TOPIC:

I reckon Adam Pickering is a chance to take over.

demons2013 wrote: I reckon Adam Pickering is a chance to take over.

Please no.

smokey wrote: 30+, from what I heard on Saturday Sketcher was leaving today to return home to Victoria with his Melb girlfriend.

Bevan has agreed to say but not yet signed. He is apparently also under pressure from his partner to go home so could be Ross Young re-visited.
I have heard nothing re Reimers, Stack or Moody. There was a suggestion that the signing of Jarrad Moreton was a high priority as his big brother apparently wants to play with him. Let it be at Brownes and not at Claremont.

Yes, there is a strong rumour re Ali Smith wants to move on. That may depend on the coaching structure for next season whether or not all assistants stay on.

The usual review of football operations to be carried out. A big challenged ahead for the CEO. Speaking with one Director it seems that this season was not a complete waste and that the club had a strong platform to step up further in 2014, apparently.

As for the coaching panel, there are some who are saying the club should keep the current panel together. I have some difficulty with that and firmly believe that the senior position MUST be advertised and the best possible candidate be appointed who in turn should have at least some input as to who his assistants will be. It does seem that Harris may not be available nor interested in applying.

It is going to be critical whatever comes out of the review. I can see big changes being necessary but I am not overly optimistic that the right changes can be or will be made. I am of the firm view that we need changes at Board level. There have been no ballots for positions on the Board for 5 or 6 years and I believe that the club badly needs some new and capable blood to step up and bring some new direction and ideas as well as some corporate pull. Not easy to attract the right people but some effort is needed.

So close this year but no wins against the top contenders and 4 straight bad losses at the business end of the season when we could well of entrenched ourselves in the final 4 and been legitimate contenders. Very disappointing and the dramatic drop off in attendances reflected that.

Said in another post i wouldn't name names but it seems most of the names i have heard are already being bandied around.

I have heard Sketcher, Reimers, Tedesco, Smith and there were a few other mid tier league players. I think a change of coach may keep a couple of these players.

Have also heard that there are a few East Perth players shopping themselves around Moss and J.Smith to name a few, have heard Moss is a big chance (pardon the pun) as he is fairly good mates with Bateman from his time at Hawthorn. Smith would be very handy up front something i feel we have needed for quite some time.

Cesspit wrote:

demons2013 wrote: I reckon Adam Pickering is a chance to take over.

Please no.

Im with you on that one,is he the reason Ali Smith may be looking elsewhere???
At first i thought he was ok but on a second look...maybe not!

McMahon couldnt take us to finals with a pretty good list hows he going to go with what looks like at this stage a 2014 inferior list??
I just cant see us recruiting the key personel that we need to firstly...recruit to replace losses and secondly recruit to build on top of the losses!

Experienced coach with a finals background is what we need going forward imo,Harris and Prescott just to name a couple.

Chris Billings should be back as well.

30plusyeardrought wrote:

Mr AFL wrote: Just throwing it out there Ashley Prescott. He is leaving the Dockers to pursue other opportunities, Here's the link: www.afl.com.au/news/2013-09-03/docker-ea...assistants-to-depart

Yep he'd be a good choice but i fear the club will dig there heels in on this one and re-appoint McMahon which in my opinion will be a huge mistake,there will be no "break through year" in 2014.
I feel another re-build coming on!!
Plenty of players in our top 22 will go!

Which players out of our best 22 are going. Only Reimers, Bevan and Sketcher's names have been mentioned as possibly going back over east.

Can't really class Tunbridge and McInnes as losses as have absolutely no control over them playing at East Perth next year. BTW doesn't Tunbridge have to get delisted this year. Has spent the last three years on the rookie list. By my understanding they can redraft him on the rookie list for another year or upgrade him to the main list. If he is unfortunate not to be on the Eagles list next year then we must do our best to retain him.

On the South's thread as well there are whispers that Callum Wilson might be coming back to WA. If the points in our squad became available I would be having a serious talk to him. Not sure where he played in 2013 but played 93 games in the WAFL for 175 goals and in 2012 played 19 games in the seniors and reserves for Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL and kicked 31 goals.

I remember the same stuff being said last year about recruiting to fill the loss's and recruiting the fill the gaps in the squad and also the fact that the 2013 squad wasn't as good as the 2012 squad.

