Booney wrote:For fear of copping some anti-Port wrath I'll comment on the Eagles.
Again, September comes around and bar Wundke the Eagles side looked incapable of hitting the scoreboard. Clearly a key forward short of where they need to be, perhaps two and the ruck division looks light on, especially with Hayes backing up the first choice ruckman.
Goes to show how the Eagles are super hard to beat at Woodville, I think it's the hardest place to go and win, but get them away from Woodville in the pressure cooker of finals and they're a different unit.
From what I saw yesterday I expect Sturt to make it through to play Port in a fortnight.
Probably a reasonable assessment there Booney. J Hayes looked really good in the first half of the season as a leading forward alongside Wundke. Fully of confidence, grabbing everything around him. The injury to Borholm forced Godden to play him as our key ruck (until the emergence of West) and then when West did come into the side Godden still played him as a second ruck. They guy would be lucky to be pushing 191cm. From the moment he started being used a ruckman his confidence has nosedived and his output has diminished and this experience has probably delayed his emergence as a key forward by 12 months or more.
It is clear that our gameplan changes from the minor round matches to how we play in the finals. During the season, we have multiple scoring options and our midfielders and small forwards in particular kick at least three quarters of our goals. In the finals matches where we have 'folded' in recent times Wundke has been responsible for kicking 90% of the goals. We look for him on every occasion because our midfielders and small forwards have all had very poor matches and contribute nothing. Players like McGregor and Johansson must be kicking 4 goals between them if we are to have any hope. And players like Boyd, Hall, Petrenko etc need to get 2-3 on the scoreboard. We can't be leaving it all to one player.
It starts in the centre. Our ruckman needs to get their hands to the ball. West will be a good player but its clear he is not ready yet. Borholm (if fit) must come into the side.