WHAT DOES 2021 HOLD FOR THE EAGLES?

Reddeer wrote:Now 10 players who played for the Eagles league team in 2020 have gone.
Sam Lowson, Nick Hayes, Rhyan Mansell, James Rowe, Jake Westbrook, Jordan Foote, Jacob Wehr, Lachlan Jones, Tristian Carcuro, Lachlan McNeil
Makes it tough for 2021 and the opposition will be rejoicing in anticipation
Hope the replacements are as good as we hope

We can't replace like -for-like - there's not another Jordan Foote or Lachie Jones out there. But our strengths will be different this year.
1. Forwards. Last year there was a heavy reliance on James Rowe to kick 3-4 goals every week. This season, we have recruited 5 players who regularly play forwards (both key forwards and flankers) and each of them come with an exciting CV. So expectations are that personel-wise, our forward line will be at least as good as last. Whether the midfield can supply as well is another matter.
2. Midfield. Jordan Foote is irreplaceable but known plusses are Riley Knight and a much fitter Jesse Lonergan. We don't know about Kobe Mutch yet but with Sinor and Tsitas, we might not be far off last year's output.
3. Backline runners take a massive hit with Mansell, Jones and Wehr missing. Dane McFarlane may  reduce the pain (going by his VFL, NTFL and NT vs Glenelg performances).  But covering the other 2 running positions is tough. But this time last year, not many supporters thought Jacob Wehr could handle it. Could the same be said this season for Ben Jungfer? Or maybe one of our excess forward flankers play down back.
Exciting times!

Good post. Anyone ready to name a starting 22 for game 1.

Well said Hawke. Spot on with regards to Foote and Jones being irreplaceable. McFarlane looks to have that burst of speed we had with Wehr and Mansell. I think Toumpas, Goldsworthy, Menzel brothers could comfortably fill the role of setting up from the back half. Seymour also uses the ball well. Thompson, Giuffreda and Rowland will keep it tight knit. That’s without seeing what some of the other recruits are like.

Knight should offer that run we had with McNeil. Sinor and Tsitas are as good as it gets in terms of consistent quality output from a midfielder.

I hope they use Jack Hayes more as a CHF than Ruck. His presence forward makes it a touch easier for everyone else.

Apologies if it has already been posted but as suggested a while back Pup has signed with Hahndorf.

Columbo wrote:Apologies if it has already been posted but as suggested a while back Pup has signed with Hahndorf.

That was on the cards. Doubt Petrenko would have the desire and dedication to get back into extensive training after missing a whole season and now being a Dad.
Doesn't his good mate Jaensch also play for Hahndorf

Yes, Matty Jaensch and Kyle Cheney.

There is an article on the Messenger website for those who have access.

The players are away on the traditional pre-season camp this weekend.

hawke wrote:Thanks re training time. Might confirm with Club.

Noticed that Eagles again have only 2 external trials compared with other Clubs' 3 (except for Glenelg). Seems to have been the case for past 3 years. Query whether the Eagles have been happy with this and are happy with an extra internal trial ?

Just noticed on the SANFL web site that the Eagles now have another trial match. It's on Thursday 4th March at Thebby Oval against North Adelaide, both league and reserves will play. Before this game was slotted in the Eagles and Roosters were only down for two trials each, both clubs must have wanted an extra one.

Yes. I would have thought that this season, in particular, with so many untested new interstate recruits, that we would need the maximum (3) external trials to sort out their ranking alongside the local boys and also their best position.

wimpy wrote:

hawke wrote:Thanks re training time. Might confirm with Club.

Noticed that Eagles again have only 2 external trials compared with other Clubs' 3 (except for Glenelg). Seems to have been the case for past 3 years. Query whether the Eagles have been happy with this and are happy with an extra internal trial ?

Just noticed on the SANFL web site that the Eagles now have another trial match. It's on Thursday 4th March at Thebby Oval against North Adelaide, both league and reserves will play. Before this game was slotted in the Eagles and Roosters were only down for two trials each, both clubs must have wanted an extra one.

Pity that it happens on a Thursday night pitted against the Thursday night members draw and attendance at Oval Oval

Eagles Training at Seaton Gamblers Oval tonight Wed 24th Feb

Not long before trial matches start. It would be great if we could have a digital stream or a replay on YouTube.

goddy11 wrote:Good post. Anyone ready to name a starting 22 for game 1.

Definitely not. Give us at least one trial match, although a few could be missing due to injury.

"hawke" might like to have a go.

goddy11 wrote:Not long before trial matches start. It would be great if we could have a digital stream or a replay on YouTube.

Best to go and watch.

Kosie Pickett trained last night. Believe he had a family bereavement and was given leave from Melbourne and trained with the Eagles to keep up fitness.

?

