2007 - Preseason Preview - 16th of 16 - Westcoast

[pahoffm]

Westcoast
The Eagles won a very close run Grand Final. Will they come up as competitively as the Swans did last year, or will they fall away like Port Adelaide has done over the last couple of years?
Initial thinking is that the Westcoast list is a younger list and therefore still well placed for further success.
John Worsfold continues as coach, ably assisted by stalwarts Peter Sumich, Rob Wiley, Darren Harris and Tony Micale.

Fig.1, The List
Dean Cox	204	102	25
Mark Seaby	200	99	22
Ashley Hansen	198	96	24
Llane Spaandermann	198	100	21	new	rookie
Brent Staker	196	96	22
Chad Jones	196	98	22	new	rookie
Eric Mackenzie	196	91	18	new
Jamie Graham	195	98	24
Will Schofield	195	82	17	new
Quinten Lynch	194	102	24
Beau Wilkes	194	93	21		rookie
James Thompson	194	81	18	new
Matthew Spangher	193	84	19
Mitchell Brown	193	90	17	new
Darren Glass	192	93	25
Andrew Embley	190	89	25
Adam Hunter	190	86	24
Matt Rosa	190	78	20
Tyson Stenglein	189	91	26
Brett Jones	189	92	24
Chris Judd	189	85	23
Adam Selwood	189	80	22
Tim Houlihan	189	74	17	new
Sam Butler	188	84	21
Beau Waters	188	89	21
Ben Sharp	188	83	20		rookie
Ashley Thornton	188	85	20		rookie
Shannon Hurn	188	92	19
Rowan Jones	187	82	27
Mark Nicoski	187	85	23
Daniel Chick	185	88	31
Matthew Priddis	184	86	22
Ben McKinley	184	82	20
Mitch Morton	184	77	20
Joshua Wooden	183	84	28
Mark LeCras	183	78	20
Jamie McNamara	183	80	19	new	rookie
Steven Armstrong	180	80	23
Ben Cousins	179	80	28
Chad Fletcher	179	81	27
Daniel Kerr	178	78	23
Ashley Sampi	177	83	23
Michael Braun	175	74	29
David Wirrpunda	173	84	27

The List, fig.1, shows that there are 44 players on the Westcoast list, with 8 new players, and 6 rookies.
There is only one player 30yo or more on the list, and only another 3 just entered the twilight zone.
The Eagles have 33 of their 44 players, 75% being under 25yo, which sets them up for a great future.
Also, 18 of their 44, 41%, are 190cm or more. This corresponds with Sydney, which indicates the two top sides have a 40% of list being talls - significantly higher than most teams.

Fig.2 - The Spread
	<175	175-179	180-184	185-189	190-194	195-199	200+
28+		Braun 175 29 M	Wooden 183 28 D	Chick 185 31 D
		Cousins 179 28 M
25-27
	Wirrpunda 173 27 D	Fletcher 179 27 M		R.Jones 187 27 D	Glass 192 25 D		Cox 204 25 R
				Stenglein 189 26 M	Embley 190 25 F
22-24
		Kerr 178 23 M	Armstrong 180 23 M	B.Jones 189 24 D	Lynch 194 24 F	Hansen 198 24 F	Seaby 200 22 R
		Sampi 177 23 F	Priddis 184 22 M	Judd 189 23 M	Hunter 190 24 U	Graham 195 24 D
				Nicoski 187 23 M		Staker 196 22 D
				Selwood 189 22 D		C.Jones 196 22 U
18-21
			McKinley 184 20 F	Butler 188 21 D	Wilkes 194 21 F	Spaandemann 198 21 R
			Morton 184 20 F	Waters 188 21 M	Rosa 190 20 U	Mackenzie 196 18 D
			LeCras 183 20 F	Sharp 188 20 D	Spanger 193 19 U	Schofield 195 17 U
			McNamara 183 19 M	Thornton 188 20 M	Thompson 194 18 D
				Hurn 188 19 D	Brown 193 17 F
				Houlihan 189 17 M

The Spread, fig.2, shows how closely Westcoast confirms to the "Spread" model. It is very well balanced with smalls and talls, and plenty of juniors coming up.
My only criticism of the Westcoast list is that they have been tardy in recruiting junior rovers. This shouyld be addressed at their earliest opportunity.

Fig.3 - Positional Depth
B:	Wirrpunda 173 27 D	Glass 192 25 D	B.Jones 189 24 D
		Spanger 193 19 U	Selwood 189
		Schofield 195 17 U	Hurn 188 19 D
HB:	R.Jones 187 27 D	Graham 195 24 D	Chick 185 31 D
	Butler 188 21 D	Staker 196 22 D	Wooden 183 28 D
	Sharp 188 20 D	Thompson 194 18 D
		Mackenzie 196 18 D
C:	Nicoski 187 23 M	Fletcher 179 27 M	Cousins 179 28 M
	Waters 188 21 M	Priddis 184 22 M	Armstrong 180 23 M
	Thornton 188 20 M
HF:	Embley 190 25 F	Hansen 198 24 F	McKinley 184 20 F
		Brown 193 17 F	Morton 184 20 F
			LeCras 183 20 F
F:	Lynch 194 24 F	Hunter 190 24 U	Sampi 177 23 F
	C.Jones 196 22 U	Wilkes 194 21 F
		Rosa 190 20 U
R:	Cox 204 25 R	Stenglein 189 26 M	Braun 175 29 M
	Seaby 200 22 R	Judd 189 23 M	Kerr 178 23 M
	Spaandermann 198 21 R	McNamara 183 19 M
		Houlihan 189 17 M

Positional Depth, fig.3, shows how well Westcoast cover all key positions, especially in defence, and on the ball.

Conclusion:
The Westcoast list is clearly the best one going around. I don't believe injuries will hurt them.
Only a complete mental lapse, or some extraordinary event, will stop them playing in the 2007 Grand Final.
Actually, I'd back in a repeat Westcoast v Sydney Grand Final now.

 

[mb64]

They should win most of thier home games & scrape into the 8.Will finish 6-8.No threat for the flag.