Were you embarrassed watching that demolition? No, me neither. But good God man/woman!
For although Roos is now standing where Neeld (remember that guy?) stood last year, the result was the same. The Dees are STILL the whipping boys of the comp, an unmitigated disaster of a football team, undeserving of playing in the league.
I wonder if Garry Lyon will spend time this week trawling over everything that Jamie Bennell did wrong? I wouldn't put it past him.
Yet I honestly don't derive all that much pleasure out of games like that. Sure, 4 points is good. Yes, percentage is a plus. Undoubtedly, our confidence is now sky-high. But, do we really want to see games like that?
Still, our performance was just like last week; powerful and unrelenting. We operated at a level far beyond the minions that we faced. It was a polished performance by a talented group.
I don't think I can write much about this game. Essentially everyone played well. Kennedy found form and kicked 5, Nic Nat did a few good things, the defence was untroubled and the midfield dominant. I even thought Sheppard showed signs of life after starting as the sub.
The only negative from the day was the knee injury suffered by Shannon Hurn. He will miss at least 2 weeks.
We play the Dees again in Round 22. That should be fun.
Next up is the undefeated Saints. I don't expect them to remain unbeaten for long.
Oh and we're on top of the perch, which is...nice.
Monday 31 March 2014
Sunday 30 March 2014
Round 2 Preview: Eagles Face Old Nemesis
That would be Paul Roos, not the Demons. On the contrary, we, like all other self-respecting football teams, have historically enjoyed playing (and destroying) the Demons. Will the Roos-led Dees be any different?
Perhaps. But at this point in time the Demons are very much a 'work in progress'. To be honest, I didn't watch any of their game last week, I had better things to do like washing my cat. They lost. I picked them. Bastards.
But enough about them. If we are a genuine team we should beat a very inexperienced, perpetually losing team that is Melbourne. Although I will continue to caution against the wave of euphoria which has descended (mainly from external sources) upon us, I expect us to have far too much ability and intensity today.
A quick perusal of the respective team sheets suggests something of a slaughter could occur. The Demons forward line in particular is extremely impotent, with Jack 'Wolverine' Fitzpatrick named at full forward. As long as E-Mac and co. watch those dastard claws, I can't see the Dees kicking a winning score.
In team news, Brad 'The Good Shepherd' Sheppard is the one inclusion, as Sheed is dropped. Hell of a guy Sheppard. He never has justified the draft pick we spent on him, but that may be as much a sign of our poor drafting as anything. Still, a new coach, a fresh start and an opportunity on Sunday. Sinclair continues to keep Lycett out, whilst Josh Hill, a man who played almost every game for 2 seasons, is overlooked again.
Melbourne make no change to the team that lost to the Saints. They do, however, have Viv Michie. A dark horse for the Brownlow?
MELBOURNE
Backs: Dunn Frawley Georgiou
Half-backs: Grimes McDonald Terlich
Centres: Trengove Tyson Cross
Half-forwards: Watts Pedersen Toumpas
Forwards: Howe Fitzpatrick Bail
Followers: Spencer N Jones Vince
Interchange: From: Byrnes M Jones Kennedy-Harris Michie
WEST COAST
Backs: Bennell Glass Brown
Half-backs: Hurn Mackenzie Ellis
Centres: Rosa Priddis Gaff
Half-forwards: Cripps Kennedy Masten
Forwards: LeCras Darling Naitanui
Followers: Cox Selwood Shuey
Interchange: Sheppard Sinclair Wellingham Yeo
In: Sheppard
Out: Sheed
I could go on and on about how we are better than they are in everyway. But, why bother? We should prevail quite comfortably and move to 2-0.
Have a pleasant Sunday!
Perhaps. But at this point in time the Demons are very much a 'work in progress'. To be honest, I didn't watch any of their game last week, I had better things to do like washing my cat. They lost. I picked them. Bastards.
But enough about them. If we are a genuine team we should beat a very inexperienced, perpetually losing team that is Melbourne. Although I will continue to caution against the wave of euphoria which has descended (mainly from external sources) upon us, I expect us to have far too much ability and intensity today.
A quick perusal of the respective team sheets suggests something of a slaughter could occur. The Demons forward line in particular is extremely impotent, with Jack 'Wolverine' Fitzpatrick named at full forward. As long as E-Mac and co. watch those dastard claws, I can't see the Dees kicking a winning score.
In team news, Brad 'The Good Shepherd' Sheppard is the one inclusion, as Sheed is dropped. Hell of a guy Sheppard. He never has justified the draft pick we spent on him, but that may be as much a sign of our poor drafting as anything. Still, a new coach, a fresh start and an opportunity on Sunday. Sinclair continues to keep Lycett out, whilst Josh Hill, a man who played almost every game for 2 seasons, is overlooked again.
