The Weagles and bottoming out.

[bullus_hit]

He also wanted to go to the GC and play with his mates so not sure if WC did tamper with it.

GC had numerous opportunities to pick him up but refused, attitude and a perceived lack of professionalism would be the only plausible reason for not taking him with one of their early picks. Looking at him now and it's difficult to see any evidence of a player struggling to come grips with the AFL, I would suggest West Coast would have been in close contact with his local club and would have been making overtures throughout the season. It's clear to me they got it right and the rest of the competition got it wrong, it wouldn't be the first time an interstate club has created a bit smoke and mirrors publicity in order to get their man.

 

[zippadeee]

Buddy had a attitude problem, so we dont pick him,
Darling had a attitude problem, so we don't pick him,
But we can pick guys like Taylor & Peterson!

They need to stop with these personel assesments and pick them on how good they can be on the ground.
Darling next to jack wouldve been a top 8 forward line!

 

[tigs2010]

GC had numerous opportunities to pick him up but refused, attitude and a perceived lack of professionalism would be the only plausible reason for not taking him with one of their early picks. Looking at him now and it's difficult to see any evidence of a player struggling to come grips with the AFL, I would suggest West Coast would have been in close contact with his local club and would have been making overtures throughout the season. It's clear to me they got it right and the rest of the competition got it wrong, it wouldn't be the first time an interstate club has created a bit smoke and mirrors publicity in order to get their man.

Waas more getting at the whole Darling wanting to stay home bit.

 

[BillyJean17]

I don't follow other teams, or study their lists, as closely as others seem to. I'd be interested to know what people think are the reasons behind the Weagles going from last to at least top 4 in the space of a season.

I don't understand the opinions of some on here that we shouldn't play finals and that we need to get comfy in the bottom half of the ladder to completely rebuild and have any chance of a premiership in the next few years. There is no guarantee hitting rock bottom and getting a lot of kids will bring success.

How did WC pick themselves off the bottom and become very competitive again so quickly? Also what is it with their big bodied and very good first year players slotting in so quickly?

If we say we're modelling ourselves on other teams are there any lessons to be learned from the Weagles?

the respective playing lists aside, WC are a case in point where additional $$$ spent in their football dept would appear to have reaped dividends in
A..talent identification..jack Darling at 26 :
B and development of their youth

In recent years they have spared No expense in securing the likes of Phillip walsh, scott burns and neil daniher.

with this kinda expereince around the table it looks to me they avouid the pitfalls of a season that typically have the less expereinced, EG RFC spiral into a mid season abyss that knows no end.

 

[YinnarTiger]

Adelaide in 1998?

Current final 8 system didn't start until 2000.

 

[tigerfan1961]

A..talent identification..jack Darling at 26 :

From what I am told, FJ was astounded Darling lasted that far and we were hoping he would be around at our second pick. Did not happen, but we were well aware of how good he could be. Conca was our choice at 6, and I am satisfied with that.

 

[BillyJean17]

From what I am told, FJ was astounded Darling lasted that far and we were hoping he would be around at our second pick. Did not happen, but we were well aware of how good he could be. Conca was our choice at 6, and I am satisfied with that.

you missed the point, i dont believe its the first time theyve jagged the draft...they have avoided drafting bloopers that have been a recurring theme at our club and that my friend due to the quality of off field personel is why they have rebounded so damn quickly :hihi

 

[Leysy Days]

West Coasts drafting over the past 5 or so years has been very average Billy Jean.

Since there recruiting mgr Woodhouse left it has picked up again no doubt.

There rise has been on the back of the experienced group. We saw today what happens to them when Cox, Embley, Kerr etc are subdued.

 

[tigerfan1961]

you missed the point, i dont believe its the first time theyve jagged the draft...they have avoided drafting bloopers that have been a recurring theme at our club and that my friend due to the quality of off field personel is why they have rebounded so damn quickly :hihi

Understand what you are saying, but I do not think they have avoided all bloopers. Went today and watched their game last week. Chris Masten at pick 3 could well be an error of judgement. Overall though, they draft real well.

 

[Col.E.Kurtz]

West Coasts drafting over the past 5 or so years has been very average Billy Jean.

Since there recruiting mgr Woodhouse left it has picked up again no doubt.

There rise has been on the back of the experienced group. We saw today what happens to them when Cox, Embley, Kerr etc are subdued.

Definitely, WCE looked today like a well coached team with a handful of match winners and a big group of solid role players. The real story where is how well they were coached this year, huge improvement.

 

[Streak]

Definitely, WCE looked today like a well coached team with a handful of match winners and a big group of solid role players. The real story where is how well they were coached this year, huge improvement.

Which is exactly what I said at the start of the post and no one commented on.

The Eagles biggest decision to get where they are today was to stick with the coach. There was a lot of speculation that he needed to go, but the club went with him. Everyone laughed last year, including many in WA, when he said the Eagles were not that far from competing for a flag. They aren't laughing now.

But having said that, the Eagles have some significant list management issues to contend with. The experienced core of the club is quite old, and while they have some talent coming through, they will need some finesse with their list management to see them through.

