SUMMARY
West Coast heads to Etihad Stadium on Sunday looking for its ninth straight win, a feat not achieved by the club since rounds 5-13 in 1991. It is hard not to think the Coasters will get there given how great they were in demolishing Richmond last week and, conversely, how poor the Hawks were in losing to the previously winless Brisbane. Hawthorn's forward line is a mess; the ball gets in there often enough, but the lack of contested marking allows opposition backlines to set up well and rebound, often at speed. The Eagles have the pace and the spread to worry the Hawks, particularly at Etihad Stadium, which suits them far better than the MCG. The Hawks haven't lost to the Eagles in Victoria since 2006, and while they will rebound hard, there is no convincing case to suggest they can overcome the most in-form team in the competition.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday, May 27, 1.10pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R5, 2017: Hawthorn 19.11 (125) d West Coast Eagles 11.9 (75) at the MCG
R22, 2016: West Coast Eagles 13.14 (92) d Hawthorn 10.7 (67) at Domain Stadium
R2, 2016: Hawthorn 14.15 (99) d West Coast Eagles 7.11 (53) at the MCG
GF, 2015: Hawthorn 16.11 (107) d West Coast Eagles 8.13 (61) at the MCG
2QF, 2015: West Coast Eagles 14.12 (96) d Hawthorn 9.10 (64) at Domain Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Tom Mitchell starred for the Hawks in their win over the Eagles early in 2017 with 37 disposals, six tackles, six clearances and three inside 50s. But Ben McEvoy collected the three Brownlow votes with 17 touches, 43 hit-outs and one goal.
2. The Eagles and Hawks are high scoring teams this season; West Coast is ranked second, averaging 103 points per game, while Hawthorn is fifth with an average of 90 points. The Eagles are plus-82 points in second halves.
3. Hawthorn has dominated West Coast recently by winning seven of nine contests since 2013, five of those victories coming by more than 40 points, including the 2015 Grand Final.
4. A big advantage for the Eagles will be marking the ball inside 50. West Coast is ranked first averaging 13.7 per game, a long way ahead of the Hawks (14th with an average of 11).
5. The teams have played only once previously at Etihad Stadium, in round 13, 2013 with Hawthorn winning by 20 points. West Coast has won three of six games at Etihad since the start of 2017.
6. Strange but true. According to the Official Schick AFL Player Ratings, Hawk defender James Sicily is still listed as a small/medium forward. He is the 154th-ranked player overall and in this game comes in behind teammates Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo and West Coast's Mark LeCras in the small/medium forward category.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
It was a scratchy six-possession performance from Hawk small forward Paul Puopolo in his first game back last week after a hamstring injury. He needs to get busier and hit the scoreboard if the Hawks are to have a chance.
PREDICTION: West Coast by 10 points.
