Every four weeks we have reviewed every club but with the mid season break, we will go into more detail. We will review the year so far, what the rest of the year looks like and also which players have been disappointing and which players have been a shinning light for each club.
We would love your comments as it helps us to create and provide a better website. So please give us your thoughts and opinions on what we have written and discussed.
LeCras & Kennedy have been the two shinning lights in the Eagles forward line this year.
West Coast Eagles Mid Season Review
3 wins, 9 losses. 86.90%
After four rounds, West Coast where in the top 8 and many started to think they could be chances of a surprise finals campaign but after 7 losses out of the next 8 rounds its going to be another long season for the Coasters. The Eagles have showed glimpses in all but the 90 odd point loss to St Kilda but the inability to find a goal scorer beyond LeCras has again hurt them.
West Coast really need to win an away game for them to take the next step, their best chance came against Richmond in round 12 but the inability to play four solid quarters continue to plague them. The winnable games away are Melbourne, Port & Adelaide. Two away wins would be good along with at least another 2-3 home wins. This will help set up the squad for next season.
When a team struggles to play consistent four quarters the list of struggling players will be long and its the same senior players from last year in Kerr, Embley, Hansen, Staker & Lynch. Masten, Ebert, LeCras, Kennedy & Nit Nat have all shown improvement and for the Eagles to win games, they need to grow from promising future players to A or B graders.
Richmonds Mid Season Review
3 wins, 9 losses. 79.8%
So much has been said about the Tigers already and we all know how the saga has played out thus far. They have been selfish, brave, lacking skill, hard at the footy, unlucky with injury and most of all inconsistent. Good performances against teams like Geelong, Sydney and Eagles have been matched by dismal efforts against the Blues, Dogs(twice) and the Demons.
Jade Rawlings is staking a claim for the main position and he seems to have the support of the team…for now! The emotion and excitement of playing for a new coach aside the real test for Jade will come in the next three weeks. They face the Saints, Crows and Blues from rounds 13-15 and I am certain that how he handles those tough matches will determine his standing for next year.
Foley and Tuck have been busy as usual and Tambling looks to have turned the corner in the last couple of weeks but apart from that there has not been much improvement from the young Tiges. Injuries to Richo, Cousins, Johnson and Cotchin have left them vulnerable and I am pleased that Rawlings has looked to youth as I think Bowden, Brown and Simmonds are goooone…
Fremantles Mid Season Review
3 wins, 9 losses. 79.74%
Last year they recruited 14 new players to the club and got rid of over 1,000 games of experience, so its no wonder that they are sitting towards the bottom of the ladder. They did hit some form with 3 straight wins including Carlton away at the Gold Coast.
Fremantle have a tough draw with 7 games against top 8 fancy teams. If they could win a few of these, it would do the young team a lot of good as coach Harvey gets games into the young brigade.
Stephen Hill has showed enough to warrent his selection at number 3 at last years national draft
The exciting thing about the team is the number of young guys and the growth in the way they are playing. Hill the number 3 pick looked over awed in his first 5 games but since the West Coast game he has showed poise, flair and why Fremantle picked him ahead of Rich. Others in Duffield, Broughton, de Boer & Walters have all shown enough to provide Fremantle some hope for the future.
The season ending injury to Palmer is a huge blow but the return of Hasleby has helped Sandilands get some recognition as now Freo can now dominate the midfield clearances. Pavlich had a slow start to the year as he gets used to a permanent role in the midfield & when Ballantyne can get fit, he will replace the much needed small forward role left by Farmer last year.
Melbourne Demons Mid Season Review
1 win, 11 losses, 69.69
Off field the Demons are kicking goals as they continue to wipe off debt and expend their clubs presence around the country. On field with only one win, you would be worried but in looking at the list and the fact they have not lost by more than 70 points, there is promise. You can see coach Bailey has a game plan and that the young Demons are learning it.
I think its safe to say that they again will gain an extra pick as I cannot see them winning more than another 3 games (They only play Richmond once more). Their best bet for another two wins would be in round 14 & 15 where they play West Coast & Port at the MCG.
