Round 13 - WWT Eagles v Port Magpies Post Game

[RB]

Anyone have a crowd figure?

[dedja]

We can afford to lose 3 games and end up with a 10-10 record which would probably get us in. It's about beating sides we should beat now. I think if we make the Elimination Final, we can probably win through at least to the Prelim if we play at our best.

Should be a shoe in after just beating the 2nd bottom side for the 4th win in 13 rounds ...

[mickey]

Anyone have a crowd figure?

More than the Port v South game a couple of weeks ago

[Aerie]

Thought it was a really high pressure game in the first half with both sides tackling, smothering etc. really good. Port's inaccuracy kept the Eagles in touch and then a goal after the siren at half time and then in the first 30 seconds of the 3rd quarter broke Port. The 3rd quarter the Eagles played the best quarter I've seen them play this season and had the game wrapped up at 3 quarter time.

Thought Knights and Lewis were very good with their long left foot kicks and Shirley was excellent in the back lines. The ruck combo of Parry and Grieger, with Grieger working forward as well, worked very well for the Eagles today.

The Eagles look to have got their hunger back and it wouldn't surprise me to see them do well against Central next week at Elizabeth. They are due a win out there.

[CENTURION]

Thought it was a really high pressure game in the first half with both sides tackling, smothering etc. really good. Port's inaccuracy kept the Eagles in touch and then a goal after the siren at half time and then in the first 30 seconds of the 3rd quarter broke Port. The 3rd quarter the Eagles played the best quarter I've seen them play this season and had the game wrapped up at 3 quarter time.

Thought Knights and Lewis were very good with their long left foot kicks and Shirley was excellent in the back lines. The ruck combo of Parry and Grieger, with Grieger working forward as well, worked very well for the Eagles today.

The Eagles look to have got their hunger back and it wouldn't surprise me to see them do well against Central next week at Elizabeth. "They?" are due a win out there.

YES, WE ARE!!

[Brendan M]

[code][/code]
Good atmosphere at Alberton, ground in great condition, pasty man was mobbed at half time outside the western gate and had go back for more supplies. Port very wastful, and have been for a couple of years now, and the Eagles, apart from their fierce tackling, were more composed and had better targets up front. Benny the Bear Grieger was one of the best today - taking great marks down back, up front, scored two more goals taking his career tally to 5 after 92 games, then taking on Meiklejohn and Cockshell in the ruck and holding his own and always buffeting, bumping and making just a nuisance of himself.

[ferret]

Don't think we will see Jimmy Toumpas anymore this season in the Eagles jumper. Will play the next two U18 state games then will have rehab./operation for a torn cartlege in the hip.

Great tackling stats against the magpies - best for year. Smashed port in clearances, cleanest and best of year.

Was a pleasure to watch Sumner and Ellis-Yolmen perform their magic today, two very talented boys, Ellis-Yolmen's clearance work is exceptional, must be kept in the league team.

[holden78]

If that's true re. Toumpas having torn cartilage in his hip and still playing underage state footy, well whoever is advising him are complete idiots! He's certain to go first round even now; why put the kid at risk for anything less then a Grand Final?

[DOC]

Who did Meiklejohn hit?

[Aerie]

Don't think we will see Jimmy Toumpas anymore this season in the Eagles jumper. Will play the next two U18 state games then will have rehab./operation for a torn cartlege in the hip.

Unbelievable! If he needs surgery get it done now FFS. If he misses the rest of the season with the Eagles then so be it, but why delay his preparation/put him at risk to play some U18 games that no one will even remember. Worst case scenario for him anyway is he drops a couple of spots down to Port Power in the first round of the draft and avoids going to GWS or Gold Coast.

If he doesn't play for the Eagles again, that's a shame. He's been awesome to watch and look forward to following his career, hopefully in a similar mould to Pavlich, on the national stage.

[ferret]

I understand that no more damage can be done to the hip, but will play with some pain. Jimmy is captain of state U18 and takes great pride in his leadership role and wishes to be part of it.

