WEST Coast star Luke Shuey isn't expecting any extra on-field spice in Saturday night's Western Derby, believing everyone has moved on since Andrew Gaff and Andrew Brayshaw shook hands during the Eagles and Dockers' pre-season meeting.
Gaff made a stunning return from his eight-game suspension for striking Brayshaw in the Eagles' convincing 22-point win over Collingwood, picking up 35 touches in a best afield performance in the Grand Final rematch at the MCG.
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"His return on the weekend was massive. He's that sort of player, we expected him to come back and play well, but he exceeded all of our expectations," Shuey said.
"It's great to have him back. Playing the Derby in the JLT (Community Series), I think it was good to get that out of the way and I think the way both Andrews handled the whole situation, it was good for them, it was good for footy.
"It was great to see everyone has moved on.
"Looking forward to, from his point of view, his weeks just being normal."
Gaff was at his hard-running best against the Pies, reminding the Eagles just how important he was helping set up their charge for a top-two spot before his ban.
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Speaking to Channel Seven post-match, Gaff revealed his crude hit was a key factor in his decision not to take up a monster free agency offer from North Melbourne.
The 26-year-old didn't want his punch to be his last act as an Eagle, and Shuey was confident Gaff would handle the close scrutiny in the build-up to Western Derby No.49.
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"I think he's fine. Nothing has changed from what we've seen," he said.
"I think there was a bit going on in the lead up to the JLT Derby, but I think this week will be completely normal, to be honest."
The Eagles have won the past seven clashes with their bitter crosstown rivals, and will equal the longest winning streak between the clubs if they triumph in both meetings this season.
Overall, the scoreline is 28-20 in West Coast's favour.
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The Eagles' chances of an eighth-consecutive victory would be significantly boosted if Dockers superstar Nat Fyfe is ruled unfit after copping a heavy concussion in a head clash with Josh Battle during Sunday's five-point win over St Kilda.
Nat Fyfe has been helped from the ground after this head clash with Josh Battle.#AFLFreoSaints pic.twitter.com/LxHujnFi6p
— AFL (@AFL) April 7, 2019
"It wasn't pretty. I hope he's alright after that. You never like seeing that on the footy field," Shuey said.
"The good thing was both guys were going for the footy.
"Fingers crossed his head is alright this morning."
The Dockers' midfield will look vastly different to recent derbies if Fyfe is ruled out, with Lachie Neale, a three-time Ross Glendinning Medal (now Glendinning-Allan) winner, now at Brisbane and veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands (calf) sidelined.
Both sides enter the contest 2-1, but the Eagles are red-hot favourites after clicking into gear with victories over the Giants and Magpies in the past two rounds.
"I didn't like much about round one (loss to Brisbane), but I think the way we've responded after that just our intent to turn up and work hard has been the difference," Shuey said.
"You get your attitude right and a lot of other things fall into place."