The Great Eagleton Debate

[Dry Rot]

Should we have attempted to trade Eagleton for an additional 2nd round draft selection once we knew we had Aker?

Is he now surplus to our needs?

And getting past having much trade value in the next couple of seasons?

[Go_Dogs]

1. No

2. No

3. Possibly, but why trade an experienced performer who can do a great job for us? Every team needs its older heads.

[mjp]

1.Of course we should have. I doubt that having just paid a 2nd rounder for Aker than any other clubs would have considered any more than a 4th for Eagle.
2.Maybe. We are not far away from finding out. If the youngsters have come along as everyone hopes that is.
3.Yes - He will never be worth more ever again.

[firstdogonthemoon]

NONONONO

I thought we werent allowed to discuss trading Nathan on this forum? Or did I imagine that.

[Go_Dogs]

I still don't understand Eagleton knockers.

[alwaysadog]

NONONONO

I thought we werent allowed to discuss trading Nathan on this forum? Or did I imagine that.

I second the motion.

If anything Eagle will be a more valuable player running with Aker, who from his training run at Wesley Waverley campus seems to have already developed a productive chemistry with Eagle.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

I second the motion.

If anything Eagle will be a more valuable player running with Aker, who from his training run at Wesley Waverley campus seems to have already developed a productive chemistry with Eagle.

Agreed.

Injures hit him last year, but prior to that his form was electric. He was being tagged for a while there, that's how good he was playing.

What's the point of trading for the sake of it? He gives us good value, his run, carry & delivery is far above Ray's at this stage. He's a specialist wingman and can carve teams in half. You don't just "trade" players like that off because you feel like having a second round draft pick.

I can't understand the criticism he gets. I guess once you hit the late 20's you're supposed to decline and be a scape goat.

[Sockeye Salmon]

I still don't understand Eagleton knockers.

I was advocating trading Eagleton but I am most definately not an Eagleton knocker.

Let me start with the Caveat that I think for the most part trading is for mugs. How can you preach loyalty one minute and then ship someone off the next? What about the effect on team dynamics?

I have no problems with trading Shane Birss because he wasn't going to get a go with us and it was a good thing for his career.

So, now I have established I wouldn't really trade him, I'll explain the reasons I would (if I did trade, which I don't).

* We have a surplus of his kind of player.
* He was young enough to still have a few years left, but old enough that we knew he wouldn't get any better.
* He had currency. There is no point trying to trade Brad Murphy, no-one is interested, Eagleton would have had just about everyone interested.

Eagle would have been exactly what Freo needed, Polak perhaps? I'll be interested to know how Nathan Krakuour goes. If we traded for a draft pick we would have almost certainly drafted him.

[Go_Dogs]

Eagleton has game breaking ability though, and that will be very important over the next few years for us. As was mentioned above, he was getting tagged at certain stages last year, it's getting to the stage where we have so many good players - and they are good - that opposition teams won't know who to tag, and someone will be able to blow games wide open if given the opportunity.

I'm not saying that Krakuor won't be a good player, but to "guess" that he will be and trade a match-winner, would be pretty senseless in my opinion.

Like I've stated elsewhere, I don't see the fascination of getting rid of players who haven't yet hit 30 for rookies. The older heads are going to be so crucial come the business end of the year, and I wouldn't want us entering those battles w/o the likes of Eagleton and Monty etc, who seem to have been disregarded by a lot of supporters in favour of younger player's who in my eyes, aren't yet as good or hard, and not experienced enough to really push us over the line at crunch time.

[mjp]

I still don't understand Eagleton knockers.

