Despite being grand finalists this year, there are still doubts over what the West Coast Eagles are really capable of, after receiving a ‘soft’ 2015 draw and being easily disposed of by the Hawks in the Big Dance.
In his two seasons at the helm, Adam Simpson has brought a new system to the team. He loves versatility in his players and a team that plays to their strengths.
When Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown went down at the start of 2015 Simpson had to regenerate the game plan, and attack was the course of reply.
West Coast were ranked second in attack and fourth in defence in 2015 – not bad for a team decimated in defence.
Furthermore, the Eagles’ age profile stands up pretty well. The average age of the list is 23.76 years old, with 58 games the average experience. Compare that to Hawthorn (74 games) and you can understand the grand final margin a little better, as seven of the Eagles players from that grand final had played in 100 games or fewer.
This team played without their best defender all season, a ruckman, key defender, small defender and a Brownlow medallist carrying injuries, and still managed a shot at the premiership.
Adding two ready-made midfielders, Jack Redden and Lewis Jetta, who play display class, polish and genuine ability to an ever-growing midfield and West Coast are in good stead. On grand final day Hawthorn bullied West Coast, and it all started in the midfield.
Hawthorn are once again deserved premiership favourites for 2016, but with the experience of 2015, and the uncertainty of what sort of gameplan the Eagles are going to throw up with the return of Mackenzie and Brown, the Eagles deserve to be involved in the premiership discussion.
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
It'll be interesting to see what Simpson and the coaches opt to for in regards to the defensive structure now the Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown will be fit a firing for round 1. A couple of tall's down back is obviously what they lacked in 2015, needing to rely on guys like Will Schofield, whom unfortunately wouldn't make most teams' best 22! It will be great to see Elliot Yeo given more of a run on the ball next year, as well Lewis Jetta bounding down the lengthy expances of Subiaco oval. As far as rookies go, i can't see either Partington, Cole or Allen making their senior Debut's anytime soon, which is certainly a good thing overall for the Eagles.
jax
Guest
Home ground advantage had a bit to do with that result Roy. You saw the QF at Subi I hope?lets reverse your logic for a second - how can a team that had win the last two flags perform so poorly in a QF? It's a disgrace blah blah blah. It seems you're approaching this fro one angle only. I do agree with one point you made up the page - there is something wrong with the AFL and the competition as a whole and you can start with it being a VFL hybrid run and promoted by Victorians primarily for Victorians but that's just scratching the surface. I don't take the AFL very seriously.
Roy
Guest
Thanks for your post Brad, I totally agree about the 2010 GF and it adds substance to my feelings that there's something wrong if a teams performance can swing so dramatically over such a short time period ! p.s. at the moment I'm not drunk !
Roy
Guest
Certainly not baiting Jax ! - and I think "buffoon" is the word you're looking for
jax
Guest
As I said Balt - you're going to have to do better than that. Very weak rebuttal and tbh not worth a response. Think what you want sunshine and twist it like you do, it's going to change anything.
jax
Guest
WC smashed the Hawks in QF at Subi and got smashed in the GF at the G - what's the big structural problem with WC's list? Nothing - it's between the ears and they are a very young side. Roy you don't seem to have the first clue, stick to your Saints maybe as your a total amateur when it comes to WC.
jax
Guest
I'm with you there Don. Roy is carrying on like a bafoon. Over-reactions left, right and centre. He must be baiting is my guess, certainly not worth paying any attention to.
jax
Guest
Oh dear, so you look at one bad game and ignore approx 30 games of primarily stellar football spread across two seasons. Let's throw the baby out with the bath water then shall we? Ridiculous comments from you and I have to laugh at you as you must be joking or digging. People can't be that ......
TheBoss
Guest
There is no denying the link with the most recent one in McCarthy anyway, which proved that Freo are getting more and more desperate, as (admittedly) they should be
Brad
Guest
It’s one thing to go in as underdogs but to put on the performance they did, they may have won the WAFL gf . . . the Tiwi Islands Cup – but the AFL Grand Final ? – they were at the wrong game and shouldn’t have been there! You mean like St Kilda in 2010 in the Grand Final Replay? WCE actually lost by less than your mob and against a team that are considered the best ever! Go home Roy, you're drunk.
Don Freo
Guest
Rumour. That didn't happen at all. Freo has better players worth that money. You are reading too much Victorian press.
andyl12
Guest
"No “need” at all." Which is further proof that Fremantle doesn't actually want a premiership, and that those who feel Fremantle turns a blind eye to results are correct.
TheBoss
Guest
The rumoured offers to McCarthy and GWS to try to facilitate the move smacked of that very thing (desperation)... As did the million-dollar offer rumoured for Cloke in the past, and a similarly over-the-top offer to Clark
Don Freo
Guest
No "need" at all. That's the point. If there was a "need", desperation would have kicked in.
TheBoss
Guest
3 Admissions that you do need to trade? And then much more realisation from outside that you do need to trade?
Don Freo
Guest
Clark, McCarthy, Cloke...yeah, you put it out there. That's 3. Silly suggestions have been for Freo to go after Schulz, Black, Casboult, Waite, Grant... Taberner, Apeness, Pearce, Hannath and Vandeleur are better than them. Freo just chooses to develop.
TheBoss
Guest
"We don’t have much to point to with trades because we don’t trade. We don’t need to. We do what functional football departments do." Despite chasing to nearly every WA or 'coming-out-of-contract' key forward in the competition for the last 5 years... yeah, nah, other than that you mean?
New York Hawk
Guest
I used to watch the at The Australian in mid town but then I had a daughter. So now I watch most games on my iPad. That said it is always much better to get to the bar and watch the game with a few fellow Hawks supporters, or occasionally Swans supporters....
New York Hawk
Guest
Don, please don't take this the wrong way, but you might just be spot on in this instance...
New York Hawk
Guest
Happy to have Andy as a friend Don.