Off-Season Musings: Projected 2013 Team + Stuff

I thought now that the squad for next season had been finalised I'd attempt to predict how the team may look come round 1.

Since I last posted the Eagles went through the draft and picked up some guys who I don't know enough about to assess. They also picked up Jamie Bennell who was delisted from Melbourne. Being delisted from Melbourne of all places isn't exactly promising, but like Hill before him I think Bennell will get the best out of his abilities (which are quite decent) at a winning 'football' club like the Eagles. I know he's currently recovering from a knee injury, but there's hope for the future.

In other news, Kerr and Naitanui both suffered injuries and Shuey signed on until 2015. The Eagles also did some good things in Cambodia.

Now without further ado... 

WARNING!: This is based on nothing other than my own thoughts and opinions, however awesome and accurate they may be. Obviously, this is if everyone is fit, using the final squad from the Semi-final loss as the template.

B: Jacob Brennan, Darren Glass, Beau Waters

HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Will Schofield

C: Daniel Kerr, Matthew Priddis, Matthew Rosa

HF: Mark Lecras, Jack Darling, Chris Masten

F: Andrew Embley, Josh Kennedy, Nic Naitanui

Foll: Dean Cox, Scott Selwood, Luke Shuey

I/C: Sam Butler, Andrew Gaff, Josh Hill, Sharrod Wellingham


In: Beau Waters, Mark Lecras, Sharrod Wellingham
Out: Adam Selwood (old age), Quinten Lynch (Treason), Patrick McGinnity

Vulnerable: Josh Hill, Andrew Embley (still haven't forgotten the toe poke)
On the cusp: Dick, Nicoski, Selwood, McG, Mitch Brown (with us for the next 12 months) 
On the cusp*...of being a Doctor: Swift, M.D

*where cusp is 5-10 years.

Thanks for reading throughout 2012 and Season's Greetings!

Trade Recap: Eagles Nab Morton, Cripps, Keep Brown

It was quite the hectic last few days of the new extended trade period, as Stevens and Stevenson (who apparently played for us) both seeking to join teams who won't ever win anything. Stevens went to the Dogs for pick 44, whilst Stevenson went to an even worse 'team' in the Power for pick 88.

But in more interesting and relevant news, we (finally) managed to secure young forward/midfield Jamie Cripps without giving up Mitch Brown. I think the club made the right decision in keeping Brown. Sure, we may lose him for nothing at the end of the season, but he's critical for our depth for at least the next year. Plus, Brown may be able to force himself into the team, or (god forbid) Glass may call it quits.

As for the Cripps deal, we gave up picks 41 and 44 but received pick 46 back. It seems like a decent deal. Cripps has 'potential' and he is more likely to develop with us than with the Saints.

Finally, the Eagles also traded for Cale Morton, something which seemed to come out of nowhere. We gave pick 88 in return, a low risk investment. He didn't impress with his time as a Demon (drafted 4th overall in 2007) but sometimes a change of scenery (ie leaving an awful team for one of the best) can do wonders. Plus, he's probably a lot better than his brother.

Overall, it was a lively free agency/trade period for the club. I think we gained more than we lost, with Wellingham sure to add some class to the midfield whilst Cripps and Morton provide good depth. Lynch hasn't been important for a couple of years, whilst the three other 'losses' just couldn't cut it (though Swift, MD will soon be cutting something). The retention of Brown was an especially strong move by the club.

Incomings
Sharrod Wellingham (Collingwood)
Jamie Cripps (St Kilda)
Cale Morton (Melbourne)

Outgoings
Lynch (Collingwood)
Stevens (Bulldogs)
Stevenson (Power)
Swift (UWA) 

Latest Trade News: Eagles Secure Wellingham, Brown Wants Out

The Eagles have struck a deal with the Magpies for Sharrod Wellingham with pick 17 in the National Draft being sent back East. It seems like a decent enough deal to me, especially considering I'm all but certain we would've squandered that pick on a 'project player', who hangs around for 4 years and plays 16 mediocre games before being traded/delisted/becoming a Doctor.

