The Roar
The Roar

AFL
Advertisement

2015 AFL preview: West Coast Eagles

Roar Pro
9th December, 2014
18

The Swans are set to once again be one of the teams to beat. Today we move onto another one of the ‘pack’ teams in the West Coast Eagles.

Last season
The Eagles started the season with a bang, grabbing three more-than-comfortable wins on the trot.

What followed was a picture of inconsistency, with the inability to match it with teams higher than them on the ladder. West Coast threatened the finals but were always a couple of wins away.

Matt Priddis was outstanding, winning the Brownlow, and Erik MacKenzie once again proving to be a solid defender.

Next season
With Darren Glass and Dean Cox both retired, massive shoes need to be filled. The Eagles’ midfield stocks are strong and they also have weapons in the forward line. The main questions will be asked of their tall defenders and their ability to balance their ruck combination.

They have talent all over the ground but the biggest challenge is finding the correct team balance. At times they will look like a threat but expect them to struggle against the more settled teams.

I’ve got West Coat finishing 9th to 12th – once again sitting in the pack.

Who to look out for
Josh Hill was restricted to nine games last season and his pace and goal sense was missed by the Eagles. In 2013 he was the target for opposition taggers because of his ability to break lines and be an attacking weapon. With a return to fitness expect him to be utilised on the wing, pushing forward to provide goalkicking options.

Advertisement

Needs a big year
Both Scott Lycett and Nic Naitanui struggled with form at times last season, failing to establish themselves as the Eagles’ number one. With Cox retiring, the Eagles will be desperate for this combination to work or for one of the two to provide consistency with the option of perhaps using Callum Sinclair or Jeremy McGovern as a pinch-hitting ruckman.

Naitanui has unmatched talent and the Eagles will be desperate for him to recapture form.

Best 22
FB: Waters, Brown, Bennell
HB: Hurn, MacKenzie, Gaff
C: Wellingham, Priddis, Hill
HF: Masten, Darling, Hutchings
FF: Lycett, Kennedy, LeCras
R: Naitanui, Selwood, Shuey
I: Rosa, Ellis, Schofield, Sheppard

close