The later part of the Woodhouse years has left an age holwe in their list.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

The Eagles biggest decision to get where they are today was to stick with the coach. There was a lot of speculation that he needed to go, but the club went with him. Everyone laughed last year, including many in WA, when he said the Eagles were not that far from competing for a flag. They aren't laughing now.

The premiership on his CV would've had a bit to do with it. Coaches who survive long enough to implement two rebuilds are invariably premiership coaches.

 

[Lennox Street]

I would suggest West Coast would have been in close contact with his local club and would have been making overtures throughout the season. It's clear to me they got it right and the rest of the competition got it wrong, it wouldn't be the first time an interstate club has created a bit smoke and mirrors publicity in order to get their man.

Name 5 .

All clubs would have contacts with West Perth -and the Eagles maybe even less than most; for example Justin Longmuir was an assistant coach at West Perth and a full time employee in the Freo recruiting department at the time.

 

[Sintiger]

Buddy had a attitude problem, so we dont pick him,
Darling had a attitude problem, so we don't pick him,
But we can pick guys like Taylor & Peterson!

They need to stop with these personel assesments and pick them on how good they can be on the ground.
Darling next to jack wouldve been a top 8 forward line!

Maybe but the problem with that theory is that after we took Conca at 6 Darling was gone by the time our next pick came along . There is no evidence that Richmond had any problem taking Darling , we just didn't get the chance to do so .

 

[Mantikorr]

I think I remember FJ saying something about just missing 2 players when we took Batchelor, and believe he said Darling and Lycett were the players we missed out on. Its fair to say we were definately looking at him, issues or not.

 

[tigs2010]

I think I remember FJ saying something about just missing 2 players when we took Batchelor, and believe he said Darling and Lycett were the players we missed out on. Its fair to say we were definately looking at him, issues or not.

Harper was the 3rd. Very happy with Conca personally. Give him a chance.

 

[Disco08]

I know it's a total pipedream but I'd love to see Harper playing HFF for us sometime in the near future.

 

[bullus_hit]

Name 5 .

All clubs would have contacts with West Perth -and the Eagles maybe even less than most; for example Justin Longmuir was an assistant coach at West Perth and a full time employee in the Freo recruiting department at the time.

Lennox are you honestly denying kids and recruiters don't get to together and discuss ways of getting to their desired destinations? I remember Nathan Buckley doing his level best to move over to Collingwood, Des Headland doing the same with regards to playing in the West, I recall Daniel Kerr being hidden away until draft time or Dean Cox going from absolute obscurity to superstar in 2 years. Every single year a kid drops not so subtle hints as to where he wants to go, 'I barrack for this club' or 'I'm really close to my family' or 'I might play cricket instead'. When the scouts go and visit these kids do you really think they discuss ways of getting him to his non-preferred destination? Then there's the injury reports leaked to the media, last year Dyson Heppell was in shock at some of the doomsday predictions with regards to his hamstrings, amazingly enough he lands at the club he supported as a kid. But back to Jack Darling, don't you think it was even slightly odd that West Coast ranked him in their top 5 yet every other club thought he was too hot to handle? Don't you even for second believe he may have embellished his larrikan streak in order to put clubs off? Even Francis Jackson has been embarking on his own cloak and dagger tactics when he went about securing Matty Dea. It's a competitive environment out there and I'm sure each and every recruiter uses a vast array tricks and strategies to land the fish.

 

[TOT70]

The Cats have been doing it for years. They seem to use a late-ish pick on a Geelong Falcons kid nearly every year. I'm sure that they have more intel on kids playing at that club than anyone else.

Is it that they are doing their homework better than the rest, or are they just coming to a quiet arrangement with these kids through relationships with their coaches and mentors? That's a good question, in my opinion.

 

[Streak]

Lennox are you honestly denying kids and recruiters don't get to together and discuss ways of getting to their desired destinations? I remember Nathan Buckley doing his level best to move over to Collingwood, Des Headland doing the same with regards to playing in the West, I recall Daniel Kerr being hidden away until draft time or Dean Cox going from absolute obscurity to superstar in 2 years. Every single year a kid drops not so subtle hints as to where he wants to go, 'I barrack for this club' or 'I'm really close to my family' or 'I might play cricket instead'. When the scouts go and visit these kids do you really think they discuss ways of getting him to his non-preferred destination? Then there's the injury reports leaked to the media, last year Dyson Heppell was in shock at some of the doomsday predictions with regards to his hamstrings, amazingly enough he lands at the club he supported as a kid. But back to Jack Darling, don't you think it was even slightly odd that West Coast ranked him in their top 5 yet every other club thought he was too hot to handle? Don't you even for second believe he may have embellished his larrikan streak in order to put clubs off? Even Francis Jackson has been embarking on his own cloak and dagger tactics when he went about securing Matty Dea. It's a competitive environment out there and I'm sure each and every recruiter uses a vast array tricks and strategies to land the fish.

I think the point is though that with the way scouting is done these days and the resources put into it, it is very hard to see how you could realistically fiddle the draft to get the player you want where you want him. You'd be certainly running a huge risk if you didn't pick him up earlier if you had the chance.