West Coast 2015 Season,Discussion

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-03-27/something-to-prove

Chris Masten says his teammates have not been disheartened by the results of a captains’ poll which revealed that just one AFL skipper across the competition expects West Coast to make finals this season.

The midfielder is happy to start the 2015 campaign with something to prove.

“I think we probably are a little bit underrated, but I think that sits well with us,” Masten said.

“We’ve got something to prove and hopefully we can.

“Everyone’s got their own opinion and if no one rates us on the outside, that doesn’t change a thing inside our doors.

“We know what we’re about, we know what we’re aiming towards and we know what we’ve been working hard for.

“We’re not here just to rock up and make up the numbers, we want to have a really good crack.”

Sharrod's pre-season exceptional: Simpson

The loss of the team’s no.1 defender in Eric Mackenzie may have lowered the expectations of critics across the board, but Masten is confident in the ability of his teammates to fill the void.

“We still rock up with six backmen and they’ve got six forwards,” Masten said.

“It’s pretty bad losing one of your best players, and he was the best and fairest last year, but we’ve got plenty of blokes that can step up and fill his shoes and hopefully hold up.

“[Eric’s] been in the last couple of days and he’s in good spirits. It’s obviously a pretty tough year ahead for him, but he’s a ripper fella and he’ll get through it.”

As well as being impressed by a number of the club’s new recruits in Liam Duggan, Jackson Nelson and Tom Lamb, Masten also expects second-year midfielder Dom Sheed to have a big impact in 2015.

Sheed played 10 games in his first season as an Eagle, but was listed as a substitute for five of those matches, and Masten has noted his strong progress over the summer.

“He’s been fantastic,” Masten said.

“He’s really stepped up this year and I think the coaches have ridden him really hard and it’s come out really well for him because he’s playing fantastic footy at the minute and I think he’ll have a really good year.

“I expect him to be there most of the year in the guts and having a really good season because his pre-season has been exceptional.”

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-03-27/round-one-awaits

The enthusiasm on the track was palpable. The players know the preliminaries are over and they’re starting to get excited. Round one is only a week away.

Aside from those players who will use this weekend as an opportunity to shine in the WAFL and push claims for a spot in the AFL season opener, the rest of the West Coast players will have a weekend off to recharge and reinvigorate.

And they attacked their final training session ahead of the weekly routine, which will dominate their lives for the next six months, with undeniable relish.

They were sharp, vibrant and generally upbeat in a solid hit out at Domain Stadium late in the morning.

GALLERY: Catch all the action from today's training session

The ball whizzed around the ground like a pinball, bouncing from target to target with great energy and purpose. After the necessary evil of playing matches that do nothing other than prepare their bodies for the physical demands of elite football, they are ready for the real deal.

They want to play for premiership points and it has been a long wait. Now that wait is almost over.

A game against the Western Bulldogs in the evening of Easter Saturday awaits and while that is still nine days away, the players know that when they clock on for business on Monday morning it’s ‘game on.’

No more of this dancing with your sister nonsense, it’s time to play for keeps. That’s what motivates these athletes through the arduous summer preparation and they can now put into practice the things they have been focussing on so meticulously.

This time next week, the 22 players who have earned the right to carry the blue and yellow flag into battle will board a Virgin Australia flight to the first of 22 assignments aimed at creating another chapter in the respected history of this club.

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/gallery/2015-03-27/ready-for-round-one

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-03-30/ready-to-debut

WEST Coast draftees Liam Duggan, Tom Lamb and Jackson Nelson could all make their AFL debuts in the first month of the season, according to Eagles coach Adam Simpson.

Just one of the Eagles' 2013 draftees, Dom Sheed, played last season but the 2014 group has made a significant impression since arriving at the club.

Lamb and Nelson have played every game in the pre-season and both will be strongly considered for a round one debut against the Western Bulldogs.

Duggan played limited minutes against Port Adelaide in the NAB Challenge and missed the other matches but was impressive for East Perth in his first WAFL match last week.

