Rd 1 v WCER

Never an easy task playing either of the AFL reserves sides early on, before the wear n tear of the AFL season kicks in…obviously WCER the lesser of the two sides depth wise…but so far have stayed relatively injury free, so should have a good representative of WCE listed boys.

EF come in with a few key outs in Blakiston and Hodge…with McGuire goung off at 1/2 time v Cl with a few knocks…so it looks like Strnadica is welcomed back with the number 1 ruck role…lucky to have 3 quality rucks to cover situations like this.

From all reports young colt Luke Carrello has looked good in the scratch matches and is a fighting chance for a league debut on Sat. From back to front, and no injury hub list to go off EF could line up like this on Sat.

Gorringe Marlin Bailey

Tassone Murphy Avery

Carrello Murdock Bennett

HMarsh JMarsh Hagan

Cocking Leggett Eardley

Strnadica Baskerville Joyce

Int Jansen Cleaver Zadow Ball/ Dunscombe/ Rankin

No doubt have missed a few…

Looking forward to this one so we can see what the revamped Sharks have to offer. A win in the first game of the season is fairly important I would think.
And of course, I’ll be interested in seeing what the Eagles have to offer.

EF by 15 goals

Team looks good- West Coast look ok- but Sharks should win comfortably

The side looks very solid.
A few outs with Cleaver, Gorringe & Strnadica missing.
Does anyone know if they are injured or just not selected?
I also noticed that Meade is still on the EFFC player list but has not played any pre-season games. Has he left the club?
I really rated him.
I also noticed that EFFC has not listed anyone on the WAFL injury list, which is pretty poor.
They took the player list down for a few weeks & when it went back up, they still listed English, McDonald, O’Reilly, Ben McGuire & Walker, who have all left.
Any feedback about the outs & Meade, would be much appreciated.

Despite the large loss of quality players, 16 of the listed team, including the extended bench, played the elimination final in 2024.
Cleaver & Blakistan, who are outs, are still with the club. Only 4 of that elimination final side have left.
We still have 14 of our 2023 premiership side with the club.
We have lost a lot of depth, but there is opportunity for players to step up.
I am really looking forward to this game & season & it is great to finally have our home ground back.

Not sure about Meade pup, but like you think he is an under rated sort, just been unlucky with injury these past few years.

Strnadica was coming back from a groin apparentky, was on limited minutes in the WP reserves game, played a full game last weekend v Cl reserves…surprised he is not atleast on the bench, as McGuire came off at half time v Cl league post as a precaution post some knocks…yet is lining up v man mountain Flynn, with Jansen and JMarsh for back up?

Not sure why Cleaver and Gorringe aren’t available…interesting EF colts injuries are listed, but not the league…as Blakiston and Hodge have been documented outs since the WP game nearly 2 weeks ago.

Good to see Cocking debut, hopefully the Gero boy can kick a few…similar in height and build to Leggett…probably will need JMarsh up there to take one of the WCE boys in Barnett or Bazzo…though EF over the past few years haven’t relied on 1 or 2 targets up front, often EF best efforts have been a combined effort, with lots of players contributing on the score sheet.

Woewy was on radio the other day and mentioned who wouldn’t be available:

Cleaver is suspended- got reported in one of the practice games.
Gorringe: hamstring

Not sure on Meade either but has a history of injuries

Will be interesting to see how we go against the Eagles RD 1. Perth typically get them first up and have complained how difficult it is.

Seriously Ti Em, by half way through the 2nd qtr you will laying back with your popcorn:)

[quote=“Whinnen post=241639 userid=3741”]Seriously Ti Em, by half way through the 2nd qtr you will laying back with your popcorn
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I’d be extremely disappointed if we don’t win this one. I hope the Sharks players aren’t thinking like you Whinnen.

I’d be extremely disappointed if we don’t win this one. I hope the Sharks players aren’t thinking like you Whinnen.
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Yes we must not be complacent. We are putting out a strong team for the return to our home ground though far from full strength. You would expect we will win comfortably but I remember Perth typically struggled against West Coast in the opening round. But then again, who doesn’t Perth struggle against? Sportsbet have us 1.16 head to head with a 27.5 point line. Surely we cover that, Anyways time will tell.

Called in today to check the new oval out.

Was pleasantly surprised, decent crowd biggest turn out of eagles I have seen.

Thought the free entry vibe worked well. Heaps of family and friends.

Facilities coped pretty well , the bank area felt largely the same as the original one bar the fenced off dog area which to me struck as a large wasted space of great viewing area.

Score board needs work.

Catering seemed to work well , the bar area had been expanded into a outdoor area , with a handy service counter there was also a beer tent and can bar up a bit which looked as close as you would get to the old shark pit.

