays back may be in a battle for a spot with Schofield.

LeCras – if he stays fit he will be massively important for us. Will be over his arm concerns and hopefully can spend reasonable minutes in the midfield as well as a lot of time deep and on the HFF.

Gaff – expecting him to improve from his great second half of the year. Won’t dominate too many games but I expect his worst to be much better.

Sheed – looks like he needs to lose a few KGs. Still not sure about Sheed, hopefully he can dominate WAFL and have some really high possession games. Needs to be able to come into the team and get a decent amount of the footy, was really found wanting in his first year.

Sheppard – was in great form before the injury. I think he will be good without being great, which would mean that (injury-permitting) he would have his best season.

Yeo – I’m not as bullish as most on here. He won’t be a dominant mid next year, but hopefully can spend a fair bit of time in the midfield and play to his strengths. A top 10 finish in the B&F would be a great result for him.

Masten – I’m expecting more of the same really. Although given the injury troubles of 2014 I’m expecting a better season.

Waters – all depends on injuries. Doubt we will see him back to his best even if he does get on the park.

Naitanui – if he is fit there is no excuses for not having his best season. Can’t wait to see him and Lycett string a few games together, will be exciting to watch.

Selwood – not sure what role he will play. I’d be happy if he went back to tagging and did it well.

Priddis – back2back.

Wellingham – I’ve decided to expect nothing from him. Hopefully he plays the footy we know he is capable of.

Shuey – is our best mid, and will need to play well with heavy tags this year.

Cripps – in a battle with Newman for second small forward spot IMO. Could potential play both of them and LeCras. He became less selfish in the second half of 2014 which resulted in a big improvement in his influence on games. Not sure if he is best 22 long-term.

Mackenzie – AA 2015.

Kennedy – be nice if he kicked some bags against the good teams.

Ellis – if he is playing then he plays well. Hopefully the stick-tape holds up.

Colledge – disappointing finish to the season really. I’m not as bullish as I was early in the year. Would be good to see him have a few games with over 25 touches for East Perth.

Rosa – picking him for a big year. Isn’t a star, but very important for us, potentially as a defensive wingman.

Hurn – our skipper. Will be tagged a lot again, which will provide opportunities for Ellis, Sheppard and maybe Schofield to take up some of the offensive slack.

Butler – expecting him to be depth, hopefully we have a good run with injuries and he has a good run with East Perth.

Darling – be interesting to see if McGovern plays forward or back. Gradual improvement expected.

Lycett – will be a beast in 2015, expecting big improvement.

Schofield – not sure if he is best 22, or how he will go next year.

Tunbridge – don’t really rate him.

Hill – decent depth.

Hutchings – will always play alright when he gets a game, don’t think he is in our best team though.

McGinnity – in my mind he has already been delisted.

McInnes – can’t see him playing unless there are injuries, probably his last chance. Needs to kick some bags, rather than 1 or 2 from 10 touches which seems to be his norm.

Barrass – hopefully we can see what he can do.

Karpany – not sure why, but was pretty disappointing this year when he got the chance. I’d be happy with some decent WAFL form.

McGovern – I’d like him to settle at full back. Love this man and expecting a huge year.

Bennell – was good this year and hopefully he can keep it up, albeit with a bit more consistency.

Waterman – think he can play some good WAFL footy, not expecting any AFL from him.

Newman – think he will get a few green vests, and hopefully he can dominate WAFL and then become a permanent fixture in the senior team.

Sinclair – will be a solid back-up again.

Powell – really excited to see him play WAFL.

Adamson – expecting him to be surprisingly good.

Brophy – not expecting much, looks like a good athlete.

Cockatoo – Brownlow (tied with Priddis).

Kane Lucas – better than Cale Morton, just.

 

[SpaceClef]

I think our biggest problem was not turning game pressure and momentum into scoreboard pressure. There were too many times we dominated the play for an extended period of time yet were left without much of a lead (1.8 in a quarter against Freo). It takes a fair bit of energy to put the foot on the accelerator and if you don't get the gains from it you're left with less in the tank with not much to show. Then we get pantsed at the end when we run out of gas...

So true. A lot of this is because we seemed to assume that if we kept bombing it inside 50 we will eventually get a goal.

Got lots of ball in the middle and lots of 50/50 contests 30m out, but not a lot of meaningful, dangerous ball movement within those two spots.

 

[Bender_]

I'd just like to see Karpany play.

 

[Adzam]

Big year as in dominating?
Yeo- loved his stuff last season and he seems to have a great work ethic so I can see him having a cracker.
NicNat- Healthy and fully fit. He should dominate.

Big year as in make or break?
Hill- can be handy as a depth player but might look for more opportunities if he doesn't get enough games.
Wellingham- This guy is going to need to turn things around big time
Selwood- injuries aside he didn't have a very impressive season at all. Will need to find his role in the team.

 

[Eaglemaniac]

Looking forward to see how Adamson goes this year. I'm also expecting Hutch to get picked every week much to the chagrin of most in here, and he will get even better.
Not expecting Shuey to do anything different what he already does, I think he's peaked. Hope Nic Nat gets a full pre season and gets back to his best because his best is amazing and also to shut those purple ****s up.

 

[Bender_]

Looking forward to see how Adamson goes this year. I'm also expecting Hutch to get picked every week much to the chagrin of most in here, and he will get even better.
Not expecting Shuey to do anything different what he already does, I think he's peaked. Hope Nic Nat gets a full pre season and gets back to his best because his best is amazing and also to shut those purple ****s up.

Re: Shuey, perhaps he just needs more consistency?

 

[dajesmac]

Looking forward to see how Adamson goes this year. I'm also expecting Hutch to get picked every week much to the chagrin of most in here, and he will get even better.
Not expecting Shuey to do anything different what he already does, I think he's peaked. Hope Nic Nat gets a full pre season and gets back to his best because his best is amazing and also to shut those purple ****s up.

You don't think he went up a gear in the latter parts of the year?

 

[bodazoka]

Under Worsfold mids were quite lean to increase running capacty - Simpsons making size a key focus this preseason. Will be interesting to see the results next year.

Hopefully not a lack of pace and allot of soft tissue injuries...

Gaff is the only one I can see that is in the right bracket age + games and actually has the talent to be a consistant A grader.

 

[Eaglemaniac]

You don't think he went up a gear in the latter parts of the year?

Not really Daj, he just did what he usually does. As soon as the pressure is off, or he plays one of the younger teams he looks a million dollars, but he doesn't stand up enough to match his talent level when the heat is on IMO. He's not alone in this team mind you, I just think that we keep waiting for him to become elite because of his potential, but I don't think it's going to happen.

 

[Eaglemaniac]

Re: Shuey, perhaps he just needs more consistency?

Definitely, but he needs to do it against the top teams regularly to push past the bracket of players that are good, but not elite. He has plenty of potential, just needs to reach it.