West Coast 2015 Season,Discussion

[elephants]

So, 2016 could be cool.

[RaisyDaisy]

So, 2016 could be cool.

[Gigantor]

In Gov we trust!!

Who the hell are we gonna play if the up coming rookie aren't ready? Rosa? haha he is bigger than people think :) If Lamb can learn to be a defender he might keep his spot when Darling returns  :P

But in all seriousness as important as Hurn is as a rebounder, surely he will be playing more lock down roles now.

[LF]

I have no idea who we play,we probably should not have delisted all those defenders,then we wouldn't be stuck.
Not sure how tall Barass is he is a defender but is still developing,as is Powell.
Maybe we need to upgrade Brophy he sounds like he is going well at East Perth down in defence but also still developing.
As brilliant as Jezza was last night,we just can't rely on him every week to do that,he was absolutely stuffed and sore by the end of the match last night,he needs some help,hopefully Schoey is back next week he was apparently close to playing this week.

[Gigantor]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-04-04/royals-show-class

"Will Schofield, in his first hitout for six weeks, worked his way into the game despite restricted game time and looked good, particularly in the second half."

Sounds like he could probably do with another WAFL hit out. Though we might not have that luxury because I bet Casboult doesn't get left out next week, the Blues will be looking to stretch us.

[RaisyDaisy]

Schofield and Bennell need to come in

Butler, Schofield, Bennell
Hurn, McGovern, Ellis

That's about the best we can do I think

[eg6914]

Schofield and Bennell need to come in

Butler, Schofield, Bennell
Hurn, McGovern, Ellis

That's about the best we can do I think

Still have no key defenders on the interchange :(

[elephants]

Sign me up lads, I played key back once

[Gigantor]

Sign me up lads, I played key back once

There's an idea :) My nickname isn't Gigantor for nothing! When do we play Sydney?? I'll take Buddy  :P

[jvalles69]

All I know is Tom Swift > Dom Sheed. flowering hack!

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-04-07/hopes-not-lost-simpson

Adam Simpson says it is the midfield, not the backline, that requires his focus in the lead up to Friday night’s clash with Carlton.

Scans yesterday revealed that Mitch Brown will require a second knee reconstruction on his left knee after it buckled during the first quarter of the Bulldogs clash in round one, and the 26-year-old looks likely to join fellow defender Eric Mackenzie on the sidelines for the remainder of the year.

Backline will hold up: Kennedy

Despite the absence of two key players in the back half, Simpson told 6PR on Monday night that it is the midfielders who need to stand up.

“Obviously we lost Brownie early on, but to be honest I thought our backs held up pretty well over the weekend,” Simpson said.

“There was probably a little bit too much supply for our liking and we just didn’t get it done in the midfield.

“It was disappointing to lose Brownie - I think it was our second ACL in four games which is not very common - but having said that, I thought our midfield didn’t turn up on the weekend.”

Simpson was satisfied with the way the backline operated against the Bulldogs last Saturday night and is confident that he has the players to step up and fill the void left by Mackenzie and Brown.

“There’s no doubt we’ve been challenged in that area, but hope’s not lost,” Simpson said.

“It’s round one, we’ve got an opportunity to develop some players in positions where perhaps they haven’t trained in over the pre-season, but I still think we’ve got the nucleus there to be really competitive down back.

“For instance, Elliot Yeo has been playing back for a couple of weeks and I like the way he goes about it and how he competes.

“Will Schofield will more than likely come back this week. We’ve got [Jeremy] McGovern who I think is really starting to blossom into a really solid, consistent player.

“Shannon Hurn can play tall, so we’ll keep looking at opportunities to develop but also backing the guys we’ve got down there at the moment.”

Schofield and Xavier Ellis are likely inclusions to face Carlton on Friday night at Domain Stadium.

The issue with Shannon Hurn playing a lock-down defensive post is the Eagles lose arguably their best attacking weapon.

Hurn had 16 disposals in the first half against the Bulldogs and his elite kicking sliced the opposition open at times. Liam Picken played on Hurn as a defensive forward in the second half and the Eagles' skipper had just six touches after half-time.

Beyond the current back six, which already includes 14-gamer McGovern, a debutant in Jackson Nelson, and two utilities in Yeo and Matt Rosa, the Eagles have very little stocks in reserve.

