2015 AFL preview: West Coast Eagles

My mail also tells me that they like playing for Simmo and yes it started to show late last year. Yeo is quick as is Sheuy, and Selwood, Sheppard and Bennell aren't slow. Yeo and Scooter missed massive chunks of last season. Wellingham went MIA again and needs to deliver on his undoubted talent. Add Lucas to the mix along with the established Priddis, Gaff, Rosa, Masten and rotate LeCras, Ellis or Darling through there now and again and you've got a pretty versatile and decent midfield. That's assuming they have a good injury run and play well of course. They are certainly better placed than they were this time last year. The defence is very good and will be boosted significantly if Waters returns, the forward line is super potent and Nic Nat should be able to drop the ball into the laps of the mids giving them first use often enough to trouble most sides. If they get it forward fast they will cause a lot of headaches for opposition teams. The mids really need to stand up this year.

Not one mention of the Coach. It appears according to my info he gets on well with the players and also the team had a much better second half of the season. They started to show their potential after they understood the new coaches game plan. Pace in the midfield has been their problem - Lets hope they give Liam Duggan a run with the big boys before the end of the season. If he goes well in the WAFL he may get his chance. A message to the author - How about trying to get footy going in Zambia. AFL South Africa now going well with a 4 province regular league and will assist no doubt.

Pretty much every preview this guy has written has been slammed by fans of the sides in question, I've given up trying to defend him. Obviously like a punch drunk boxer who doesn't know when to throw in the towel he's going to run through all 18 sides and get KO'ed every time he stumbles back into the ring. He doesn't even have McGovern in his side. Jesus wept. The kid can kick 55m darts out of defence and pick out blokes lurking on the wing and he's not in the team. Righto. Anyways, rage on, but wait till March when the serious pundits flex their fingers and type some decent stuff based on pre-season form, that's my tip.

Thanks mate. I chose Butler because although Bennell has been excellent he did go missing in the middle of last year and you can't have that. You know what you are getting with Butler week in week out, if he can stay injury free of course. I loved Bennell's start to the season and the finish wasn't bad either but not the middle part and that's why he misses out (only just) for mine. When he can improve on that (I think he can) it's going to be a great dilemma to have on selection nights. I do rate Bennell and I understand why you would pick him. He is very creative and damaging with his run and carry from defence but Yeo can do that as can Schofleld and Sheppard. Maybe not quite as well but good enough none the less. I hope Bennell demands selection with his form and attitude.

I agree with you Balance

Well said mate - its like this guy just made all of this up... LOL Hill, youre right about Yeo....only criticism would be that Bennell is best 22 for sure.

My comments re location were Eddie McGuire-esk tongue in cheek comments. After reading other 2015 club profiles I can't help but feel that more research was required by Sam and/or the profiles should have been left to another to write given some only slightly more observant and educated written profiles.

Where you live isn't that important but you have to watch the games and keep up with all the news if you want to write an educated piece which the author failed to do this time. More research needed Sam.

I don't agree that #5 is a big worry but I'm glad that you are looking ahead as that is the next piece that needs filling. WC have plenty of options to fill those roles next year. Not the mosquito fleet guys you're seeking but more than adequate none the less.

Agreed. I missed McGovern earlier but he's in for sure

All teams have injuries and its part of the game. That's why you need to develop the depth of talent to replace them when men go down like the Hawks did last year. Simmo knows all about that of course

Agreed Nooge. No Cripps either. Wellingham (injuries and form) and Hill (form) could be playing for their careers next year but I hope not West Coast finished with with the wooden spoon in 2010. Seasons since have been; 2011: 4th 2012; 5th 2013:13th 2014: 9th A pretty inconsistent set of results due to injuries and and retirements each season. Cox and Glass were the only key position retirements the rest have come from small/med players all over the ground. As a supporter hopefully the WCE will have more incremental improvement next year and make finals. As a realist I've gott the anywhere from 5th to 10th.

