West Coast 2015/2016 Offseason Thread

[tbagrocks]

Looks like my boy Sheed needs surgery, will be back training in January
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-12-18/minor-knee-operation-for-young-west-coast-mid-

[auscoyote]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2016-01-13/nic-nat-on-the-run

NIC NAITANUI was managed during West Coast's two-hour session on Wednesday, but the star ruckman and the majority of the Eagles' squad look in outstanding shape heading towards the NAB Challenge.

Naitanui ran laps for a large part of the open session on Wednesday along with veteran Sam Butler, midfielder Mark Hutchings and rookie Simon Tunbridge.

The Eagles trained well in warm conditions at Domain Stadium, working through a series of ball movement drills.

Coach Adam Simpson said last week that the Eagles were still focused on the fundamentals of skills and ball movement and would filter in more match simulation training later in the month.

Key defenders Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown looked in excellent shape, having fully recovered from their knee reconstructions.

Will Schofield has also returned to the main group after being managed through the early part of pre-season following ankle surgery.

Swingman Jeremy McGovern trained as a forward in one of the drills, given the presence of the three key defenders.

Simpson said last week that McGovern would be a flexible asset for the Eagles this season provided the key defenders remained healthy.

Only new recruit Jack Redden, midfielder Dom Sheed and youngsters Damien Cavka and Alec Waterman were missing from the track on Wednesday.

Redden remains in rehab after requiring further surgery to fix an adductor issue. He watched most of training from the stands.

Sheed had a cleanout on his knee before Christmas and was out on the track early to do some stationary handball work.

Cavka and Waterman are battling long-term issues. Cavka has ongoing stress problems in his foot while Waterman is on leave from the club as he tries to recover from glandular fever.

[Money]

So boys I was having a convo with a mate of mine which started off about DT and Dom Sheed, but then sort of moved away from Fantasy and just into his role in general. I was saying that coming into his third season he would break out and improve his stats, especially from increased midfield time, but then I though, will he actually spend that much more time there? Gaff, Shuey and Masten will continue to go through the mids and Priddis is the sort of player that will retire before he needs to start playing more forward time, as well as the additions of Jetta, my boy Redden and then Yeo being relinquished of those lock down roles. Will Sheed actually spend more time mid or should we see a similar output as last year?

[elephants]

I think we'll see similar output, definitely see him out there, but until Priddis leaves I can't see him quite being an exclusive midfielder. Gaff and Masto are more outside, but Priddis, Redden, Shuey and Yeo are our key inside brigade going forward imo.

[LF]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-02-04/hamstring-surgery-sidelines-young-eagle-kurt-mutimer

WEST Coast draftee Kurt Mutimer is set to miss the start of the season after undergoing hamstring surgery to fix a damaged tendon.

The strongly built midfielder was recruited by the Eagles with pick No.57 in last year's NAB AFL draft from the Dandenong Stingrays.

He had a slow start to his pre-season before Christmas due to problems with his left hamstring.

Mutimer had re-joined the main group in January but he damaged the hamstring further in the last couple of weeks.

Eagles football manager Craig Vozzo told the club's website on Thursday that surgery was best option.

"Kurt had a small split in the tendon of his left hamstring and we thought it was in the best long-term interests to undergo surgery," Vozzo said.

"He first damaged the hamstring at the AFL draft camp and after aggravating it a couple of times in pre-season we viewed surgery as the best option.

"There was an option to rest for a number of weeks, but there was no guarantee it would solve the problem.

"We see Kurt as a long-term player with the club and although he is keen to play as soon as possible, we will continue to manage his recovery and will not rush him back. He is likely to resume training in about 10 weeks."

The Eagles' WAFL affiliate club East Perth begins the WAFL season on March 19 and Mutimer appears set to miss at least the first month of the season.   

[LF]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-02-05/eagles-lock-away-impressive-draftee-partington-to-new-deal

WEST Coast draftee Luke Partington has signed a one-year contract extension that will see him remain at the club until at least the end of 2018.

