Round 5 - West Coast V Hawthorn

[Bigbird]

My thoughts on this one are:

1. The Hawks will be coming in to the game red hot for it after getting slammed by everyone. If we are not switched on early, we might think we are watching the 2015 GF replay.
2. Coming off a 10 day break could be a bit of a risk for us, especially given the above point.
3. We are good enough to win this game comfortably if we bring close to our best footy for four quarters.
4. I thought there were some positive signs in the Swans game with regards to our endeavour and effort. If we can carry that forward it will go a long way to helping secure the points.

[domo_the_eagle]

Out: Mitchell (ankle)
In: Sheed?

i still dont like giles/vardy. im keen to drop one of these and bring in another midfielder. We should see how gov plays as back up ruck.

[Fat Side]

Out: Mitchell (ankle)
In: Sheed?

i still dont like giles/vardy. im keen to drop one of these and bring in another midfielder. We should see how gov plays as back up ruck.

I can't see Mitchell getting up and I think Sheed is probably the obvious replacement. Vardy needs to impact the game more or be dropped. If Darling is fit another tall would expected to be dropped. The first name coming to mind is Schofield, but he was pretty good last week. If McGovern is prepared to pinch hit in the ruck, maybe it is Vardy that misses out. Giles rucking in the last quarter against Sydney was excellent.

Out - Mitchell, Vardy
In - Darling, Sheed

[penrith eagle]

Its simple they must win

If they lose again at the MCG......well

[Eagle Boy]

Its simple they must win

If they lose again at the MCG......well

Exactly right. This is type of game we have come up short in the past. We really need this win.

[Total Package]

Its simple they must win

If they lose again at the MCG......well

I fully expect we will probably lose... because as far as I can see from Round 3 until now we suddenly didn't get quicker in the midfield and the MCG just badly exposes that.

Should we win? Yes? Can we win? Yes. But it's going to be like most games so far this year... we will rely on the other team turning the ball over with their poor skills and execution to win... rather than our opponent playing well and us just being better than them.

We aren't a premiership quality team the way our midfield is structured at the moment. I'd almost prefer losses so that something has to drastically change... rather than these average wins against poor sides keeping up false hope.

[Pinion King]

Out: Mitchell
In: Darling

Bench:
Wellingham
Masten
Sheppard
Nelson
Sheed
Hutchings
Karpany

Bummer, would have liked to have seen Mitchell play.

A lot of the media interest will be gone from the game now, it was all about Mitchell playing his old club. Now that he is not playing it will die down.

[jourgo]

We lose this. Nothing surer.

[Pinion King]

We lose this. Nothing surer.

Ouch, negative much?

[WCE Booka 89]

Out: Mitchell
In: Darling

Bench:
Wellingham
Masten
Sheppard
Nelson
Sheed
Hutchings
Karpany

Bummer, would have liked to have seen Mitchell play.

A lot of the media interest will be gone from the game now, it was all about Mitchell playing his old club. Now that he is not playing it will die down.

Will be interesting to see the final line-up. Usually see the 18 players named on the field maintain their spot and 3 removed from the bench but can't help but feel it is too tall, especially seeing as we lacked any sort of run last time at the G and we would be going in with virtually a swap of Schofield for Mitchell.

[domo_the_eagle]

Darlings getting another chance to choke on the G

[penrith eagle]

Darlings getting another chance to choke on the G

Yup this is what I am afraid of. Another shit performance by Jack that will diminish his trade value if we ever decide to go down that path

Really hope he and the team plays well

This is a massive massive game for the team and Simpson coaching tenure at the Eagles

[Hamburger]

All the pundits, even the most one eyed Vic commentators and experts are predicting an Eagles win....I'm not so sure.
Our record against the Hawks on their home ground is abysmal.
Make no mistake if we cannot beat them at this point in time then it would be fair to conclude this current Eagles team really does have a significant problem playing at this ground....which this team is unlikely to overcome in the near term.
Because it is essentially the same Eagles team which has fallen well short in recent times over and over again.
The inclusion of Schofield and Butler last week looked like it provided more stability in defence....ok, but we're not blooding younger players at all anymore. And these are two players who...with the other regulars have consistently failed to deliver on this ground against this opponent. How many chances are the regulars going to be given?
Yet again on an extended bench there are several younger players named...Sheed and Karpany. Will they get a game? I seriously doubt it.
It will likely be Darling in for Mitchell.
There will be one or more key moments in this game where Darling has a relatively easy shot almost directly in front....and will he eventually kick one of these critical goals? I hope so but am not at all confident he can.

[Mead]

We lose this. Nothing surer.

Have to admit there's a part of me that thinks the $2.75 Hawthorn is paying for the win is extraordinarily value.

We are playing a side which will be stung into action and more importantly which still has way too many players who know exactly how to pick us apart at the G.

[Fat Side]

Its simple they must win

If they lose again at the MCG......well

I fully expect we will probably lose... because as far as I can see from Round 3 until now we suddenly didn't get quicker in the midfield and the MCG just badly exposes that.

The loss to Richmond had little to do with lack of pace and more to do with lack of desire to maintain intensity. Subiaco is bigger than the MCG so if the MCG exposes a lack of pace, it would be exacerbated at Subiaco.

More pace will not win a game unless we're prepared to put sufficient pressure on opposition ball carriers for the full four quarters.

I expect us to win this game.