Eagles Preseason 2015

[Nige]

Think we need to put LF on suicide watch.

Probably not the greatest think to joke about.  :-X

Nige, I know you are a man who appreciates good grammar but I think you're slipping a bit.

You just had to quote and glorify it.  :(

[The_Captain]

An extra spot for Sinkers to grab? :3

Good riddance tho, one of the biggest snipers in the league. Why his shoulder is always bust, too much contact into other players' jaws.

10, 0, 19, 19, 8, 0, 21, 8, 19, 7, 0 games per season is a tragedy though

Bane pleaseeeeeeeeeeee. Snipper is a Ryan Crowley,or Scott Thompson (roos).  Beau was clean. Just hit hard!

[DALBS]

Beau Waters has retired.

:-[

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-02-21/mcgovern-the-man-moving-forward

JEREMY McGovern appears the likely short-term replacement for Jack Darling after a solid showing up forward during West Coast's eight-point win over the AFL Indigenous All Stars in an exhibition match in Perth on Friday night.

MATCH REPORT: Eagles edge out All Stars

McGovern kicked the Eagles' opening goal of the match, a 55-metre bomb from a set shot. He also provided a powerful aerial presence with both Brad Sheppard and Andrew Gaff crumbing goals from packs that McGovern competed in.

The 22-year-old was used as a swingman during his debut season.

But with Darling unlikely to play in round one as he continues his rehabilitation from a stress fracture in his foot, Simpson said McGovern would likely stay up forward.

PHOTO GALLERY: All the best snaps from the clash with the Indigenous All Stars

"We are going to look at it," Simpson said.

"It depends who we play as well. We've got a pretty tall backline. We think some of our talls can play small.

"‘Gov’ may need to have a presence up forward. He's a natural player. Wherever you put him, he's going to have an impact.

"We saw some good signs tonight, but also he looked a bit rusty."

Simpson stressed that he wouldn't read too much into the performance of his team on Friday night. 

He was excited by the performance of some of his young players, including Tom Lamb.

The blonde forward was taken with pick No.32 in last year's NAB AFL Draft. He has a Dyson Heppell-like hairstyle, idolizes Nick Riewoldt, and spent his first week at the club shadowing Josh Kennedy.

Lamb came on in the last quarter on Friday night and kicked a clutch goal from a tight angle to seal the win.

"I think Lamb is going to stand out because of what he looks like," Simpson said.

"But he's exciting. He's got plenty of energy and he gets rewarded, he gets the ball. He's still got a little bit to work on but it's just an opportunity for the kids to play in front of good crowd in an enthusiastic game. It was really pleasing."

Sharrod Wellingham was also impressive coming off a good pre-season but Simpson said he expected the ex-Magpie to perform.

"We see him as a quality player and he's in our best 18 so we expect him to play well every week and (it was) a good first step today," Simpson said.

The coach said he would likely bring back his senior players next week for the Eagles’ first NAB Challenge clash against Carlton.

Shannon Hurn, Matt Priddis, Eric Mackenzie, Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras, Nic Naitanui, Luke Shuey, Xavier Ellis and Matt Rosa were all rested against the All Stars but all appear set to play most of the NAB Challenge.

"We've got three games, with a healthy break between each game," Simpson said.

"Last year we rested a lot of our guys for the second game (of the NAB Challenge).

"We will probably play a stronger squad most weeks to get the continuity.

There's plenty of rest between. I don't want to rest senior players and have a 20-day break between games."

[Jukes]

Yeah Lamb was good and very noticable, one of the better players.

Lycett was awful I found, dropped about 5 marks in a 10 minute stretch which just got funnier and funnier and never really got going, my boy Sinkers was much better, he should definitely be the one to start alongside Nic!

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-02-26/naitanui-not-far-off

NIC NAITANUI has been held out of Friday night's NAB Challenge due to back soreness, but the West Coast hierarchy believe the injury is only minor.

Naitanui was not named in the Eagles’ squad to face Carlton on Wednesday and the star ruckman was restricted to light duties at training on Thursday.

A fortnight ago Naitanui said he was keen to play as many games as possible in the pre-season after enjoying one of his best summers in recent years.

He was in-line to face the Indigenous All Stars last Friday night but did not play, and Eagles assistant coach Don Pyke said the decision to rest Naitanui again this week was precautionary.

"He's a bit stiff in the back," Pyke said.

"He's such a valuable player to us. We're five weeks out from the season. We're hopeful it's a minor setback and he'll be fine for the next game. It's precaution more than anything.

"He was a little bit disappointed when he found out he wasn't going to be playing because he's done a lot of work this pre-season and is in really good shape."

Pyke said Naitanui would have been borderline to play if it was round one this week, but the Eagles have a no-risk policy for the NAB Challenge.

Scott Selwood has returned to full training after his ankle surgery in December and is on track to play later in the NAB Challenge.

Jack Darling remains a concern for West Coast. The 22-year-old was not sighted at training on Monday or Thursday.

Senior coach Adam Simpson effectively ruled him out of the entire NAB Challenge and round one last week, and it is possible Darling could miss a number of games early in the home-and-away season as he continues his battle with a stress injury in his foot.

"He's been slower than we probably hoped," Pyke said.

"But he's making progress. From what I've heard, he's likely to not be available early in the season, but we'll take it from there."

New draftees Tom Lamb and Jackson Nelson will get another chance to impress after both played cameo roles in last Friday night's win over the Indigenous All Stars.

The Eagles first-round draft pick Liam Duggan has suffered a minor ankle injury but he is working his way back to full fitness via a tailored running program.

Friday night's clash against Carlton at Rushton Park in Mandurah is a sell-out.

[LF]

http://m.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-02-28/acl-for-ezy

Confirmed ACL for Eric  :'(
So damn shower really feel for him

[elephants]

Sooo... 2016 will be fun.

[jvalles69]

 :'(

[TomK]

Really feel for the bloke. Absolute gun defender, lots of pressure on Mitch Brown now.

[RaisyDaisy]

No EMac, No Waters and No Glass.

I had such high hopes for 2015

Mitch Brown, Will Schofield and McGovern are going to have to be huge for us this year, and it's understandable if they cant.

:'(

[Mailman the 2nd]

Yeah could potentially be a fairly simple bottom 6 for Eagles this year

[elephants]

Bottom 6 is probably a bit rough. Reckon we'll slot into that 6-12 range, more likely 8-12 now :/

[jvalles69]

I'm grasping at straws here, but I think Yeo will slot into Waters half back roll (be pulling him out of my DT now co I think he'll get less mid time), Mitch Brown to try and fill Glass' role and McGovern take over from Emac?  Or possibly switch McGovern and Yeo around, I think McGovern could play a real handy roaming half back.

[LF]

I'm grasping at straws here, but I think Yeo will slot into Waters half back roll (be pulling him out of my DT now co I think he'll get less mid time), Mitch Brown to try and fill Glass' role and McGovern take over from Emac?  Or possibly switch McGovern and Yeo around, I think McGovern could play a real handy roaming half back.

Sheppard looks like he might have Waters spot and he played very well last night,he needs to now backup in the rest of the games if he plays