Eagles hopes for 2020

Disappointing 2019 but predictable pre-season when we weren't able to sign any key forward; at that stage, we thought that we may have a dominant midfield with the addition of Jordan Foote, Toumpas and Lonergan. Well, Jordan Foote was very good, Toumpas played only 3-4 games due to injury and Lonergan was only mediocre. Won't write Lonergan off yet because he came into the season with little pre-season (groin problems)and looking unfit.

In recent times, teams have turned things around (bottom - to-top stuff) Westies, North and now Glenelg but can't see the Eagles doing much in 2020 as they rebuild after retirements and hopefully a clean -out. in general terms, we need an injection of pace, especially the midfield, and height all over the ground but especially key positions. And players who can kick the ball, both in field kicking and goal kicking (Jack Hayes dismal goal kicking rips the heart out of the team's efforts and yet, a dilemma where else can you use his talents, Goldsworthy is one of the few players who finds a target from our backline - Allmond hurts us every time).

The best of our successful U18s will be taken by the AFL of course but there may be a few left over - Jamie Coff (195cm CHF), for example, might not be taken by AFL but could be a useful SANFL player. Like the promise of young Seconds player Cooper Gaffney (has some pace too). ? whether Jai Pudney and Friedrichs has done enough to stay on Port's rookie list - they would be handy for us especially with pace. There were hopes for 18 year old Tasmanian Jackson House - was injured for most of the year ? next year. Can't see any other 194cm mobile players coming through from U18s or Seconds next year so we'll need to recruit them.

It will be an interesting time now till Christmas to see if we can set up our season for next year.

Now I know by responding to this post I may get howled down .
As a loyal eagles fan I could see this coming from round 2. 2019 the Eagles were left in the lurch by Godden leaving late . Recruiting was over by the time Sam took over .
Hopefully in 2020 the eagles will have recruited better and moved on from the debacle of 2018 finals .
Imho Eagles need pace and height.
Do the Eagles get the cheque books out when AFL players are delisted maybe .
But I think 2020 might be another year like 2019
However players retiring and leaving Sams game plan will be used and taught from the start of the year .
If we use Glenelg as an example year 1 under their coach wasn’t great iirc.
Eagles fans we need to live in hope

I have....since 1962. Oh those dreadful years until the New Eagles.

Any news on whether Jesse Lonergan is staying at the Eagles, now that coach uncle Sam Lonergan has gone?

Seconds GF loss was useful for future planning
1. need to hang on to Guilhaus as our 2nd Rickman
2. can't afford to have another forward who can't kick. Give up on Weiderman as a forward and try him down back. Same can be said for Luke Hayes.

Should read "Nick Hayes" not Luke .

Premiers wrote:Seconds GF loss was useful for future planning
1. need to hang on to Guilhaus as our 2nd Rickman
2. can't afford to have another forward who can't kick. Give up on Weiderman as a forward and try him down back. Same can be said for Luke Hayes.

Ok I’ve heard Guilhaus is out but that’s not from the club .
Eagles need height and pace all round .

Hill's signing, a 198cm forward addresses a perennial deficiency. Even one more big forward would be good! And hope they can kick straighter than the Hayes brothers!
Disappointing if true that Kai Pudney is reportedly considering returning to an opposition club.

Hill's signing, a 198cm forward addresses a perennial deficiency. Even one more big forward would be good! And hope they can kick straighter than the Hayes brothers!
Disappointing if true that Kai Pudney is reportedly considering returning to an opposition club.

Who is Hill?
Wouldn't Pudney attract a $25000 transfer fee to go to another SANFL club? Not sure how many clubs would be willing to pay that for him on top of his salary.

Eagles hopes for 2020 would be considerably enhanced if they re-recruit Matthew Broadbent

Flag No.10 wrote:Who is Hill?
Wouldn't Pudney attract a $25000 transfer fee to go to another SANFL club? Not sure how many clubs would be willing to pay that for him on top of his salary.

Don't think he would attract a $25,000 transfer fee if he went to another club, as he is only on power's NGA list, to attract the $25,000 transfer fee for the Eagles the power would have needed to upgrade him to to either the main list or rookie list. Still think we will keep him.

Now rumoured that Jordan Foote is returning to Sydney? Any news on this?
Also latest info on Pudney, Guilhaus and Jesse Lonergan ??

Premiers wrote: Now rumoured that Jordan Foote is returning to Sydney? Any news on this?
Also latest info on Pudney, Guilhaus and Jesse Lonergan ??

I saw the Foote rumour my source said he hasn’t made his mind up yet .

If we could retain Foote, Guilhaus and Lonergan and gain Broadbent, Pudney and a 2nd tall forward, our recruiting would be successfully finished. That way, we could add Broadbent and Pudney to the midfield and with 198cm Hill (an excellent signing) and a 2nd tall, shift the Hayes boys away from goal-kicking attempts! (Jack Hayes might make a "useful" centre-half back)
Big word, is "If" !!!!!!

