2014 AFL season preview: Is West Coast the real deal?

When I speak to my friends about the West Coast Eagles the same thing is said – “I dunno.”

It bugs me and I may need to change my friendship groups around because they are not helping me out in the challenge of writing my first Lad-View (cross between season preview and the upcoming season’s ladder).

I find it very selfish and almost boring.

Unless you are from the West, chances are you’ve not heard too much come out of there except for the run-of-the-mill excellent form in pre-season jargon that every club spews this time of the year.

If you believe in pre-season form, they won three from three, which doesn’t make the prediction any easier.

One thing for sure is they have lost a stack of experience!

Premiership superstars Daniel Kerr (220 games), Andrew Embley (250 games), Adam Selwood (187 games) and Mark Nicoski (112 injury raddled games) all hung up the boots at the end of last season.

Oh! And John Worsfold retired after 24 exhaustive years as a player and coach for the club.

Former Hawthorn assistant Adam Simpson was hired and the Eagles are hoping his appointment is the perfect remedy for a lethargic and injury-riddled list to build upon.

Simpson must start with the midfield, where the team dropped seven places in average disposals between 2012-13.

A midfield, which has stalled since 2012, must be rebooted. Only Luke Priddis maintained his average disposals from the previous season.

Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff and Scott Selwood (a tagger, I know but still, a midfielder) were all down on their total disposals from 2012.

They were 15th in the comp in disposals and effective disposals, which for a midfield of this ilk is seriously low.

Sharrod Wellingham, Chris Masten and Matt Rosa can all get the ball but must use it better than they did last year.

If former Hawthorn midfielder Xavier Ellis can get his body right, he will play a part in rectifying this and exciting draftee Dom Sheed looks set for a Round 1 appearance.

A big part of the midfield’s supply drying up in 2013 came down to Nic Naitanui only playing in 11 games. Naitanui’s collaboration with Dean Cox is as important as McCartney and Lennon were to The Beatles.

Both were in the top 20 in hitouts for 2012 and must get back to that form for the midfield to function.

Much has been said of Josh Kennedy’s hot-stepping run up, he will be dancing along with his fellow forwards if his midfield can supply ball the way The Beatles make music.

I like the forward line, Kennedy’s a star (60 goals last season), Jack Darling is consistent and versatile (42 goals last season), Mark Lecras needs to avoid injury to get back to his 47 goal 2011 season and Josh Hill must keep his creative lead up style going.

The defensive press that strangled teams in 2012 seems to be back in a big way.

Down back are the keys for the Eagles. Darren Glass is a legend of the club, if he played in Melbourne he would be held in the esteem of a Scarlett or Silvagni. Can he go around at an elite level again?

They are developing cornerstone defenders in Mitch Brown, Eric MacKenzie and Will Schofield for the day Glass breaks.

The forecasted outing of defender Beau Waters will hurt. Waters was second in rebounds from 50 during 2013 and he, along with Shannon Hurn, initiate attacks consistently.

The Eagles will be revived after a lethargic 2013, just how far they can go is the big question.

NAB Challenge form means zilch when the real season starts. A fresh-faced coach, soft draw and healthy recruits mean they’ll surely finish in the eight, but just how high?

Just know that if the Eagles finish top four, I’ll be taking new friend requests in my comments section…

Lad-view: fifth.

Individual Predictions
Best and Fairest: Scott Selwood
Goal Kicking Award: Twinkle Toes (Josh) Kennedy
Player You Need to Watch: Xavier Ellis
Things Most Looking Forward to Seeing in 2014: Probably my new best friend.
Novelty Blog Award: The most vocal crowd members in the league.