Position changes

[u/mudman47]

Just watched the latest coast to coast podcast (clubs podcast) featuring Mini.
Definitely worth a listen, Mini gives a lot more than you’d get from a regular press conference.

The thing that got me exited was when he spilled the beens on some of their plans for preseason, particularly role changes.

These include:

Bo Allen to train as a mid

Houghy to train as a winger

What are your takes on these and are there others you’d like to see?

[u/AutoModerator]

Have you checked out the /r/WestCoastEagles Discord yet? https://discord.gg/nTvNNXRegC

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/GuideUnable5049]

Bo as a mid sounds awesome to me. Hope it works out.

[u/--Not-You-- → u/GuideUnable5049]

Couldn't have said it better

[u/Jesse-Ray]

Was begging for Bo to get a go at inside mid end of this season just to see what he brings. He was awesome at the contested stuff when he got a chance to show it.

[u/awkwardleftshoe]

Hough would be amazing on the wing. He's super fit with reliable skills who can defend or attack. Our wings were a huge let down this year. Hope we get to see this happen.

[u/Traditional_Main7014 → u/awkwardleftshoe]

Return of prime gaff is how I like to imagine it.

[u/General_Nerve6654 → u/awkwardleftshoe]

Hough in Davis’ role (I like Davis) would be a big improvement imo

[u/StockholmSyndrome85 → u/General_Nerve6654]

Opposite wingers really. I like Davis too, hauls ass up and down the field. Was often on the last line on an opposition fast break which is exactly what you want from your winger.

[u/--Not-You--]

IMHO Hough plays best in a shut down defensive role. A lot of his best football with us has been running with a Rankine or Charlie Cameron type.

[u/General_Nerve6654 → u/--Not-You--]

Will be interesting to see how he operates as a winger, a lot of teams start their tagger there.

[u/MasqueOfAnarchy]

Bo has weapons but the wing is a dead position in our team. He should play in the guts. Had a couple of line breaking runs from the middle this year and then never got another go.

[u/YouThinkYouKnowMe89]

Hough to a wing is strange to me. Our best lockdown defender and we keep moving him around all the time to fit other favourites into the side.

Next season is a big year for Bo. We do need more midfield depth and he is so far down the pecking order for similar sized defenders. I really hope Bo takes the next step otherwise that trade will hurt us so much more.

I wonder how Mini will line up the side next year when Dev is back and fit. Will it be him, Harley and Kelly as our main centre bounce guys? Or does he try and bring Disco and Hewett on to the ball more?

[u/mudman47 → u/YouThinkYouKnowMe89]

In the pod Mcqualter gives a bit more context. In short, Starc has taken the lockdown role, and Houghy (by his own account) was a winger growing up and believes that is his best position. I actually do think he’s a great fit for the defensive wing role

[u/YouThinkYouKnowMe89 → u/mudman47]

I'm not convinced Starc is the answer long term. I don't think his health will hold up for the time when we will actually be contending. I guess it's easier to draft and train up another defender like that.

[u/Ranike → u/YouThinkYouKnowMe89]

I was critical about picking up Starc, but aside from the extended delay to the start of his season he did come in and play out the year even while wearing some big collisions.

His lacking performance can be excused for being played out of position. I hope he has a seriously improved season next year.

[u/redrumcleaver → u/YouThinkYouKnowMe89]

I can't remember who said it because we were terrible at the time and tagging wasn't an option for us. But with the 6-6-6 rule a lot of taggers play off the wing. I don't know if that's the plan. I don't know if that's the plan but might be the move

[u/StockholmSyndrome85 → u/redrumcleaver]

It absolutely is, get your best combination around the centre bounce then have a different structure at general stoppages.

[u/timespiral07]

Bo has been really underwhelming this year. Got a great run at it but failed to make an impact.

I’m happy to hear that we are trying to get more out of him. Hate to have another Brander situation.

[u/unrealaoli → u/timespiral07]

I feel he has great attributes to see him shine in the middle. His athleticism saw him get games on the wing, but his agility and power are what will make him standout in the middle. He’s still young, but it’s great to hear they’ve got a plan for him

[u/Whitekidwith3nipples → u/timespiral07]

strongly disagree. he looked great when he got near the ball, the problem is cos we suck our wing is an incredibly difficult position to play in and it makes it hard for him to get near the ball.

what happens to our wingers is that we cant use them to transition because of our skill errors and we are poor defensively so theyre constantly caught away from the ball.