OK. I didn't knock him earlier on the thread, I just answered Dry Rot's questions. If you want to know why I would have swapped him for a 2nd-rounder:

1/.All the reasons Scooter mentioned, not least of which the one where he will never again be worth as much.
2/.The next time he picks up a man will be the first time he picks up a man for a couple of years - which is strange since he resurrected his career in run with roles under Rhode.
3/.Ditto a run down from behind, which for someone renowned for his running ability who plays in the midfield is not the right number.
3/.He cannot play back. He cannot play back. He cannot play back.
4/.He cannot play forward, though does get goals running into the forward line from the midfield. He is almost exclusively a midfielder and almost as exclusively a wingman.
5/.He has a beautiful long kick, but must have led the league in turnovers inside 50 last year - we had a midget forward line remember. (Unless you count Rohan Smith's ill-advised shots on goal from outside 50m).
6/.Very one sided.
7/.He is not strong overhead, and often puts the ball on the ground under pressure.

I guess every player has a bunch of weaknesses. To me, the above list are Eagles.

I have not mentioned any of his positives here - and there are quite a number - and that was intentional because you were asking why people would knock his game. To me, and I have said this before, you can only play just so many guys of Eagles type. I think Aker is a more skillful, versatile small ball carrier. Ray plays in that role as well for us - he is much younger. I would have looked at the list post Aker aquisition and said, 'You know what, if another team is prepared to offer a 2nd rounder for Eagle, then I am prepared to trade him.'

I hope he goes on to have a dominant season - despite the above negative list, he has a lot to offer. I still think if ever we were going to move him on - and that was the question - then last year was that year. Dont get so upset please - it was a RETROSPECTIVE question, and one asking what I would have done at the end of last year. It didn't happen, and his performances this year will determine how everyone feels at the end of the season.

[alwaysadog]

One of the main reasons if not the main reason his trading is not a good idea is his place in the social group.

Some players are natural leaders, and apart from Nathan Brown, I have never heard one of the players say anything but good things about him, even when he had that really self doubting and poor performance patch. At the moment he is looked upon by the playing group as one of its leaders and one who players can talk over things with.

[GVGjr]

One of the main reasons if not the main reason his trading is not a good idea is his place in the social group.

Some players are natural leaders, and apart from Nathan Brown, I have never heard one of the players say anything but good things about him, even when he had that really self doubting and poor performance patch. At the moment he is looked upon by the playing group as one of its leaders and one who players can talk over things with.


I have been told a few times he is terrific with the youngsters and really helps them along. It's always an idea to shop players around like Eagleton but more often than not you are better off keeping them. There is a strong midfield group at the Western Oval and he will have his work cut out to stay in the type of form he has been displaying over the past few seasons.

[Dry Rot]

NONONONO

I thought we werent allowed to discuss trading Nathan on this forum? Or did I imagine that.

I'm knocking him, juist raising an issue that will be raised increasingly over the coming years.

I'm not a fan of drafting the best available but since we do we'll have an abundance of small to mid-sized players, some of whom under this theory we'll trade.

IMO the departure of Birss will be the first of a few, especially since list management has just got a lot more cutthroat.

[Go_Dogs]

Thanks for your in-depth post mjp, and I can appreciate all the points you make. It's true the acquisition of Akermanis may effect Eagleton, but Aker is very versatile, which means that he will be able to play other positions, and not be solely regarded as a wing. Both Ray and Eagleton probably don't have that characteristic though, and seemingly they will be battling for a spot on the 22.

Interesting point you mentioned about his run-with roles. I remember him having some rippers - especially against Port when Nick Stevens was still playing there. it would be interesting to see him get some roles like that this season again and see how he goes.

I also agree with your points DR re how cut throat list management is these days. It's going to be very interesting over the next 2 years to see who else goes, along with those retiring.

[Dry Rot]

I also agree with your points DR re how cut throat list management is these days. It's going to be very interesting over the next 2 years to see who else goes, along with those retiring.

Not just cut throat list management, IMO it is an outcome of drafting the best available rather than for team needs.

You have to be willing to trade for team needs at a later date.

[kennel master]

When he is fit, up and running, Eagleton is in our best 22.
His form in the first part of 2006 was outstanding.
I know he has limitations such as being totally left-sided and not being a great defensive player, but when we are in full flight he can be hugely damaging.
Let's hope he can reproduce that form again this year.