In the next few weeks until the start of the 2010 season on 25th March 2010 we will review in depth every 16 clubs. We started off last week with Fremantle, then the Bulldogs, the Kangaroos and Collingwood. This week we have looked at Richmond, Sydney Swans and today the West Coast Eagles.
After Kick2Kick reviews each club, we will give their full season 2010 predictions like we did last year. If you would like to review a team or something else, please contact us.
For the Eagles to get back into the finals, he needs to get his attitude and body right.
What Happened Last Year
Last year was separated into different segments with an average first few weeks they sat in and out of the top 8 and then they lost 9 out of 10 weeks and the club had to deflect talk on tanking. They responded the best way possible with four wins in the last five weeks including an away win against the Bulldogs and finalist Essendon.
Injuries to Daniel Kerr and Dean Cox became a blessing in disguise as it forced Nit Nat and young midfielders Chris Masten, Tom Swift & Adam Selwood to take on the mantle of number one ruckman and midfielder. Mark LeCras and Josh Kennedy have helped answered the biggest West Coast problem for a number of years including their premiership year which is their forward line. LeCras would have been an All Australian if he played for a Victorian club and Josh showed why he was a number four pick a few years ago.
The New Season
Loyal fans are looking at the Eagles to bounce back into the top 8 but for this to happen, a lot needs to go right starting with Daniel Kerr and Dean Cox who need big years, Nit Nat is only in his second year and he cannot be expected to carry the ruck duties.
If Mark LeCras and Josh Kennedy mirror or improve their last year and with Quinten Lynch playing the one position at Full Forward and either Nit Nat or Dean Cox resting up forward, it now looks like a forward line potentially that could kick a winning goal. They still need a small crumbing forward but that gives a chance to several rookies in Oakley-Nicholas, Lewis Broome, Ryan Neates and Gerrick Weedon.
Likely Finish: 8th – 10th
Players to Watch
Mark LeCras – Kicked 58 goals from 21 games and was a surprise to everyone except the loyal Eagles fans with his poise, goal nous and straight kicking (over 60% accuracy rate).
Nit Nat - Nic Naitanui or Nit Nat (as everyone knows him by) has already been one of the young players to watch this pre season and it should only continue to the season proper. If Dean Cox can stand up it will only give him more opportunity to shine, grow and become one of the best young guns in todays young crop of potential future stars.
Bench Warmers
Mark Nicoski - He has been playing forward in the NAB pre season competition with Scott Selwood and others taking his position down back. He can kick the ball 50m+ but if he does not cement the forward line chance, I doubt he will be on the list next year.
Tony Notte - Was a #20 pick and while is regarded as a project player, he will want to improve out of sight for his WAFL side as he waits for a senior opportunity for West Coast.
Ashley Hansen - Plays in the same WAFL side as Tony Notte and they play similar at Full Forward/ floating lead up Center Half Forward. I do not think the Eagles can carry both in 2011.
Need to Improve
Matthew Rosa - Him and Bradley Dalziell are very similar types of players and while there is probably room for both in the best 22, I doubt both will stay in the same team. He could be Gold Coast trade bait…
Daniel Kerr - Is a multiple top 5 finisher in the Brownlow, so there is nothing wrong with his ability however in the last two years he has not played more than 11 regular games. In the 2010 pre season, he looks fit after 2009 being ruined by a groin problem, however the question now is can he keep his attitude under check?
Bradley Ebert - Has the famous South Australian name and was a number 13 pick, injuries have restricted him but its time he shows why he was chased by several clubs and was touted as a possible future captain for West Coast in his first season. In the first two season he has not been fit enough but will the third year on the list be the one to watch where he performs?
Your Thoughts
A lot of the over east experts and AFL enthusiasts are not rating the Eagles this year but what do you think? Do you think it be another year of up and down football where some weeks they will look good and others they will look average?
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March 10th, 2010 at 10:31 am
I think 8th position is EXTREMELY optimistic…
Bulldogs, Geelong, St Kilda, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Sydney, Carlton, Essendon, Adelaide, Port Adelaide are all finals hopefuls this year and I’m sorry but I do not think the Eagles are as good or better than most of this list.
They have a good team but I think with all the injuries they had last year it will take some time to get the team chemistry back with their best 22. This year will probably be a good year and they can probably beat some of the aformentioned teams but I doubt they will make a finals appearance this season. If they can stay relatively injury free and keep the team together for the year then they will have a very good base to launch an assualt on the finals next year.