Jamie Bennell played well in the WAFL on the weekend and may come into calculations if Hurn's role is redefined.

Brant Colledge (192cm, 91kg) and Simon Tunbridge (191cm, 93kg) are strong midfielders who can also play forward, but both could be turned into makeshift defenders if need be.

Tom Barrass (194cm, 88kg), Dylan Main (189cm, 82cm) and rookie Rowen Powell (193cm, 88kg) were all drafted in 2013 and all can play defensive roles, but the trio are currently playing WAFL reserves for East Perth and none are close to playing AFL football at the moment. Barrass and Powell have had significant injury issues since they were drafted.

Rookie Corey Adamson, a former baseballer, is also being developed as a defender, but he too is playing WAFL reserves.

Irish rookie Paddy Brophy has impressed with his competitiveness throughout the pre-season and has started well for East Perth. It would be a big gamble to elevate him, but at 190cm and 87kg he can fight out of his weight division and has exceptional pace.

West Coast will kick off round two with a Friday night blockbuster against Carlton at Domain Stadium.

Simpson said the players were looking forward to running out in front of their home crowd for the first time this season.

“No one wants to finish round one with a loss and you get a chance to respond on a Friday night and we can’t wait,” Simpson said.

“Home crowd, Friday night, you don’t get too many of those games. We’ve got to move on really quick and make sure it’s an event not a pattern on the weekend.”

Click on the link below to listen to Adam Simpson’s full interview with 6PR.

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-04-09/duggan-to-debut

The West Coast Eagles will again take a youthful mix into tomorrow night’s clash with Carlton at Domain stadium with Liam Duggan set to make his AFL debut.

Duggan, who was selected with the club’s first pick in last year’s draft, has impressed everyone at the club since arriving, with his classy skills, work rate and leadership evident from day one.

Duggan’s debut follows in the path of fellow 2014 draftees Tom Lamb and Jackson Nelson, who made their senior debuts last week against the Bulldogs.

Match preview: Eagles v Blues

Speaking to Eagle Eye TV, Duggan was clearly buoyant after receiving the news.

“Super excited,” he said.

“I found out today that I’ll be playing tomorrow night and I’m really looking forward to it.

"Under lights here with a home crowd, I just can’t wait.

“Simmo brought me into his office and just said ‘You’re going to debut’, it was just like that.

“Obviously you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face and then the boys were told in the lecture theatre that I was debuting.

“It was just a really good feeling.”

[Ricochet]

Duggan in for Sheed?

[LF]

Duggan in for Sheed?

I think so

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-04-09/another-debut

he West Coast Eagles will unveil another member of its 2014 draft intake with classy midfielder Liam Duggan poised to make his debut against Carlton tomorrow night.

Duggan, the club’s first selection at pick 11, probably would have played sooner had he not rolled an ankle as the pre-season matches approached, but has excelled in two games with East Perth and deserves an opportunity.

He comes into the 22-man team with defender Will Schofield, utility player Simon Tunbridge and defender Jamie Bennell.

TEAM: Click here for the full line-up

That quartet comes into the team at the expense of Mitch Brown (knee), Sam Butler (adductor) and Scott Selwood (ankle). Another of the youngsters, Tom Lamb, who made his debut last week against the Western Bulldogs has been omitted.

Duggan, adept off both sides of his body, is a product of the Western Jets and can fill a variety of roles â€" through the midfield, up forward or across half-back.

Last week it was Lamb and defender Jackson Nelson, who holds his place, who were teenagers injected into the cut and thrust of the AFL against the Western Bulldogs.

Bennell played at wing and half-back for East Perth last Friday against Subiaco and had 25 touches, while Tunbridge was strong in the contest, laying eight tackles and Schofield was a natural replacement for his close mate, Mitch Brown.

Brown’s season came to a halt just 15 minutes into the season when his left knee buckled in a routine chase for the ball at Etihad Stadium. He will have a second reconstruction on the left knee, following a similar procedure in 2008.

Selwood, who spent much of last season on the sidelines, did not recover sufficiently from the six-day break following the first-up game against the Bulldogs again suffering soreness in an ankle.