Rd 1 2008 North v WWT @ Prospect Saturday 29th

[Mickyj]

email from the EAGLES





SURGING EAGLES JUST MISS



By Peter Argent





Out of the contest for three terms, the Eagles loss the season opener to North Adelaide at Prospect Oval by just a single scoring shot after a courageous fight back in the last quarter. The never say die attitude of the group, which included six late goals in the final term, got the side to within a goal in the final minute but the home team held on in a very entertaining and high scoring contest.



With five SANFL first gamers into the Eagles line up for round one, the team fought hard in the first half, only to see the more experienced Roosters combination 22 points ahead at the main break. While the group was still in with an outside chance at the last break, North Adelaide looked in control of the contest at this point.



The team was without first choice players Justin Cicolella, 2006 Ken Farmer medallist Mark Passador, Dale Symmons, Adam Grocke and veteran Gavin Colville, but this provided opportunities for a new generation of Eagles. This included North Albury recruit Joel Mackie, Crows rookie Jarrhan Jacky and former St. Michael’s college footballer Lee Staple in attack, while Casey Scorpions recruit David Biagi and Henley footballer Cody Hicks started on the bench. Former North Adelaide player, 23-year-old James McEntee (after 31 senior games with the opponents) also played his initial league game with Eagles.



Strong marking and leading forward Ben Schwarze kept the Eagles in the contest with four straight first half goals playing out of the goal square. With four more goals in the second half (and two out of bounds on the full), his eight-goal haul secured him the Woodville-West Torrens best player honour. 18-year-old debutant Staple kicked his first goal in League company at the 21st minute mark of the second term, slotting through a beautiful goal from 50 metres out on a 45-degree angle in front of the Prospect cricketers club.



Mark Mckenzie lost the toss, but did little else wrong for the rest of the afternoon, playing at centre half back, then on the ball in the last term. Around the ball Luke Powell played with his usual endeavour and Leigh Treeby collected a host of possessions from his wing. All the first gamers showed positive signs at times during the game, but when you have more than half your side having played less than 20 senior matches, lack of experience was always going to be an issue.



As Malcolm Blight said early in the 1997 season, the competition is a marathon not a sprint - there were encouraging signs.

[ferret]

Last year the Eagles never played more than three talls up forward, maybe different personnel but never more than 3 talls. I know the hierarchy at the Eagles rate Salter one of the best CHFs in the SANFL. With his extra training at the power he will be the ideal CHF. The current mix of tall personnel up forward I feel is just right. Staple HF flank will run all day and wear his opponent out, CHF Salter to take a big mark, move around and KICK the LLLLLLLong goal and Schwarze to take the strong mark on the lead. Mickjaye you must remember that Salter is only 20 yo and of course his performance will fluctuate game to game but just remember what he did at CHF in the second half of 2007 and was most probably our best player in the prelim. final against NA.

[Mickyj]

Last year the Eagles never played more than three talls up forward, maybe different personnel but never more than 3 talls. I know the hierarchy at the Eagles rate Salter one of the best CHFs in the SANFL. With his extra training at the power he will be the ideal CHF. The current mix of tall personnel up forward I feel is just right. Staple HF flank will run all day and wear his opponent out, CHF Salter to take a big mark, move around and KICK the LLLLLLLong goal and Schwarze to take the strong mark on the lead. Mickjaye you must remember that Salter is only 20 yo and of course his performance will fluctuate game to game but just remember what he did at CHF in the second half of 2007 and was most probably our best player in the prelim. final against NA.

I wont argue with you ferret yep three talls is correct .In that final did he not spend time on the ball ?
What we both agree on is the lack of small crumbing forwards .

[ferret]

Granted Salter had the odd run on the ball in the prelim. but does this now defeat your argument he is too slow to play at CHF as you mentioned in one of your previous posting. I'm pretty sure he got most of his 4 goals at CHF. Good to see that we agree on the need to get more goals from other than talls.

