But there are signs that we're beginning to 'give up' in a wink, wink, nudge, nudge say no more kind of way. Naitanui has been mothballed for at least the next couple of weeks and possibly the rest of the season. You'd imagine of we win the next 2, no means assured, then we'll try to get him right for a last desperate fight for the finals. But realistically are we any chance of winning against Essendon, Geelong or Collingwood?
Now Lecras (foot
We're not 'tanking' because that would be against the rules. What we are doing is not risking stars in what are probably meaningless games.
Anyway, as for this game, I'm reasonably confident that we will win. We've beaten all the cellar dwellers this season with varying degrees of comfort. We would want to as well. Because unless we win the next couple we could very well plummet even further down the ladder.
Forget who isn't there, we've still got a powerful forward line led by JJK and Darling, a solid if severely undermanned midfield with Selwood, Priddis, Masten and Gaff and a decent defence.
Western Bulldogs
B: L.Picken, J.Roughead, J.Tutt
HB: D.Morris, M.Talia, A.Cooney
C: M.Boyd, T.Liberatore, R.Murphy
HF: D.Giansiracusa, L.Jones, K.Stevens
F: L.Dahlhaus, J.Grant, T.Dickson
R: W.Minson, R.Griffen, M.Wallis
I/C: J.Macrae, D.Addison, L.Hunter, T.Young,
IN: Tom Young, Matthew Boyd
OUT: Brett Goodes (Arm) , Nathan Hrovat (Soreness)
West Coast Eagles
B: W.Schofield, M.Brown, S.Butler
HB: A.Carter, E.Mackenzie, As.Smith
C: A.Gaff, M.Priddis, B.Dalziell
HF: J.Cripps, JJ.Kennedy, J.Hill
F: A.Hams, S.Lycett, J.Darling
R: D.Cox, S.Selwood, C.Masten
I/C: M.Hutchings, C.Morton, S.Wellingham, B.Wilson
IN: Blayne Wilson, Ashton Hams, Sam Butler, Scott Lycett, Scott Selwood
OUT: Mark LeCras (Foot) , Nic Naitanui (Soreness) , Darren Glass (Soreness) , Luke Shuey (Hamstring), Adam Selwood (omitted)
But it's not the result of the game that interests me much (except if we lose then it becomes very interesting). It's about the performance of individuals.
Careers might be on the line for some. Hams has been frozen out this season after ably holding down the fort last season. Hill has struggled in recent times so both will need to impress for their future prospects. Wilson was impressive in his first couple of games and can push for a more permanent role. Wellingham, as I alluded to last week, must show something for the remainder of the season. He was meant to be the missing link. Injuries aside, he has had zero influence on this team. With a fully fit squad should he be in the starting 22? Not on recent form. He also has to placate us, the fans, that he's worthy of wearing that jumper. A few more anonymous performances and you can imagine a Masten/Ebert/Swift angst starting to rumble at Paterson's. Ask Masten how long it takes to get rid of that antagonism.
Then there's Morton. I think he showed something last week, albeit running as the free man, and his future is certainly at stake. I just hope he's not the sub so we can see him over a full game.
Finally, and most importantly, there's Scott Lycett. Huge game for the Big Lycee. He's had chances before only to come up noticeably short. After Callum Wilson's impressive displays earlier in the season, Lycett's time may very well be now or never.
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It's been a hectic week outside of preparation for this game. It started after the Swans loss when Worsfold was questioned over Kerr's absence. You'd expect something of a weak dismissal from John, not known for criticising players publicly, but instead he gave Kerr an almighty whack.
"While he does his good stoppage work, other players are having to pick up the slack around the ground...Daniel has to be up and be able to run and play offensive and defensive footy as well as being good at stoppages...That is what we have to measure going into next week's game...Is one hit-out enough to say that he can run at AFL level like he needs to be able to run?"
As an unabashed fan of Kerr, I have to say I find those comments, resisting the urge to swear, absolutely apocryphal. I don't accept those criticisms for one second. It just doesn't add up, when you consider that Adam Selwood, who really hasn't been able to run all season , played on Sunday. Making Kerr some kind of scape-goat for a team that has been a in a malaise for most the season is unfair, untrue and just plain bizarre. For even if you agree that Kerr has been struggling, why does Worsfold choose now to throw a player under the bus, least of all Kerr?
If he was a young star not lifting his weight then maybe it makes sense. But what possible benefit is there in publicly panning him at age 30?
Daniel Kerr is a 223 game legend. He could've/should've won a Brownlow in the middle of the last decade. He's indefatigable, strong, powerful and has shown reckless disregard for his body for the good of the team. Remember the Fab 3 of the glory days? 2 of those guys absolutely gutted the Eagles; Cousins through his off-field actions which immeasurably tarnished the reputation of this club, Judd through his decision to flee back to Melbourne which left us a shell of a team. Kerr stuck it out. I know he had his own off-field issues and I know he went through a period of perpetual report-suspensions, but he will be the one I remember most fondly and who has given the most to the club.
Perhaps Kerr's manager sums up the weirdness of the comments best: ""I am absolutely mystified by John's quotes."
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In other news, also bizarre, John Worsfold has indicated, in a very vague, general way that he plans on staying next year. I was genuinely surprised by this. I remember earlier in the season he refused to say whether he even had the desire to coach at the moment. His body language, his acidic performances at press conferences all indicated that he was a man who had had enough of the gig. The lethargic, non-committal performances of the team seemed to reflect this indifference. But now he wants to stay? What's changed? Maybe he doesn't want his time remembered by this season?
I can't say I'm happy or disappointed by this. I don't like the fact the club has already rubber stamped his reappointment, even though he said they hadn't.
He must want one final push for a premiership within the next 3 years. I hope he has some plan in place, besides a belief that a fit team is good enough. Good enough to make finals maybe. Good enough to challenge? Doubtful.
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Finally, Mitch Brown has re-signed with the club for 3 years. He's been a solid but overlooked player for a long time. He wanted to play for the Saints last season, even requesting a trade, but has decided to stay in the nest. A no-brainer in my mind, but a welcome decision none the less.
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