Melbourne make no change to the team that lost to the Saints. They do, however, have Viv Michie. A dark horse for the Brownlow?
MELBOURNE
Backs: Dunn Frawley Georgiou
Half-backs: Grimes McDonald Terlich
Centres: Trengove Tyson Cross
Half-forwards: Watts Pedersen Toumpas
Forwards: Howe Fitzpatrick Bail
Followers: Spencer N Jones Vince
Interchange: From: Byrnes M Jones Kennedy-Harris Michie
WEST COAST
Backs: Bennell Glass Brown
Half-backs: Hurn Mackenzie Ellis
Centres: Rosa Priddis Gaff
Half-forwards: Cripps Kennedy Masten
Forwards: LeCras Darling Naitanui
Followers: Cox Selwood Shuey
Interchange: Sheppard Sinclair Wellingham Yeo
In: Sheppard
Out: Sheed
I could go on and on about how we are better than they are in everyway. But, why bother? We should prevail quite comfortably and move to 2-0.
Have a pleasant Sunday!
Wednesday 26 March 2014
Round 1 Recap: Reborn Eagles Breeze Past Disastrous Dogs
The Eagles destroyed a mediocre Dogs outfit, transferring an impressive preseason into a great result on Sunday.
I'm reluctant to make any grand recalibration of how I see this team. It's far too early. We were dominant yes, but the Dogs were extremely disappointing. Whether they're just plain bad, or the heat/humidity hurt their Victorian sensibilities, they couldn't muster much fight from the 2nd quarter onwards.
But you can only beat who you play. We beat who we played with ease, poise, passion and power. We moved the ball quickly. We demonstrated consistent pressure and intensity and were ferocious in our tackling. We had zeal.
Lecras and Darling were simply unstoppable up forward. Both seemed to spend considerable time right in the thick of the action and really flourished. The midfield was too powerful for what should be, theoretically, a solid outfit. Up forward, the underwhelming Crameri and not much else didn't both the ever consistent Glass and E-Mac.
The new guys looked solid. I thought Bennell in particular showed something, despite Garry Lyon's rather bitter decision to highlight every little thing he did wrong on Footy Classified. Really Garry?
Ellis and Yeo both probably did decent enough jobs, although as I was sitting in the clouds I didn't really notice them. Sheed, as expected, was green vested.
Overall, it was a demolition. It seems the team has restored a sense of pride in their play and the crowd reacted accordingly.
Despite this, the panel shows on Monday night have surely gone too early in proclaiming us 'Top 4 chances' and certainties for the top 8. It was 1 game, at home, against the Dogs. We won't really know the level of our improvement until rounds 4 to 7, where we play the Cats and Blues away and face the Power and Dockers at home.
But until then, interesting games against the Demons and Saints await.
I'm reluctant to make any grand recalibration of how I see this team. It's far too early. We were dominant yes, but the Dogs were extremely disappointing. Whether they're just plain bad, or the heat/humidity hurt their Victorian sensibilities, they couldn't muster much fight from the 2nd quarter onwards.
But you can only beat who you play. We beat who we played with ease, poise, passion and power. We moved the ball quickly. We demonstrated consistent pressure and intensity and were ferocious in our tackling. We had zeal.
Lecras and Darling were simply unstoppable up forward. Both seemed to spend considerable time right in the thick of the action and really flourished. The midfield was too powerful for what should be, theoretically, a solid outfit. Up forward, the underwhelming Crameri and not much else didn't both the ever consistent Glass and E-Mac.
The new guys looked solid. I thought Bennell in particular showed something, despite Garry Lyon's rather bitter decision to highlight every little thing he did wrong on Footy Classified. Really Garry?
Ellis and Yeo both probably did decent enough jobs, although as I was sitting in the clouds I didn't really notice them. Sheed, as expected, was green vested.
Overall, it was a demolition. It seems the team has restored a sense of pride in their play and the crowd reacted accordingly.
Despite this, the panel shows on Monday night have surely gone too early in proclaiming us 'Top 4 chances' and certainties for the top 8. It was 1 game, at home, against the Dogs. We won't really know the level of our improvement until rounds 4 to 7, where we play the Cats and Blues away and face the Power and Dockers at home.
But until then, interesting games against the Demons and Saints await.
Saturday 22 March 2014
Round 1 Preview: It's not a House, it's a Home.
Last year it wasn't so much a house or a home. It was a place of pain.
But, who cares! Round 1: WOO HOO!
We find ourselves in an unfamiliar place at the start of this season. For the past few years we knew who we were come Round 1, or at least we thought we knew. This season is different. There's a rookie coach. There's a host of new additions. We simply don't know how this will play out. But it should be exciting nonetheless.
There are some advantages to this. Expectations which were perhaps unnervingly high last season haved ebbed away. There isn't the same pressure to succeed. There also shouldn't be any complacency, nor lack of desire nor passion.
