IF TWIN towers Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling don't kick at least six goals, Brodie Grundy gets on top and Collingwood's midfield runs amok, West Coast will be in trouble in the Grand Final.

GRAND FINAL MEGA-PREVIEW Eagles v Pies

But if the Eagles' star forwards fire, tagger Mark Hutchings clamps down on Steele Sidebottom and their backline isn't put under pressure, then Adam Simpson's men can clinch a fourth premiership for West Coast.

Those are the opinions of champion Eagles premiership players Peter Sumich, Andrew Embley and Glen Jakovich, who AFL.com.au surveyed for their thoughts on the 2018 decider. 

PETER SUMICH – 1992 and '94 premiership full-forward

What is the key to West Coast's forwards kicking a winning score?
"I think Jack Darling needs to kick three goals and I think Josh Kennedy needs to kick a minimum of three.

"Collingwood's smaller backs can handle (Liam) Ryan, (Mark) LeCras, (Willie) Rioli and (Jamie) Cripps. I know they kicked multiple goals on the weekend (against Melbourne), but I don't know if they're going to get that opportunity.

"Say those two (Kennedy and Darling) only kick four, you can't rely on those other four smalls to kick six or seven.

"The biggest problem with the Eagles, I think personally, is their mids don't kick goals.

"Fifteen (of 18 against Melbourne) were scored from the main six forwards. That to me is too skew-whiff.

"If Kennedy and Darling get blanketed, then where are they going to go from there?

"If those two only kick four goals between them, they're going to lose."

Can Willie Rioli and Liam Ryan hit the scoreboard enough for the Eagles? Picture: AFL Photos

Will the Eagles win?
"I think they can. I'm not going to say they will. All the factors of the ground here (Optus Stadium) and the crowd, I thought that was worth three goals in the finals, if not four, and Collingwood with five minutes to go in that (qualifying) final were in front.

"You take the crowd factor out and the home advantage, and Collingwood play a good brand of footy, I reckon it's going to be going down to the wire.

"That's why I reckon it's such a good Grand Final because I think it's going to be very close. It could go either way." 

ANDREW EMBLEY – 2006 premiership midfielder and Norm Smith medallist

How do the Eagles control the midfield battle?
"The key is Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy and the role they play on Brodie Grundy in the ruck – I think that's going to be absolutely crucial.

"A couple of weeks ago I thought Grundy got the better of Lycett through there. Those boys were better with Max Gawn last week, but just to be able to nullify the influence he has on the game (is important) because he's that mobile ruckman that can find the football around the ground and he's had such a big impact for Collingwood this year.

"You think it's going to be that supply battle game. If West Coast can find a way to go inside 50 fast, you'd think they've got a forward line potent enough to kick a winning score.

"I think Mark Hutchings plays a really crucial role on (Steele) Sidebottom, but it's going to be interesting to see where Hutchings goes, because in that qualifying final Sidebottom started at half-forward and Hutchings didn't go all the way with him because West Coast want to keep their back six.

"It just allowed Sidebottom to get off the chain a bit, and by the time Hutchings was trying to find him he'd had a few touches, got his tail up and ended up having a massive game.

"It will be really interesting to see from the start if West Coast go 'Hutchings, you're going to be with Sidebottom everywhere'."

Mark Hutchings will be a pivotal player if the Eagles are to win. Picture: AFL Photos

Will the Eagles win?
"I think West Coast win. I just feel like they've got too many winners in their forward half and their midfield group bat deeper than we think.

"I reckon they're going to win the supply battle and their forwards are going to cause absolute headaches for Tyson Goldsack, (Tom) Langdon and Jeremy Howe."

GLEN JAKOVICH – 1992 and '94 premiership centre half-back

What is the biggest threat to West Coast's defensive structure?
"Ball movement and frantic entries into their backline. Pressure up the ground is important, elevated kicks is when (Tom) Barrass and Jeremy McGovern can do their best work.

"That precision kicking with frantic pace, when you get Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury on the end of it, they can certainly avoid going to the contest where McGovern will be.

"The rebound off the half-back line was very quick (by Collingwood in the qualifying final). They got the Eagles caught napping a few times.

"Losing Brad Sheppard hurt them and they broke down structurally and it took them a while to adjust that. They were much better against Melbourne.

"I don't think the MCG is as quick as Optus Stadium, so that could play in their favour. But in saying that, the way Sidebottom was moving the ball the other night with his 41 touches, that's a major factor.

"Naturally it's a big ask for (Tom) Cole to match-up on Jordan De Goey. It's going to be an even bigger ask if De Goey gets a lot of looks at it.

"If there's pressure up the field where the source is and the high underneath ball comes in then Barrass and McGovern will come in all day every day." 

Negating Jeremy McGovern's influence with fast entries is a key for Collingwood. Picture: AFL Photos

Will the Eagles win?
"I'm quietly confident that they can win. If they bring that pressure that they brought – everyone is talking about the manic pressure of Richmond, Collingwood and Melbourne – but West Coast really showed an appetite for pressure against Melbourne last week and really took the game away from them.

"If they bring that intensity early and give their big tall forwards a look with repeated entries, then I'm tipping the Eagles to win by three goals."