I thought it was fairly hilarious over the weekend when 'reports' emerged that Port and Melbourne had offered the Pies something for Wellingham. Obviously, he only wanted to play for us and not two of the most horrendous teams in sports (worldwide). It was probably info. sent out by Eddie in the hopes that the Eagles would be scared into offering something above what Welly (or whatever his nickname is because I don't want to type Wellingham every bloody time) is worth.

Still, it's good we got the deal done quickly and he's a really nice addition to our average-ish midfield. He brings good experience with 92 games, 44 goals, 3 grand finals and 1 premiership in his time on the dark side. Welcome aboard!

In other less promising news, Mitch Brown is aparently keen to move back to Victoria, with the Saints his desired destination. He could be used in exchange for Cripps plus something (because Brown has shown he can actually play at this level). Why anybody would want to move to the sinking ship which is StKilda is beyond me, but he would be an unfortunate loss. Although I didn't blink when Lynch left, Stevens decided to leave and Swift revealed he wanted to become a healer (let's hope he's more accurate with the scalpel than with he was with his kicking) Brown's loss would hurt our depth. On the other hand, he has only 1 year left on his deal, so perhaps we should try to get something for him now before his contract expires and we are left with nothing.

Finally, everybody and their dog wants Stevens. I don't know why, but there you have it.

Latest Trade/Free Agency News: Swift Quits, Wellingham Bargaining Begins

The posturing over the potential, perhaps inevitable, trade of Wellingham to the Eagles has begun. McGuire came out yesterday, speaking at one of his 17 media committments for the day, saying we would have to offer "substantial" compensation to secure the guy with the funny first name. That's all well and good and it's what you would expect an opposing President to say. But, I don't think Collingwood are in any position to start dictating terms. Wellingham put the Pies in a position with little room for maneuverings by choosing us and then flying away to the US. If they don't work out a deal with us, they would get nothing for him as he is out of contract.

There has been some mention of our first draft pick, no. 17, as well as Koby Stevens as part of a deal. Which seem somewhat reasonable. What doesn't sound reasonable is news today that Collingwood may be keen on Mitch Brown and Brown wants to play with his brother. As I mentioned earlier in the week Brown is a vital part of our backline depth and critical to our transition to the post-Glass era. Also, his brother is always injured...so come on man. On the other hand, it's understandable that Brown may want more opportunity. But, as the article suggests, the club don't want to lose him. Also, given Collingwood's poor bargaining position, I wouldn't want to see us give too much away, not that we use our draft picks wisely anyway.

Speaking of which, Tom Swift has quit the club to become a Doctor (true story). He was pick 20 in 2008 and now that his career seems over, we can officially label it a failure. I honestly don't understand why he was picked that high, but it's more evidence that the Eagles have drafting issues. Anyway, good luck to Swift and to his hair.

Finally, Scott Selwood won the club's Best and Fairest, beating out Cox, Hurn, Darling and Gaff. I'm probably one Eagles fan that doesn't really value Selwood all that highly so I won't pretend to like him. Anyway, he won. All-Australians Naitanui and Waters finished outside the top 10.

Latest Free Agency/Trade News: Wellingham Likes Eagles, thumbs nose at Pies, Dockers

According to the West, Sharrod Wellingham wants to be an Eagle. He did momentarily consider the possibility of Freo as a destination before realising that they were, well, Freo. Honestly though, I was in no doubt that if he did want to return to Perth he would choose us. The Pies also wanted to keep him, but haha.

Cameras actually caught the moment that he told the Pies hierarchy where to stick it:

That 'haha' being said, we will have to give something in return for him when the trade period begins on Monday. Something with want-away Stevens perhaps?

Wellingham had some things to say, to someone, somewhere, including:

The dealings I have had with West Coast have been really impressive...It will be exciting to get back to Perth and to play in front of my family every week. That was a very strong influence on my decision to leave and I look forward to playing with the Eagles. Playing against them, we had enormous respect for West Coast, and I believe they have a young list capable of winning a premiership in the next few years.

Let's hope something fair gets worked out (to us, not them) and then we can all go and like his facebook fan page.