SA Footy

Reckon the Eagles will push for the eight this year, a much improving side.

Most likely finish between 8-12

My summary

Should see some improvement thanks to Big Nic and Dean Cox leading the rucks.

With Josh Kennedy show improvements up forward, it gives them something to kick to. Also throw in Lynch, McKinnely and the LeCras they have a few options up forward. Not sure where Embley will be playing, but this combination looks to free him up a bit.

Looking at there midfield: Kerr, Priddis, Selwood, Masten and the improvement of Ebert as well, then with the possibility of a dominating ruck duo, there midfield could start to be a hand full at times.

So with that Im tipping them to finish 8 - 12th. Should see start to see plenty of improvement from recent years.

Agree with nearly all of that, Stan, but have them 8th. Forwardline of Kennedy, Hansen, Lynch, McKinley and LeCras is very, very versatile and creates a number of match-up issues for most opposition. Another crumber in there would be a bonus.

If Kerr stays as fit as he looked Friday night - and yes, first game of the year, then him, Priddis, Selwood and Dalziell are all possession magnets. Working at the feet of Cox and Natanui creates a very dangerous centre square combination. In fact, Worsfold's headache will be how to use Cox and Natanui - does he leave the latter off the field for periods of rotation, or keep him up forward to really stretch things further.

A little thin in the backlines looks a slight problem for them though.

stan wrote:My summary

Should see some improvement thanks to Big Nic and Dean Cox leading the rucks.

With Josh Kennedy show improvements up forward, it gives them something to kick to. Also throw in Lynch, McKinnely and the LeCras they have a few options up forward. Not sure where Embley will be playing, but this combination looks to free him up a bit.

Looking at there midfield: Kerr, Priddis, Selwood, Masten and the improvement of Ebert as well, then with the possibility of a dominating ruck duo, there midfield could start to be a hand full at times.

So with that Im tipping them to finish 8 - 12th. Should see start to see plenty of improvement from recent years.

Interesting year ahead for the Eagles.

Need to get back to winning most games at home especially the Derbys which are taken far too lightly by WCE of late, but improvement away from home is the key if the Eagles are to rise up the ladder.

Kerr seems super fit and if he can hold his temper in check and get the support from these 3rd and 4th year players then we may see the best of him again which is crucial to the midfield.

Cox's fitness is a really worry for me and will be interesting to see where he is at in the next month. Have a huge amount of hope for the younger generation (Swift, Schuey, Nic Nat, Selwood) and the Eagles would expect very big years out of Masten, Kennedy, Ebert and LeCras if they are to rise anywhere near the 8.

Kennedy is looking like giving WCE fans something that they have never ever had (Sorry Mitchell White) and that is an A Grade centre half forward, his work rate and improvement since he joined the club has been amazing and if that continues expect big big things out of him (He is only 22).

Hurn is an amazing talent and could be one of the best kicks i have seen at the Eagles. Will set up a huge amount of play from half back and hopefully can impact in the middle at times as well.

Masten seems to be about to deliver what supporters have been expecting from day 1. He runs hard, finds a hige amount of the football and is a very good tackler. Skills are still a worry for me.

Hansen will barely play. Forward line will consist of Kennedy, Lynch, McKinley and fill the gaps with the likes of Embley, Nicoski, LeCras, Dalziell and Cox or Nic Nat.

Enough is spoken about Nic Nat will be very special IMO. The likes of Sheppard, Swift, Schuey and Selwood plus the additions of two forgotten players in Butler and Waters will be where the improvement comes from but i still expect inconsisitent and Patchy football at times.

7th - 11th would be my bet.

Sorry Mitchell White. You got that right!

regards,

REB

6th to 8th

i rekon the weagles will be the biggest improvers this year. will make finals.

SNAPSHOT
Coach: John Worsfold
Captain: Darren Glass
Finished 2009: 11th (eight wins, 14 losses)
Best and fairest: Darren Glass
Leading goalkicker: Mark LeCras (58 goals)
Leading possession winner: Adam Selwood (515)

NEW PERSONNEL
On-field: Bradd Dalziell (exchange period), Brad Sheppard, Koby Stevens, Gerrick Weedon (NAB AFL Draft), Ryan Neates (NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft), Lewis Broome, Andrew Strijk, Ashton Hams, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (NAB AFL Rookie Draft)
Off-field: Simon Eastaugh (ruck coach)

BEST 22
B: Mitch Brown, Darren Glass, Brett Jones
HB: Sam Butler, Eric Mackenzie, Shannon Hurn
C: Chris Masten, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa
HF: Brad Ebert, Josh Kennedy, Andrew Embley
F: Ben McKinley, Quinten Lynch, Mark LeCras
Foll: Dean Cox, Daniel Kerr, Adam Selwood
I/C: Nic Naitanui, Beau Waters, Tom Swift, Scott Selwood

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER

Shannon Hurn returned from an injury-ruined 2008 to play a major backline role last season, finishing second in the Eagles’ best and fairest. His accurate and penetrating kick is not only a safe option out of defence, it is a weapon so often used to launch forward thrusts. At just 22, Hurn has become irreplaceable in Worsfold’s structure.

UP AND COMER

With his injuries behind him, second-year midfielder Luke Shuey is ready to debut and have an impact at AFL level. A natural footballer who has displayed poise, clean disposal and toughness this pre-season, Shuey always makes the right decision with the ball in his hands and should be a regular in West Coast’s midfield before season’s end.

NEEDS A BIG YEAR
At 24, Brett Jones was a premiership half-back crucial to West Coast’s 2006 success. But after an injury-interrupted season that sapped him of form and confidence, the 27-year-old is seemingly fighting for his spot. If he can bounce back, Jones will provide valuable experience alongside captain Darren Glass in what is a young defence.

CHANGING TACK
A strong finish to 2009 has justified West Coast’s game plan in Worsfold’s eyes and there will be little change on that front in 2010. There will, however, be positional changes. Premiership half-back Beau Waters will return after 18 months on the sidelines in a new forward line role, possibly modeled on that played by Geelong’s half-forward enforcer Max Rooke. Nic Naitanui will step up to give the side a two-pronged ruck division, allowing both him and Dean Cox to rest forward at times, while utility Quinten Lynch will play a permanent forward role after plugging holes in 2009. Former Brisbane Lion Bradd Dalziell was acquired in the trade period and will add midfield depth.

INJURY LIST
Nil

WHAT THE CLUB SAYS
“We haven’t got 15 28-year-olds holding the team together with a few [kids] filtering through. The bulk of our group is the younger side of it that are going to play together for a long period of time. That’s when you start to say they should have some success together. If we maintain [last year’s] improvement we might get in the eight.” - senior coach John Worsfold

CRYSTAL BALL
Four wins from its last five games in 2009 has West Coast in vogue again, and natural improvement from its young midfielders - and less of a burden on Daniel Kerr - should see it step into contention for seventh or eighth spot this season. The club has long lacked a strong marking option inside 50, and the emergence of Josh Kennedy as a quality centre half-forward shapes as a key to the club’s success this season.

SEASON OPENER
March 27 v Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

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