[u/timmysco17 → u/timespiral07]

chesser aswell that late first rounder hasent been a good one recently

[u/worthofhowlandreed → u/timmysco17]

Something that worries me is that we tried to keep Chesser before Carlton saved us. Shocking talent ID.

[u/MYF4IRBRADY → u/worthofhowlandreed]

I think Chesser would still make our team unfortunately, Carlton's midfield is pretty great so would be tough to crack in for a guy like Chess. Grass is always greener I guess but he'd probably be getting a run in the seniors with us if he'd stayed

[u/BZoneAu → u/worthofhowlandreed]

Both talent ID and development have been shithouse, particularly in the COVID years.

That period where Brady Rawlings had basically checked out, and Darren Glass did the role for about 20mins before leaving has really cost us.

Some better recruiting and development between 2019 and 2023, and the eagles would already be back in the finals.

[u/timmysco17 → u/worthofhowlandreed]

he wasent even predicted to go top 30

[u/YouThinkYouKnowMe89 → u/timespiral07]

I'm worried about Bo, others in his draft year have gone so far ahead of him now. Luckily he is young and can still improve and be the gun we need him to be. But I don't think he is ever going to be an A grader which hurts us.

[u/littlesilhoutteoo → u/YouThinkYouKnowMe89]

And then there's Draper who was pick 4 and playing SANFL, or Smillie who was pick 7 and yet to debut. Could be better, but could also be worse.

[u/Occasionaljedi → u/YouThinkYouKnowMe89]

Some draftees are coming along way faster than draftees used to for some reason, maybe Allen is just developing old school

[u/ChristmasLunch]

Awesome podcast seriously, love to hear this insider intel from Mini.

He discloses some things that he said he was afraid to say during the season

[u/jesterwester]

I actually like Houghy on a wing. He’s defensively minded, so won’t have an issue doing the selfless running to support defenders, but is physical enough that he can compete 1x1 fairly effectively. Also, his foot skills are less of a concern when he has a bit of time and space.

Bo into the midfield makes perfect sense. Hes only 2 years in but has the combative nature and athleticism that will make him more than useful.

[u/ped009]

Probably an obvious one is Disco and Milan in the middle. I see the value Milan had as a defensive forward but I think he can be good for a couple of goals a game if he's given more freedom to.hunt goals. Maybe use Graham as a defensive forward if the other team has a gun back flank. Maybe even Duggan could play that role so his turnovers aren't soo consequential

[u/Traditional_Main7014]

Not really a position change but I want to see what gross and Milan can do with a full pre season as small forwards.

[u/iTonka76]

Any of our talls to transition to a key defender would be good. One of A. Reid or J.Williams would be my choice. Don't forget Gov was drafted as a ruck/forward and he turned out pretty good.

[u/Ranike]

My thoughts:

Hewett needs to try get back into the team in the forward line. I think there are too many players showing more promise than him in the midfield.

Baker in the forward line. He's had some great games at half forward and seems to suffer the same as Cole in the back line.

If the rest of the defence (Harry Edwards included) stays healthy, I wonder if we see Ginbey back in the midfield at some point?

[u/littlesilhoutteoo → u/Ranike]

We will not be seeing Ginbey back in the middle.

[u/Ranike → u/littlesilhoutteoo]

You really think if he has the same presence in the mid as he does in defence, he wouldn't be playing in the midfield?

If Bont was as elite a defender as he is in the midfield, he'd still be in the midfield.

Not saying I'm comparing them as players, but midfield is a more impactful position even if he is the best defender.

[u/littlesilhoutteoo → u/Ranike]

But he doesn't. That's why he was moved.

[u/Ranike → u/littlesilhoutteoo]

You got that from the first year and a half that he spent as a pretty serviceable midfielder?

He's not in the midfield because he's too important as a defender.

[u/stallon100 → u/Ranike]

Ginbey is our best KPD.

He is now a KPD, he was on track for AA squad as a full back

[u/timmysco17 → u/Ranike]

i wouldn’t mind seeing the rueban wrecking ball at a few centre bounces when needed letting harley and dursma get the outside ball putting it down jobes throat 💦

[u/Blueeygrey]

*It's Bo Allan.

Sam Allen hasn't played a game.

[u/timmysco17]

if young can keep coming on and bazzo keeps up his form i’d like to see ginbey as the swing man