How will WEST COAST fare in 2006?

[CyberKev]

STRENGTHS: The Eagles possess arguably the best ruck and midfield divisions in the game, which means that they will almost always be super competitive in games, given that they can be guaranteed a strong share of the ball. Their playing list has reached a point in its development where experience and confidence are high, and they did pick-up some handy looking youngsters in the draft (especially considering the level of picks they had to use). Fortress Subi remains a huge homeground advantage for the side and should almost be enough - in and of itself - to guarantee the club finals action again in 2006.

WEAKNESSES: The Eagles forward structure is worryingly flawed and they have failed to find the big targets they so desperately need. The defence is also average, and will again be easily found out by strong opponents away from the comfortable surrounds of Subiaco. While they commonly run sides of their feet in the west, such wins tend to obscure flaws in the team's gameplan wherein they routinely go wide and overuse the pill in order to compensate for their limited forward options.

PREDICTION: Many out west have already pencilled this season in as a gimme, but improvement in the squad isn't apparent, and the same debilitating structural flaws remain.

West Coast - 5th

 

[stevo]

Hoping for better then 5th that's for sure. Not sure if i can handle losing another Grandfinal thou. We really need to do something about our forward line not firing, maybe moving Hunter up there more often might be a good start.

 

[CyberKev]

Hoping for better then 5th that's for sure. Not sure if i can handle losing another Grandfinal thou. We really need to do something about our forward line not firing, maybe moving Hunter up there more often might be a good start.

Are you going to join us for tipping this season stevo?

I know Brad Smith is unproven and hasn't played a game, but losing him preseason was tough for the Eagles given they were building a plan around playing him at FF. I don't think they have a lot of choice other than to plop McDougall at FF and see what happens.

I think Hansen will be a rock solid CHF from this season on, and Hunter may offer more up forward than down back, particularly as I don't see him as a genuine fulltime CHB option. It was also noticeable that he was about the only forward to provide any real spark for the Eagles in last year's decider.

When I say I was impressed by West Coast's draft pick-ups I certainly mean it. Hurn could easily have gone top 5 given his ability and junior record; and I think McKinley will add much to the side's forward set up in a peripheral role.

 

[meltiger]

There's quite a few puntroadenders Kev who are annoyed we didn't take Hurn.

 

[stevo]

why not, might as well give it a go. haven't really paid much attention to the AFL in the past few years. Started getting into it again near the end of the H&A season last year. It sucks when you live in Brissy and hear nothing but crap about the Lions. It kinda turns you off a bit.

 

[CyberKev]

There's quite a few puntroadenders Kev who are annoyed we didn't take Hurn.

I could imagine, and it is fair to say that I'm not the sole Hawk tragic who would have liked to have Hurn in the stable. Of course, you can't have everybody...

Hurn got creamed in certain areas on account of three factors:

1) Lack of legspeed;
2) Lack of fitness needed to play midfield;
3) Lack of improvement capacity due to strong body build.

Leaving aside the first issue (always contentious) for the moment, the other two pieces of reasoning have massive holes in them.

Hurn suffered badly from OP for much of 2005 and didn't get to do a preseason, so its hardly surprising that his fitness level would be compromised.

As for the other charge, I always get a laugh when it is levelled at a player. Saying that a big bodied youngster can't improve makes me feel for the youngsters out at Chelsea who once had to play on Leigh Matthews. Obviously, as a big bodied 16 year old, he had no improvement in him and freakishly was already playing at 'player of the century' level back then. Scary matchup... :lol:

 

[lockyno1]

Well put it this way if their main guys stay on the park I can only see them coming 1st or 2nd at the end of the regular season. Their big worry is their key positional players. 2nd for mine.