The Eagles Post-mortem 2007

[Aerie]

3rd - W12 L7, D1 (Finals W1, L2)

A lot of things have to go right for a club to be successful in a season and in hindsight, 2007 for the Eagles was a frustrating year. After competing in the previous three Grand Finals and finally breaking through for a premiership in 2006, defending a premiership in 2007 was going to be an even bigger task.

The Recruiting
The movements in the pre-season were disappointing. Skipworth, Potter and Westbrook's loss were understandable and I thought the addition of Schwarze proved to be a very good one, Duncan and Klun proved to be useful and Rimington is a project player for the future. However, the loss of so many reserves players who most would have expected to step up to league ranks this season was concerning.

The Coaching
Another big change from 2006 to 2007 was the coaching staff. MacGowan and Norman out, Rogers and Pesch in. I thought the coaching staff did a good job in getting the most out of the league team for the last half of the season. The reserves started to play better in the latter half of the season and suffered because of the loss of a large group of 20 something year olds leaving the club in the off-season and the loss during the season of a group of talented under 18's to state duties as well as the continuing injuries to senior players.

The Cream of the Crop
The main reason the Eagles were able to stay alive deep into the finals was the outstanding season's of Leigh Treeby, Luke Jarrad and Luke Powell. These three in particular carried a large load with so many key players missing out through injury. Peter Fiacchi, Bernie Vince, Brad Dabrowski, Paul Lindsay, Matt Cooper, Dale Symmons and Adam Grocke also deserve special mention for playing their part during the season.

The Rising Stars
If the Eagles are able to still be a force in the coming years, it will be due to the following group of players who stepped up in 2007. Brodie Lomas and Nick Salter were the two outstanding performers from the younger brigade. Fairclough, Hier, Redden, James Stewart, Fitzgerald, Giuffreda, Pavlich and Petrenko all experienced league football and will be better for the experience.

The Disappointments
Injuries to key players was the major disappointment in 2007. Inkster was the biggest loss. After a career best year in 2006, he hardly played a game this season. His ability to do the unpredictable and his talent up forward and in the midfield was a huge loss for the Eagles this year. Passador, McKenzie, Cicolella, Grocke, Colville and Rob Fiacchi all struggled with injury during the year and couldn't get on the track at the same time.

The Positives
What was most impressive this year was the character shown by the club from the half way mark of the season. 3 quarter time at Alberton in Round 13 and with only 3 goals on the board and the season on the line, the team somehow managed to win largely from the efforts of inexperienced players and from there gained enough momentum to finish top 3. The efforts in the finals were fantastic, but there was nothing left in the tank with the team fading in all finals matches. All was spent just getting there.

The Future
A number of key players from 2006 who struggled with injury this year may be leaving according to some on this site. If these players stay and can get fit the squad certainly has the talent to challenge again next year. If they leave then a lot will depend on recruiting and the continued development of the younger players. 2008 is looming as the beginning of the next assault on a premiership with a different group of core players having to take over the load from the likes of Inkster, Passador, Pedler and Colville.

[eaglehaslanded]

Great analysis Aerie. Can you enlighten me anymore on Passador, Colville, Inkster, Grocke etc. Is it true that we may lose all 4 in one off season. I would have thought Passa was settled here in Adelaide now with the marketing position at the club. Colville wouldn't surprise me but I had heard he maybe tempted to go around one more time.

[bayman]

Great analysis Aerie. Can you enlighten me anymore on Passador, Colville, Inkster, Grocke etc. Is it true that we may lose all 4 in one off season. I would have thought Passa was settled here in Adelaide now with the marketing position at the club. Colville wouldn't surprise me but I had heard he maybe tempted to go around one more time.

grocke is moving overseas for work (modelling)

[eaglehaslanded]

Great analysis Aerie. Can you enlighten me anymore on Passador, Colville, Inkster, Grocke etc. Is it true that we may lose all 4 in one off season. I would have thought Passa was settled here in Adelaide now with the marketing position at the club. Colville wouldn't surprise me but I had heard he maybe tempted to go around one more time.

grocke is moving overseas for work (modelling)

Thanks bayman I had heard rumours on this site I wasn't sure whether anything was definate though.