We are somewhat eased into season 2014 with winnable games against 3 non-finals teams from last season. It certainly can't be as tough as what we faced last year, losing badly to the 2 grand finalists in the opening 2 rounds.
Pre-season form is generally meaningless, yet there was a certain verve, a drive, an intensity in our play which was lacking last year. Finally, we are healthier than we were at this time last season.
All this, naturally, will mean nothing if we go out tomorrow and lose.
It's impossible to overestimate how important Round 1 is to us. Firstly, it sets a tone for the rest of the year. Secondly, we must, must must, re-establish a home ground advantage. It was MIA last season as teams waltzed in, thrashed us and waltzed away with the 4 points. Not this year.
The team has a fresh look to it, with 4 new additions to the line-up. Jamie Bennell finally debuts, an ex-Demon. I have to say he looked a little slow in the practice match against the Dockers, but erm, well, we'll see. Premiership Hawk Xavier Ellis also slots into the backline, whilst rookie Sheed and former Lion Yeo are named on the bench. You would imagine first gamer Sheed would be sporting green come bounce down.
I don't know what to expect from the new guys. They all seem like solid contributors, unlikely to be more than worthy, secure options adding to our depth. Perhaps Sheed is the exception. All will be revealed...
Other notable inclusions include Sinclair, beating out the forever nearly man the Big Lycee. I feel bad for Lycee, but Sinclair has simply played better with fewer opportunities. It's also encuraging to see Nic Nat, Hurn and Lecras playing after missing games towards the end of last year's train wreck.
WEST COAST
B: Bennell D.Glass M.Brown
HB: S.Hurn E.Mackenzie X.Ellis
C: M.Rosa M.Priddis A.Gaff
HF: S.Wellingham J.Kennedy C.Masten
F: M.LeCras J.Darling J.Cripps
FOLL: D.Cox S.Selwood L.Shuey
I/C: N.Naitanui D.Sheed C.Sinclair E.Yeo
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: L.Picken J.Roughead E.Wood
HB: B.Goodes D.Morris R.Murphy
C: J.Macrae A.Cooney K.Stevens
HF: S.Higgins S.Crameri D.Giansiracusa
F: L.Hunter J.Stringer T.Campbell
FOLL: W.Minson M.Boyd T.Liberatore
I/C: M.Wallis L.Dahlhaus T.Dickson J.Johannisen
As for the Dogs...I don't know. They finished last year strongly. They defeated us to hurt our dwindling top 9 chances last season. Essentially, I expect them to push for finals, but perhaps a slight lack of talent will seem them miss out. Maybe. Who cares.
The point is: we should win this game by 4-5 goals. We're more talented. We're at home. We'll want o quickly dispel the ghosts of last year.
Enjoy the game!
But, who cares! Round 1: WOO HOO!
We find ourselves in an unfamiliar place at the start of this season. For the past few years we knew who we were come Round 1, or at least we thought we knew. This season is different. There's a rookie coach. There's a host of new additions. We simply don't know how this will play out. But it should be exciting nonetheless.
There are some advantages to this. Expectations which were perhaps unnervingly high last season haved ebbed away. There isn't the same pressure to succeed. There also shouldn't be any complacency, nor lack of desire nor passion.
We are somewhat eased into season 2014 with winnable games against 3 non-finals teams from last season. It certainly can't be as tough as what we faced last year, losing badly to the 2 grand finalists in the opening 2 rounds.
Pre-season form is generally meaningless, yet there was a certain verve, a drive, an intensity in our play which was lacking last year. Finally, we are healthier than we were at this time last season.
All this, naturally, will mean nothing if we go out tomorrow and lose.
It's impossible to overestimate how important Round 1 is to us. Firstly, it sets a tone for the rest of the year. Secondly, we must, must must, re-establish a home ground advantage. It was MIA last season as teams waltzed in, thrashed us and waltzed away with the 4 points. Not this year.
The team has a fresh look to it, with 4 new additions to the line-up. Jamie Bennell finally debuts, an ex-Demon. I have to say he looked a little slow in the practice match against the Dockers, but erm, well, we'll see. Premiership Hawk Xavier Ellis also slots into the backline, whilst rookie Sheed and former Lion Yeo are named on the bench. You would imagine first gamer Sheed would be sporting green come bounce down.
I don't know what to expect from the new guys. They all seem like solid contributors, unlikely to be more than worthy, secure options adding to our depth. Perhaps Sheed is the exception. All will be revealed...
Other notable inclusions include Sinclair, beating out the forever nearly man the Big Lycee. I feel bad for Lycee, but Sinclair has simply played better with fewer opportunities. It's also encuraging to see Nic Nat, Hurn and Lecras playing after missing games towards the end of last year's train wreck.
