Just putting it out there as an option.

Currently out of contract, Eagles offering a 1 year extension but nothing close to being formalized yet.

Would we consider tempting him over with a 2 year deal, potentially with a coaching offer post-retirement? There's other options ahead of him of course, but would be a relatively cheap option that would cover us while Weid and Jacko develop further.

Bit like the Lewis trade in a way.

He’s still more than capable, however the service will be nothing like he gets from the WC mids.

Would much prefer him to Brown/Daniher as he would offer a lot more leadership and direction on field.

 

Hell yes.

He’s a club champ and still playing well.
No way he’ll be let go

I think the Eagles 1 year deal is about right.

If anyone wants to offer more good luck to them.

It wouldn't be a smart move.

Not worth debating. He will finish his career at West Coast

If I thought we had the slightest chance of winning a flag next year, then sure.

But his age profile doesn't fit our list. 

No thanks. He'd take games from Weideman who is ready and willing to nail that full forward spot.

With limited list spots we need to find the guy who compliments Weid, Jackson, Pickett, Fritsch. Those 4 have enough talent to form the basis of a very good forward line, they are just lacking an experienced leader to guide them along.

One option is giving Melksham a significant kick in the backside. Otherwise it's really hard to find experienced forwards. Talls probably aren't the right spot to look, it might have to be a small or even a midfielder ready for a different chapter of their career.

There is no way, he'd leave and to offer him 2 years wouldn't be a wise investment in terms of you'd have to play him even if his form dropped and at his age and without the silver service delivery he wouldn't likely have much of an impact for us.

2 hours ago, BW511 said:

He’s still more than capable, however the service will be nothing like he gets from the WC mids.

Would much prefer him to Brown/Daniher as he would offer a lot more leadership and direction on field.

 

I'm not 100% sold on this notion that we can't kick the footy as well as other teams.

Yes, there are a few teams that kick the ball better than us but the good teams rely on breaking down defences by creating easy scoring opportunities on the back of pressure.

Also, it's a bit of a catch 22. Having Kennedy and Darling, for example, allows (or forces) you to do everything you can to create space. Creating space when you don't have that presence makes you vulnerable to the intercept mark.

I suppose what I'm getting at is that you could have a team full of great kicks but if the right structure and effort isn't there, you wouldn't know it.

9 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I'm not 100% sold on this notion that we can't kick the footy as well as other teams.

Yes, there are a few teams that kick the ball better than us but the good teams rely on breaking down defences by creating easy scoring opportunities on the back of pressure.

Also, it's a bit of a catch 22. Having Kennedy and Darling, for example, allows (or forces) you to do everything you can to create space. Creating space when you don't have that presence makes you vulnerable to the intercept mark.

I suppose what I'm getting at is that you could have a team full of great kicks but if the right structure and effort isn't there, you wouldn't know it.

Understand all that, but when things are exactly on our terms, we can kick. Anything shy of that and we tend to be dumping it in long.

Having said that, Kennedy can take big pack marks still, so it takes a lot of defending to contain him and Weid.

 

No chance. 

2 hours ago, Superunknown said:

Hell yes.

Will not leave and if he does will retire up in Horrocks on the beach. He is also committed to playing a season with Northampton Rams when done.

Would love to get him but will not happen. 

Ben Brown is an interesting one. Maybe a 3 way trade Preuss to Giants , ? to NM and we get BB.

2 minutes ago, BW511 said:

Understand all that, but when things are exactly on our terms, we can kick. Anything shy of that and we tend to be dumping it in long.

Having said that, Kennedy can take big pack marks still, so it takes a lot of defending to contain him and Weid.

 

Question is, Is that the kickers fault or the fact that there's nothing to kick to?

The worst thing you could possibly do in today's game is lower your eyes and make a shallow entry to a contested target. More often than not that comes back to bite you.

I genuinely don't know where the accountability lies in this situation but if I had to guess, I'd say it has more to do with what's ahead of the ball than the ball carrier.

Maybe we can go for Buddy? Equally won't happen. 

3 hours ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

Question is, Is that the kickers fault or the fact that there's nothing to kick to?

The worst thing you could possibly do in today's game is lower your eyes and make a shallow entry to a contested target. More often than not that comes back to bite you.

I genuinely don't know where the accountability lies in this situation but if I had to guess, I'd say it has more to do with what's ahead of the ball than the ball carrier.

I think our kicking problems aren't horrendous but they broadly break down in to 3 categories:

1. Switching/slow build up game: We're light on for defenders and outside mids who we truly trust to play the switch and slow game. Langdon's always running to provide an option. And May, Salem and Rivers are very good. But there's a drop off and to play that way you need all 7 defenders and 2 wings and even the inside mids pushing out to work for each other and trust each other. 

2. Reliably hitting the long target: Gawn rarely loses a long down the line kick yet we still can't routinely park the ball to his advantage at the perfect spot. Yet alone when we have Weid or another forward coming under it. It should be so simple but too many of our players get this basic kick wrong. A second key forward who can move (so not Preuss or Tom) and can compete and bring the ball to ground (so not Brown or McDonald) obviously makes this an easier task

3. Hitting the leading forward: Petracca can lace it to anyone within 60m. Melksham doesn't get it as often but still can. Fritsch is capable of excellent hit up kicks. Pickett has great promise and both Spargo and ANB were vastly improved at the end of the year. So there's hope with the half forwards. Viney got much better. Gus was still hit and miss. Oliver started to trust himself more but the results are still very patchy. Langdon only trusts himself to hit a pop up 30m pass that's a forward killer because it just sits in the air.

If Oliver can make strides, we can find a second wingman and if we find some trusty defensive depth we'll probably be at least average. Even the best sides like Richmond and Port are moving the ball smartly then hitting the spots for Lynch and Dixon to contest far more than they are picking out targets with great kicks.