Round 22 Recap: Not Worthy of Wearing the Jumper

Warning! Intensely negative words lay ahead.

An unmitigated disaster.

The Eagles are a team without a soul right now. They have no drive, no effort, nothing. They don't seem to be trying, there's no intensity and no desire. We don't want to be out there. One of the coach's key jobs is to motivate his players. Worsfold has failed at that dismally at different times throughout the year. The question has to be asked: are the players listening anymore?

On the other side of the coin, our execution is now all the way back to 2010 levels. I'm now more surprised when we hit a target. Be it via foot or hand, I wonder if our players grew up in an abattoir or something because they are butchering the ball (zing!)

I have grave concerns about our future. We have players like Sheppard, Gaff, Masten, Shuey, Schofield, Brown, Lycett, Hill and Selwood who seem to have stagnated. They are what they are. There appears to be no "they're going to be..." This is it. It's the best we are going to get and it's not good enough.

We are light years away from the top 4. Looking at the 8 and the teams outside it, it may be a struggle to make finals again next season. Naitanui may be the key to hiding our speed deficit and midfield mediocrity, but you're asking for trouble putting it on 1 guy. Especially when said guy has shown himself vulnerable to injury in his short career.

So where to now?

The status-quo I fear. Nisbett may say Worsfold isn't guaranteed a new contract, but I simply don't believe him. The board would not have the cajones to axe a club legend. I'm not baying for his blood or anything, but there seems to be no one taking responsibility for this abject and unacceptable season.

Worsfold did say in his presser post-match that the club's belief in him may be shaken (and his self-belief for that matter) by the scandalous past 2 weeks. I appreciate his candour.

Yet, I can't imagine him not being here next season. When the board is comprised of people like Julie Bishop, you have to wonder how seriously they take their job. These people get on boards just to look good essentially.

Here's how a board meeting held in mid-September will go:

Nisbett: "Julie, what are your thoughts on John's future?"
Bishop: "Give me a sec. Trev. I'm a bit busy buying all these Indonesian fishing boats at the moment"

I haven't mentioned much of the game itself but here are the low lights:

 - In other bad news, Darling was subbed off with hamstring tightness
- Wellingham hurt his ankle for the 17th time this season.
- Kennedy didn't kick a goal as he continued his goal kicking slump. He has now kicked 1 in the past 3 weeks. One of the only potential positives from the season, JK winning the Coleman, is sliding away. I blame the service more than anything.

To summarise, in a game in which Priddis celebrated his 150th,  a man who since 2007 has more tackles than anyone else, the Eagles showed a distinct lack of pride, effort or skill.

Dark times lay ahead.