Possibility Eagles could have both Paul Stewart and Rob Shirley back.
Would rather have smalls back than Kenny. Have plenty of quality talls such as; Schwarze, Salter, Staple, Twomey, Grocke, Passador, McEntee, McKenzie, and Hier for the tall set positions. Further down the track Hentschel has to be squeezed in.

[Mickyj]

Granted Salter had the odd run on the ball in the prelim. but does this now defeat your argument he is too slow to play at CHF as you mentioned in one of your previous posting. I'm pretty sure he got most of his 4 goals at CHF. Good to see that we agree on the need to get more goals from other than talls.

Possibility Eagles could have both Paul Stewart and Rob Shirley back.
Would rather have smalls back than Kenny. Have plenty of quality talls such as; Schwarze, Salter, Staple, Twomey, Grocke, Passador, McEntee, McKenzie, and Hier for the tall set positions. Further down the track Hentschel has to be squeezed in.

Perhaps we both are over looking the fact Salter was beaten saturday by his opponent. I hate very much saying that as I enjoy the way he plays the game.
I overlooked P Stewart you could be correct with him.
Still think if the EAGLEs left smalls up forward rather than running them in the mid field they would get better service.

[johntheclaret]

Coulter had the wood on Salter all day.

Thought McKenzie had a good game for you guys and took Alleway out of the game for the best part of 3 qtrs. Interesting to see that when McKenzie moved off Alleway, Allers kicked 3 goals (2 in the last qtr).
Now I'm no expert and a long way from the action, but there was a couple of strange decisions that could have changed the course of the game.

Firstly, Jars take Down, our only other ruck, out of the game and played him in the magoos, and put, arguably our best back, in Schubert as a second ruck. what happens, Schwartz kills the inexperienced Cunningham and the even more inexperienced Brown, and kicks 8 nearly winning it for WWT.
Then Fuller takes McKenzie off Alleway late in the 3rd qtr, even though he had keep Alleway goaless up until then, and then Allers kicks three goals which, with hindsight probably won it for North.

?

[drebin]

Coulter had the wood on Salter all day.

Thought McKenzie had a good game for you guys and took Alleway out of the game for the best part of 3 qtrs. Interesting to see that when McKenzie moved off Alleway, Allers kicked 3 goals (2 in the last qtr).
Now I'm no expert and a long way from the action, but there was a couple of strange decisions that could have changed the course of the game.

Firstly, Jars take Down, our only other ruck, out of the game and played him in the magoos, and put, arguably our best back, in Schubert as a second ruck. what happens, Schwartz kills the inexperienced Cunningham and the even more inexperienced Brown, and kicks 8 nearly winning it for WWT.
Then Fuller takes McKenzie off Alleway late in the 3rd qtr, even though he had keep Alleway goaless up until then, and then Allers kicks three goals which, with hindsight probably won it for North.

?

Some good points there JTC.

Jars makes some baffling moves (or non moves at times) but I suppose at least he backs the players in on most occasions. To start the game with our two listed Key Defenders out of position (Schubert on the bench as 2nd ruck and McIntyre at CHF) was a baffling option to most at the game. One of his defensive options in Damon White was ruled out pre-game and he would have played CHB but when it was clear that Schwarze was having a day out and both Brown (first game) and the under sized Cunningham were out of their depth to a degree he didn't make the most obvious move(s).

McIntyre or Schubert should have gone back onto him earlier, it eventually happened that Macca went to CHB and Schubert spent a little time up fwd when Stewart went into ruck to get him into the game but it didn't appear that Jars was overly concerned with the Schwarze threat. To be honest if he had kicked straighter, especially in the third quater when he put 2 shots out on the full the Eagles may have been closer at lemon time.

Having said all that, if North had kicked straighter all game (7 posters) then we should have had it wrapped up earlier although a 42 point lead 10 minutes into the last quarter against a quality opposition should never have equated to a 6 point win. North's ability to give up late goals in quarters week in week out, year after year is a concern and the players need to learn to play 25 minutes of football per quarter not 15.

