Eagles v Norwood July 15 Maughan Thiem Kia oval

RCD no loss. Has shown a distinct lack of interest in recent weeks especially. Back to the drawing board.

The Barton wrote:RCD no loss. Has shown a distinct lack of interest in recent weeks especially. Back to the drawing board.

Gone back to Melbourne im hearing

Correct. RCD gone home.
Two this week.
The exodus has only just begun …

Watched it on the app how did we win that . Guess we dug down and rallied

All 4 of our teams won. Been awhile.

goddy11 wrote:All 4 of our teams won. Been awhile.

Glad we won all 4

Headfan wrote:4quarters of hard football did it for us. Great win by the boys. Hopefully stave off the wooden spoon.  Didn’t see Lonergan in the last quarter and Lehmann hobbled off badly.

 Ok just told Lehmann having scans on ankle Monday 
Lonergan was at presentation so not sure

And great to keep Norwood on the bottom for another week

Great win! Might not be our season, but wins like today are very enjoyable.

Well done eags! Good grinding win. Yes Norwood are bottom but they are a much better side then what you'd typically associate with that position in years gone past - they will upset some of the teams that we are vying with for that fifth spot across the next few weeks so important to get the win.

Probably a case of an overall team effort getting us across the line rather than certain stand-out players. Highlight for me was Ballenden pulling in a number of strong marks and Goldy's 5 minute burst that netted 2 goals (and he should have had a third).

How good did those guernsey's look? I would 100% support them being worn on a regular basis. I actually don't know why they went away from that design at the time.

MichaelScott wrote:

The Barton wrote:RCD no loss. Has shown a distinct lack of interest in recent weeks especially. Back to the drawing board.

Gone back to Melbourne im hearing

What a mess this has been.

His recruitment likely blocked out ability to sign the key position player we needed.

That said I agree he will be no loss given his output has been non-existent all season.

If he has brought a poor attitude then better to cut him loose.

Any thoughts on Sladojevic. I think he is struggling.
I loved Lukacs in the 2s. As good as he has played. Cooke showed signs.
Is Weckert still worth another try ?

I liked Menzel earlier in the game. He must be up for selection soon.

Titan2 wrote:Well done eags! Good grinding win. Yes Norwood are bottom but they are a much better side then what you'd typically associate with that position in years gone past - they will upset some of the teams that we are vying with for that fifth spot across the next few weeks so important to get the win.

Probably a case of an overall team effort getting us across the line rather than certain stand-out players. Highlight for me was Ballenden pulling in a number of strong marks and Goldy's 5 minute burst that netted 2 goals (and he should have had a third).

How good did those guernsey's look? I would 100% support them being worn on a regular basis. I actually don't know why they went away from that design at the time.

I agree with the jumpers they were the best design we had IMO, look like real football jumpers...can't stand those yellow things.

Test on Cameron seems a good result.
Rory Lehmann and Jesse Lonergan tbc is a worry.



PLAYER NAME NATURE OF INJURY TIME EXPECTED TO RETURN
Rory Lehmann* Ankle TBC
Jesse Lonergan* Hamstring TBC
Dane McFarlane Knee Season
Deakan Jackson Shoulder Season
Charlie Blair Knee Season
Jack Wheare Knee Season
Riley Knight Ankle Season
Kai Pudney Ankle 5-6 Weeks
Zac Phillips Knee 1 Week
Sam Tilley Groin 2-3 Weeks
Clay Cameron Back Test

Surprised RCD didn’t make the injured list - Heart (size of a Pea)

The Barton wrote:Surprised RCD didn’t make the injured list - Heart (size of a Pea)

I don't know the full story. I really have no idea.

But if the club was previously playing two players who weren't fully committed (RCD and Studham) then in theory replacing with them two players who are fully committed, desperate and hungry should yield better results for the club on game day even if the replacement players perhaps aren't as skilled.

Honestly though, RCD averaging about 12 possessions as a midfielder with 90% game time after coming straight off an AFL list (and highly rated) must go down as one of the biggest recruiting flops from any SANFL club over the last 20 years. Disappointing for him personally and obviously for the Eagles. To think where that money could better have been spent........

Titan2 wrote:

The Barton wrote:Surprised RCD didn’t make the injured list - Heart (size of a Pea)

I don't know the full story. I really have no idea.

But if the club was previously playing two players who weren't fully committed (RCD and Studham) then in theory replacing with them two players who are fully committed, desperate and hungry should yield better results for the club on game day even if the replacement players perhaps aren't as skilled.

Honestly though, RCD averaging about 12 possessions as a midfielder with 90% game time after coming straight off an AFL list (and highly rated) must go down as one of the biggest recruiting flops from any SANFL club over the last 20 years. Disappointing for him personally and obviously for the Eagles. To think where that money could better have been spent........

Totally agree Titan.
I can't think of too many players that have come straight off an AFL list and come to the SANFL (without starting out in the SANFL and having that background) and dominated.
In recent times Jesse Lonergan has contributed and done his bit in winning 2 premierships and is still here.
We tried last year with Dylan Clarke but we expected more and another who left after a year.
Powelly, Paul Lindsay, Leigh Treeby succeeded but didn't have a strong AFL background.
Guys like Thommo and McKenzie, although off an AFL list, still had ties to the SANFL through the draft system of the day.
Food for thought as to whether this is a strategy worth pursuing.

Yes, we need to get good players from VFL (?) who dont have any AFL ambitions. Settle them in to SA on a 2 year contract, get them married and tied down to a house etc etc.
Dont put too much effort into local players who are destined to be AFL draft bait
(eg Weckert??). Thats just playing the feeder league game.