[Eagles Chimney]

Agree with your summary Aerie.
We also need to factor in that the Eagles played 8 games straight in the lead up to the finals. I know pre bye years there was no break either but we need to consider that all other sides in the finals had at least one week off closer to the finals than the Eagles. Talking to some of the players Sunday night, many were sore. Brodie Lomas, for example, has been playing with shin soreness for the last month and this explains his drop in form during the finals.
The club must recruit in the off season or I feel we will struggle to match the efforts of this year.
At the end of the day we can't criticise the club or its players at all for result of 2007.
The next challenge for the club is to win back to back premierships. This is something the old or new Eagles have never achieved.

[Aerie]

Great analysis Aerie. Can you enlighten me anymore on Passador, Colville, Inkster, Grocke etc. Is it true that we may lose all 4 in one off season. I would have thought Passa was settled here in Adelaide now with the marketing position at the club. Colville wouldn't surprise me but I had heard he maybe tempted to go around one more time.

I have no idea eagleshaslanded. I hope all players go on again next season as I don't think there is anyone in the squad who has nothing left to give at league level.

[FlyingHigh]

However, the loss of so many reserves players who most would have expected to step up to league ranks this season was concerning.

Aerie, to me this has been the biggest concern for us this year. Guess the alternative is that a few younger players who may not have played got their chance, but to be as strong as we could have been we needed a couple of these players.

Coaching - McGowan obviously a huge loss, but a bit like a young player drafted, you knew he was going to advance sooner rather than later.

Players - would probably include Vince in that top bracket with the other three.

Probably another disappointment due to injury was not Paul Stewart not playing any league games this year, in what should have been a year in which he really progressed to become a realiable contributor. Admit I haven't seena great deal of him, but do you think he thas the potential to be as versatile as say Hunter from WCE?

[centrecirclelegend]

I would be sorry to see them go but I think the following players must retire or move on and time to refresh the group with another dominant ruckman, pacy skilled midfielders, & solid attacking CHB

Justin Cicollela-great player but too slow now
Joe Pedler-also too slow
George Pedler-not up to it
Gavin Colville-his body has had enough
Steven Hall-also too slow and past it
Mathew Cooper-can't keep up anymore
Paul Lindsay-getting too slow and gives away far too many free kicks
Adam Grocke-doesn't want to get hurt or scarred
Luke Duncan-had a go but not up to it
Adam Klun-past it
Vinnie Rugolo-not up to it and gives away far too many frees

we have some exciting juniors progressing through the ranks and should be given a go next year
the next pre season training should also be increased to get these guys even fitter than they were this year

[Aerie]

That's a big call ccl. Cica, Lindsay, Cooper and Grocke I would keep and still expect them to be in the top bracket at least next year. Duncan, Klun, Rugolo I'd keep as depth players. Colville, Pedler and Hall have probably seen their best days, but wouldn't mind seeing Colville and Pedler go around once again. Agree re pushing through the youngsters which Fuller always has done anyway.

FlyingHigh - Agree Paul Stewart was a disappointment. I think his last league game was the North game at Prospect when he injured himself. Thought he played well that day and was starting to show the endeavour required at league level. No idea why he wasn't picked again for the rest of the season. I also would have liked to see Petrenko in the side from the start of the year. His pace could have been used through the midfield and up forward had he seen more league action earlier. Instead he was thrown in the deep end at the end and we missed the chance to see his potential at league level.

[POOLSIDE]

Interesting ccl, get rid of the captain and the first choice ruckman!
I think with the injuries that a lot of the boys have played with this year, not a lot has to change player wise. They did end up 3rd!

[FlyingHigh]

Aerie - know you have always been a fan of Petrenko. Agree that his pace up forward would have given teams something to think about.

I thought that it was disappointing from a team point of view Stewart couldn't get out on the field more, and offer us a quicker, flexible player who could play tall or short.

Cicca has still got plenty of good footy left in him
Pedler, great teamman, but has always been more suited to the third tall, although the job he did in last years GF was great.
Lindsay has still got something to offer, but it is definitely time for Dabrowski to be given a shot at first ruck, as he's getting to that age he should be playing his best footy.
Cooper - have got good value from him considering everyone thought he was written off, but really looked to be struggling the last couple of weeks. Looked as though he knew where he wanted to be, but couldn't quite get there. Whether that's age or a niggling injury?

