Aerie wrote:Templeton was a positive. McGregor was a good pick up. Thought Ainger actually did ok in terms of presenting. Just struggles if he doesn't mark it. I think two talls is enough, so don't need to replace Grocke as such, but need a mobile Westbrook/Inkster/Treeby type as 3rd target.
Ruck and midfield speed is the most obvious problem to fix. Simply won't get anywhere with current rucks. Borholm showed no improvement as year went on and is handy back up at best.
Accountability and desperation missing. It needs to be decided if Godden can get this back in to the playing group, although it really should be player driven.
Hall, Goldsworthy, Appleton, Batley etc. will decide if this Eagles team will be a strength or whether it slips.
If Ainger/Wundke/Boyd attitude not first class then make the call to cut losses and build again.
2011 was a once off miracle that is pretty hard to replicate. Eagles need to lay foundations again and be patient, either with or without Godden in charge.
Anyone who shifts club due to $$ is always going to be under closely scrutiny. If you are paid big $$ there should obviously be higher expectations. You had better perform and have a good attitude. As noted by many on here quite a few of our money men came from South or at one point were with South. They have had varying degrees of success:
Parry – an outright success who took his game to a new level with us. Arguably the most important player for the eagles during the time he was with us.
Wundke - I can’t fault the way Wundke has played this year for us this year. With limited opportunities he has done what has been asked. Started slow but picked up as the season went. I’ve no idea what his attitude is but it looks like he puts in on the field.
Ainger – Has had some great games for us but these have more than been outweighed by some absolute shockers. Gets to most of the contests for us but drops most of his marks. He’d definitely be in my side but I don’t reckon he can ever be the eagles’ key forward as he is soft and too often plays for frees. For the money he was paid to come to our club he has been in poor investment.
Boyd – He seemed to be a much better player at both Centrals and South than he has been for us. Certainly he got a tonne more of the ball. Perhaps that was because at these other clubs there were other quality midfielders ensuring he didn’t get tagged every week like he currently does for us. I’m not too sure. But that aside, paying a midfielder big $$$ who averages only about 20 possessions a game is not good enough. Furthermore, his possessions are almost entirely junk. Dinky little kicks around the corner, sideways passes etc. Big questions about his onfield attitude as well.
So all up we’ve got two good picks and two duds. Getting only 50% of our big expenditure recruiting correct is a little concerning when we have so little other prospects at the club.
I wouldn’t have thought the eagles would have too much spare money to throw around for next season given our excess splurges in recent seasons. I suppose having Powell and Grocke retire may alleviate some pressure. Others – like Lane – who are expected to leave would be on peanuts.