West Coast Eagles Contemplate Bailey Williams Return Following Ruck Difficulties
The West Coast Eagles are seriously considering bringing back Bailey Williams for his first AFL appearance of the season, as ruckman Matt Flynn continues to grapple with early-season struggles. This deliberation comes on the heels of a devastating 128-point defeat to Sydney, where the Eagles were thoroughly dominated in the ruck contests.
Ruck Battles Expose West Coast's Weaknesses
During Saturday night's crushing loss, Brodie Grundy of Sydney delivered a masterclass performance, amassing 28 disposals, nine clearances, 33 hit outs, and a goal, completely overpowering Matt Flynn. The final scoreline of 24.19 (163) to 4.11 (35) underscored the Eagles' ruck deficiencies, which have been a persistent issue throughout the opening rounds.
Flynn has faced an uphill battle against top-tier ruckmen this season. In round one, Jarrod Witts recorded 20 possessions, 51 hit outs, seven clearances, and a goal against West Coast. Tristan Xerri followed up in round two with 25 disposals, seven clearances, and 43 hit outs. Even in round three, the Eagles lost the hit-out count to Port Adelaide's Jordan Sweet. Overall, West Coast has been outmatched 187-109 in hit-outs across the first four games.
Coach McQualter Addresses Ruck Challenges
Eagles coach Andrew McQualter acknowledged the ongoing ruck struggles, stating, "It's been a little bit of a battle for us." He emphasized that beyond mere hit-out numbers, predictability in ruck play is crucial for midfield setup. "We've come up against three of the premier rucks in the competition. They're really mature rucks who have been doing it for a long time," McQualter explained. "We have Flynny and two young rucks working their way through it, and we're seeing some growth and some predictability. Today, it got away from us a bit too much. And Grundy's influence on the game was really high."
McQualter also defended Flynn, noting that he wasn't solely responsible for the loss to Sydney. "He wasn't alone. Flynny might have had his best game, but I'm not sure too many players walk off that field beating their opponent or ticking off their role within the game."
Bailey Williams Emerges as a Potential Solution
Bailey Williams, who has yet to play an AFL game this season, showcased his readiness with an impressive performance in the WAFL on Friday, tallying 11 possessions, 34 hit outs, and two goals. The 25-year-old, with 16 games under his belt last season, brings valuable experience to the Eagles' lineup.
McQualter highlighted that Williams' pre-season was hampered by a groin injury, making selection challenging initially. However, he confirmed that Williams will be in contention for the upcoming match against Geelong at Norwood Oval during Gather Round on Sunday. "Rucks don't grow on trees. They're hard to get and they're hard to develop. Bailey's not had much of a preseason, but now has put a few games together," McQualter said. "We know Bailey's capability. So he's now getting to the point where he's played enough footy and he'll come into contention."
Flynn's Broader Impact Concerns
In addition to ruck struggles, Flynn's limited impact around the ground has been a concern. He hasn't taken a mark since the second quarter of the round two victory over North Melbourne, further complicating West Coast's midfield dynamics. As the Eagles prepare for their next fixture, the decision on whether to recall Williams could be pivotal in addressing these ongoing issues and revitalizing their season performance.
