West Coast Eagles 2024

[wenchbarwer]

Spiro Kourkoumelis

I’ll go Spiro Malakellis

Athas Hrysoulakis

I remember getting his footy sticker and being all sorts of confused...

[Lightning McQueen]

In all honesty, it would be an attractive proposition, the KPI's would be low and there would be no expectations to succeed any time soon.

They've generally recruited poorly and they're neither here nor there as far as a rebuild is concerned, they have no one worth trading so their best option would be to clear out some age and experience and give the kids a run.

It's a shame that blokes like Allen, Cole, Barrass, Ryan, Witherden and Waterman missed the boat, a bit more talent around and they form a good nucleus.

Obviously Reid is going to be the next big thing, I think Ginbey looks alright, not real sure of many others.

A lot of current players haven't taken the next step, I though Petruccelle looked good early on his career but that fizzled out.

[Booney]

3 years free pass, I agree.

[MW]

IF whoever gets it treats it like a 3 year free pass, they aint getting a 4th year.
Arguably first 3 years more important than the next 3. Look at the Crows.

[PatowalongaPirate]

Andrew Gaff has announced his retirement, next week vs Carlton will be his last game.

[Lightning McQueen]

Andrew Gaff has announced his retirement, next week vs Carlton will be his last game.

Oh shit, I feel partly responsible.

[helicopterking]

Andrew Gaff has announced his retirement, next week vs Carlton will be his last game.

Was a very good player in his Prime and unfortunate that he missed out on getting that 2018 flag.
I’ll always adore that he crumbled that dirtbag Freo player.

[helicopterking]

Glad that’s over for 2024

Positives- Waterman, Hough, Reid. Melbourne and Freo wins.
Negatives- No Coach, 5 wins. Hewitt and Long injured majority of season.

Areas that need addressing- Midfield, Midfield, Midfield. Non Existent Wingman.

Duggan(27),Cole(27),Ryan(27), Petucelle(25), Witherden(25), Cripps(32), Darling(32), Rotham(26),Sheed(29), have all hit their ceiling, and why serviceable, aren’t moving the list forward in the coming seasons. All have little trade value, except maybe Liam Ryan as a 2nd rounder. If an offer for anyone comes, you’d consider it.Darling and Sheed will sit in the WAFL and mentor the WAFL Eagles until contracts are up in 2025. Simply can’t play in front of any progressing youth. Our drafting between 2017 and 2020 was bad. 14 selections, 8 no longer at the club.

Ginbey, Maric, Hutchinson, Dewar, Hall, J. Williams,Trew have all showed improvement.
L.Edwards, Burgiel, Chesser, Barnett, Brockman have not progressed at all.
Archer Reid and Jai Culley have shown improvement in the WAFL.

WC have been soft in the Trading and Drafting space for the last few seasons. With Barrass trade on the horizon and potentially moving someone like Ryan on, if we could snare 4 top 30 picks, that’s a win. We can’t afford to give up first round picks(Unless it’s for Chad Warner)
Jack Graham as a free agent and target Angus Sheldrick (WA Lad) midfielder at Sydney who can’t get a look in, but impressed at VFL level albeit injury interrupted.

[dedja]

Surely any report that suggests the Weagles will go for Hinkley once he likely gets the DCM from Port isn’t serious.

Steven King? Maybe, but is there anyone else left in the mix?

[helicopterking]

Surely any report that suggests the Weagles will go for Hinkley once he likely gets the DCM from Port isn’t serious.

Steven King? Maybe, but is there anyone else left in the mix?

My understanding is no, but maybe part of the Football Program, but not head coach.
King, McQualter, Montgomery

[Booney]

After an extensive and thorough process the West Coast Eagles today appointed Andrew McQualter as the club’s next AFL senior coach on a three-year contract.

McQualter, who has a comprehensive coaching resume which includes being a key pillar in three Richmond premierships alongside Damien Hardwick, was yesterday informed by Chief Executive Officer Don Pyke that he was the successful applicant.

“We believe Andrew has the professional and personal qualities and experience required to guide our team. We are excited to have someone of his calibre leading our football program forward,” Pyke said.

“We were in a fortunate position where we had three exceptional candidates short-listed with Andrew possessing the credentials and vision needed to help us make strong progress.

“Andrew has a firm vision of what needs to be done and is ready to embrace the opportunity of being an AFL senior coach.

