I did make an amusing reference to Tom Swift: "His hair had a mind of its own as, unfortunately, did his right foot."
However, I also made some rough predictions on our record, 16-6 and us making the prelim.
I wasn't as stupid as the experts though, most of who thought we'd finish top and make the GF. My fears over the inadequacy of our midfield have been found to be true. Yet this has been coupled with the extremely surprising lack of intensity which means we have floundered against decent opposition.
6-5 at the break and barely inside the 8 (in fact we won't be after this week).
But let's look back at some of the mid-season defining games. I hate to quote myself...well that's a lie, but here we go:
Round 1- Dockers by 28 (A)
Preview: "Honestly, anything could happen in this one. In my mind they're both finals bound teams. I would have little doubt that a full strength Eagles team with Kerr, Wellingham and Naitanui would be strong favourites. But with those omissions, the teams appear fairly even. Regardless, I think the Eagles strength up forward and back will ultimately allow us to kick more goals and escape with a narrow victory."
Recap: "I'm honestly not that concerned. Disappointed sure. But the season is young and there's much to look forward to (poor naive bastard) Perhaps something to keep our eyes on, is our inability to put in a full 4 quarter performance."
Round 2- Hawks by 50 (H)
Preview: "Massive game, I'm attending (yay!) and I'll think we may just win, by, say 11 points."
Recap: "We're missing some key players. But the players that are there need to be less...crap....It's a terrible start to the season. We can recover as the fixture evens out over the next couple of months. But with Naitanui out indefinitely, the midfield in desperate need of reinforcements and a forward line lacking in pressure, a premiership looks a long way away."
Round 4- Carlton by 24 (H)
Preview: "So they'll be desperate. We need to be desperate too and I expect that we will be. We were embarrassed in our home opener against the Hawks. It won't happen again."
...SPOILER ALERT- It happened again...
Recap: "So 1-3. I'm feeling incredibly pessimistic about this side right now. That performance was worse than against the Hawks. We play undefeated (!) Port...[and] they've got spirit... All we have is a season teetering on the edge of oblivion"
Round 5: Port by 5 (A) aka the game that broke my heart
Preview: "But they're not world beaters. If we play with the intensity we did last year, eradicate our kicking errors and locate the goals we should have too much power for the...erm...Power. It's a big 'if' I know. We will lose if we play like we did last week. You have to believe that won't happen. You have to believe that in between writing love letters to milestone players,* the coach has said something, done something to get our team back on track."
Recap: "Worst loss ever? Probably. Most embarrassing loss ever? Certainly. Season over? You betcha...Because although the coach may be forced to live in a fantasy world where a flag is still achievable, I think we fans know this season is dead..Where to now? There's no premiership window for this club. I never was truly convinced there was. Our midfield of the future is mediocre."
Round 10: Tigers by 41 (H)
Preview: "We've won 4 in a row to claw back to 5-4. I agree with the coach that we must win this and next week's clash against the woeful Saints to have any slim, distant chance of winning a premiership. But I think these next 2 weeks are more about boosting our top 8 chances. I've already written about our difficult second half of the season. It's after the bye where we will see if we're good enough to challenge for a premiership."
Recap: "The fact is that the team is sliding away and Worsfold has been pretty passive. No real changes, very much a wait and see approach. I don't want to be too harsh because he's a club legend, but by any objective measurement, unless we pull off a comeback of proportions never seen before in the AFL, then it has to be his final season with the club. Because either what he's saying isn't right or the players aren't listening"
Round 11: Eagles by 4 (A)
Preview: "You'd expect them to be pumped up for this one. They'll think they have a chance, especially in Melbourne. But, despite Monday's misery and our horrible losses at the start of the season, we have beaten every bad team we have faced. Well, there was the Port debacle, but they looked half-decent at that stage. Regardless of our lack of form, pace, desire, intensity or pressure, we should prevail."
Recap: "In my mind it was the very first time this year that the team really dug deep, backs against the wall, undermanned and pulled out the 'W'. We started oh so poorly. 4 goals to zip. I thought the worse. I remembered this loss. But we steadied, showed resolve, stuck around and eventually, as time ebbed away, stole a win...Now, onto the negatives. The game saw an unwelcome continuation of all of the problems which have plagued our team throughout the year...But most of all, and here's the scary part, the Saints are 2-9."
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Some might say the heart-stopping win against the Roos was worthy of note. But personally, I think that it was more of a reflection of North's frailties than any great resolve on our behalf.
No, we're a team with huge issues relating to the very basics of the game; poor foot skills, abysmal work-rate, real lack of pressure and costly goal-kicking.
Can they sort it out in the space of 1.5 weeks? Only time will tell. But I do know this: if we don't improve, we won't make the finals. Hell, we would be lucky to win 2-3 games.
 |
| oh man...so ugly and not just the pixelation |
But besides this atrocious run of games, there's plenty else to watch for the remainder of the season:
John Worsfold's Future
I can't help but think it's Worsfold's last season for the club. It wouldn't be a problem if we were playing well. But the fact is, his reluctance to answer a simple question about whether he desires to coach RIGHT NOW surely must impact the mentality of an already struggling team. Of course, there will be no hard feelings which ever way this season finishes, but if it continues as stands there will be a bitter after taste to the Worsfold era.
Mark Lecras' Future
Yes, the Eagles have a few high profile free agents, but most of them aren't going anywhere (except for maybe retirement):
Dean Cox (unrestricted)
Andrew Embley (unrestricted)
Darren Glass (unrestricted)
Mark LeCras (restricted)
Mark Nicoski (unrestricted)
Adam Selwood (unrestricted)
No, its' the future of Lecras which has others interested. I obviously want him to stay, despite his struggles this season. But, if he did leave, I can imagine a firestorm of hate, disdain, contempt, loathing for what will only be a money-driven move. Sure, most of that firestorm will emanate from this blog, but I wouldn't be alone. It wouldn't be like the Judd homecoming. We still harbour some resentment, but there was an understanding that Victoria is where his heart is. We also got his best years plus JJK in return. Lecras is in his prime, is West Australian and plays for a great club. There is no rationale but money.
Greats to Retire?
I think Cox and Glass will play on. Both are still performing at a very high level and are very much needed. But Embley and Selwood aren't in the same position. For some time now they have been struggling with injuries, form or both. I, for one, don't think either is in our best 22. If they do call it a day, I hope they announce it before the end of the year so they can have a proper send-off.
Give the Recruits a Chance
Regardless of our finals chances, it would be nice to see some more of the recruits of the past couple of seasons. Brad Dick has to play at some stage, otherwise it doesn't make sense to keep him on our list. Then there's Jamie Bennell and Cale Morton. If they're fit give them a chance. Finally, when Wellingham returns from his most recent injury, he must deliver. He was given plenty of money, before he self-sabotaged his season with trampoline antics. Time to deliver and repay the faith.
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Quite a second-half of the season. We play Hawthorn next Friday night at the dome. I'm terrified. Absolutely terrified.
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