[DOC]

Good on him. A bloke who plays on because of his pride in his achievement as State Captain is to be encouraged and congratulated.

[RB]

We can afford to lose 3 games and end up with a 10-10 record which would probably get us in. It's about beating sides we should beat now. I think if we make the Elimination Final, we can probably win through at least to the Prelim if we play at our best.

Should be a shoe in after just beating the 2nd bottom side for the 4th win in 13 rounds ...

Put it this way: I think if we play to our best, considering the side hasn't changed much from last season, we're a better team than North, South, Port, and Sturt.

[scott]

We can afford to lose 3 games and end up with a 10-10 record which would probably get us in. It's about beating sides we should beat now. I think if we make the Elimination Final, we can probably win through at least to the Prelim if we play at our best.

Should be a shoe in after just beating the 2nd bottom side for the 4th win in 13 rounds ...

Put it this way: I think if we play to our best, considering the side hasn't changed much from last season, we're a better team than North, South, Port, and Sturt.

To be fair though, what if North, South, Port and Sturt play to their best then? North and Sturt have proven if they play at their best they can knock off big targets - North ... Norwood; Sturt ... Centrals. Granted I reckon your best is better than South's and Port's but your best needs to get better to make the five!

[dedja]

We can afford to lose 3 games and end up with a 10-10 record which would probably get us in. It's about beating sides we should beat now. I think if we make the Elimination Final, we can probably win through at least to the Prelim if we play at our best.

Should be a shoe in after just beating the 2nd bottom side for the 4th win in 13 rounds ...

Put it this way: I think if we play to our best, considering the side hasn't changed much from last season, we're a better team than North, South, Port, and Sturt.

Your opinion so fair enough, but IMHO I've seen the Eagles twice and they have been less than ordinary.

I suspect last year doesn't count much for anything this year.

If the Eagles side hasn't changed much from last season then it highlights the dramatic fall of the club this year.

Good luck in your quest, but as has been stated by others a few times, at least 4 other sides all have to have howlers for the rest of the season for the Eagles to even have a chance, so it makes it a very tough ask.

[CENTURION]

Well, they DO have North & Glenelg to rely on!

[dedja]

But the Bays faarked up by beating them twice already this year ...

[Booney]

Trust me, the Eagles didn't beat much yesterday.

1st quarter was the only entertaining part of the game. Ports inaccuracy and the Eagles efficiency meant the game was set up to be a good contest, nup.

After quarter time we didn't fire a shot. Goal less in the second into the wind, one goal with it while they kicked 4 against it in the third. Game over.

Knights, Lewis and Staple did whatever they wanted. Parry and Grieger dominated the ruck and the best Port could muster was making the game a scrap for a portion of the third quarter. Our skills were diplorable when going into attack (albeit against a pretty solid flood) and the Eagles just worked harder all over the ground.

We looked like a bottom team.

[Booney]

And well played to the young lad in the mini league with one of the top few mow hawks I have seen.

[RB]

We can afford to lose 3 games and end up with a 10-10 record which would probably get us in. It's about beating sides we should beat now. I think if we make the Elimination Final, we can probably win through at least to the Prelim if we play at our best.

Should be a shoe in after just beating the 2nd bottom side for the 4th win in 13 rounds ...

Put it this way: I think if we play to our best, considering the side hasn't changed much from last season, we're a better team than North, South, Port, and Sturt.

Your opinion so fair enough, but IMHO I've seen the Eagles twice and they have been less than ordinary.

I suspect last year doesn't count much for anything this year.

If the Eagles side hasn't changed much from last season then it highlights the dramatic fall of the club this year.

Good luck in your quest, but as has been stated by others a few times, at least 4 other sides all have to have howlers for the rest of the season for the Eagles to even have a chance, so it makes it a very tough ask.

No, but it illustrates that we have the playing group to make the Finals again. I know I've said it before but we played well apart from our kicking for goal in that match at the Bay. There was not a lot between our two sides. I think if we play as we have in our last 3 matches we're in with a shot of making the 5.