I suspect that as the season unfolds Jars will work out the right defensive mix. It is a bit difficult with O'Hara out, Damon White and Ward also mising to settle the defence at present. Expect to see Damon White who Jars announced at the season launch will play CHB play mostly in defence although he can also play up fwd. McIntyre and Schubert will be used both in defence and attack as well as Schubert doing some ruck work at times and with Gill due to play a few for us in coming weeks our big man key position stocks will give us the size and flexibility we need to compete against the other main contenders.

However if we end up playing undersized defenders at FB and CHB (Brown and Cunningham) all season then we can not expect to beat teams like Sturt and Centrals and we will struggle to be a top 3 side. I suspect (or hope?) the coaching staff at North are aware of this.

[Mickyj]

Coulter had the wood on Salter all day.

Thought McKenzie had a good game for you guys and took Alleway out of the game for the best part of 3 qtrs. Interesting to see that when McKenzie moved off Alleway, Allers kicked 3 goals (2 in the last qtr).
Now I'm no expert and a long way from the action, but there was a couple of strange decisions that could have changed the course of the game.

Firstly, Jars take Down, our only other ruck, out of the game and played him in the magoos, and put, arguably our best back, in Schubert as a second ruck. what happens, Schwartz kills the inexperienced Cunningham and the even more inexperienced Brown, and kicks 8 nearly winning it for WWT.
Then Fuller takes McKenzie off Alleway late in the 3rd qtr, even though he had keep Alleway goaless up until then, and then Allers kicks three goals which, with hindsight probably won it for North.

?

After Wedgie (i think be kind if it wasnt you please)said Down was a certain to play I was surprised to see him line up in the two's.
Mckenzie going onto the ball is an old trick of Rons some days it works others he is better left at CHB.
Dont forget Jars had 3 on Schwarze most times he flew for the ball .A big tick for him in contested marking contests.But that brings us back to where were the crumbing forwards .And it appears most problems occurred at the end kicking into the wind .Not for Schwarze mind you but missing crumbers .
2006 jars moved Hrgraves down back eagles almost stole that game as well .Perhaps round 1 for Jars and Ron is who can do the silliest moves to out play the other one.

[johntheclaret]

Didn't realise that White was ruled of pre-game which would explain Down dropping to the magoo's but it was obvious, even to me, that Cunningham and Brown wern't up to it against a player of Schwartz's ability and experience.

Still a win is a win

[drebin]

Didn't realise that White was ruled of pre-game which would explain Down dropping to the magoo's but it was obvious, even to me, that Cunningham and Brown wern't up to it against a player of Schwartz's ability and experience.

Still a win is a win

Surely not having Damon White to play CHB would have ensured a second ruckman in Down was selected to the 21 and use Schubert at CHB??? The final 21 that played in my opinion was short of defensive height and size and that was proven as the game went on.

[johntheclaret]

Didn't realise that White was ruled of pre-game which would explain Down dropping to the magoo's but it was obvious, even to me, that Cunningham and Brown wern't up to it against a player of Schwartz's ability and experience.

Still a win is a win

Surely not having Damon White to play CHB would have ensured a second ruckman in Down was selected to the 21 and use Schubert at CHB??? The final 21 that played in my opinion was short of defensive height and size and that was proven as the game went on.

Agree but would that not depend on when White actually dropped out. Was it 5 mins before the game or before the magoos had played. If the latter, then no excuse for Down not playing IMO

[drebin]

Didn't realise that White was ruled of pre-game which would explain Down dropping to the magoo's but it was obvious, even to me, that Cunningham and Brown wern't up to it against a player of Schwartz's ability and experience.

Still a win is a win

Surely not having Damon White to play CHB would have ensured a second ruckman in Down was selected to the 21 and use Schubert at CHB??? The final 21 that played in my opinion was short of defensive height and size and that was proven as the game went on.

Agree but would that not depend on when White actually dropped out. Was it 5 mins before the game or before the magoos had played. If the latter, then no excuse for Down not playing IMO

.

The club was told Friday afternoon that White was going to Sydney as a travelling emergency.

[johntheclaret]

That makes the decision even stranger,??

[kingrooster]

Wasn't it Brett White who dropped out pregame, not Damon?

[drebin]

Both White's where ruled out Friday night.