Round 5 Recap: Eagles Down Tigers; Still No. 1

It was never going to be easy. The tigers showed great will and effort in this one, as their talented youthful midfield took it up to us for 4 quarters. But at the end of the day, with much going against us; down rotations, on the road, in front of a hostile (indeed feral) crowd we eked out a win. That's what good teams do and our last 2 games indicate that we are definitely one of them.

It really was an atrocious start. Two goals to the Tiges within a couple of minutes had me thinking back to that game against the Saints last year. But if it looked bad on the scoreboard, Mitch Brown couldn't tell as the late replacement was subbed off with a scratched eye. It was a sorry sight. Brown sitting on the bench, with a red eye, shaking his head in disbelief. This game could have been a significant opportunity for the game-starved backman, as E-Mac pulled out with an ear infection. That's something I've never had but it sounds truly harrowing. Anyway, bad luck for Brown.

Things looked bleak, but we persisted and responded. These were the key themes throughout the game. Whenever it appeared that Richmond might just run away with it, we responded and scored timely goals. JJK rolled his ankle which effectively meant he just stood in the forward line the rest of the game, but still we fought on.

Kerr was huge. He showed amazing tenacity and grit in the contest with his 28 possessions and two superb smothers. Although I think notions about a 'KerRenaissance' are a little premature, he has been near best on ground the last two weeks. He is a champion of the club and it's great to see the little guy get a clean run of games to show he's still got it. If Kerr wasn't best on ground, then Jack Darling was the guy. He kicked 4 goals straight including the sealer with 15 possessions, 5 marks and 2 tackles. With JJK's partial incapacitation, Darling really stepped up.

Speaking of stepping up, NicNat is starting to find consistency throughout games now. The big Fijian had 26 hitouts, 14 possessions, 5 marks and 5 tackles. Special mention has to go to Priddis for 2 amazing handballs in our forward line late. He found the open man twice in tight areas (no pun intended) which resulted in goals.

We could have easily dropped this one. Richmond came to play and they showed that last week was no fluke. But we showed better poise when it mattered. That's why we're 5-0 and Jack Riewoldt has that look on his face.

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On a side note, prior to this season the Dockers were without premiership and occassionally entertaining. Now under Lord Lyon, they will still be without premiership but also exceedingly soporific. Well done Dockers.

Round 5 Preview: Tigers vs Eagles

There was a time when a game against Richmond meant an automatic victory. But that time has since passed. Richmond must now be considered a 'real' football team. Not that we won't win. We will. It's just that we will have to play a solid four quarters to secure the points. The Tigers came close to defeating the Cats down at whatever-the-hell-that-dump is called last week. They also put in respectable, if uneven, performances against Carlton and Collingwood. Sure, their only one win was against the hapless Dees, but we still must approach this game like any other (which isn't against GWS). Jack 'sooky face' Riewoldt, on the other hand, should not be approached with much respect. Because, if you didn't grasp it already from my ingenious nickname, he is a sooky faced 6 year old playing full forward. Plus, he kicked 10 goals against us a couple of years ago. What a tool!

In team news, Geeves (or Nestor if you swing that way) returns for McG. It's good to see Butler back for his first game of the season. He's been very reliable over the years plus if you squint he kind of looks like Ben Cousins. Just like Beau Waters looked like the Juddas in Round 1 of 2008...scary times. Apparently, Geeves played some time in the midfield last week for Subiaco, though I don't really see him playing there much for us. He strengthens an already elite backline, underlined by the inability of Mitch Brown to nail down a starting spot.
Bad luck for McG, but I can't really see him getting a game consistently for this side. He's a rather limited player and we really have too much talent in front of him. Still, he's a useful guy to have just in case (bad things happen to good players).
In other good news, Luke Shuey has been included in the team, despite the appearance that he fyfed his shoulder.

Jack edited it himself

In other news, Clarkson is a wiener, a sore loser and worst of all he has a history of terrible haircuts. I would normally post a picture here, but his hair is just so horrible that I won't subject you to that. Not to mention his face.

Thankyou and GO EAGLES!!!

Round 4 Recap: Eagles Edge Hawks

It may not have been the most attractive spectacle, but we won. At the end of the day, winning is all that matters. It would have been nice to watch a free-flowing, high scoring display with the most talented players able to show their skills. But a combination of inclement weather and the elite defensive systems which we and the Hawks possess meant it wasn't to be. But as I say, we won. We didn't kick a goal in the first half (the first time since 2004- it was probably Judd's fault) but we won. We're 4-0. They're 2-2.

Despite the result (did I mention that we won? We did!) there were some other positive aspects to the game. One, the weather was terrrible and yet we stayed in the game early. I know it's the same for both sides, but in terms of which team should be better able to cope with poor conditions, it's the birds from the east. It's my understanding that it never stops raining in the Republic of Melbournia. Whilst here, well, rain is nearly as rare as a Dockers premiership...except not so much...because they've never won one (see counter above). We toughed it out. Our tall forward line didn't exactly help matters, but we showed good resolve in adapting.

We also had a Daniel Kerr sighting. He truly was outstanding: 33 possessions, 5 marks plus a goal in the last which was vital to the final result. Hopefully he can build on this performance in games to come. I also thought E-Mac did well on Franklin, whilst Schofield showed great bravery in even participating in the game. Shuey also showed bravery of a different kind in returning to the game after the hit by Lewis. Hill might not have touched the ball much, but he did kick our first goal (in the third quarter!) and set up the second.