[spell_check]

Hopefully we can have a relatively injury free pre season (almost impossible to go without no injuries!). I hope Colville can go again, he did show he still has value as a tagger this year. I think the big key is to not have too many interruptions with injury - only Lindsay, Treeby and Jarrad played every match this year - the players that centrecirclelegend mentioned has had injury problems like Cica, Pedler, Grocke, Cooper and Klun at some stage and would benefit from a good pre season.

[CENTURION]

[quote="centrecirclelegend"]I would be sorry to see them go but I think the following players must retire or move on and time to refresh the group with another dominant ruckman, pacy skilled midfielders, & solid attacking CHB

Justin Cicollela-great player but too slow now
Joe Pedler-also too slow
George Pedler-not up to it
Gavin Colville-his body has had enough
Steven Hall-also too slow and past it
Mathew Cooper-can't keep up anymore
Paul Lindsay-getting too slow and gives away far too many free kicks "AND DOESN'T TRAIN"
Adam Grocke-doesn't want to get hurt or scarred
Luke Duncan-had a go but not up to it
Adam Klun-past it
Vinnie Rugolo-not up to it and gives away far too many frees

sounds to me like you're up shit creek!

[LPH]

Very good summary Aerie.

Clearly, our problem (was exposed in Finals) A LACK OF PACE through the midfield.
Remember that we only won 1 game out of our last 4 which was a disappointing end to a frustrating year.

This MUST be addressed next season if we are to improve but...

I think that we are about to see a rather large exodus of players, due to a range of reasons.
I think success next year will be measured on making the finals.

Sadly, I think that this is the beginning of a 'rebuilding' stage that the club is going to HAVE TO ENDURE over the next few seasons. It might be time to start playing MORE young blokes in order to set the stage for an assult come 2009 2010.

All in all, a solid season to finish 3rd after the 'breakthrough' flag last year.
We missed Macca badly throughout the year, along with Passa & Timmy.
I was VERY disappointed with Zac Heir's season, thought he was a real let down although that may be a result of extra training @ PAPs.

Season defining moment WAS that win @ Alberton. Fantastic feeling in the rooms afterwards.

[woodwt]

I would be sorry to see them go but I think the following players must retire or move on and time to refresh the group with another dominant ruckman, pacy skilled midfielders, & solid attacking CHB

Justin Cicollela-great player but too slow now
Joe Pedler-also too slow
George Pedler-not up to it
Gavin Colville-his body has had enough
Steven Hall-also too slow and past it
Mathew Cooper-can't keep up anymore
Paul Lindsay-getting too slow and gives away far too many free kicks
Adam Grocke-doesn't want to get hurt or scarred
Luke Duncan-had a go but not up to it
Adam Klun-past it
Vinnie Rugolo-not up to it and gives away far too many frees

we have some exciting juniors progressing through the ranks and should be given a go next year
the next pre season training should also be increased to get these guys even fitter than they were this year

WTF

If we lose all of those players we wont be in the finals for a while!!

[centrecirclelegend]

if we keep these players the other teams will catch up and knock us out of the finals anyway
these players mentioned will not win us another grand final
we must replace them with younger talent if we want to be continually playing finals
thats the great thing about our club they promote juniors rather than trying to buy a premiership that rarely happens
youth is the way to go now
Ron is one of the best coaches of youth we have ever seen!

[Mickyj]

A good summary Aerie .
I would also like to say it was a pleasure to meet both Areie And Loud Eagle hooligan .As well as the ladies and guys in the stand at woodville.

IMHO
The Eagles need more pace in the midfield and not try and make small forwards midfielders A pet hate of mine re the eagles the last two years.
And the eagles need to find some more backmen and small forwards.2006 the eagles had small forwards coming out of rons ears this year it was slim pickings.
the Eagles need to move heaven and earth to get skippy back!!

[MagareyLegend]

Ron is one of the best coaches of youth we have ever seen!

He hasn't taught Fairclough how to respect the handball option to a team mate - a glaring deficiency

[Mickyj]

Ron is one of the best coaches of youth we have ever seen!

He hasn't taught Fairclough how to respect the handball option to a team mate - a glaring deficiency

I have a feeling he may be gone in the draft let the Crows etc fix him up

[MagareyLegend]

I have a feeling he may be gone in the draft let the Crows etc fix him up

Not so sure about that - has no outstanding features