He racked up 22 disposals and two goals to be close to best afield in East Perth's win over Swan Districts on Saturday.

Simpson said all three were likely to debut within the first month of the season although their round one prospects remain unknown.

"We haven't made a decision (about round one), but they'll play senior football at some stage," Simpson told AFL.com.au.

"Whether it's round one, that's not the be all and end all. But the fact is that both of those kids (Lamb and Nelson) have played every game of the pre-season.

"Liam Duggan performed well at East Perth on the weekend. So we can see at least three potential first-gamers in the next month or so, safe to say."

While it may appear that critical injuries to Eric Mackenzie and Jack Darling and the retirement of Beau Waters have forced the Eagles' hand in turning to youth, the reality is the club is in a development phase of sorts.

It's difficult for an Eagles coach to tell an expectant fan base that is the case.

West Coast fans expect the team to play finals year in year out because they don't know any different.

The Eagles have failed to play finals only nine times in 28 seasons and have never gone longer than three years without an appearance in September.

That leaves Simpson in the unenviable position of trying to embrace that expectation while quietly developing a young list.

"We like to think we're building," Simpson said.

"Through good development with our players and coaches we'll give ourselves every chance to hopefully play finals football.

"Expectations are always there and especially within our club. That's OK. We'll embrace that. We won't die wondering."

Many were critical of the Eagles' lack of involvement in the trade and free agency period last year after missing the finals by one game.

But the since the beginning of 2013 the club has lost six premiership players to retirement. Only Sam Butler remains from the 2006 premiership team.

The Eagles have the seventh-youngest list in the AFL.

"What we're trying to do with our build and our list is we want to build from within," Simpson said.

"So we drafted Liam Duggan and will try and get him up and about. That takes a bit longer but we're going down that path at the moment."

Simpson has also surrounded himself with a young coaching staff, which is in a development phase along with the playing group.

But despite the relative inexperience of his squad and his coaching staff, Simpson holds the same expectations of his group as the fans do.

West Coast faltered in the key moments against top-eight sides last year and he said his players must learn from those experiences.

"I thought there were times last year, and our players have admitted too, that we didn't stand up for long enough," Simpson said.

"We've done a lot of work on that over the pre-season and yes the players have put on a bit of size and strength but that doesn't mean were going to be better.

"It's just they give themselves a good opportunity. We've trained a lot of skill over pre-season as well. It's whether you can do these things under pressure is the next step."

The Eagles' first challenge will be against the competition's fourth-youngest team, the Western Bulldogs, at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night.

[tbagrocks]

Makes no bluddy sense! Sheed was the player of the U18 Champs but hardly gets a look? Now suddenly the new crop are in line?

Well Duggan would be a likely SUB and how the fritz would you play those guys before Dom Sheed anyway? Sheed plays and isn't sub is what I read out of this, or has the world gone mad?

[RaisyDaisy]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-03-31/eagles-mark-ellis-an-x

XAVIER Ellis has been ruled out of West Coast's round one clash with the Western Bulldogs, but Mitch Brown and Will Schofield should be available if they get through training this week.

Both Ellis and Brown injured hamstrings against Port Adelaide in the NAB Challenge clash on March 8.

Brown completed his rehab program last week and should be ready to go, but West Coast physiotherapist Paul Tucker told the Eagles’ website on Tuesday that the club was being more cautious with Ellis.

"He (Ellis) has been in rehab for the last few weeks like Browny, but we're probably taking a slightly more conservative approach with Xavier," Tucker said.

"He will join main training next week and hopefully be available going into round two."

Ellis completed some running during the Eagles' light skills session at Domain Stadium on Monday afternoon and appeared to be moving reasonably well.   

Will Schofield injured his ankle earlier in the pre-season and missed all three NAB Challenge matches. But he has re-joined main training this week and is expected to be available for selection to face the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

There was also some positive news on Mark Hutchings and Jack Darling. Both have been in long-term rehab over the summer.