Our poise late in the game was critical to the victory. Marks by Cox, E-Mac and Schofield (I think) sealed the deal. Masten also put a great tackle on Osborne, which was definitely holding the ball.

So, still top. I think we're the only legitimate team amongst the 3 undefeated...because I hate the other two. Also, they're...Sydney and Essendon. Enough said.

Richmond next week at the Etihad.

SPOILER ALERT

We will win.

Round 4 Preview: Eagles vs Hawks; The Season Starts Now

With all (un)due respect to the Dogs, Dees and GIANTS (haha), we face our first real test this Saturday night at Subi against the flag favourite Hawks. How the Hawks became favourites puzzles me. I know they always look good on paper at the start of the season, but since 2007 they have found a way to fail at every critical juncture. Still, they're 2-1 at the moment and have had a very challenging start to the season; with wins over Collingwood and the improved, if not elite, Crows. Their only loss came in Round 2 against the Cats. But let's be honest, the Hawks will never defeat the Cats again...unless they can obtain some gypsy tears to rid them of the Kennet Curse. Perhaps this guy can help:

The contests between us and Hawthorn have been evenly split in recent years with close final margins.

We should have won last year's contest, notwithstanding the fact that we're always forced to cross 13 timezones to get to the game, but the umpires screwed us over. Or so I'm told, by myself.

This game promises to be just as hard fought and tight. On the team selection front, the three 'injured' Eagles from last week have made a remarkable recovery. Mr Glass, Priddis and Mr Pink (Rosa) are all in. Dalziell, who has a long-term knee injury, Mitch Brown and Kobe are out. For the Hawks, contrary to murmurings, Hodge will not return for his first game of the season. I think we can all be grateful for that.

Possibly the Teams...too blurry to be certain.

The Hawks are immensely talented and strong both in the midfield with the likes of Mitchell and up forward with No. 23 and Rioli (whose number escapes me). Yet our backline is extremely solid and consistent. We have 3 possible matchups for Buddy; E-Mac, Glass and Schofield all not perfect but really who is? In the midfield they may have more talent but our guys are in top form. I am a little worried that our soft start may have us ill prepared. It would've been nice to have an intermediary matchup before this game, but conversely, our confidence should be skyhigh.

Down back they are as vulnerable as Nat Fyfe's shoulder. (sorry, I actually do love Fyfe. I could have used Waters' elbow here as well) Sure, they do have some excellent disposers of the ball like the unfortunately named Suckling (literally of suck/little suck), but they lack strong key position players. I know they payed Gibson as if he was as awesome as Goldberg from the Mighty Ducks, but he's undersized and overrated. And Schoenmakers should stick to what his name indicates he would be good at- cobbling?

"I can't defend against Kennedy but I can fix this shoe!"

 They have no Mr Glass or E-Mac or even a guy to the standard of Mitch Brown. I suspect a big day could be had by JJK, Q, Cox, Darling etc.

Their rucks are similarly weak.  Though our duo makes everyone else appear medicore.

Prediction

Moment of truth. I think we can and will win.  It will probably be close, but we're at home, undefeated and eager to play a proper opponent. The Hawks have to travel across the entire country (suckers) and have experienced a tough start to the season.

Eagles by 19.

Make it happen!

Round 3 Recap: Eagles go to circus; Laugh at Giants

Who said that was going to be boring? Well me for one. And it was. I admit that I switched over to the Hawks game at the end of the 3rd quarter. The first term was all fun and games but then we went into 'Eco-Mode' and cruised the rest of the way.

Sure, the mercenaries, old men and wayward youth of the Giants tried to decapitate some of our guys and end the careers of others, but in football terms they were abysmal. Brogan and Palmer in particular were completely reckless on two occasions as was some other guy whose name I can't be bothered remembering.

Their orange guernseys were also a true travesty. But at least a bumper crowd showed up to their first home game as the figure easily eclipsed the 6000 mark...But at least the ground was in good condition. Well, except for the mud and the fact that it looked like a WAFL ground. If only GWS had've played like a WAFL side then we may have had a half decent contest.

Here are the 5 areas meant to keep things interesting...SPOILER ALERT: They didn't.

1. Margin
It didn't reach the high hundreds. Though we did  have the biggest scoring 1st quarter in our history.

2. Cox and Nic-Nat vs Giles
Giles was predictably dominated by our duo.  He did kick 3 goals in the end though with 11 hitouts. Nic-Nat (26) and Cox(14) combined for 40 hitouts.

3. JJK's Kicking
Okay he only kicked 2.1 with both goals coming early. Still, he didn't need to do anything and like the rest of the team went to sleep after the first.  Shuey with 5 goals and Masten with 3 did a great job converting.

4. H² Goals (Hill/Hams)
H² were rather silent with a goal for each H.

5.The Replacements
 These guys didn't have a great day. McG was the sub and Dalziell injured his right leg when a kamikaze GWS kid flew into him in the second quarter. Kobe had 19 possessions but he wasn't influential. Mitch Brown was solid.

Needless to say, I'm glad this game is over. 3 weeks against teams that have collectively gone 0-9 through  has been like an extension of the preseason. The real stuff is next week, 5:40 at Subiaco against the Hawks.

Bring it on.