Playing against a rival like Fremantle can galvanise the group at a time when we’re 1-4 and in need of a win.
We’ve had some players that have been in consistent form and a few that have been up and down, so it’s an opportunity for them to really get on the front foot and play some good, hard footy.
The other thing about a local derby - whether it’s AFL, or it’s Manchester City v Manchester United - it doesn’t matter where teams are on the ladder, they are usually close, hard-fought games.
Looking back on the games I played for Collingwood against Carlton and Essendon, the crowds make the day, the big crowds and the build up.
Because they are such big games, if you win, you can hold your head up high at the end of it and be pretty happy that you’ve accomplished something.
Of course, there’s nothing worse than when you lose and you’re filthy that it’s another 16 weeks or so until you play them again.
I’m still working out who is likely to thrive on the rivalry at West Coast, but the good players always rise in these sorts of games. James Hird and Nathan Buckley were two players that loved the Anzac Day games.
There’s all that passion and emotion as a supporter when your side plays its biggest rival, and as a player or a coach there’s certainly a part of you that has that.
But at the same time, you have to be quite controlled in what you’re doing through the week and on match day.
You want the players to lift, but over 22 rounds you don’t want them lifting specifically for one game. It means the other 21 games they’re not at a level you want them at.
It’s great to bring a young player in for a big game and Brad Sheppard has come into our extended squad after two games back from a fractured cheekbone. He’s going really well, so he’s definitely very close to debuting at the moment.
Tom Swift has also come into the squad and he’s a player I think has really developed from last year.
He’s played three games at WAFL level this year where he’s averaging over 30 touches. I don’t think he was quite capable of that last year, when he was getting 20-25 possessions a game.
So it’s good to remember that for the development of these young players, sometimes it is better for them to go back to the WAFL.
That may or may not be an option at the moment with Chris Masten. He’s played some good halves of football for us, he just hasn’t quite finished off at certain times.
He’s a very important player to us and he’s the sort of player that I think could thrive on a derby. He might be one player that’s really looking for that rivalry.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
