Season to date:
West Coast goes into this clash 1-2 having lost their last two matches. They travel to Sydney on the back of a 14-point loss to bitter cross-town rivals Fremantle after a 76-point shellacking at the Crows a week earlier. The Eagles' six-point first round victory over the Lions seems an eternity ago, making this Saturday's clash a crunch game for the 2006 premiers, who sit in 13th on four points.
Recent form:
Round 1 – West Coast 14.8. (92) def Brisbane Lions 11.10 (86) at Subiaco Oval
Round 2 – Adelaide Crows 21.7. (133) def West Coast 8.9. (57) at AAMI Stadium
Round 3 – Fremantle 12.15 (87) def West Coast 10.13. (73) at Subiaco Oval
Last time out:
West Coast Eagles 16.16 (112) d Sydney Swans 15.10 (100), round 16, 2007, at Subiaco Oval.
All the talk beforehand was the return to the Eagles' side of wayward genius Ben Cousins. And he delivered with 38 disposals in the home side's 12-point win.
Despite Cousins and midfielder Daniel Kerr dominating, West Coast just outpointed a determined Swans. Ash Hansen with four goals and Brent Staker with three chipped in for this crucial Eagles victory.
In the final term, when the Eagles' lead was extended to 41 points four minutes in, it looked all over for the 2005 premiers. But six goals saw the lead reduced to just 12 points with three minutes left. However, the Eagles hung on for the four points.
The venue: ANZ Stadium
The Eagles have run out onto ANZ Stadium (formerly Telstra Stadium) twice for a 1-1 record against the Swans. Many home fans will remember the previous occasion – an agonising one-point loss in round one, 2007. The only other time these two have met here was back in 2004 when the Swans easily accounted for the visitors by 44 points in the elimination final.
The coach: John Worsfold
Woosha is a popular figure in the West where he has coached the side to a flag in 2006 and played 209 times for the Eagles, including captaining them for eight years. Although as a coach his tactics have in the past raised eyebrows with his refusal to flood in favour of a rigid one-on-one style, his record of 91-54 shows he has the coaching runs on the board.
Strengths:
Dean Cox is a superstar ruckman, but he may miss this game due to a foot injury. If he plays (see missing in action) Cox is a safe bet to dominate the hitouts while nuggety Kerr runs the midfield engine room.
Missing in action:
Dean Cox was on crutches earlier this week but the club was hoping he'll play, while there were concerns over star backman Darren Glass's knee. Gun midfielder Matt Priddis' injury is a big blow; he's out for three weeks. Mark LeCras and Sam Butler are also missing. On the long-term list is Mitch Brown.
The key: Confidence and quality
Without Brownlow winners Chris Judd and Cousins this is a list adjusting to the loss of top quality in the engine room. Add to that the injury cloud over ruck king Cox and the loss of the talented Priddis to injury and that's a huge hole.
Confidence is another key – two losses on the trot for the Eagles versus a side high on a roll after two good victories on the spin.
The young gun: Shannon Hurn
A breakthrough season in 2007 saw the attacking defender became a regular in defence. The 20-year-old is seen as a key part of the Eagles' future midfield.
The questions:
Can the Eagles arrest a mini-slump against a side hell-bent on revenge after the one-point loss in the 2006 grand final? Can the Swans' ruck duo of Jolly and Roberts-Thomson muzzle the threat of the injury-clouded Cox? Will Kerr's run kick-start the Eagles? Can some of the Eagles' youngsters, such as Mark Nicoski, Brad Ebert, Chris Masten, Scott Selwood and Hurn step up against the Swans' machine? And will Darren Glass be able to shackle the rejuvenated Barry Hall?
Did you know?
The Selwood brothers Adam and Scott form part of a remarkable AFL family link. These two Eagles and their brothers Troy from Brisbane and Joel from premiers Geelong make it four Selwoods playing Australian football at three different clubs at the one time.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club