Premiers wrote:If we could retain Foote, Guilhaus and Lonergan and gain Broadbent, Pudney and a 2nd tall forward, our recruiting would be successfully finished. That way, we could add Broadbent and Pudney to the midfield and with 198cm Hill (an excellent signing) and a 2nd tall, shift the Hayes boys away from goal-kicking attempts!  (Jack Hayes might make a "useful" centre-half back)
Big word, is "If" !!!!!!

Your continuing push to to move the Hayes brothers away from where they can kick goals is absolutely ridiculous. In 2018 Nick Hayes (32 goals) was one of the best straight shooters in the SANFL, his injury in the first match of 2019 and lack of playing caused him to lose confident in his kicking for goal. I am sure he can regain his goal kicking accuracy. If more forwards can be recruited I'm more than happy for Nick Hayes to be tried in other positions like he was last season.
Jack Hayes although a poor kick for goal, has still kicked 38 and 24 goals the last two seasons with rucking stints. At CHF he usually has 2-3 defender hanging off him and still manages to take strong marks and keep the ball in the forward area. He is a must in our forward area. If with more capable forwards the the Hayes boys will become even more effective. Clubs can't just go out and "cherry pick" forwards, they are hard to find. Also, a more efficient system of getting the ball into the forward area would also help.
If Broadbent ends up with the Eagles, him, playing across HB would bolster our back line and and reduce the need for Jack Hayes to go back there.

Seen a post on another footy forum by a South person Pudney is likely to stay an eagle. Seeing the same south person said he was going to north or west .

Liam Buxton 199cm forward/ruckman a good signing after the earlier signing of 198cm key forward Damien Hill. The Club has been crying out for tall key forwards for years and now we have got the height bit covered! But can they also play a bit! Would give the forward line a threatening look if both performed well.
You'd expect delisted Sam Gray to get picked up again in the draft - if not, any chance of him joining his brother at the Eagles.
Any news on Broadbent's intentions?

Sam Gray taken - gee! that was quick. Have to hope that Broadbent plays with us. Probably need one more classy midfielder but another "Jordan Foote" doesn't come along very often. Then our recruiting would be finished off nicely re addressing deficiencies of tall key forwards/2nd ruckman (Buxton and Hill) and pace (Mansell and Pudney).
Sadly for us supporters, expect to lose medium sized defender Lachlan Jones in the draft - he would have pressed hard for a league spot on the HB flank.
Any news on how Jimmy Toumpas is progressing with his hamstring problems and general fitness?

Premiers wrote:Sam Gray taken - gee! that was quick. Have to hope that Broadbent plays with us. Probably need one more classy midfielder but another "Jordan Foote" doesn't come along very often. Then our recruiting would be finished off nicely re addressing deficiencies of tall key forwards/2nd ruckman (Buxton and Hill) and pace (Mansell and Pudney).
Sadly for us supporters, expect to lose medium sized defender Lachlan Jones in the draft - he would have pressed hard for a league spot on the HB flank.
Any news on how Jimmy Toumpas is progressing with his hamstring problems and general fitness?

I still think Lachy Jones will push for a defensive spot next season as he is not eligible to be drafted until November 2020. On port powers NGA list. Shane Reardon has a very high opinion of Lachy and expects he will get a league game next season.

Thanks Feathers. Didn't realise Lachlin Jones was too young to be drafted. Hell! A bit of a gun then.
Strong build with pace and skills.

Premiers wrote:Thanks Feathers. Didn't realise Lachlin Jones was too young to be drafted. Hell! A bit of a gun then.
Strong build with pace and skills.

Reminds me a lot of "The Bull" Steve Pavlich.
The way he cleaned up a NA reserves player in one of his rare reserves matches was sensational. Hope he really develops well this year.

Good to see our latest signing Pierce Seymour at 190cm and can play short and tall - except for Thompson and Von Bertouch in key defence positions, we've been undersized around the flanks and pockets and the signing addresses this.
Now to hang on to Jordan Foote as a top priority AND get another top midfielder.

Premiers wrote:Good to see our latest signing Pierce Seymour at 190cm and can play short and tall - except for Thompson and Von Bertouch in key defence positions, we've been undersized around the flanks and pockets and the signing addresses this.
Now to hang on to Jordan Foote as a top priority AND get another top midfielder.

I may not always agree with your thinking .
However on this signing your spot on the mark .
Eagles also signed taller forward and forward ruck .
Eagles need if possible to hang onto Foote .
But also a back up plan to Rowe going in the draft

We can't have a back-up plan for losing Rowe to the draft because he's unique - there is no other specialist small forward pocket remotely as good as he in the SANFL !
However, I do think the AFL draft will overlook him for this reason - lack of height and can play only one position. For example, compare him with Hawthorn's Puopolo, also a small forward pocket who played multiple positions, was quicker and stronger overhead.
If we do manage to keep Rowey, he might be "licking his lips" with the prospect of having maybe 2 new Eagle's talls to "crumb".