WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Friday 8 July, 6.40pm
HEAD TO HEAD: West Coast 21 wins, Geelong 20 wins, one draw
LAST TIME: Geelong 16.16 (112) d West Coast 10.8 (68), round 22, 2010 at Skilled Stadium
TV, RADIO AND BETTING: Click here for broadcast guide and odds
A full replay will be available on afl.com.au 12 hours after the completion of the match
FORM: West Coast: WWWWB Geelong: WWWWL
SUMMARY
West Coast proved it was a top-four candidate with a 36-point win over Carlton in round 14, setting up what is a genuine 50-50 game against ladder leader Geelong on Friday night.
It is a battle between the champion team that has hung on longer than it should have and the wooden spooners who have risen quicker than anyone could have expected.
It will be interesting to see how Geelong - which will be without leading midfielder Joel Selwood for one more match - responds to its first loss for the season against Essendon last Saturday night.
It has been suggested that the timing is poor for West Coast, with the Cats likely to bounce back with their best, most ruthless football. Conversely, the Eagles now know Geelong can be beaten.
In West Coast's favour is the fact that Geelong will be travelling west after consecutive six-day breaks. The Eagles have had a 12-day break and chose not to take time off, instead mounting an extended preparation for their first and only Friday night game of the season.
In Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui, Matt Priddis and Daniel Kerr, the Eagles have players capable of out-pointing the Cats at stoppages. Then when they force the ball forward, their forward press at Patersons Stadium is proving a mountain for opposition sides to overcome.
The Cats will back classy players like Paul Chapman and Steve Johnson to do damage if, as is almost inevitable, they spend periods of the game on less experienced opponents.
Still, the Eagles have beaten one premiership challenger in the last fortnight, and if they can beat another it might just be time to take their own flag chances seriously.
QUESTION MARKS
Which back six will hold up longest? Both coaches this week praised the opposition's backline, with Geelong conceding an average of just 74.7 points per game (second in the AFL) and West Coast 78.9 (fourth).
How does West Coast's structure change without Quinten Lynch? The rejuvenated forward, who misses this week through suspension, has become a vital player, leading the Eagles for marks this season and sitting equal second at the club for contested grabs.
Who will win more contested ball? Nic Naitanui identified it as a key to this game, with the Eagles beaten in the indicator only twice this season (against Collingwood and Gold Coast). The Cats lost the contested possession count 148-156 against Essendon.
PREDICTION
West Coast by 5 points
TOYOTA AFL DREAM TEAM WATCH
Geelong's Paul Chapman (FWD/MID $377,400) played perhaps his best game for the season against the Bombers, racking up 128 Dream Team points, his second highest score for the year. He has dropped $94,800 overall this year and, with his dual-position ability, the star Cat shapes as a good upgrade target. The concern with Chapman is the possibility he will be rested at some stage before the finals in addition to Geelong's bye in round 22, so buyer beware.
Follow the game live in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au and join the conversation on Twitter using #afleaglescats
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
