Opinion
West Coast’s away game curse; Handball happy Dockers need to find the boot
Paddy Sweeney
Nine Sports PresenterPowerfully built birds of prey, meant to symbolise strength and courage.
While this may ring true in nature, in the AFL the current version of the Eagles can more appropriately be referred to as FIFO footballers. One-week on, one-week off.
As it stands, when West Coast are faced with playing interstate, the result is a mere formality.
It’s almost as if once they get to Perth Airport they physically check-in, then mentally check-out.
Yesterday’s abomination in Adelaide, a 99-point thumping, was the worst showing of the season, coming a week after their best.
In the build-up, much was spoken about the Eagles winless road record in 2024, an average losing margin of 51 points.
And yet, in the opening quarter, West Coast were blown out of the park, conceding seven goals, the contest over, trailing by 44 points at the first change.
The uncompetitive and lifeless showing was eerily similar to the drubbing of previous seasons, the very performances which had Adam Simpson in the firing line.
Crows captain, and arguably their most important player, Jordan Dawson was allowed far too much room, roaming around gathering possessions at ease, orchestrating the mauling.
At quarter time he had a game-high 12 touches, two goals and 397 metres gained. Dawson’s possession count was more than Eagles senior players Tim Kelly (3), Elliot Yeo, Dom Sheed (2), Jack Darling and Jamie Cripps combined.
Veteran defender Jeremy McGovern failed to adhere to the “stand� rule, giving away a 50 metre penalty, resulting in another major for the home side.
This wasn’t the reigning premiers, a top four contender, not even a top eight side.
Rather a Crows outfit who entered the game with just two extra premiership points to show than the Eagles.
The only positive is, West Coast’s next two games are back in the comfort of home.
Handball happy Dockers need to find the boot
The Dockers Friday night draw against Collingwood provided so many talking points, leaving players, coaches and fans thinking, “what could have been�.
Collingwood’s time-wasting free-kick, Alex Pearce’s successful foray forward and Jeremy Sharp’s attempt to win the game were merely from a frantic final term.
But upon reflection, a source of frustration was Fremantle’s overuse of the handball.
Post-game coach Justin Longmuir labelled it “as bad a handballing display as we’ve had all year�.
Too many times, a decision to go by hand was preferred than foot, and too many times they
lacked the execution and poise to pull it off.
The Dockers are handball happy, handballing more than any other team in the competition.
They handpass almost 166 times per game, 20 more than the average.
This ballooned to a season-high 184 against the Magpies, constantly putting their teammates under more pressure and in worse positions than they originally were.
A better kick-to-handball ratio is required to provide greater balance.
Fremantle has the closest margin between kicking and handballing, going by foot just 43 times more than by hand.
In stark contract, sides at the pointy end of the ladder are using kicking to make an impact.
The ladder leading Swans have a differential of 88, the much improved Bombers are operating at 61 while Port (89) and Melbourne (83) are also going at essentially double the Dockers.
While it’s not a call to adopt a “kick at all costs� mantra, it might just be time to give the handball happy obsession the boot.