A DEEP West Coast Eagles Rebuild Analysis | AFL

[@jlrob85]

Dom Sheed has been living off that kick in 2018 for 6 years. Overall he’s not A grade and needs to be delisted/retired.

[@TrevorPhilipsBro]

He is cooked

[@funtimesandidontknowhow9yh672]

Must be Collingwood supporter ha

[@Atom_gun]

@@funtimesandidontknowhow9yh672you must be one if you want him to stay

[@seanchristie7150]

Fantastic assessment, I feel some of the lesser lights may shine after a year together and a full preseason, think Waterman last year to this year, especially with some of the retirements, delistings and trades. Hough and Hurn definitely top end core players. Keep up the awesome work 💙💛🏆🦅

[@TrueEagleAFL]

Thanks Sean! Agreed...sometimes the best talents are the ones that surprise you!

[@seanchristie7150]

@@TrueEagleAFL here's hoping

[@BigGameFish]

Not an Eagles fan but I love this kind of content. Would be keen to see one of these on TF for other clubs (Saints)

[@TrueEagleAFL]

I'll consider it! The only drawback is I don't know other lists as intimately but I like the idea of doing it

[@BigGameFish]

@@TrueEagleAFL The other thing I think is adding in coaches / rating them I know it's lot more difficult given theres limited info but looking at the list in context of the coaches and gameplan styles

[@Oliviben]

​@@TrueEagleAFLmight be worth then to do as a collaboration. 1 creator per side to help out.

[@ScottyGem321]

need to hit on our draft picks this year, theres just a lack of superstar talents that is rare for us as we've always had multiple players with AA potential

[@cambulator3769]

Great overview and analysis. I really hope that the powers that be, see this and acknowledge our lack of future defence and onballer stocks. In the end we haven’t had a quality ruckman getting first hands to our b grade on ballers. I know I am probably a broken record, but the Kelly deal is the reason we are so stuffed right now. The deal reminds me of the des headland deal the dockers got. These players look great when they are the 5th - 6th best on baller in the team, but struggle when asked to be the no1 on baller.

[@tonydavey2703]

Agree in most cases. Great analysis. Now let's sort the new coach and build our list well to start (again) the road to our next tilt.

[@jlrob85]

The club needs to tell the young forwards like Williams, Maric and Hutchy that their spots are safe for the year and just relax on game day. They’re so hocked up trying to impress and worried they won’t play next week it gives them the nerves. Let them settle as a forward unit

[@eggeggeggeggeggeggeggegg]

23:25 As a Richmond fan watching deep into this video, consider my feathers ruffled!!!!

[@TrueEagleAFL]

Lol! Appreciate you watching!

[@Speedello]

Agree with this list 100%. Especially in regards to getting players like Maric a good run at it, instead of in and out of the team, or as the sub. Someone get True Eagle onto the selection committee please

[@BDub2024]

I reckon Bazzo is actually a potential gun defender. I think in the next 24 months you will see how good he actually is.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

I'm optimistic!

[@aquamate]

More mids, is exactly why im worried about trading pick three for a later pick to get baker, in a perfect world (for WCE) we keep pick three, and get pick 13 and a future first (for barass) and trade our second round pick for baker. that means we have two 1st rounders next year to try and strike a deal for warner. (also i can see us taking Bo Allan with pick 13 and then matching a bid for Malakai Champion, so the second round pick could get swallowed up for MC anyway)

[@craigaston]

Love the idea. Couple of mins in and can tell its definitely gonna be biased and can't blame you for that but I would love to see you do this for all of the other clubs on your other channel in the off-season ❤

[@tomaspayet8658]

Here is the Richmond fan that watched all the way through. Cotchin was an elite midfielder but his peak was before we started winning things although he was a very good player in the winning years he was definitely better before.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

Well said, upon reflection. Appreciate you watching!

[@uToobeD]

Really nice analysis here, hard to disagree with much of it. My only hope of course is that a lot of players go above and beyond what is expected, which I think is definitely possible.