They had built an additional temp stand that and the new stand seemed to handle the large crowd easily with a few spare seats. Roar from crowd from stands decent.
Heaps of activities for kids.

I would say with a few adjustments it could easily handle most derby crowds.

Apparently work on new scoreboard commences next week. I was surprised by the size of the crowd, great atmosphere, 3000 plus.

[quote=“Custodian post=241693 userid=974”]Apparently work on new scoreboard commences next week. I was surprised by the size of the crowd, great atmosphere, 3000 plus.
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And the gate takings? Zero

Good Grocer Park ? Looks like a local ammo ground and the surface looks like shit like a patchwork quilt. They need a cameraman on the outer to show off your 450 seat grandstand. If that’s what 30 million buys you then someone is taking the piss.

So is Jack Avery still not in your best 22 KC?

And the gate takings? Zero

Good Grocer Park ? Looks like a local ammo ground and the surface looks like shit like a patchwork quilt. They need a cameraman on the outer to show off your 450 seat grandstand. If that’s what 30 million buys you then someone is taking the piss.

So is Jack Avery still not in your best 22 KC?
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It can be hard to tell with defenders especially without knowing who he was marking, but I thought Avery did well enough yesterday. Conceding 12 goals against the team that will contest Perth for the wooden spoon again this season is a concern though. But those playing further up the ground need to look at themselves too as the Eagles put some nice passages of play together. I reckon Avery must have felt strange after the game playing on the winning side for a change and no doubt Cody Leggett and his good mate Lenny Marlin have shown Jacky boy their premiership medals.

Regarding the surface I think it looks okay but not sure if that is more important than how it feels underfoot or holds up during the season. Maybe there is a bit of an Ammo vibe about Good Grocer Park but it felt okay yesterday. Caught up with more family and friends than usual it must be said though.

Like most supporters and members still adjusting to the new development. Not having a proper scoreboard was disappointing as they have had 3 years to sort that out but haven’t. Could have kept the old one until something was built too. Definitely would love more covered seating on the western bank of the ground and for the bowling club a shelter over their greens.

30 plus million doesn’t get you much it would appear but hardly surprising and of course they had to remove the old facilities. Hardly a concern for opposition supporters though, even more so when your club hasn’t played in a proper finals series since 1997!

But back to the mighty Blue and Whites, great to see the 2023 premiership flag finally unfurled and to get a win in both the men’s and women’s games. In the second game I thought Murdock as usual was very good for us and the new captain also did well. Up front Leggs, debutant Jack Cocking and Jedi Hagan each bagged 4 goals. Down back Jack Avery did well whilst Harry Marsh and Jared Jansen through the middle of ground had solid games.

Ti Em, what makes me laugh is that MRP surface looks pristine on the eye, yet the Perth fans have whinged for years how many injuries their players have had due to the surface…Hopefully DD brings his own quilt to sit on when Perth play at GGP.

Solid win at best, EF always had the answers when ever WCER got within a couple of goals…once again a good spread of goal kickers…well done to young Cocking on debut…reckon Bill missed a trick not playing Strnadica…even if he may of been concerned about Strnadica’s lack of match fitness…Strnadica and McGuire could of tag teamed the big WCER ruck on managed minutes…not going to get any easier v Eastland next week…

Good to see all 3 EF teams celebrate the new ground’s opening in style…long time coming…and folk being folk will always whinge and whine…but it’s good from an EF perspective to have footy back at Moss St…who cares what opposition fans have to say…they only have to go there once a year…but hey that’s folk today for you…find anything to complain about.

[quote=“Freezin post=241709 userid=945”]Ti Em, what makes me laugh is that MRP surface looks pristine on the eye, yet the Perth fans have whinged for years how many injuries their players have had due to the surface…Hopefully DD brings his own quilt to sit on when Perth play at GGP.

Solid win at best, EF always had the answers when ever WCER got within a couple of goals…once again a good spread of goal kickers…well done to young Cocking on debut…reckon Bill missed a trick not playing Strnadica…even if he may of been concerned about Strnadica’s lack of match fitness…Strnadica and McGuire could of tag teamed the big WCER ruck on managed minutes…not going to get any easier v Eastland next week…

Good to see all 3 EF teams celebrate the new ground’s opening in style…long time coming…and folk being folk will always whinge and whine…but it’s good from an EF perspective to have footy back at Moss St…who cares what opposition fans have to say…they only have to go there once a year…but hey that’s folk today for you…find anything to complain about.
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Yes very good advice but then again there should be a few spare seats for that one, a game against the perennial battlers ain’t exactly the hottest ticket around!

Ti Em from what I saw mate, plenty of room in the dog park…might even throw in a few balls for the disgruntled punters, to keep them occupied…GGP caters for all I reckon.

Sounds like a good day on the grand opening, I look forward to getting there v WP.