Rnd 2 - Eagles v West at Woodville Saturday 2.10

[holden78]

LOL I haven't seen you at all, it's just what some of the other players have told me

[bulldogproud2]

Good luck to one of my former (and best) students, Dillon Mullins, who will make his league debut this round if he avoids the cut.

[Mickyj]

LOL I haven't seen you at all, it's just what some of the other players have told me

Bro I'm 26 kilos lighter these other players ain't seen me

I'm fit enough to climb the stairs and watch the eagles win

[Mickyj]

Good luck to one of my former (and best) students, Dillon Mullins, who will make his league debut this round if he avoids the cut.

Yeah he is still very green but it's his time to step up

[Brodlach]

The Bloods by 17 points.

Hardy to kick 5 and Agostino BOG

[Wedgie]

Hard to guage the Dogs trial form playing 28 or 29 most weeks against 22 but big oval should suit.

[Premiers]

Lewis is a huge Out for Eagles. Has been in top form throughout the trials and gives the forward line first look with his accurate, penetrating kicking. Without Lewis, Petrenko and Thurlow, reckon Eagles will be struggling to win this one.

[holden78]

Eagles teams

League
F: Goldsworthy, Wundke, McGregor
HF: Poole, Ainger, Schwarz
C: N. Hayes, Appleton, Jarrad
HB: Rakiwasa, Thompson, P. Raymond
B: Batley, Von Bertouch, Giuffreda

R: Borholm, Rowntree, Boyd
INT: Mullins, Templeton, Martyn, C. Hall

Reserves
F: Whittlesea, Heinjus, Press
HF: M. Raymond, Dunstan, Ventura
C: Gaffney, Minney, Haylock
HB: Enright, Ellis, Lloyd
B: Elsworthy, J. Hayes, Woods

R: Baqeri, Rowland, Sinor
INT: Lodge, Westbrook

Dear Michael G,
So it's back to the drawing board after one game? Ok we realise we had a bit of quality out of your best 21, but to lose like that at home to a side that are only honest and hardworking from a 4-5 goal lead was ........ typically soft .
That's now 2 wins and 9 losses since the middle of last season with many of these loses either fade outs or just getting out worked, out toughed and maybe out coached .
Let's start with the coaching....... Michael why would you and your assistants not be using a third man up at ruck contests around the ground?
Why not just leave Wunke isolated in the goal square to fight one on one as he's basically useless otherwise.
Why play mids like Schwarz and Appelton when they still pick when and how they deal with contested ball and why was Tuck allowed front position without being counter blocked at ball ups? Why no double team when he basically ripped the game open after half time for West!
Changing up our gamestyle needed to happen and quick movement is key but 1 metre handballing isn't ever productive and only makes the opposition's job easy. And we don't/can't use the whole oval to stretch the opposition and our mids don't work hard enough when we lose momentum in games or turn the ball over.
So what's the super quickfix before we are 0-4? Get rid of the kid's and play hardened types in the middle like Raymond, Hall, Goldy and McGregor along with Rowntree, Boyd and Poole! Without Thurlow we must use a 3rd man up to get something started ffs.
It's time to be brave and shake things up because the midfield is why we go well at different stages of games and it's the reason why we have soft hot and cold performances also.
Michael, it's time you showed the supporters a flexablity and willingness to be brave with your coaching just as you did when you presented to the Board
Regards, H78

[JK]

Playing your bitches next week, I wouldn't panic yet

[Jim05]

Playing your bitches next week, I wouldn't panic yet

Sad but true!
To say we dont owe these pricks is a massive understatement

[Mr Fuller]

