Shute Shield 2025

[Pfitzy]

They look like they are definitely trying to fix their depth problem
Looked through their socials, they have retained majority of their 1s from 2024 and added a heap in for 2025 including graduating colts from prior year

A few overseas players as well

 

[HarryElite]

A few overseas players as well

yeh and players from other shute teams, melbourne and perth too.

 

[Done that]

Have they lost anyone of note?

 

[HarryElite]

Have they lost anyone of note?

i think they lost a couple forwards to europe but they come back

 

[teamsport]

With the amount of new signings at the Two Blues you'd have them as comp favourites in 2025.

Only problem is they do this every year and then they leave because of the management & coaching. Some of the players they are signing were playing 3rd grade at Eastwood.

I predict a few won't even make it on the field and 75% won't be there in a season or two.

 

[wamberal99]

With the amount of new signings at the Two Blues you'd have them as comp favourites in 2025.

Only problem is they do this every year and then they leave because of the management & coaching. Some of the players they are signing were playing 3rd grade at Eastwood.

I predict a few won't even make it on the field and 75% won't be there in a season or two.

So are they favourites, or not?

 

[HarryElite]

So are they favourites, or not?

hahahaha yeh i was trying to work that out too, sounds like a disgruntled ex two blue player/staff

I dont think they would be anywhere near favourites, even with the recruitment, looks like theyre are fixing some depth issues (as the person above says they are only taking 3rd graders from eastwood although all 3 played in some 1st grade games this year based on the teamsheets anyway) and just siging a couple of top end guys which seems normal for every club.

from what ive seen over the last 3 years, they lose players, as all teams do, a few of them head overseas for contracts, a few of them head back to nz but the majority of them are signed by other shute shield teams once they are known quantities to the comp.

i hope they do really well for the upcomming year, a real challenge for the top 6 would be good for them.

 

[Pfitzy]

3rd graders from eastwood although all 3 played in some 1st grade games this year based on the teamsheets anyway

However their (Eastwood's) First Grade was 6-0-12 so it was probably a question of finding out how guys would go in First XV, particularly given the players who left Eastwood last year. Lot of disruption. Hopefully fixed.

They're listing the history of some of those players and a a few I note were playing at WSTB at some point e.g. a couple of Randwick guys who I think were ex-Colts at Tweedale.

 

[HarryElite]

However their First Grade was 6-0-12 so it was probably a question of finding out how guys would go in First XV, particularly given the players who left Eastwood last year. Lot of disruption. Hopefully fixed.

They're listing the history of some of those players and a a few I note were playing at WSTB at some point e.g. a couple of Randwick guys who I think were ex-Colts at Tweedale.

Yeh thats true. does seem to be some returning players as well. i think my point is more about having players, even if they are 3rd grade but have played 1st grade level, and majority reserve grade, its only gonna help their depth issues which i think theyve had. maybe not superstars, but decent players.

 

[Pfitzy]

And players who know the landscape, with a few who have played higher levels here or overseas.

It might not necessarily help their 1st Grade finish higher than mid-table, but hopefully it starts setting their lower grades up for something better than competing for Pirates and Souths in the bottom 3.

 

[wamberal99]

Eastwood's season was better than the results, believe it or not.

 

[Pfitzy]

Eastwood's season was better than the results, believe it or not.

The number of Bonus Points in the top teams bears that out to a degree.

However, as a former powerhouse it would have been extremely disappointing to get one team in the finals and have 4th Grade finish last on negative points.

Now that the uncertainty around future location is cleared up, it will hopefully allow a climb back up the rankings.

 

[wamberal99]

The number of Bonus Points in the top teams bears that out to a degree.

However, as a former powerhouse it would have been extremely disappointing to get one team in the finals and have 4th Grade finish last on negative points.

Now that the uncertainty around future location is cleared up, it will hopefully allow a climb back up the rankings.

We lost a lot of good (and experienced players) to Easts.

 

[HarryElite]

We lost a lot of good (and experienced players) to Easts.

genuine question, who actually went to easts from eastwood in 2024? Bell, Wilson (played less than half a season) and Goodall. Ponini was at easts in 2023. Who else in 2024?

i think losing players to easts isnt great, but thats also part of letting your head coach and forwards coach go, that caused more issues i think.

i do understand losing a few others didnt help too, the english boys went back to uk, a lot of the pacific islanders left after a disagreement with the new coach.

cant just blame easts for taking 3 players.

I think eastwood will come good in 2025 though, pending on recruitment, they will be fighting for a finals spot

 

[Done that]

According to an earlier post, Eastwood have lost quite a few of this years players.

 

[wamberal99]

According to an earlier post, Eastwood have lost quite a few of this years players.

That post was ridiculously wrong. Just for one example, it cited Anstee as one of this year's "lost" players.

No more from me on this subject. It has become obvious that one or more posters are bad actors (as they say).

 

[HarryElite]

According to an earlier post, Eastwood have lost quite a few of this years players.

from 2024 to 2025.

 

[HarryElite]

That post was ridiculously wrong. Just for one example, it cited Anstee as one of this year's "lost" players.

No more from me on this subject. It has become obvious that one or more posters are bad actors (as they say).

Anstee isnt with eastwood for 2025 right as he's picked up an overseas contract according to socials, please let me know where i was wrong and i will gladly go and correct it. i will happily admit where ive been wrong or made a mistake.

but for now, nobody has said anything about whats incorrect

i believe forums are for discussions, information sharing, rumours, agreements and disagreements, in a gentlemanly way.

 

[wamberal99]

Anstee isnt with eastwood for 2025 right

Anstee hasn't been with Eastwood for years. End of conversation. Was that gentlemanly enough?

 

[Prodigy]

are you that much of a little baby.

anstee hasnt been with eastwood for years....... yet somehow played in 2024 for eastwood in round 10 and 11.

i think if you dont know your own team, then you probably shudnt comment and throw toys out your pram

Also heard rumors of a large group of players moving on to play at a Subbies club. No first graders, but in the middle grades.
Not sure if it is true.
I guess we’ll see when teams start up in the new year