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!

Season 2013 Predictions: Blood Curdling Countdown Continues...

Not long now. Not long until the siren sounds, the ball is bounced, dreams are crushed and legends are made. Yes, I am so looking forward to playing some AFL Live against a kid in the ACT this afternoon...Oh and the AFL season begins this week too.

I'm Ready!

But before then, here are some more predictions for you to silently mock...

6. Biggest Improver?

Chris Masten is always a popular pick for this pre-season honour. But he's no longer the pariah that he once was, though not a star and I'm not sure whether he will get much better. In fact this is a rather difficult selection to make, as there's no one player of superb talent who hasn't already realised his potential (well, despite NicNat but I've already dissed him so there's no going back). I'm going with Kennedy on the basis that his 2012 season was fairly horrendous. Yes, it was mainly injury-related but when he did play it wasn't pretty and he seemed to operate as more of a decoy than a real threat. If he stays fit there's no reason why he won't return to his rightful place as our prime forward threat.

5. One Game you won't want to miss...

Our fixture is full of big matches against good teams, rivals and cheats^* (hint: see the ____ fly up!). But for me it's Round 22, a Friday night blockbuster against the Bogan Empire in Collingwood. This match is part of an absolutely brutal final month of matches including away to Essendon and home against the Cats and Crows. But this game is full of meaning. There's something special about beating the bloody annoying Pies, their bloody annoying fans and bloody annoying President. Especially after last year's superb effort in the corresponding fixture and the disappointing semi-final loss. There will be passion in this one plus a vital 4 points which again may influence who finishes top 4.

4.  Oh Gee, Wow-ee, Did you see that!?

Yes, Brian Taylor will be of extreme annoyance this season. There will be talk of 'benders' and references to Mandurah, the Mining Tax and how great a player he was. But this prediction relates to the fact that I've run out of actual predictions and thought I'd make fun of this guy for a bit. So yeah, he'll be a pain the ass, but at least he's not Wallsy.

Tune in tomorrow for the final 3 predictions including; where we'll finish, our record and perhaps another filler Brian Taylor-esque prediction.

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^ Relax, it's a joke.
* Which may/may not be true.

13 Predictions for 2013: No. 9

9. Worst style decision- the Beard or the Pony?

 I’m feeling a little nostalgic about Dr Swift right about now...Anyway, in my mind; nothing surpasses the sheer absurdity of Schofield’s beard. Wellingham made a wrong choice to tie his hair like a horse. But with Schofield, it’s a long-term plan to grow, cultivate and promote the mass of hair spouting from his chin. I predict that by Round 3 a group of restless fans will band together and form a campaign to rid our side of the beard’s tormenting spirit. They’ll write a letter and it will go a little something like this...

There's a man underneath all that hair somewhere

Dear Mr Schofield,

It has come to our attention, loyal Eagles fans and fashion aficionados, that you’re beard is in such a state of disrepair, owing to either your negligence or some misguided sense of style, that it is causing us great emotional anguish. There has even been rumours, unsubstantiated mind you, that members will boycott home games, in order to avoid any potential danger from the undoubtedly numerous crawling critters and rambunctious rodents inhabiting your face. We also have concerns over the effect the beard is having on your level of play. There have been multiple instances, with your head over the ball, of you being pulled down by the weight of the thing.

We have sent you a complimentary set of sheep sheers. Please do what is right and necessary.

You can read predictions 13-11, 10 and like and follow the blog.