Eagles teams

Dear Michael G,
So it's back to the drawing board after one game? Ok we realise we had a bit of quality out of your best 21, but to lose like that at home to a side that are only honest and hardworking from a 4-5 goal lead was ........ typically soft .
That's now 2 wins and 9 losses since the middle of last season with many of these loses either fade outs or just getting out worked, out toughed and maybe out coached .
Let's start with the coaching....... Michael why would you and your assistants not be using a third man up at ruck contests around the ground?
Why not just leave Wunke isolated in the goal square to fight one on one as he's basically useless otherwise.
Why play mids like Schwarz and Appelton when they still pick when and how they deal with contested ball and why was Tuck allowed front position without being counter blocked at ball ups? Why no double team when he basically ripped the game open after half time for West!
Changing up our gamestyle needed to happen and quick movement is key but 1 metre handballing isn't ever productive and only makes the opposition's job easy. And we don't/can't use the whole oval to stretch the opposition and our mids don't work hard enough when we lose momentum in games or turn the ball over.
So what's the super quickfix before we are 0-4? Get rid of the kid's and play hardened types in the middle like Raymond, Hall, Goldy and McGregor along with Rowntree, Boyd and Poole! Without Thurlow we must use a 3rd man up to get something started ffs.
It's time to be brave and shake things up because the midfield is why we go well at different stages of games and it's the reason why we have soft hot and cold performances also.
Michael, it's time you showed the supporters a flexablity and willingness to be brave with your coaching just as you did when you presented to the Board
Regards, H78

I think you are overanalysing this H78. Simple answer - for the last three years we have carried a bunch of, weak, mentally soft players. A team completely lacking in leadership and the will to dig deep whenever challenged.

The problem with Godden is that he is afraid to take a risk and so keeps recycling hacks over and over such as Schwarz, Appleton, Poole and Martyn rather then cutting them loose (for good) and taking a punt on some 18 year olds who may not be quite ready but have far more upside.

btw H78, the eagles players you nomintated as our 'hardened types' in the midfield demonstrates perfectly why this team will not be a Premiership threat for a very long time. You nominated Raymond, Hall, Goldy, McGregor, Rowntree, Boyd and Poole. Out of that crop, the only player with hardness and abilty is Rowntree. This is not enough. Boyd, Raymond, Goldy and Mcgregor have skill but lack hardness (the latter three also don't get enough of the ball to be effective midfielders). Hall and Poole are outright hacks in every sense of the word.

Its going to be a very tough season for eagles this year unfortunately.

[arcadefire]

Agree with comments above....Schwarz has zero ability and Poole is too slow and has poor skills. Appleton has ability but can't find the ball. I'm afraid if these guys keep getting a game it is going to be a long season. Don't know what Godden was doing in the 4th must have been having a nap when tuck was carving up schwarz.

[Gozu]

Crowd 1,985

[FlyingHigh]

North, Centrals and us and maybe West and Adelaide are fighting for 5th spot so this loss is really going to hurt.

While our mid-field isn't great, there is plenty of experience in the side still. Even players without a huge number of league games such as Martyn, Poole and Batley have been around long enough to know what's required.

West will be better than last year, but no excuse to be 5 goals up on our home deck, and give up eight goals straddling* 3 quarter time which should have given us a chance to regroup. As arcadefire said in the other thread, mentally soft.

[johntheclaret]

The Eagles can't be serious playing schwarz and martyn they are F graders, Westies should win by 3 goals

I thought we were supposed have some good juniors coming up and we're playing plodders like poole and schwarz and well martyn has pace but that's about it

How did those plodding F graders do this week against the Premiers?

Just asking

[holden78]

The Eagles can't be serious playing schwarz and martyn they are F graders, Westies should win by 3 goals

I thought we were supposed have some good juniors coming up and we're playing plodders like poole and schwarz and well martyn has pace but that's about it

How did those plodding F graders do this week against the Premiers?

Just asking

Norwood's Rugby League gamestyle was no surprise but when man on man footy was served up with counter attack....... well let's just say they kicked more at the Eagles goals then their own Shite it must be watching that each week, do your head in

[johntheclaret]

The Eagles can't be serious playing schwarz and martyn they are F graders, Westies should win by 3 goals

I thought we were supposed have some good juniors coming up and we're playing plodders like poole and schwarz and well martyn has pace but that's about it

How did those plodding F graders do this week against the Premiers?

Just asking

Norwood's Rugby League gamestyle was no surprise but when man on man footy was served up with counter attack....... well let's just say they kicked more at the Eagles goals then their own Shite it must be watching that each week, do your head in

Should I repeat the question as you seemed to have missed it?