Time For A Rebuild

[Phasir]

Please read this through unbiased, because I believe I've made some valid points.

Look, honestly..

As West Coast Eagles fans, we should really just accept the fact that our list is woeful.  We clearly need a rebuild.  Trade in everyone bar essential personal.

Surely we can't kid ourselves that we'll play finals within 4-5 years even though after 19 matches we've only been legitimately outplayed 5 times while going through a massive changeover of the guard; with all other losses this season are through us smashing the opponents in scoring shots. (Port R6, Blues R7, Freo R8, Pies R10, Freo again in R15.) This would have seen us comfortably 4th.

I mean yeah, we knew that a brand new head coach, mostly new coaching staff & completely different game plan would take time but that shouldn't excuse us not winning 100% of our matches straight up from R1.  (Yes, I know we've been one of the best performed teams over the last two rounds, the team seems to have gotten the game plan & its working very efficiently without our best team on the park but still.)

I guess there's the fact we've lost 5 of our best 22 for most of the last half of the season, 6 if you include Beau Waters who should've taken over as skipper from Glass.   (That shouldn't make any difference though.)

And the fact we have one of the 6th youngest squads after losing two club/AFL legands in Dean Cox & Darren Glass.

Well wait.. Hang on..

And then I guess that if you look at the list...

FB: Bennell, Mackenzie, Schofield,
HB: Hurn, Brown, Ellis,
Mid: Gaff, Priddis, Rosa,
HF: Darling, McGovern, McGinnity,
FF: LeCras, Kennedy, Lycett,
Foll: Naitanui, Selwood, Shuey,

Interchange from:
Yeo, Hutchings, Masten, Cripps,
Waters, Butler, Sheppard, Wellingham,
Brennan, Carter, Wilson, Colledge,
Tunbridge, Hill, Main, Karpany, Sheed,
Waterman-next year + another top 15 pick.

Maybe... Just maybe.. Saying that we need to rebuild is one of the most flowering idiotic suggestions ever floated around AFL circles?

[Nige]

Did hear Terry Wallace (yes, Terry Wallace of all people) talk about the recruiting of each club since 2000 (or 2001) until this year and he rated the Eagles recruiting using all avenues (draft, trade, free agency, preseason/rookie drafts) as the basis for it.

I don't remember specifics, but I thought this thread was kinda timely.  :P

[Phasir]

Next week we could be without 10 players that were in our best 22 at the start of the season.
If we win or get within a few goals that's a damn good effort.

[jvalles69]

I agree completely, we've had some horrible luck with games against Port and Carlton at the start of the year, thrown away good leads against Bombers and Pies during the year.  This wins put us comfortably in the 8 almost top 4.

The kids are getting some good experience, McGovern is dominating down back and Lycett's confidence is growing with each week.  Gaff and shuey are learning to break tags and look like they are strating to live up to their potential.  Natanui overated? No way the guy was always going to take work, but his potential is still exponential.  Bennell has finally worked his way into the club and watching him week to week, I'd have to see he has been one of our best for the year, doesn't do much wrong.  Keep Hutchings taggin and let Selwood run free, had a dominant year last year and then got put back into the tagging role this year, you could see he hated it and he deserves to get out there and be the leader in the midfield.  The tagging role also saw him get hammered off play by the other team.

Would be great to sneak into the 8 and give these young guys a taste for finals, will make them even hungrier next year.

All we need is to stay healthy which has been our demise over the last couple of years.

Heard a rumour last week that we are trying to trade Fraser McIness and a first round draft pick for Daniel Rich.  Anyone heard anything similar?  Would be nice to have a touch in and under player who has a lethal left foot.

[Ringo]

Pretty certain Rich is signed for next season as well - Can not see us letting him go.

[elephants]

I really think the rebuilding stuff is blown out of proportion. I feel like our list is fine and like jvalles said there's a number of revelations to come out of this season (Bennell, McLovin, Hutch can tag, Masten & Rosa run hard, Gaff and Shuey can handle tags, Priddis is Chuck Norris, E-Mack is set for his first All-Australian) plusss we have conceded 20 ppg less than last season, massive props to our defence.

Reckon something big could happen at the trade table. Not sure what it is but I could definitely see us cash in on some of our KPP stocks to land a big name midfielder. Always thought we would throw Callum Sinclair on the market to send him home for a quality mid from Melbourne/Dogs/Carlton.

Massive positives to take out of the last month or so of the season, I think we're heading in the right direction.

Also, Rich is contracted until 2016 from memory, doubt Brissie would trade him.

[Mailman the 2nd]

Eagles certainly don't need a rebuild, they just need to cope with more pressure on their players and structures. Did very poorly vs. teams above and very strong against teams below so the players are there, its just guys like Gaff and the rest of the midfield that isn't Priddis need to really up the work rate

[kilbluff1985]

i really do think you guys should trade a forward for a good mid though like with the Bulldogs or someone

[RaisyDaisy]

i really do think you guys should trade a forward for a good mid though like with the Bulldogs or someone

No way we get rid of a forward

Our midfield is full of B grade players (Priddis is an A IMO), but over the next 12-24 months we will see if some of them can elevate themselves to A grade

Priddis
Shuey
Masten
Gaff
Selwood
Wellingham
Rosa

Guys like Sheed, Sheppard, Hutchings etc should only get better too

I think our future is bright. Our forward line and Defence is solid enough, but as I said the next 12-24 months will show a lot

There is enough potential there, but we just need to see if that potential comes to fruition

[jvalles69]

We should do what Richmond did bringing Miles in...target WA blood who can't get a game for GWS and Gold Coast.

[elephants]

We should do what Richmond did bringing Miles in...target WA blood who can't get a game for GWS and Gold Coast.

We're definitely doing that I reckon.

Also wouldn't mind seeing us swipe some guys like Jordan Lockyer from Sydney and Kane Lucas from the Blues.

[Vinny]

Is Lockyer any good?

Also whats the plan for Wellingham in WCE future?

[elephants]

Is Lockyer any good?

I like him, good prospect as a key def or possibly a rebounder. Good size too so we could throw him for stints on ball ala J.Darling.

Also whats the plan for Wellingham in WCE future?

flower knows. Hope he gets his body right and has a huge pre-season. He could be a perfect half-forward for us picking up 18-20 disposals, 5-10 inside 50s with just over a goal a game. Thats the dream anyway.

Where's Lucas' contract at Vin?

[jvalles69]

I think they were expecting an Embley like player in Wellingham, he still has time come good though.

[Vinny]

Fair enough man, regarding Lucas I know at the end of 2011 he signed a two year deal.  I assume he got a one year deal at the end of 2013, two years maximum. Very likely he will be up for trade I think.