A colleague of mine is an artist and I asked him to do me a WCE one. I selected the players and let him do whatever.....this is his work. Let me know what you think.

Who would it be? One past player that you think would make the world of difference to the current team and why? We are imagining the player to be in their prime.

Currently the team is exposed with only limited key defensive depth due to the departure of Barrass. Bazzo and H.Edwards are still somewhat unproven at AFL level.

Besides Bazzo, Edwards and McGovern, who do you think can fill the senior team key position full back and half back roles in 2025?

Are there any forwards at the Eagles who you see have a future in the backline instead?

Or are the eagles going to target the draft and/or delisted free agents?

Thoughts on Dom Sheed’s future?

He is 29, turning 30 next year and had several injury interrupted years.

Will we see him finally get over his foot injury and return to the senior team as a regular in 2025?

Or is he destined to see out the remaining year of his contract in the WAFL?

At his best he can win contested ball, rack up touches and be dangerous forward of centre, but at his worst he struggles to compete defensively.

In 2023 we offered GWS our future 1st round pick (Pick 3) for Pick 8 and were declined for a trade with Adelaide which GWS used to draft Pheonix Gothard and James Leake both yet to play an AFL game.

1 year later saw us trade out that same pick to land Liam Baker, Matt Owies and pick 12. Time is yet to tell but based off what you saw of Curtain in his first season, which trade do we prefer? Personally, I think overall for the club's competitiveness the trade for Baker, Owies and pick 12 has made us a better side and that's before we use pick 12. The effects of GWS accepting the trade would have most likely seen us be forced to trade pick 14 in for Barrass which we would then have to take to the draft, I imagine we wouldn't be trading Baker in, and he would play for Freo. Owies would still be a possibility, but given Carlton were highly unlikely to let him walk given his ability we would've had to trade out some sort of pick for him. We would not be looking at a hand of 2 F1 and 2 F2 picks in 2025 draft also.

At the very least, we need some later picks to match a bid on Malakai Champion (if we care to pick him up).

Would tigers give up pick 6 for our F1?

How would everyone feel about trading Hawks F1 for tigers pick 18?

Throw up some realistic deals you'd actually like to see happen

West coast could snag a delisted defender?

Delisted by Carlton - thoughts on him heading West and is it likely we chase him? East Fremantle boy. Showed a bit at league level, deserving of another chance.

Does anyone know when the fixtures for 2025 will be released? I'm jonesing already!

There seems to be some whispers that West Coast will pick up Tom Clurey from Pt Adelaide? Any truth to it do you think and what would he add?

I'm interested to see the development of J Williams (pick 57, 2021) and Archer Reid (pick 30, 2023), they have different skill sets. Jack will be on his 4th preseason and showed improvement this season. Don't think he attended the 2021 combine.

He played 10 games in 2023 & 18 games in 2024 showing incremental improvement, Tackles 2 > 2.2, Accuracy 72 > 80 & disposals 7.6 > 8.3 and HO 3.1 > 4.5. At this stage in his career he is probably the 3rd forward/Ruck. He played 3 games in the WAFL this year for 4 goals, which he kicked in round 13 against Swan Districts. His best AFL games were verses Essendon in round 8 when he had 15d, kicked 3.3 and 17 d in round 19 v GC.

Archer Reid hasn't had a preseason due to injury, but did manage to play 15 WAFL games. He kicked 17g 12b, his best game was verses West Perth in round 15 when he had 14 disposals and kicked 3g 4b. J Darling was influential in bringing players into that game (17d & 2g.1b) Dom Sheed also had 31d.

Archer's combine 20m was 3.182 and 2k 6.48.

Jack Williams probably isn't the ideal 3rd tall but due to our ruck situation he has accumulated games. It probably comes down to how Waterman, Allen & J Williams can impact and maintain pressure so the ball doesn't walk out. This also is contingent on containing and controlling the run and defend/marking higher up the ground.

Archer has the height and is probably a harder match up, he like Williams can play higher, but he'll need a preseason and games. Archer has played higher in his under age years, even had stints on the wing, whereas Williams has played forward and back as well as Ruck. His versatility has rewarded him with 29 games.

