Best 44 for West Coast

[WERRIDEE 5,445]

West Coast

B: Duggan, Barrass, Hurn

HB: Hunt, McGovern, H.Edwards

C: Gaff, Sheed, Kelly

HF: Cripps, Darling, Jones

F: Ryan, Waterman, Allen

FOLL: Naitanui, Yeo, Shuey

IC: Ginbey, Hewitt, Witherden, B.Williams

Reserves

B: Cole, Bazzo, Culley

HB: Hough, L.Edwards, Trew

C: Petrevski-Seton, Clark, Winder

F: Petruccelle, J.Williams, Long

FOLL: Jamieson, Chesser, O'Neill

IC: Barnett, Baker, Dewar, Burgiel

 

[DubDee 25,674]

My tip to surprise a few this year. Predict they win 10+ and push for a finals spot 

Gibney and Hewitt should make an impact in their first season. Many of their ageing stars are fit again

im glad we avoided them as a bottom 4 double up

[DeeZone 9,699]

Have some great kids coming through but look a bit fragile for mine a lot of stars in their twilight years and May wish for another top-up year with a super draft next year, dare I say it - “Tanking”.

[Pennant St Dee 13,118]

We get them early enough when they will be up and about, they will be better than last season and certainly better when they put a line through Nic Nat and move on.

 I expect them to win between 5-8 games and be competitive for the first half of the season but fall away as the younger players tire and the older bodies get sore

[dl4e 5,851]

Hard to tip. Will win some games at home but I think will be rabbits away from home.

[adonski 11,846]

They rate Hough

[DeeSpencer 25,487]

Chesser and Hough should be best 22, maybe Culley, maybe Ginbey back or as a rotation on ball and perhaps Bazzo as a third tall can give them something but they’re all super young.

Hunt can play an important role with some much needed run.

But the reality is for them to really jump back up its going to be Nic Nat, McGovern, Shuey, Yeo, Gaff, Kelly and Allen and who’s betting on those guys?

Shuey’s body seems just about done. Gaff’s lost a yard. Yeo hasn’t been the same. And it’s hard to bet on Gov and Nic Nat. 

[dee-tox 4,835]

If the team gets fit then they could surprise a few. Last year, the likes of Nik Nat and McGovern had local league type fitness. 

Bottom five.

[Pennant St Dee 13,118]

4 hours ago, adonski said:

They rate Hough

No surprise because he can play

[layzie 33,753]

Good players but made of glass, injuries hit and they will be cr*p again. 

[grazman 7,409]

The footy world seems united in its view on the Eagles.  They aren’t a contender, though they could push for a top 8 spot, but to do that they need all their best players out on the park, and from recent history and their age profile that would seem a very unlikely outcome.  Last season the Eagles were the only team not to have a single player play in every match, in 2021 they had five:  Cole, Nic Nat, Sheed, Darling and Cripps.   Last season Cole (0) Nic Nat (8) and Sheed (1) didn’t really give a yelp playing wise which helps explain why they nosed dived from 9^th with 10 wins to 17^th with 2.  

Even if they address the injury woes, and surely they have realistic expectations on the number of games you can get out of blokes 33 years and older such as Shuey, Hurn and Nic Nat, then there are still a few systemic issues in the Eagles list that point to a list in transition.   Outside of their 2018 premiership players (of which only 12 remain) their recruitment of Tim Kelly has cost them a massive amount of capital put into one midfielder who can't beat a tag and restricted their ability to access other talent.   They do have 13 players aged 23-26, but only Oscar Allen could be considered a lock in their best side with maybe Rotham, and maybe Bailey Williams in time.   SPS,  Jarmain Jones and Witherden are all recycled and Connor West still sits on the rookie list - but they're there for the short term to fill the gaps.  

Speaking of Oscar Allen, he didn’t play a match last season which hurt them. If he comes back to fulfil the potential he showed in breaking into the Eagles B&F top 10 in 2021 it will be into a forward line missing Kennedy and Rioli making his job that much harder with increased expectations.  It's the midfield  for me though that the real issues become apparent.   A fully fit Elliot Yeo will be welcomed back, but Gaff is a shadow of what he was and Redden is no longer there.  Even with Sheed back to support Shuey and Kelly I think they are a bottom two midfield who will need to blood a lot of kids in there as they begin the rebuild.  They have high hopes for players like Ginbey, Hewett, Chesher, Hough and Burgiel, but it’s way too soon to be counting those chickens yet.

Initially I bought into the bullishness of Westcoast bouncing back, but I struggle to see them winning games consistently (particularly away from Optus) and have them pegged to finish around 14^th. 

Edited March 2, 2023 by grazman

[layzie 33,753]

I'll give them a chance early on if most of their side takes the park without any COVID issues but other than that I'd say around there too. 

[WERRIDEE 5,445]

On 12/17/2022 at 12:30 AM, WERRIDEE said:

West Coast

B: Duggan, Barrass, Hurn

HB: Hunt, McGovern, Cole

C: Gaff, Sheed, Kelly

HF: Cripps, Darling, Jones

F: Ryan, Allen, Long

FOLL: Naitanui, Yeo, Shuey

IC: Ginbey, Chesser, Witherden, O'Neill

Reserves

B: H.Edwards, Bazzo, Culley

HB: Foley, Rotham, West

C: Hough, LEdwards, Trew

HF: Petrevski-Seton, Clark, Winder

F: Waterman, J.Williams, B.Williams

FOLL: Jamieson, Petruccelle, Hewitt

IC: Barnett, Baker, Dewar, Burgiel

 

Revised best 44 for West Coast