With the lower teams, you tend to focus on more their list than their up and coming games and Melbourne is no different. The midfield is promising with Morton, Sylvia (has had a break out year), Bennell, Davey, Jones & Maloney (best year since moving from the cats) and the defense looks solid with Rivers getting over his injuries along with Warnock, Cheeney & Frawley.
The forward line still has question marks on it but if Watts can show why he is a number one pick, if Robbertson can play another season or two & Miller can settle in as the CHF you have a handy forward line with players like Bate, Jetta, Jurrah & Wonaeamirri, providing the hard work and magic needed to kick a winning score.
Your mid season review of West Coast, Richmond, Fremantle & Melbourne.
Let us know what you think of how these four clubs are going half way through the season and feel free to answer some of these questions:
- Which of these four sides do you think has the best list & is likely to make the finals before the other? Is it Richmond?
- Who will coach Richmond next year? Buckley? Rawlings? Malthouse? or maybe even Lethal who has ‘reportedly’ meet with some clubs.
- Of the four sides, what do you think they need to get a few wins this season and to be more competitive next year?
- Is Fremantle a better side with Pavlich playing midfield or forward?
- Half a season in, was Watts the number one pick? Nit Nat number two? Hill #3 etc? If the clubs had their time again what would they change?
- Are these teams bottoming out at the right time? Pick up the last few good kids before the Gold Coast & West Sydney come in?
Only time can tell but let us know what you think.
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June 24th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I think that Freo and the Tigers are probably duking it out for the best list of the four, with Fremantle perhaps a nose in front. Fremantle ultimately went through their list at the end of last year in a similar fashion to which Richmond will need to this year. I think Bowden might be a toss-up, but Simmonds and Brown are certainly “goooone”.
No idea who will coach Richmond, but I’ve made clear who I think should. I’m happy to add Damien Hardwick to my list of coaches I think Richmond should go after, but it sounds like he might have the Port job sewn up. I’m certainly not pro-Buckley.
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June 24th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I agree that Fremantle probably have the best list at the moment especially as they have senior players in Pavlich, Sandilands, Halesby, McPharlin, Solomon etc are still under the age of 30 and have a few good years left in them.
Richmond also have some good kids (Cotchin, Morton, Vickery etc) but the problem is they have several over aged fading stars.
West Coast have premiership players who have not taken the next step up and I think its time Worsfold gets rid of a few (Staker, Hansen, Hunter & Embley).
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June 25th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Suprisingly good review…hold on…its from an Eastern States commentator!
All you missed out was how on earth WC can justify reappointing a coach who has shown slowness on game day, ineptitude with list management, unable to shape the culture at the club, and recognise when its toxic, and who has overseen the two worst years the club has ever had.
Harvey is proving to have the courage that perhaps was needed at Freo 3 years ago. Better late than never…Richmond take note!
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June 26th, 2009 at 6:31 am
Actually it was a WA boy who did the Freo review
I think Worsfold got an extension because of his premiership history and the fact there is several top 20 picks which he should be able to build a finals team with.
In regards to the culture, I think its changing but thats more due to the players and board than John imo.
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June 26th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Mark – “how on earth WC can justify reappointing a coach who has blah blah blah…”
The answer is remarkably simple: a premiership. I can understand if a Dockers man might not have heard of it.
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June 26th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I agree that Worsfold has question marks on his coaching ability (the premiership stars where brought in by Judge & Malthouse) but the premiership means a lot. His true ability as a coach will be this and next year..
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July 9th, 2009 at 9:35 am
What is it about sport and coaches? as soon as a team starts to struggle everyone starts to call for the coaches head. (in some cases its merited ie. Terry Wallace) Worsfold lead the eagles to two grand finals, almost winning them both, i agree he has a few tough years ahead but people by no means should be writing him off at all. maybe people need to start questioning the players rather than the coach all the time
Mike´s last blog ..WS: Trip to FeilongShan
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