“We welcome Andrew, Jane, Emily, Alice and Georgia to our West Coast family.”

McQualter had a taste of the senior coaching role when he was interim coach at Richmond in 2023 after Hardwick stepped down mid-season. He coached 13 games for a 7-6 winning record.

He had previously assumed a variety of roles during the Tigers’ dynasty as he took charge of the midfield and stoppages, the forward line and was responsible for the ball movement strategy between 2017 and 2023.

He also spent four seasons as a development coach with Richmond’s VFL team between 2013 and 2016, and has been an assistant coach at Melbourne in 2024.

McQualter said he was thrilled to receive the opportunity and is looking forward to relocating to Perth and starting his journey at West Coast.

“I have been working towards this moment for the last 10 years and I’m thrilled to be appointed as coach of the West Coast Eagles,” McQualter said.

“I am aware that there is much work to do and I am definitely up for that.

“There is some exciting young talent at the club with a mix of outstanding players and I couldn’t be more excited to get over there and get to work with them.”

The 38-year-old, who played 94 senior games with St Kilda and Gold Coast, will relocate with his young family in the coming months.

He will become just the seventh AFL senior coach in the 38-year history of the club.

The club will hold a press conference this afternoon to formally introduce and welcome Andrew to the West Coast Eagles.

[am Bays]

Comes with Baker and Bolton in his back pocket...

[dedja]

Dodged a major bullet missing out to Yze at Richmond, where seemingly everyone is trying to jump ship.

Will the Weagles be a better proposition?

[helicopterking]

Dodged a major bullet missing out to Yze at Richmond, where seemingly everyone is trying to jump ship.

Will the Weagles be a better proposition?

Gets a free 3 year pass.

[dedja]

Dodged a major bullet missing out to Yze at Richmond, where seemingly everyone is trying to jump ship.

Will the Weagles be a better proposition?

Gets a free 3 year pass.

What’s your thoughts on the appointment?

[helicopterking]

Dodged a major bullet missing out to Yze at Richmond, where seemingly everyone is trying to jump ship.

Will the Weagles be a better proposition?

Gets a free 3 year pass.

What’s your thoughts on the appointment?

He’s one of many who were in a similar position with Experience Etc
Like most, Won’t know much until he’s in the furnace. He’s got a hell of a job to do.

[dedja]

This aged well, posted at 8:09am on WWOS this morning

Cats great all but locked in as Eagles coach as triple-premiership teammate looks to join staff

By Anna Pavlou - Mon, 30 Sep 8:09am


Speculation continues to grow around Geelong assistant coach Steven King landing the West Coast Eagles senior coaching role.

But it's the suggestion that he will bring triple Cats premiership teammate Matthew Scarlett west with him, should he get the role, that now has tongues wagging.

According to KRock Geelong's Tom King, King has all but been confirmed as the new Eagles leader after completing an interview during September.

While the news hasn't been confirmed yet, King has remained the front runner for the Eagles top job since early September.

"I don't think they're looking at anyone else, it's a coach that's coaching in the finals right now in Steven King with Geelong at present," 2018 Eagles premiership player Will Schofield said at the time.

Additionally, eagle-eyed Cats fans have spotted that King's profile on the Geelong website has been removed from the coaching tab.

But King hasn't been in the spotlight, as he continues to recover from a terrifying health scare.

The former ruckman collapsed during Geelong's final training session at GMHBA Stadium on the Friday before their preliminary final.

He was rushed to hospital and cleared of any serious damage.

The incident occurred just after King arrived back in Geelong from his coaching meeting with the Eagles.

King played 193 games for the Cats, captaining their 2007 premiership, before moving to St Kilda to finish his career.

He was interim coach for the Gold Coast Suns for seven matches in 2023, after the club axed Stuart Dew.

He did not coach or attend the Cats' 10-point preliminary final loss to the Lions.

He has been at Geelong as their midfield coach since the end of last season.

Scarlett was an assistant with the Cats between 2016 to 2021 and is lauded as one of the greatest to ever pull on the hoops, playing 284 games.

The Eagles sacked 2018 premiership coach Adam Simpson just weeks out from the end of the 2024 home-and-away campaign, with assistant Jarrad Schofield stepping in as interim leader.

Additionally, if King can entice Scarlett west, he could build a serious coaching staff.