What is our ideal forward mix?

So they posted every teams best 23 and this is what their intern came up wit for us. No Long or Maric and have our depth as Ginbey (again), Witherden and Patrucelle 😆

I strongly believe J Williams should fill in Darling’s shoes. We haven’t seen all of what Williams can do, but what we have seen, he is a gun. He’s a similar build to Darling, both forward rucks and excellent markers that can convert. I can see Williams taking on Darling’s position and performing really well moving forward.

Yay or Nay? If not why and if so why? Me Personally I think it’s the closest we are going to get to a Barras on our team

Anyone else really worried about our back 6? Our list is getting really thin. If I had to rank them...

1. Jeremy McGovern

2. Brady Hough

3. Liam Duggan

4. Harry Edwards

5. Josh Rotham

6. Tom Cole

7. Rhett Bazzo

8. Harvey Johnston

9. Callum Jamiesson

Only nine genuine defenders (we have 39 players currently on our list). There's players like Ginbey and Hunt that are formally listed as midfielders but will probably end up playing down back a bit. Wouldn't be surprised to see Maric or Hutchinson given a shot in defence too. Even with this though, it feels like we have only 3-4 solid defenders, and if we're choosing 7 defenders (including one for the bench) per game, I think we're really exposed... and that's assuming a fully healthy squad.

The West Coast Eagles have today informed three players they will not be offered contract extensions for 2025.

After further list assessment following the Trade Period, defender Alex Witherden, midfielder Jai Culley and uncapped youngster Coby Burgiel have been advised their time at the club has come to an end.

If we do get Bo Allen at 12 I would play him at hb by moving baker to the midfield, Kelly to the wing for hunt. Hunt to the bench and hutch out. At Geelong Kelly played mostly on the outside I personally think this is his best position.

Just seen that he’s not been offered a contract by Melbourne. Surely we’d be silly not to offer him a 1 or 2 year deal right? He’s 31 and does have an injury history, but we seriously need depth in KPD, after reading melbournes fan forums, they all thought he was always stiff not to get picked more regularly and is a great bloke. Thoughts?

Ok so I'm having this argument with a few people so instead of writing this over and over again I'll just make a post.

Pick 3 is worth pick 12 & 14 most every year

Pick 3 is worth 2234 points and pick 12 & 14 is worth 2429 points.

I bring this up to explain that the trade with Carlton getting Owies is the pick of 63&68 the 68 was JD so the trade was pick 12&14 for 3 and pick 63&68 for Owies and pick 73 that is the value of Owies. Carlton wanted the points for twins. Owies is a red hearing in the pick 3 deal. What we did with 14 is a different story.

Now Owies Vs Cripps

Owies kicked more goals than Cripps true but there is more to a players worth.

Both played the same amount of games

Owies is 27, 28 next year. Cripps 32, 33 next year

Owies had 46 shots on goal. Cripps had 54 shots.

Owies laid 52 tackles. Cripps laid 76 tackles

Owies had 22 1%ers. Cripps had 31 1%ers

Owies took 67 marks. Cripps took 104 marks

Owies had 199 disposals. Cripps had 329 disposals.

Owies had 1 clearance and Cripps had 24

Carlton had an extra 131.1 inside 50s then the eagles

I know it's stat focus but what else can we do to compare two players in similar positions.

If it's age then why not play long, Hutchinson or Dewar. So they can get better.

I should write a fucking book

This would be my best 22 for the Eagles assuming we keep pick 12 and take Bo Allan. I think we need to prioritise getting games into him.

Hough H.Edwards Ginbey

Baker McGovern B.Allan

Duggan Yeo Maric

Hewett O.Allen Graham

Ryan Waterman Owies

Williams/Flynn H.Reid Kelly

Bench: J.Williams N.Long Hunt Bazzo

Would be nice to get more games into Chesser, Johnston, Hall, Hutchinson, Dewar, Brockman as well.

As you can see I am done with Witherden, Cole and Cripps.

Let me know what you think. Would love it if WC trade back into the top 8 and take another young mid.