SUMMARY
Jeremy McGovern's after-the-siren goal against Port Adelaide was the most important kick of West Coast's season and has given the Eagles a couple of bites at the cherry in the final rounds to seal second spot and guarantee two priceless home finals. The Eagles will want to get the job done against Melbourne and not leave it until the final day of the season in Brisbane, and will weigh up recalling star spearhead Josh Kennedy (shin) for Sunday's clash. The Demons are under all sorts of pressure to avoid another late-season meltdown after falling to Sydney in a gut-wrenching nine-point loss. Melbourne hasn't beaten any of the top nine teams from seven attempts this season, and will probably have to upset the Eagles or knock over the rampaging Giants in a possible round 23 nailbiter to end their September hoodoo and play finals for the first time since 2006.
LAST FIVE TIMES
R14, 2017, Melbourne 15.9 (99) d West Coast 14.12 (96) at Subiaco Oval
R18, 2016, West Coast 10.6 (66) d Melbourne 8.12 (60) at Subiaco Oval
R14, 2015, West Coast 16.18 (114) d Melbourne 9.6 (60) at TIO Stadium
R22, 2014, West Coast 18.11 (119) d Melbourne 8.5 (53) at Subiaco Oval
R2, 2014, West Coast 18.15 (123) d Melbourne 4.6 (30) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Demons are ranked first for contested possessions, inside 50s, marks inside 50, centre clearances and scoring. They have kicked 305 goals, 21 more than the next best team.
2. Tom McDonald's five-goal haul at Subiaco Oval last year helped Melbourne break a nine-game losing streak to West Coast.
3. The Eagles and Demons are ranked first and second, respectively, for contested marks this season. West Coast star Jeremy McGovern (56) leads the League ahead of Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn (44).
4. The Dees have lost on 17 of their past 18 trips to Perth and are yet to play at Optus Stadium, where the Eagles boast nine wins from 11 matches.
5. West Coast has won the most quarters in the competition (55) but Melbourne (54) is only just behind, despite notching three fewer wins than the Eagles this season.
6. At No.5 overall, young Demons midfielder Clayton Oliver will be the highest-ranked player on the ground, according to the Schick AFL Player Ratings.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Simon Goodwin. The blowtorch is on the Demons and fans are already dreading the prospect of a must-win round 23 clash. How Melbourne's second-year coach handles the scrutiny and his ability to keep his players on task will be telling. If he can engineer an upset in the west he will be hailed a hero.
PREDICTION: West Coast by 15 points
