Murray MiddletonThe 'Sally Robbins' Eagles
July 17th 2008 12:00
Let us make no mistake. The West Coast Eagles have given up on season 2008. In the past week Chris Masten, Adam Hunter and Brett Jones have been booked in for season-ending surgery. Considering the team’s on-field position – they have won only two games out of fifteen – the decision makes sense. The club has a huge supporter base and can afford to lose games intentionally without attendances dwindling. Unlike Melbourne and North Melbourne, their long term survival is assured.
In recent years there has been much debate about ‘tanking’. It is unlikely that ‘tanking’ occurs in the sense that sides do not try to win on match day. The trick is for a club to make it almost impossible to win on match day. Regardless of what Andrew Demetriou says, this occurs every season. For better or worse, priority picks are a part of the game. Therefore ‘tanking’ is a clever ploy. Last season Carlton wrapped most of their good players in cotton wool and drafted Matthew Kreuzer. North Melbourne applied the same principle halfway through 2006. By booking players in for early surgery, the players get a full pre-season under their belt and the club gets better draft choices. Simple.
Putting aside their much-publicised disciplinary problems, West Coast have operated with great foresight since their inception into the competition in 1987. Yesterday Andrew McDougall retired. McDougall was taken at pick four in the 2000 national draft, behind Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke and Alan Didak. The Eagles realised that McDougall’s temperament was not up to scratch and traded him to the Western Bulldogs. They have also let go Michael Gardiner and Ashley Sampi over the past two seasons – both top five draft selections as well. Neither of the three players have put egg on the Eagles’ face. The Eagles always make the important decisions with a long term view.
There is another interesting aspect to West Coast’s approach this season. Twelve months ago they were the reigning premiers and were in contention to win back-to-back flags. Now they sit equal bottom of the ladder. No good side falls off the face of the earth in this manner. The team that was thrashed by Richmond last Sunday included thirteen premiership players from 2006. Although it is widely considered that Chris Judd and Ben Cousins have left a huge hole in the playing group, they have not left an abyss. After all, the Eagles played for extended periods last season without Cousins and with a half-fit Judd on the forward flank.
It is possible that the Eagles have intentionally lost matches this season because they feel angry about the loss of Chris Judd. Although Judd signalled his intention to leave prior to trade week, the Eagles were in no position to broker a favourable deal. Judd was out of contract and was prepared to place himself in the pre-season draft if a trade was not arranged (the early picks all belonged to Melbourne-based teams). Carlton knew that the Eagles’ hands were tied. Essentially West Coast gained Josh Kennedy and Chris Masten for the best player in the game.
West Coast are still privately fuming over the Judd deal. Rumours have since spread that Daniel Kerr – whose contract talks have stalled – would like to play in Melbourne in 2009. Carlton have been put forth as a possible destination. There is no way that the Eagles will deal with the Blues for at least five years. It is possible that West Coast, by dispensing with the 2008 season, are gaining the compensation that they consider to be just for their former captain: Nick Natanui or Daniel Rich.
Another reason the Eagles are keen to gain early draft picks is because the Gold Coast team will enter the competition in 2011. Once this happens, the Gold Coast will receive the best talent in the country for several years. ‘Bottoming out’ will become more difficult in this period. Any side who doubts the strength of its list in the next twelve to eighteen months would be advised to follow the Eagles’ lead before it is too late. With Goodwin, McLeod, Edwards, Biglands, Burton, Bassett and Hentschel likely to retire in the next year or two, Adelaide might be advised to lose matches intentionally in the near future. Just don’t call it ‘tanking’.
In recent years there has been much debate about ‘tanking’. It is unlikely that ‘tanking’ occurs in the sense that sides do not try to win on match day. The trick is for a club to make it almost impossible to win on match day. Regardless of what Andrew Demetriou says, this occurs every season. For better or worse, priority picks are a part of the game. Therefore ‘tanking’ is a clever ploy. Last season Carlton wrapped most of their good players in cotton wool and drafted Matthew Kreuzer. North Melbourne applied the same principle halfway through 2006. By booking players in for early surgery, the players get a full pre-season under their belt and the club gets better draft choices. Simple.
Putting aside their much-publicised disciplinary problems, West Coast have operated with great foresight since their inception into the competition in 1987. Yesterday Andrew McDougall retired. McDougall was taken at pick four in the 2000 national draft, behind Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke and Alan Didak. The Eagles realised that McDougall’s temperament was not up to scratch and traded him to the Western Bulldogs. They have also let go Michael Gardiner and Ashley Sampi over the past two seasons – both top five draft selections as well. Neither of the three players have put egg on the Eagles’ face. The Eagles always make the important decisions with a long term view.
There is another interesting aspect to West Coast’s approach this season. Twelve months ago they were the reigning premiers and were in contention to win back-to-back flags. Now they sit equal bottom of the ladder. No good side falls off the face of the earth in this manner. The team that was thrashed by Richmond last Sunday included thirteen premiership players from 2006. Although it is widely considered that Chris Judd and Ben Cousins have left a huge hole in the playing group, they have not left an abyss. After all, the Eagles played for extended periods last season without Cousins and with a half-fit Judd on the forward flank.
It is possible that the Eagles have intentionally lost matches this season because they feel angry about the loss of Chris Judd. Although Judd signalled his intention to leave prior to trade week, the Eagles were in no position to broker a favourable deal. Judd was out of contract and was prepared to place himself in the pre-season draft if a trade was not arranged (the early picks all belonged to Melbourne-based teams). Carlton knew that the Eagles’ hands were tied. Essentially West Coast gained Josh Kennedy and Chris Masten for the best player in the game.
West Coast are still privately fuming over the Judd deal. Rumours have since spread that Daniel Kerr – whose contract talks have stalled – would like to play in Melbourne in 2009. Carlton have been put forth as a possible destination. There is no way that the Eagles will deal with the Blues for at least five years. It is possible that West Coast, by dispensing with the 2008 season, are gaining the compensation that they consider to be just for their former captain: Nick Natanui or Daniel Rich.
Another reason the Eagles are keen to gain early draft picks is because the Gold Coast team will enter the competition in 2011. Once this happens, the Gold Coast will receive the best talent in the country for several years. ‘Bottoming out’ will become more difficult in this period. Any side who doubts the strength of its list in the next twelve to eighteen months would be advised to follow the Eagles’ lead before it is too late. With Goodwin, McLeod, Edwards, Biglands, Burton, Bassett and Hentschel likely to retire in the next year or two, Adelaide might be advised to lose matches intentionally in the near future. Just don’t call it ‘tanking’.
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