Yes, getting strong VFL players and growing roots in SA has been our most successful strategy. Tsitas is a great example, and guys like DBR and Max Beattie are showing good signs if we can keep them here. Powelly is the best example and he often talks about his initial plan of only being in SA for a couple of years. Grew roots here. Luke Jarrad, Treeby, Lindsay, McKenzie, Passador all saw out their career in SA and then moved back home. I'll be surprised if we chase guys straight off an AFL list again. Ballenden is one who has succeeded to some degree, hopefully we get more out of him.

The Barton wrote:Yes, getting strong VFL players and growing roots in SA has been our most successful strategy. Tsitas is a great example, and guys like DBR and Max Beattie are showing good signs if we can keep them here. Powelly is the best example and he often talks about his initial plan of only being in SA for a couple of years. Grew roots here. Luke Jarrad, Treeby, Lindsay, McKenzie, Passador all saw out their career in SA and then moved back home. I'll be surprised if we chase guys straight off an AFL list again. Ballenden is one who has succeeded to some degree, hopefully we get more out of him.

We need to recruit players that see playing SANFL as their career pinnacle, like DB-R, Beattie and Mawson. There are many lesser leagues that have a very good competition and produce good players, we need to look at these leagues.
Does the club have enough resources to put in to recruiting, is our net work extensive enough, we must look far and wide.
Most essential though is producing league level players from our juniors, the more we can produce the lesser the hit if some are drafted.
At the moment we appear to have a reasonable amount of good juniors but unfortunately it takes time to get them to league level.
What has killed us, is not the juniors that have been drafted but the mature agers that were the backbone of the team.
Mature agers like Hayes, Tsitas, Sharman, Wehr, Stengle and Hardie would have considerably enhance our team.

You can put prospective recruits into six different buckets each with their pros and cons. I think the Eagles should be focussing on categories (1), (4) and (6).

1. Those individuals who have never played AFL but who harbour desires to do so.
Pros – will bring a great attitude; will likely be skilled (but not necessarily physically ready); won’t cost so much to bring them over because the player needs the club
Con – the club invests time and money and may only have them for a season or so; are often straight from the U18s so not established them as senior players and may take time to develop
c. Example – Beattie, Brinker-Ritchie

2. Those individuals who have played AFL, have been delisted and are wanting to get back onto a list.
Pros – the player has experience playing AFL; the player should be skilled and ready to perform at senior level
Con - the club invests time and money and may only have them for a season or so; the player will likely command top dollar; the player may have an attitude and doesn’t ‘buy in’ with the local club;
Example – Riley Collier Dawkins, Ballenden (both very different examples in terms of how they have worked out)

3. Those individuals who have played AFL, have been delisted and are not serious about getting back onto an AFL list.
Pros – the player has experience playing AFL and clearly has skill; likely mature aged players and ready to perform from Day 1;
Con - the player will likely command top dollar, their ‘AFL form’ will rapidly taper off to SANFL standard but the club still is playing top dollar; player attitude and commitment can be a risk
Example – Lonergan, Cameron

4. Those individuals who have played AFL, have been delisted and may or may not want to get back onto a list (but are ex Eagles juniors)

Pros - the player has experience playing AFL; the player should be skilled and ready to perform at senior level; the player will bring a good attitude (as a former junior) and will have an established friend/family base in Adelaide; the club will find it easier to recruit them given Adelaide is the home state and the Eagles are their home club.
Con - the club invests time and money and may only have them for a season or so; the player will likely command top dollar (but may forgo that given the desire to play with the junior club)
Example – Toumpas, Knights, Pudney

Those individuals who have never played AFL and whose skill level precludes them from being considered.
Pros – the players have potential to become ‘ten year club players’ and the glue that builds the club. The player will bring a good attitude and likely won’t cost so much to recruit.
Con – the club may not be bringing in that potential star that each club needs to be competitive and win premierships.
Example - Mawson

6. Those individuals who have never played AFL and whose age precludes them from being considered.
Pros – the player is likely ready to perform immediately in the SANFL with a mature body and decent skills; will give good service to the club given they are unlikely to be drafted.
Con – may be at odds with a club that is seeking to blood youngsters.
Example - McFarlane

wimpy wrote:

The Barton wrote:Yes, getting strong VFL players and growing roots in SA has been our most successful strategy. Tsitas is a great example, and guys like DBR and Max Beattie are showing good signs if we can keep them here. Powelly is the best example and he often talks about his initial plan of only being in SA for a couple of years. Grew roots here. Luke Jarrad, Treeby, Lindsay, McKenzie, Passador all saw out their career in SA and then moved back home. I'll be surprised if we chase guys straight off an AFL list again. Ballenden is one who has succeeded to some degree, hopefully we get more out of him.

What has killed us, is not the juniors that have been drafted but the mature agers that were the backbone of the team.

This is a very astute comment that I agree with. And this is the big risk for the Club as I see it at the moment.

Our success across the last 20 years has in my opinion been assisted by a bunch of 6-7 very good seasoned regulars who perform at SANFL level but aren't good enough to make the step to AFL. These blokes help to develop the young kids (some of whom get drafted) but really give the club stabilty and a backbone. Players over the years like Colville, Powell, Cicca, Giuffreda, Goldy, Grocke etc At the moment we have a bunch of seasoned blokes who will either retire next season (or at best a year away) and a bunch of kids. We currently lack that core of skilled players in their mid-20s.

It is risky for the club because when the older players retire then unless we draft them in (and even this doesn't always work because they won't necessarily be invested) we will be running around with a team of kids and this can cause clubs to spend years wallowing in mediocrity on the bottom of the ladder (e.g. Westies).

All good thoughts...I wonder which way the club will go. I am getting too old to go through a 5 year lean spell.