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March 10th, 2010 at 11:47 am
I agree 8th is optimistic but I think the Eagles will be better this year than Carlton, Essendon and along the same (flip of a coin) as Sydney & Port Adelaide.
I actually think besides Cox & Kerr, last year they had virtually no injuries, I do not think injuries will be the worry, I think its more whether the young guns can take that step. If they cant, it will be a year like 2009.
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March 10th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
I definately don’t think they’re better than Sydney and Port Adelaide, and i don’t think that they are on the same level either…and the only reason they would be better than Carlton and Essendon is probably because the blues & bombers have no real forward line anymore.
Even if they were similar to Port & Sydney they would still be EXTREMELY lucky to make the 8 seeing the other 7 teams i mentioned would be a hell of a lot more of a chance to make the 8 than West Coast. 1 spot between 5 teams? I don’t rate the Eagles chances much at all.
Well they had minor injuries throughout the season, but you take out Cox and Kerr, and you lose arguably your best two players, the core of your ruck/clearances and also they’re onfield leadership and experience…
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March 11th, 2010 at 11:41 am
The Eagles won four out of five last year and looked the best without Cox and Kerr in the team last year.
I agree those 7 teams are ahead of West Coast this year, that is why I got them at 8th to 10th
btw Deano, when you buying the West Coast Eagles membership?
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March 13th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Kerr’s best was with Judd and Cousins sharing the midfield load. He’s a super player, but I’m not sure he has the mental strength to carry the mantle of expectation and the opposition’s best tagger.
aussierulesblog´s last blog ..The comedy of errors rolls on
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March 14th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
@ARB – for the last two years yes he has struggled but we fans are hoping that with the emergence of Masten etc it will help with the pressure of taggers…
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March 13th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
i think the eagles game in the nab has been better than last years….hopefully we can see more of the nic nat
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March 14th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Huh? Kerr will always get the opposition’s best shut-down tagger, end of story.
The benefit for Kerr of being in the same team as Judd and Cousins was that he was getting the opposition’s THIRD-best tagger.
I don’t think he can have the same impact as BEST midfielder in the team that he did as THIRD-best midfielder in the team.
aussierulesblog´s last blog ..The comedy of errors rolls on
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March 14th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
I agree with ARB kerr will b shutdown everytime without the likes of cousins and Judd asking as he is shutdown he won’t b worth counting on as a major player forthe eagles. I’m not sure but I think if nicnat keeps hisconfidence up he will be a key player for them but they will still have a hard time as just acouple ofkey players aren’t going to be able to kelp them secure a top five spot
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March 15th, 2010 at 8:50 am
@Jermayn…
I also agree with aussierulesblog…it’s hard to see Kerr not getting the best opposition tagger every time. He is a good player and very dangerous and teams will want to shut him down. Who do the Eagles have that can step up and be a real force in the midfield? I have watched a few of their games and they do not seem to have the naturally talented midfielders that other teams have…In today’s game we all know that the games are quite often won and lost out of the midfield…Do the Eagles really have anyone?
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March 15th, 2010 at 9:28 am
@Princess, @ARB & @Mike – Yes I do think the Eagles are developing a midfield that can help out Kerr, the real test will be the regular season but the midfield is coming along nicely. To me the real worry is not Kerr and whether someone can help him out but imo its the pace of the midfield. As good as Masten, Selwood etc are coming along its all one paced.
This is where the players like Neates etc need to lift and come in.
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March 19th, 2010 at 2:12 am
Jesus you guys!!!
Ever heard of “players developing”. Ebert, Masten and Swift ARE THE NEW MID-FIELD. If they develop as planned, they will draw their OWN TAGS. Oppositions simply can’t lay any more than two or three tags on the midfield – otherwise they can’t get the footy and can’t get goals. So, Just as Embly, Braun and Fletcher were allowed off the leash when Cousins, Kerr and Judd were in the side, Kerr will be given room to move when Ebert, Swift and Masten develop and step up. Opposing teams can waste a tag on Kerr if they like, it will just free up the other DEVELOPED and PERFORMING mid-fielders…
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March 19th, 2010 at 8:35 am
@WCEF, As much as I love your optimism, who will be the new Cousins and Judd?
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