[@Cricketguy19]

To be honest I reckon you should start a podcast about the eagles or footy in general

[@davet5273]

Phwoar cracking into this one a sunny afternoon dog walk

[@falcon5095]

Really need to go hard this trade period. I would love if we can land baker, James peatling and Jack Carrol this period. And I am in no doubt our 3rd pick in the draft is gonna be a gun. The mids this year are ridiculously good. And fingers crossed with our late first rounder

[@BigCatinBKK]

Here's a shorter analysis: We're in deep shit and we'll be down for a while unless we start stringing together a series of spectacular wins in drafting, trading, free agency, development and conditioning.

[@sampled611]

Genuinely I think we have a strong group of boys that have the possibility to take us all the way, it’s just whether or not they reach their potential.

[@BigCatinBKK]

@@sampled611 How many are in this group? I don't see the evidence for this confidence. Are we assuming that all the young guys who are borderline are going to come good and be 200-gamers? Here's an experiment... write down a best 25 of players born in 1996 or later. So you can have Duggan and Ryan as the oldest players. It's not great.

[@sampled611]

@@BigCatinBKK Im not saying its gonna happen next year, but with another strong draft this year, and a 2-3 more pre seasons into some boys, we have a lot of players who are very talented its whether or not they develop properly, and that comes down to how the club treats them and its development programs.

[@BigCatinBKK]

@@sampled611 But we don't have "a lot of players who are very talented". We have only a handful of them, and that's why we need to get everything right in the next 2-3 off-seasons if we want to avoid a decade-long slump.

[@sampled611]

@@BigCatinBKK disagree, H and A Reid, J.Williams, Maric, Hewett, Ginbey, Hall, Johnston, Hough, Bazzo, Dewar, brockman, long, Hutchinson, Barnett, all have talent and have showed it, next stage is developing them, and adding pierces around that, e.g backman, and making sure they can become the players they can be, Barnett being the best examples was the touted as the best ruck in his draft, but clearly has not been developed well, and hopefully we don’t make the same mistakes with others.

[@doosedoose3782]

It’s looking pretty dire but there’s always loads of talent emerging in WA and West Coast is still a destination club. Looking forward to seeing prime Ginbey and Reid (if he stays).

[@jlrob85]

I feel like Bailey Williams has done such a great job as a good b grade ruck competing week in week out. He’d be even better if Eagles got an A lister and he could be a Robin to their Batman

[@Hunty49]

From the games I watched, I thought Flynn was the better ruckman and won the taps better. But he seemed to struggle with fitness rotating out of the ruck for a rest up forwards. I see Williams replacing Darling at Centre Half.

[@JonGarrood]

With Chesser ceiling not so high and Ginbey’s move to half back it really feels critical for Hewitt to be healthy and start developing. Otherwise that’s 2 drafts without a serious midfielder…..

[@TrueEagleAFL]

Agreed. We rely on his development a little

[@johnkent84]

Good stuff mate. Agree with all but one thing you said. I couldn’t care less for Richmond but Trent Cotchin was one of the harder footballers of his time and a spiritual leader. Ours was probably Shuey during recent times. Hewett and this years top pick to round out midfield. Need a ruck big time and do you think Bailey Williams could be a backman?

[@TrueEagleAFL]

Bailey in the backline could work...he has the athleticism. Wonder if he has the physicality? Not against trying it!

[@fire_titan5735]

Excellent insight mate. I would love you to do this again after the grand final but load in the premiers team with the eagles team. So we can see how many of the eagles would even make the best 22. See how eagles stack up against the best team

[@TrueEagleAFL]

This would be a cool concept...I'll consider how best to execute it but nice idea mate!

[@LensBright]

That would be a sobering watch!