I think the previous 3 replies have covered a lot of the variation to the original preview, Lycett had a good year I thought ,Priddis went up another level ,gaff to wing or even half forward he can kick goals ,going on last seasons form ,Wellingham and Hill would be out ,schofield must come into halfback,McGovern in before Brown Rosa on one wing Yeo on the other Cripps in for Masten I see it that a lot of the players here can be Moved around also, which is what Simmo Is looking for Here's my Team Waters Mckenzie. Bennell Schoey. McGovern Hurn Yeo Priddis. Rosa Cripps. Darling Gaff Lycett. Kennedy. Lecras Nic Nat Schuey. Selwood Bench Hutchins Mcginnity Butler Ellis But all this is off the back of last year The first round team will be picked on preseason form and fitness so things could well change

I can't understand how a guy who is contentiously based in Zambia can write 2015 AFL Club reviews. The above is a prime example of an article written by someone who either A) Didn't watch the entire season of the Eagles, or B) didn't do the necessary research to write a well thought out article. Who to Look for - Josh Hill. As per Jax's comments above Josh Hill struggled to be in the Western Bulldogs best 22 when they were closer to the bottom of the ladder then the top, and will struggle to break into the Eagles best 25, unless he dramatically improves the defensive side of his game and can play 4 Quarters of footy consistently. Jeremy McGovern in your piece only appears as a pinch hitting ruckman, and is not in your best 22. The eagles in recent media have almost assured McGovern of position in defence and the 22 with the eagles particularly given his games towards the end of the season. And as Nooge said, no Yeo in the 22 who addresses our need for speed and midfield depth WTF These are only 3 examples of a uneducated unresearched post by Sam Aldridge, that should be retracted as poor journalism if this is the career Sam is wanting to do full time. Poor Poor Poor I'm not sure if I look forward to reading the other 2015 club reviews, or should give them a miss based on Sam's effort thus far

I think this assessment misses the mark on a number of counts 1) West Coasts tall defenders are very good and Schofield, McKenzie, Brown, McGovern all played well last year. It is a strength not a worry 2) Josh Hill has been fit but played poorly and was lucky to be retained on the list 3) West Coasts midfield is deep but lacks high end talent and thus is not strong 4) Scott Lycett played well and Sinclair is AFL quality as a 3rd string back-up ruckman. Nic-Nats form is the only ruck query but all in all their rucks are fine 5) Small crumbing forwards and small quick defenders are the big worry for WE as it pretty much starts and ends with Jamie Bennell. Maybe some young guys like Karpany will step up but so far nobody is threatening to do so based on their form last year with East Perth

No McGovern (one of the finds of the year). No Elliott Yeo? Gaff on an HB flank. McKenzie a CHB. Lycett had a great year, hence Port trying to get hold of him. Hill was lucky to not be released and will be lucky to play in a full strength Eagles line up. I'm guessing this is a preview based on not much West Coast viewing last year!

Have a look at the injuries the Eagles had if they were fit to play we would of won more games no glass no cox half the time no Selwood no rosa no butler half the end of year no yeo with broken hand no Lecra broken arm again there's your problem injures so hope this yrs better to start with

WC missed the 8 by one game last year. They choked in 4 or 5 games when they led late in the 3rd to late in the 4th quarters ie Freo R7, Port, Blues, Dons. I can't recall or be sure if there was a fifth. If they had won just one of those 4 games (they should have won at least one) they would have made the eight. Only Geelong spanked them and that was R4 or 5 and only 3-4 teams beat them by 30 odd points or more and all were top 4 off memory, that's why they had such a high %. They had a lot of injuries last year and lacked the depth to cover for them, that's still a concern for next year. New coaches, new game plan, not a disastrous result IMO and a decent base that they should build upon. They like Simmo and they played for him and started gelling later in the season and had some good momentum which they should be able to carry forward. I expect them to improve next year and make the 8. Hill is not in the best 26 never mind the 22 so put Gaff back on the wing where he belongs and move Ellis to HB. Butler over Bennell anyday due to his consistency, experience and level head, especially now that Glass has retired. Yeo in and Wellingham out. McGinnity and Hutchings you can flip a coin depending on what you need that day. Lycett didn't struggle and Sinclair is a strong backup. Nic Nat started games strong but faded quickly. He missed the two previous pre-seasons so he really needs to have a cracker pre-season and build his engine if he hopes to make a big impact in 2015. Expect WC to be more versatile next year and play guys in different positions as required. They have a lot of options and there best 22-25 would push most teams, assuming they are in form. The depth concerns me still but less than it has in the past two years. They will set the bar high and they'll be dark on themselves if they miss the 8t. I'm predicting (and hoping) they will improve and finish 5th - 8th.