WEST COAST
B: Bennell D.Glass M.Brown
HB: S.Hurn E.Mackenzie X.Ellis
C: M.Rosa M.Priddis A.Gaff
HF: S.Wellingham J.Kennedy C.Masten
F: M.LeCras J.Darling J.Cripps
FOLL: D.Cox S.Selwood L.Shuey
I/C: N.Naitanui D.Sheed C.Sinclair E.Yeo
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: L.Picken J.Roughead E.Wood
HB: B.Goodes D.Morris R.Murphy
C: J.Macrae A.Cooney K.Stevens
HF: S.Higgins S.Crameri D.Giansiracusa
F: L.Hunter J.Stringer T.Campbell
FOLL: W.Minson M.Boyd T.Liberatore
I/C: M.Wallis L.Dahlhaus T.Dickson J.Johannisen
As for the Dogs...I don't know. They finished last year strongly. They defeated us to hurt our dwindling top 9 chances last season. Essentially, I expect them to push for finals, but perhaps a slight lack of talent will seem them miss out. Maybe. Who cares.
The point is: we should win this game by 4-5 goals. We're more talented. We're at home. We'll want o quickly dispel the ghosts of last year.
Enjoy the game!
Thursday 20 March 2014
Season 2014 Preview: Y'all ready for this!?
There is reportedly going to be a sequel to the much beloved, critically acclaimed (at least in my eyes) animated/sports epic 'Space Jam'. But this is an Eagles blog, so this is neither the time nor the place to dwell on such a tantalising prospect.
I only mention it because the theme song of 'Space Jam' is such that it seems appropriate to kick-start blog posts relating to Season 2014. Yes, the doom and gloom, the self-pity and the wallowing over last year has finally concluded.
I'm feeling fairly upbeat after a couple of strong performances in pre-season against the Dockers (twice) and the Swans. It is completely meaningless, but it's better than looking bad I suppose. I can't say I watched more than 7 minutes of the first 2 games but I glanced at some stats and recaps.
I did, however, attend the practice match against Freo a couple of weeks ago. It was a very pleasant evening, with half the ground closed, all spectators were shielded from the dwindling but hot sun under the cover of the grandstand. The crowd was in fairly good spirits, some seemed to take the game a little too seriously (booing at a practice match? Save it for Round 1 guys) but it was a nice and relaxed night. Oh and we played very well. The Eagles were clearly the more focused and intense of the two teams. The Dockers seemed a little slow and a little disinterested. UPDATE: The Dockers are still painfully difficult to beat...and watch.
After watching so many live games last year, I was struck by two things from our perspective:
1) We were very clean with possession
2) We moved the ball quickly and quite directly.
Whether these improvements hold for the season proper remain to be seen. But we looked confident and dedicated. Good omens.
I usually write several preview posts where I provide rather questionable predictions regarding the upcoming season. After much thought (over the past 25 seconds) I have come to the conclusion that I am just too lazy to do so again this year. Lazy and cognisant of the fact that many of those predictions had nothing to do with the Eagles...or football.
I guess this post will have to fill that void that I'm sure loyal readers will have been eagerly awaiting to be filled...
Here's how I see 2014 going down;
- Top Goalkicker: Kennedy will be our top goalkicker, kicking 63. Lecras, sporting a new hair do, and hopefully having more luck with injuries will bounce back from a disappointing 2013. Darling was decent last season, will he kick it up another gear?
- Our record- 11-11. It's a pessimistic prediction, but we do have many difficult games, an unproven coach, an unproven team. I think the competition should be fairly strong this year although there are many teams that could go either way (Essendon Buyer's Club for example).
- Best New recruit: This is tough, as there were some solid if not spectacular off-season recruits. Draftee Sheed? Yeo? X-Ellis? Maybe Adam Simpson, who should at least inject some rookie enthusiasm into what was a fairly lifeless outfit last season.
- Biggest Improver: I predict that Andrew 'Anonymous' Gaff will lose that middle name I assigned to him 3 seconds ago. He was a major disappointment last season, unable to break a tag and largely ineffective. As a player with superb foot skills, we (both him, the team, coaching staff) need to find a way to get him into the game.
- Biggest Disappointment: Perhaps not making finals. As you can discern from my record prediction above, I'm agnostic about our prospects. Start well and finals are a possibility, but nothing is certain.
- Must See Game: As always there are some great games; Derbies (but they contain a Ross Lyon team so 'zzzzzzz'), home games against the Pies, Swans and Roos. But personally, and perhaps ridiculously, I'm quite looking forward to our first ever home game against GWS. They have some exciting players, Cameron, Patton etc. and may actually be competitive this season. We should only win by 67 points.
There you have it. A short season preview, which I started 3 weeks ago, complete with 3 days to spare until bounce down.
Stay tuned for the Round 1 Preview in the next couple of days!
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