Reddeer wrote:So after I thought the trial match against North was going to be last night (4th) it seems that it is next Thursday Night 11th. Does that mean that we will still be having another trial against Glenelg the next night 12th. Seems a bit risky or all the dates arse up?

Isn't next Thursday 4th March!!!!!!!!!

wimpy wrote:

Reddeer wrote:So after I thought the trial match against North was going to be last night (4th) it seems that it is next Thursday Night 11th. Does that mean that we will still be having another trial against Glenelg the next night 12th. Seems a bit risky or all the dates arse up?

Isn't next Thursday 4th March!!!!!!!!!

Good one wimpy. I was going to respond but didn't know if it was a serious post.

Next Thursday's trial against North is going to be huge in giving a glimpse of possible first game line-ups. Unlike other seasons for the Eagles, with the massive turnover of players, possibly only 3 positions are certain - James Tsitas, Riley Knight and Joe Sinor will be on-ballers but even then, will Tsitas and Knight be spending much of their "resting time" on the HF flank/forward pocket or on the bench? Will Jack Hayes be rucking most of the time (in the absence of the recovering Jarrad Redden) or will he be still spending much time down forward as full-forward or centre HF? And so on, for almost every position on the field.

Take the rucks for instance- in the absence of Redden, it will be showcase time for Stephen Mills, Jordan West, Sam Michael even Dale Pearce as to who will partner Jack Hayes.  
Re Jarrad Redden's progress, at training, he is participating in all non-contact drills - rucking, marking overhead etc and appears unaffected by his shoulder to the point of wondering whether he's going to be fit to play in the first round. However, there is a mandatory period of time for the shoulder to be able to withstand falling on it, awkward tackle positions and solid bumping from the time of surgical repair and we mere supporters don't know the date of his surgery - hopefully, it was no later than early November giving him almost 5 months before the first game in 2021. But it's encouraging to see him moving well on the track.

I am glad that it has been pointed out that we are still in February. You tend to lose all sense of time when you are losing the plot!!!!

Went to training tonight. I don't think Rory Lehman will play in the trial match, suffering from a hamstring, but good luck to him, he has just won a marketing job at the SANFL. Cooper Sharman rolled and ankle in a basketball match so won't play. Jackson Lee is also injured so won't play. Rhys Mutch suffered concussion in the internal trial, still feeling affects so won't play. Thommo was at training but given the night off, don't know if he will play next Thursday. Tyson and Kossie still training with the Eagles.

Speaking to Rory Lehmann last Wednesday, he said that he won't be fit for next week but thinks he should be ready to go the following week. Cooper Sharman's injury especially disappointing because he looks likely to be a very important part of our forward line with his leading, overhead marking and mobility. Also, not much on youtube re Rhys Mutch so was hoping to see what he can bring, so disappointing to read that he's injured also.
If Thompson doesn't play next Thursday and Lehman is already ruled out, it gives Seymour a chance to shine (the unlucky one who played every game last year until he was dropped for the Grand Final). Last year, we didn't have the depth of key positions CHB, FB, CHF, FF, and we were lucky that they mostly stayed sound (Thompson only missing a couple of games). If Lehman and Mills show themselves to be capable, then, this season, we're going to almost have an oversupply of tall "keys" when Clay Cameron and Hayes are also added !

and Von Bertouch

Seymour is probably the most like for like replacement for Jones. I'd like to see him be that attacking defender (who can also close down when needed) as he was for most of the first part of the season, before going in to his shell and ultimately losing his position in the team right at the end. He has a really nice left foot kick and reads the play well. Glad to see he is having another crack this season. I hope he backs himself in to really attack from defence.

Aerie wrote:Seymour is probably the most like for like replacement for Jones. I'd like to see him be that attacking defender (who can also close down when needed) as he was for most of the first part of the season, before going in to his shell and ultimately losing his position in the team right at the end. He has a really nice left foot kick and reads the play well. Glad to see he is having another crack this season.  I hope he backs himself in to really attack from defence.

Disagree, Aerie with your comparisons -
Seymour (193cm, key defender, a little slow, beautiful kick and good overhead)
Jones (186cm, flanker, fast, also a good kick and good overhead)
Seymour is a very good defender, best suited to FB where he played good footy last season (with Thompson playing CHB). IMO he plays his best footy closing down players and leaving it to the quicker players around him to provide the run.

Wanderers defeated St Marys last night meaning that the Eagles will have to wait a little longer before Dane McFarlane comes down.

It's worth Eagles supporters watching (on Youtube)  Wanderers vs St Marys Qualifying Final to see what Dane McFarlane offers - he's a gun!
NTFL is a smorgasboard of VFL, NEAFL, Vic Country footballers making for entertaining football. It would have to be drawing more attention from SANFL recruiters than, say, 5 years ago. Players like Wanderers's Brett Eddy still looking good but wanting to play the winter season for Vermont VIC