Apart from Dan Murray I'd say our recruiting at the end of last year was pretty good. Risol, Sketcher and Morton, although he came in half way through the season have been very good. Leyendekkers is a good promising ruckman that will benefit from another preseason and time spent in the gym. David Johnston had a slight hiccup in the preseason and then in the early part of the season proper. Would like to see him after a full preseason and ready and raring to go in round 1.

That said we also had improvement from inside the playing group with Sinclair, Boyle and Leeson showing that they are capable League footballers.

It's important to try and keep the nucleus of the squad together but at the end of each season players leave for one reason or another. If we were to go out and get say Josh Smith and Gary Moss, both are 10 point players. Moss would be nice but I'd be directing my attention more towards Smith. If one of our 10+ point players that have already been listed does leave, then this frees up the space to go and get him.

Mr AFL i wouldnt have a clue whos going but as there generally is names are being thrown around as possibile losses,Ali Smith as rumoured earlier in the year was mentioned and someone else on here also mentioned Tedesco's name.
How you dont class McIness and Tunbridges as losses is beyond me,when fit both were in our best 22 and are player losses whichever way you look at it.

I think some of our big points players havent been worth it and i'll upset a few by naming Nick Kane,whilst he's got a big heart,loves the club,not a bad player etc etc..is he worth the big points?My opinion..no!
I pretty sure the non aligned clubs get more room in there points next season so recruiting extra valued points players is a possibility.

What we lack are key players(not foot soldiers).Rucks,2 tall key forwards,another tall back and a couple of pacey midfielders.
Can we get those from within..no!
You do have to recruit to fill the losses and recruit to fill the gaps,why do you reckon we dont play finals???
We recruit each year but we dont recruit to 100% of our needs and we just dont have the players from within to cover it.

The names mentioned Josh Smith,Moss Wilson and others should be approached no doubt,with Smith as a top priority.
We also have to be careful that we dont take the scraps from the 2 aligned clubs to try and meet our needs.We dont need more ressies players.

Agreed no more ressy players from other clubs like Rowling and Morgan, and to a lesser extent David Johnson....hopefully a few other players that previoulsy left can come back with renewed vigour...like Dene White did this year.

30plusyeardrought wrote: Mr AFL i wouldnt have a clue whos going but as there generally is names are being thrown around as possibile losses,Ali Smith as rumoured earlier in the year was mentioned and someone else on here also mentioned Tedesco's name.
How you dont class McIness and Tunbridges as losses is beyond me,when fit both were in our best 22 and are player losses whichever way you look at it.

Should have reworded that in saying that as they are Eagles listed players, they are losses that we have no control over.

With the others we have a bit more room to move with the ability to try and persuade them to stay at the club if they are thinking of moving elsewhere.

30plusyeardrought wrote: I think some of our big points players havent been worth it and i'll upset a few by naming Nick Kane,whilst he's got a big heart,loves the club,not a bad player etc etc..is he worth the big points?My opinion..no!

Sugar has now played 50 games for the club. His 50th was on the weekend against South Fremantle. Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't Ross Young's points value halved from 10 to 5 in 2012. Not sure if that's 100% though so might need to double check.

What's the ruling here does anybody know? How many WAFL League games do you have to play to get a reduction on your points value if that is the case. Maybe Nick is worth 5 points next season instead of 10.

30plusyeardrought wrote: I pretty sure the non aligned clubs get more room in there points next season so recruiting extra valued points players is a possibility.

Can you remember who many points it could possibly be. Can't see it being a massive number like 20 but think 10 would be a more likely increase.

30plusyeardrought wrote: What we lack are key players(not foot soldiers).Rucks,2 tall key forwards,another tall back and a couple of pacey midfielders.
Can we get those from within..no!
You do have to recruit to fill the losses and recruit to fill the gaps,why do you reckon we dont play finals???
We recruit each year but we dont recruit to 100% of our needs and we just dont have the players from within to cover it.

It makes it hard with the player points system and the salary cap 30 plus. I agree we are short in the areas that you listed above. But you have to say that in regards to the recruiting down in the 2012 offseason we came out pretty good with the likes of Bateman, Sketcher, Risol, Morton playing well for most of the season. Reimers started well and had his best game for the year IMO against Souths but definitely needs to pull is finger out this preseason if he stays at the club.

30plusyeardrought wrote: The names mentioned Josh Smith,Moss Wilson and others should be approached no doubt,with Smith as a top priority.
We also have to be careful that we dont take the scraps from the 2 aligned clubs to try and meet our needs.We dont need more ressies players.