End of the Line
You could see it, feel it coming. Like fiddling around with your phone to get the last bit of battery life out of it for one last message, only to be flooded with another unexpected call - the combination of our decimated playing stocks and the ten minutes of extra time killed us off without a second chance.
Going out in straight sets this season, after two gallant, against big odds losses is bitter way to end a season that started in controversy, produced early promise, but was subsequently derailed with a steady stream of injured bodies reducing our capabilities and frustrating both club and supporters.
As one B. Cousins was quoted as saying upon suffering one of the said injuries this season, such is life.
Losing Ashley Hansen in the first quarter was the telling blow for us in this game. Typical of our season really. Already without Judd, Kerr, Cousins losing the talisman halfway into the first quarter was always going to make it tough going 21 against 22. The fact is, we need Hansen on the paddock and the club needs to look at how it can get him out on the field for 22 games plus finals in 2008. Ditto Judd, Kerr, Cousins, Embley (only once played more than 20 games in a season), Cox et al.
The other tale of the tape tonight was, yet again, taking our foot off the throat of our opponent. 23 points up, loss. Second week in the row. Round 22 was again, the same story, although we scraped home. Countless other games have followed the same theme, just without the consequences (except maybe 05 GF arguably). This time around though, we could dodge the bullet. Without the onfield grunt we just couldn’t summons what was required and what we’ve come to expect from the Eagles.
We still have enough time on the premiership clock to come back in 08, but along with injury management we need to find a ruthless streak that will not just dig the hole but bury the coffin, drop some lead through the lid, and spit on the freshly replaced dirt. In the final analysis, it was Collingwood and Port before them that had the money players when it mattered - and we did not.
Kudos to a number of our players who stood strong, but in the end found that too much was left to too few.
Matt Priddis came of age this season. He was our leading possession winner all season and was again tonight with 37 possessions and 10 clearances. With Priddis on song we were still smashed in the clearances, without him we would’ve lost by 10 goals.
Dean Cox played a monster game. 27 disposals, 9 marks, 29 hit outs and a goal was his line in the end. Incredibly that is nothing unusual for big Coxy, he does it week in and out. His run and hard work to create space was a feature of the game.
Darren Glass stood tall and totally shut out Rocca. For a couple of inexplicable minutes in the third quarter when he was on the bench the Pies came to life, Rocca kicked two, Cloke the other and the three quarter margin was 4. With Glass on the ground, his work at spoiling the contest and winning the contested ball, they never looked like. Played a captains game.
Brett Jones looked good and provided plenty of dash, Daneil Chick annihilated Rusling, Selwood got plenty of it and was sure, Rosa, Embley and Braun bobbed up at times, LeCras and Lynch were also good at times in the forward line. Sadly though some other players failed to step up and absence of the big three plus Hansen could not be covered.
Hopefully, we will return in 2008 and improved side and side better for the disappointment and frustration of the 2007. There were the usual highs and lows, but you can’t help but feel if we got our best side out there that we’d be a good chance to be playing off in our third GF in as many years. It wasn’t to be but there is always the hope of next season.
Well done to the players and coaching staff of the West Coast Eagles for another year of enjoyable footy.
COLLINGWOOD 1.5 4.8 6.11 10.12 11.13 13.15 (93)
WEST COAST 0.4 5.5 8.9 10.12 10.13 10.14 (74)
Sep 15th 2007
I’d echo all that, especially the congratulations to the coaching staff for getting a team on the field, and also the sense of inevitability watching this game, knowing it would be better to lose this week than get thumped by Geelong next Friday (which is what is going to happen to Collingwood).
A couple of things: much as I know people admire RoJo, he’s surely finished. He’s way to soft in applying tackles, goes to ground when tackled himself and his disposal is often ineffective.
The defence is solid and doesn’t need much tinkering with. Would like a consistent forward line but then would also just like a consistent team on the field each week.
The Melbourne papers are full of clubs chasing Judd this morning - what do we need to do to keep him or do we resign ourselves to living without him?
Here’s to successful operations, a quiet off-season and a fit squad to choose from next March.
Sep 15th 2007
Well summised.
There are no guarantees that our ‘bad luck’ with injuries in 07 equates to ‘good luck’ next season. Finishing this season 2 weeks early won’t hurt come round 1 next year, but the last thing we need is some freo-like expectations that the the flag will be ours with a fit list.
I hope the medical staff have some impartial and rigorous assesment as we can clearly do better. I also reckon the match committee should assess the current game plan as the handballing/ maintaining posession on the half-back line can quickly come unstuck.
On keeping Judd, we need to match their offers. Or get some early picks if he’s off. We can’t keep him if has the desire to return, so should extract maximum return if this eventuates.
Otherwise, thankyou Eagles for another epic year. As a club, we couldn’t have bowed out with any more to give.
Sep 16th 2007
Re: Judd - if it turns out he is going, I’m more and more relaxed about the prospect. If it’s Carlton, we’ll get draft picks, free up a lot of wages money and there are players who I’d hate to lose more (Cox, Kerr and Glass spring to mind).
I actually wonder whether Judd’s best days are behind him. Leaving aside this season, I wonder whether he peaked in 2004.
I also think Priddis came to the fore as the extra man in the midfield this year. He’s not a bloke who waits at the edge of the pack, but gets in and under chasing the ball and his disposals were generally good.
Sep 17th 2007
If Judd goes to Carlton what’s the chances of getting picks 1 and 3. Or 1,3 and quality young player. West Coast are in a good bargaining position to really score here. Of course it’s not good to lose Judd but he wants to go for whatever reason. Carlton would be desperate as would other Melbourne clubs so they must put up a damn fine offer during trade week.
Sep 17th 2007
Tim, I’m hoping for 1 & 3 and possibly a third pick. Judd’s trade will have to set a new benchmark you’d reckon.