Hutchings has returned to full training following ongoing problems with his groin.

Darling is still on track for a possible return to the senior side in round five or six. Tucker said the forward was still a couple of weeks away from joining main training as he continued his slow recovery from a foot stress fracture.

But Darling was out on Domain Stadium on Monday. He worked away from the main group doing some low intensity leading, marking and kicking.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson told AFL.com.au last week that the Eagles could have up-to three debutants in the first month with Tom Lamb, Jackson Nelson and Liam Duggan all in contention to play as early as this week.

Lamb and Nelson played every pre-season game for West Coast.

Duggan has played the first two matches of the WAFL season for East Perth and has been very impressive. The first-round draft pick gathered 22 disposals and kicked two goals for the Royals last Saturday.

[LF]

I think it is possible we will see Lamb and Nelson this weekend

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-04-01/were-not-built-around-one-player-simpson

West Coast Eagles Senior Coach Adam Simpson says his side’s ambitions in 2015 remain the same despite the loss of key backman Eric Mackenzie.

Speaking on Channel Seven on Monday night, Simpson was asked by Sports Presenter Basil Zempilas if he downgraded his expectations following the loss of Mackenzie, his response was emphatic.

“Of course I didn’t,” said Simpson.

“We’re not built around one player, it doesn’t worry me at all what people think about us and where we may or may not finish.

“All we’re worried about is round one.”

In exciting news for the football club, Simpson suggested there could be some potential debutants on Saturday night.

“We may have one or two; it’s really exciting for the club and what we’re building towards,” he said.

“It’s probably come a little bit quicker than we thought with the guys we drafted, but they’re definitely available in selection.”

Bolstering the club’s defensive stocks will be the availability of key defenders Mitch Brown and Will Schofield, who are both on the return from injuries.

“They’ll both be available, unfortunately we haven’t had all of them playing together,” Simpson said.

“We’ve been working on a few things, but we’ll get some talls back this week.”

[LF]

West Coast Eagles ‏@WestCoastEagles  28s28 seconds ago
"Lamb & Nelson will play." Adam Simpson reveals two debutants for Saturday's game! #goeagles

[Nige]

Nelson the likely sub?

[LF]

What do we make of this?
West Coast Eagles ‏@WestCoastEagles  4m4 minutes ago
"We haven't replaced Coxy on our list, so all three of our ruckmen will have to step up this season." -AS

I think we will see some rotation of the rucks going by that.

[Gigantor]

Maybe he was just motivating Sinclair and Lycett, I can't see NN getting rested more than once or twice. Unless we have a shower year and he gets pulled with a few rounds to go

[LF]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-04-04/swings-of-an-eagle

YOUNG West Coast forward Jeremy McGovern could start the season in defence against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night to cover the loss of key talls Eric Mackenzie and Will Schofield.

The Eagles are set to come up against a tall Bulldogs forward line that will include Tom Boyd (200cm), Jack Redpath (194cm), Jake Stringer (192cm) and Stewart Crameri (190cm).

McGovern (195cm), who has spent the majority of the pre-season training in defence, shapes as the man to swing back in the absence of Mackenzie (knee) and Schofield, who will play in the WAFL after recovering from an ankle injury. 

Match preview: Western Bulldogs v West Coast   

"He becomes a very important player and it's a little bit determined by what the opposition are doing with the height of their forward line," assistant coach Justin Longmuir told AFL.com.au.

"It's pretty handy having a 13-game player who can play forward and back.

"He's done a lot of his pre-season back. We've got a dual-role program for guys that are flexible where we try and rotate them through those roles in match simulation as much as possible.

"He's done probably 80 per cent of his work with the backline this year."

Aside from McGovern, who has been named at full-back, the Eagles have only named Mitch Brown as a recognised tall defender for their season opener at Etihad Stadium.