[@chrisby1986]

I have ZERO doubt that Hewitt will be an absolute star. He just needs to get over these injuries, if he gets a full pre season and some luck look out. But the rest of the list is a little depressing 😅

[@BDub2024]

Kelly is getting near the end too. He needs to be protected and spend more time on wing/half forward. Also the occasional break. Its the difference of him lasting 1 year or 3 years.

[@BDub2024]

Ginbey is only in his second year. He can be half back and turn into a wingman midfielder. But give him 3 years and then you'll know whether he'll end up as a midfielder or not.

[@travisfarley]

To answer your question of "does Shannon Hurn count as top end core? Yes.

[@BDub2024]

Did you do a video on The Woosha (john worsfold medal is on tonight). My prediction is McGov Yeo Waterman Duggan Reid/Hough... The count is on tonight. Not sure if you have time or whether going live or straight after analysis.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

I legit had no idea it was last night....thought I had time to do a video

[@craigbrinsden6195]

Nice one again mate. Surely we have some massive room in the salary cap with the retirements in the last couple of years. Throw some money at a big fish like Warner

[@TrueEagleAFL]

Fingers and toes crossed!

[@Ben-ij6zv]

Solid analysis

[@jlrob85]

I think we are still 10 big/tough decisions away from being on the right path. Another note I thought JJ wasn’t that bad. Good have been a good sweeper from half back and banging it forward.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

I think JJ's ball use let him down too often

[@BDub2024]

Sheed needs to get on the park and be fit. Then he may actually be able to be a consistent performer. But no preseason in recent times and injuries during year. Rotham is rumoured to be chased by Essendon as free agent.

[@timdogan9960]

What do you think about Maric playing in defence?

[@rickardinho]

Culley definitely has the talent, stiff coming off an ACL after his first season performance for you to ignore his talent considering he has a rising star award.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

I do worry about his speed and ability to keep up with AFL mids. I also think we have better medium/tall forward options. I haven't written him off but still feel he is speculative.

[@BDub2024]

Johnstone Dewar and Hutchy could end up midfield or half back. So I do think the Eagles need to move Hough and Ginbey around a little bit to give other youngsters a go across half back. I reckon Dewar could be really exciting across half back. Mind you we need forwards. Hutchy is training at half back at EAgles too according to him. Brockman doesn't seem with it. I reckon he may never be up to it due to his attitude and focus.

[@jlrob85]

With Petra he could be on the wing using his speed to move it forward.

[@denholmburford7262]

Nice video and enjoy the content. Mostly agree but just don’t get what you’re seeing in Bhazzo. Hopefully you’re right.

[@mickw1842]

I have a more confidence in the your tall defenders than you. I really like H. Edwards, Bazzo looked great for a kid when he played a couple of years ago. Ginbey also hopefully can play on talls in the future. I can’t see the benefit of recruiting more transition players, we have enough now, what we need is more top end midfield talent.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

Yeah perhaps...I'm cautiously optimistic with them. But I didn't want to inflate the analysis by being too glass-half-full if that makes sense

[@georgepappas4628]

Pure and simple, the WC has a terrible list, and the drafting has been abysmal as well. Need to get some A grade talent in Bolton, Baker, and Graham in who have been in premiership teams.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

Since 2021 I think we've drafted okay... we can assess better in a few years.

[@BDub2024]

Noah Long is a supporting talent. Long should move into middle a bit but he is seen as being too small for midfield believe it or not.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

Perhaps I was generous with Long...if he can find it 18 times a game he will be a certified gun given his skills

[@BDub2024]

@@TrueEagleAFL He will probably take on Cripps role, but I'd actually like to see him get game time up the field. We are struggling on the wings, so he'd have be useful I would have thought.

[@jlrob85]

Ginbey should be in the midfield? Hes a bull and might not be a superstar but will be more like a Michael Braun level player which was great

[@markp2122]

If WC traded pick 2 for two WA prospects and Ginbey only ends up a HB that’s a real fail. The long term outlook has to be midfield.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

I hear you...although Ginbey could be an AA defender one day and Hewett could still be a gun. I'm optimistic still.

