SUMMARY
If a week is a long time in football, then a month is an eternity – as these sides can attest. The Giants' finals ambitions were on a knife's edge but they have reeled off four straight wins either side of the bye and climbed to sixth on the ladder after getting past Hawthorn last round. Their star-studded midfield was prolific against the Hawks, dominating clearances (+23) and contested ball (+55), and looms as West Coast's stumbling block. The Eagles are in serious danger of squandering their excellent 10-1 start after three consecutive losses since the bye. Injuries to key players have hurt but West Coast's issues run deeper, with its inability to halt momentum and stem the bleeding costing it dearly in winnable games against Essendon and Adelaide. The Eagles' top-four spot will be in grave jeopardy if they can't muster victory at home on Sunday.
WHERE AND WHEN: Optus Stadium, Sunday, July 8, 2.40pm AWST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R8, 2018, West Coast 12.14 (86) d Greater Western Sydney 8.13 (61) at Spotless Stadium
1SF, 2017, Greater Western Sydney 19.11 (125) d West Coast 9.4 (58) at Spotless Stadium
R22, 2017, Greater Western Sydney 12.9 (81) d West Coast 9.4 (58) at Spotless Stadium
R10, 2017, Greater Western Sydney 14.14 (98) d West Coast 14.6 (90) at Subiaco Oval
R21, 2016, West Coast 14.13 (97) d Greater Western Sydney 14.12 (96) at Spotless Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Jack Darling (four goals), Jake Waterman (three) and Josh Kennedy (two) combined for nine majors in the Eagles' gritty road win over the Giants in round eight. Andrew Gaff had 32 disposals and Jack Redden collected 29.
2. The Eagles averaged 100 points as they romped to a 10-1 record before the bye. But with leading goalkickers Darling, then Kennedy, then Mark LeCras succumbing to injury, that scoreboard output has dipped to 62 points in the past three losses.
3. The talent-laden Giants midfield could give the visitors the edge. Over the past three weeks, GWS has commanded clearances (+47) and ranks second in the AFL (40 per game) this season. West Coast is ninth (36.7).
4. West Coast holds a 6-2 record at Optus Stadium after losing to Essendon last start. The Giants have won on their past two trips to Perth after going down in their first six contests in the west.
5. If the Eagles are beaten it will be the first time since early in 2014 they have lost four games in a row. GWS is aiming for five consecutive wins for just the third time in club history.
6. While the Giants have some prime movers sidelined, their engine room bats deeper than most. Callan Ward (16thoverall), Josh Kelly (32), Dylan Shiel (33), Lachie Whitfield (48) and Stephen Coniglio (98) are ranked inside the top 100 of the Schick AFL Player Ratings and loom as the danger men for West Coast.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Nic Naitanui. The talismanic ruckman has come under fire for not doing enough, especially when the game was on the line, against Adelaide and he needs to exert significant influence if the Eagles' onballers are to match it with GWS' star-studded group.
PREDICTION: Greater Western Sydney by 13 points