The South Australian has yet to play a single game with West Coast after being drafted with pick No.28 in last year's NAB AFL draft.

But the young midfielder has impressed so much in his first pre-season that the Eagles have already decided to extend his contract.

Football manager Craig Vozzo said that Partington had slotted into life at West Coast seamlessly.

"He has been very impressive in every respect since he arrived at the club," Vozzo said on the club's website.

"That hasn't surprised us at all because that was why we used our first selection on him at the draft.

"Luke has settled in quite nicely after relocating and has a great appetite to work hard and learn.

"Already he has earned the respect of the player group and coaching staff, we are confident he can be a successful long-term player at our club and we look forward to watching Luke's growth through this season and beyond."

[RaisyDaisy]

WEST Coast is positioned to take over from Hawthorn as the next competition superpower, according to Champion Data’s official AFL Prospectus for the 2016 season.

The stats gurus have lavished praise on the Eagles’ list, ­saying West Coast’s talent and age spread indicates the club is ideally placed for a sustained premiership assault.

Champion Data believes the Eagles are entering a long premiership window, because it rates their players in the 21-24-year-old age group as clearly the best batch of young players in the AFL.

“If there was ever a side cherry ripe to have sustained success and remain in premiership contention similar to what the Hawks have done, West Coast is the team,’’ the Prospectus says. “You will struggle to find a more balanced list. It heads into this season as the sixth-oldest side, and ranks fourth for experience. What’s more impressive is the spread of players across all age ­brackets.’’

West Coast has 17 players in the “prime” age category of 25-29, with just two players on its list aged 30 or above.

Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis will turn 31 in the week leading into Round 1, while veteran defender Sam Butler turned 30 last month.

The Eagles also have 17 players who have played between 100-199 matches, six more than any other team.

West Coast players in the 21-24 age group include key-position stars Jeremy McGovern and Jack Darling, John Worsfold medallist Andrew Gaff and Elliot Yeo, Brad ­Sheppard and Jamie Cripps.

“They have nine players between the ages of 21-24 - right on the AFL average - with the quality of this group rating a clear No.1,’’ the Prospectus says.

Champion Data has long been bullish about the Eagles and forecast their rise up the ladder. It said West Coast had the third-best list in the competition leading into the 2014 season, despite the Eagles ­coming off a 13th-placed finish in John Worsfold’s final year at the helm.

The Eagles narrowly missed the finals in Adam Simpson’s first year in charge in 2014, but sealed a top-two finish with a 16-5-1 record last season before falling to the Hawks in the Grand Final.

West Coast’s list is rated the second-best in the competition behind Hawthorn’s, with the second-best defence and attack and the seventh-best midfield. Fremantle’s list is rated the third-best.

8)

[LF]

I like the sound of this a whole lot
Typo there tho saying the second best attack we all know the truth there

[elephants]

Yeah thats absolutely lush. Just need to keep the lads fit and firing, injuries surely the only thing stopping us from making another serious assault.

(touching so much wood)

[RaisyDaisy]

(touching so much wood)

Not overcompensating there are ya mate?  :P :-X

[elephants]

(touching so much wood)

Not overcompensating there are ya mate?  :P :-X

hahaha I just knew that would get picked up

[fanTCfool]

Something I hadn't thought about was Nic Nat's second in line, McGovern getting some talk, what do you Eagles fans think?
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-02-08/mcgovern-wont-walk-into-ruck-role-says-simpson

[Money]

Went to open training today:

Redden will be back in main group next week, also one of the best blokes you'll meet, looking for more tackles

Yeo has his fingers crossed for more midfield time, says he's been training there pretty much all pre season, which we know but just confirmed

[elephants]

Oh boy, Yeoy in the midfield. First picked in AF and will be amongst my top picks in draft too!

[RaisyDaisy]

Ryan Daniels ‏@FootyRhino
Lewis Jetta doing a heap of work as the 'sweeper' down back at @WestCoastEagles training. Looks very sharp.