Longmuir said the team would be on guard for the Bulldogs looking to exploit any height advantage they may have.     

"They've had a pretty tall forward line over the pre-season with Redpath and Boyd down there at times," he said.   

"Crameri's a flexible player, so he could play wing or half-forward.

"But they've got some big guys down there, so we'll have to be on guard for the long balls inside 50."

Schofield, whose only pre-season game was against the Indigenous All Stars, was close to selection but didn't have the match practice to walk straight in, according to Longmuir.

At the other end of the ground, first-year forward Tom Lamb will get his chance to impress after playing all three NAB Challenge games, filling the void left by Jack Darling (foot).

"He'll play a number of roles in the forward line," Longmuir said as the Eagles had a light training run at Junction Oval on Saturday.   

"He probably hasn't got the physical capabilities of 'JD' (Darling) just yet, but his work rate is phenomenal and the attitude he brings to each training session has got him to this point."

Defender Jackson Nelson will also make his debut for West Coast on Saturday night, while former Carlton midfielder Kane Lucas has been elevated from the rookie list and travelled as the emergency.


Is a big ask for Jezza this week,I'm sure he will be up for the task tho

[Gigantor]

Is a big ask for Jezza this week,I'm sure he will be up for the task tho

What a champ :)

[LF]

Is a big ask for Jezza this week,I'm sure he will be up for the task tho

What a champ :)

I know was bloody awesome

[LF]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-04-04/knee-fears-for-brown-

ADAM Simpson says West Coast has to "find a way" to cope with a depleted backline after he all-but confirmed Mitch Brown would be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.

The Eagles are "99 per cent" sure the 195cm backman damaged his anterior cruciate ligament in an innocuous marking contest during the first quarter of their 10-point round one loss to the Western Bulldogs.

If confirmed, Brown will have to undergo his second left knee reconstruction.

The 26-year-old missed the entire 2008 campaign after a pre-season incident, and his latest injury comes after reigning club champion Eric Mackenzie ruptured his ACL during the NAB Challenge.

The injured defenders leave massive holes in West Coast's backline, with the Eagles having to rely heavily on second-year swingman Jeremy McGovern against the Dogs.

The 22-year-old stood up and restricted high-priced Dogs recruit Tom Boyd (one goal), while also collecting 26 touches and taking 12 marks â€" five contested.

McGovern should be helped by the inclusion of Will Schofield (ankle) to face Carlton on Friday night after the 196cm defender played for WAFL affiliate East Perth on Good Friday.

But the Eagles' key defensive stocks are now threadbare, with Simpson admitting the club's developing youngsters aren't ready to play at AFL level.

"We've just got to find a way. It's round one. Just as we were working through the 'Ezy' situation â€" the Eric situation â€" now we've got to work through Browny," he said.

"We've got to see what stocks we've got left and move on.

"There's some developing key defenders that we're working through, but they're probably not ready.

"Will will fill the void, I'm assuming next week, but like I said we've got to find a way."

Five talking points: Western Bulldogs v West Coast

Despite losing Brown early, Simpson refused to blame the injury for the Eagles' narrow defeat.

"We had to change a few things, there's no doubt … but I think it would be doing the Bulldogs a disservice to say the reason we lost was because we lost Brown," he said.

"I thought they clearly held up for longer than we did. Tackles (74-93) we got blown away, clearances (33-49) blown away. The game was played in their half.

"I thought our defenders actually defended pretty well. It was just the supply and the lack of it up the other end."

Simpson praised McGovern and small forward Jamie Cripps (five goals), but was disappointed with the Eagles' midfield, which was soundly beaten by the Dogs.

West Coast leaked 17 more inside 50s and was beaten at the clearances despite winning hit-outs 47-36.

"Really disappointing because we had patches where we were good, but not for long enough," Simpson said.

"Until we do that it will be a 50-50 call on supply and then result. They know that, we've been working on it a lot.

"We're still a young developing list but there's got to be a time where we actually step up and take some accountability."