[@LensBright]

Yeah they could've taken Harry Sheezel!

[@scottmeyers4856]

Shows how dire straights we are in and how deplorable the recruiting has been. Chesser sucks and offers nothing. Had more than enough opportunity.

[@fire_titan5735]

Not a fan of Oscar Allen

[@BDub2024]

Maric is a supporting talent. He will never be a gun as a forward at all. Maric could be really useful as a distributor at half back. But you're really exagerating his talent I feel. In many teams he wouldn't be playing. Even at the Eagles h wasn't good enough for regular games at time this year.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

I respectfully disagree. Had he been drafted to Hawthorn, I think they'd A) be using him better and B) he'd be best 22.

[@doosedoose3782]

It’s okay we win a premiership every 12 years so… 2030

[@MarkAllsopp-uw4lr]

Petch to be repurposed as a defender and save his career

[@sleekism23]

We are better of trading Allen / letting him go as a free agent and getting a top 3 pick

[@BDub2024]

I turned off Jones after a few matches he didn't look like he was trying. Not putting his hand up on the mark. Then I saw the Eagles coast to coast podcast with Kelly Brockman Jones and Ryan. Brockman and Jones just weren't with it. Not mature at all. Brockman is like a 16 years old. But maybe deserves one more year.

[@stoner2793]

sorry but brockman has way more talent than chesser he had 30 somethink disposals and i think he kicked 4 goals and he was best on ground never then that from chesser not even close to that

[@TrueEagleAFL]

I might be being harsh on Brockman, but you might wanna fact check those stats. Brockman has never kicked more than 3 in a game, and his highest possession count is 17. Both were at Hawthorn. He kicked one solitary goal for us this year from ten starts.

[@spindoctor6385]

I still think it is somewhat of a mistake to let Darling go. It is horrible that he is going to play game 300 in a North jumper. TheIr supporters won't care for him by then. I think it sends a bit of a bad message to younger players too. If Darling is just a commodity who is easily discarded when his usefulness falls below a set level without a thought for the last 15 years of service then why would somebody like Harley Reid view the club any differently? He will get offers in 2-4 years time (whenever his contract is up) and should leave if there is more chance of personal success elsewhere. Club loyalty shouldn't be a factor at all. I would have done all I could to keep Darling in a WC jumper, even if it came at the cost of a hanfull of games that a younger player otherwise would have played. It was hardly going to make the difference between WC playing finals or not next year.

[@TrueEagleAFL]

An interesting take. Do you see it as meaningfully different to Hawthorn's offloading of Titch, JOM etc?

[@spindoctor6385]

@@TrueEagleAFL Not hugely different, though Tom Mitchell and Jager O'Meara weren't just one club players, earlier than that, I thought at the time that Jordan Lewis should have been made Captain instead of being told to go elsewhere. I almost vomited seeing Isaac Smith in a Geelong jumper. In some respects the cases are better and some worse. Hawthorn moving players on was hardly an instant success story. I think Darling being so close to 300 games leaves a bit of a sour taste. I fully understand it, no player is bigger than the club, and the club have to have one main goal in mind, winning a flag. I think some of the smaller aims feed into that ultimate goal though, like culture (for lack of a better word) and giving fans something to look forward to. Darling being chaired off after game 300 would fill Optus stadium. I am guessing most WC fans would book tickets a week+ in advance, now instead Darling could possibly play his 300th in Hobart in a North Vs GC game in front of 8000 people, most of them only knowing that it was his 300th when he runs through the banner. (I have not looked at a fixture, just picked an extreme potential example)

[@SonyPicturesTelevision]

why did we waste that pick on chesser. bloke was injured whole draft year 🤡.

[@stoner2793]

too soon to put long that high

[@TrevorPhilipsBro]

Dean Laidley was a transition player

[@TrueEagleAFL]

I hate that I chuckled.

[@jlrob85]

Allen is good but he’s made of glass