Preview Rd.18 West Coast Eagles vs Brisbane Lions

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Will Eagles soar

Or Lions roar

Clash of greats

Optus Stadium awaits

West Coast:16th

Brisbane Lions: 7th

History: West Coast Rivalry By The Numbers (lions.com.au)

And who can forget the last time we met our champion legend Gunners kicking half a dozen majors: https://www.afl.com.au/news/965558/match-report-brisbane-lions-v-west-coast-eagles

From West Coast Perspective.

What can you say about The Eagles. For those not living in Western Australia it would be difficult to comprehend that The Eagles are really one player team. Ever since Harley Reid was drafted to the Eagles the west has endured Harley mania not seen since the Beatles visited Auzieland. Harley is everywhere. Stalking has become legal because Harley cannot fart without it being reported. Every move he makes The West Australian newspaper would be reporting it, back page, daily. It would not surprise if Harley had his personal “Groom of the Stool “appointed to him.

In fact, you bustard Easterners keep you grubby little hands away from our Harley with your multi-million dollar offers. You know if we lose Harley we will secede, close our borders, build a ****ing wall and have you Mexicans shot on sight if you try entering our glorious new country.

When Harley extends, Western Australia will appoint him King, declare us as a Monarchy, line up prospective lasses to ensure lineage is preserved and henceforth WA will be known as Harleynia.

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Thanks to FreoGirl

Oh, other West Coast key players for this game: Well, I can list them, but they don’t really matter, suffice to say we gave them two champions of the game in Elliot Yeo and Witherden. Our discards generally give as some heartache, exhibit A: Keays on the weekend. So, expect Witho to kick a bag now that Starcevich is not available to man him up.

Brisbane Lions.

We have been rather inconsistent running hot and cold during games. Period of excellence that should have put other teams to the sword, followed by mediocrity, keeping teams in the game with poor goal kicking accuracy.

Yes, we are winning ugly and that is a good thing. At this stage accumulating points and keeping in touch with the leading pack. Unbelievably we are 4 points, a win away from top four.

Currently our defence is way too easy to score against. Fagan alluded to this in his pressers, and they are working on solutions. I would just like us to be comfortable at Optus this Sunday.

Obviously, we will be missing Starcevich, and a replacement will come from one of: Prior, Brain or a debut for Beeken. Other option may be to re-shaffle, such as moving Ah Che back and bringing in one of Tunstill, Robertson or Sharp.

A concern for me has been what appears the decline of Lester and the out of form McKenna. They are huge reason for us leaking goals like a siv. It is not entirely on the defence as well, as our midfield’s two way running, and defensive work also needs to step up. Lester is looking and playing like he is mentally exhausted and tired. The Eagles have Darling, Allen and Waterman. It’s a worry Lester going to any of them. Does he need a rest? However, our options now are limited, with Joyce the only tall option available. Oscar Allen has hit form; Waterman has been a revelation and Darling always a possibility of breaking out. West Coast will get the media slap this week and be fired up for one last salvage job for Simpson.

Goalkicking has been very inconsistent all season. We have lost winnable games because of our goal kicking inefficiencies. We have been able to survive the last few weeks but at some stage a better team will make us pay dearly.

Our midfield/forward connection also needs to improve. Too often we bomb it in to give us territory or hoping one of our talls will compete for a mark or bring it to ground. This is unsustainable especially come finals pressure games. So many burnt leads. This part of our game is all over the field.

Prediction and Expectations:

We are a contender and a top four side, so there should be no qualms about us winning comfortably. However, taking any opposition for granted is fraught with danger.

The defence is strongly dependant on Andrews who is in AA form. Payne has established himself as a critical cog and Zorko’s slotting into the distributor role has elevated his game to new highs. I expect our defence to capably deal with whatever comes their way, however a whole of team defence approach needs to be in operation to ensure no banana slip ups at Optus.

Our Midfield quartet of Neale, Dunkley, McCluggage, Berry is at the top of their game and should receive good service from BigO. Our midfield should get on top of the Eagles mids. However, others such as Rayner, Bailey, need to lift around them. Wash will take some time to reach peak levels, however this should be a game where he can build upon a positive return from his ACL.

Our forwards so far this year have been hit and miss. Periods where they looked unstoppable and periods where you wonder what is going on in their heads. The game against Adelaide our forwards reverted to playing selfishly and just about all had a go at goal or mark of the year, when a simpler team approach should have sent Adelaide packing home with 30 points plus defeat. To say that our forward’s connection with the offensive play is horrendous is a bit generous. After six years competing in finals and relatively unchanged and consistent line up to still be struggling with connection is unbelievable. If we are to maintain our run and go deep in finals this part of our game must be addressed and soon.

A win this week will set us up for a huge clash v Sydney.

In Conclusion I expect only one forced change.

Starcevich – Out

Prior – In

What are you talking about?! Lester has been brilliant all year.

 

[Section 5]

Allowing for the Eagles circumstances i can't see us losing this game.
It should be a minimum of 30 points win.

There will still be a big crowd for our guys to deal with even though the Eagles are at the bottom end of the ladder.
Crowd numbers in their 3 recent losses at Optus.
49k, 43k, 47k.

 

[Nunez]

Lions by 30 is where I think this ends up too. 4 points and no injuries is all I really care about.

 

[Lionwest]

Does anyone know the details for the captains run this afternoon at Optus? What gate number do you enter from?

 

[Nathan Barley]

They left yesterday

Yes, is that normal?

 

[knaf]

Not across all the players in all the teams, but a lot of names I don’t know in the eagles team.
Harry Edwards,
Luke Edwards,
Zane Trew,
Ryan Maric
Brady Hough

Amongst others. Perhaps a local Eagles expert can give me a short comment?

Thanks

 

[Nathan Barley]

Not across all the players in all the teams, but a lot of names I don’t know in the eagles team.
Harry Edwards,
Luke Edwards,
Zane Trew,
Ryan Maric
Brady Hough

Amongst others. Perhaps a local Eagles expert can give me a short comment?

Thanks

Hough will likely go to Charlie and shut him down

 

[Grasshopper17]

Do they usually travel 2 days before a Perth game?

That's my understanding. Makes sense to me. Captain's run today in Perth.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Do they usually travel 2 days before a Perth game?

Are you going to the game Nathan?

 

[Nathan Barley]

Are you going to the game Nathan?

Yup. First since the 1 point loss to freo a few years back

 

[Perrip]

Does anyone know the details for the captains run this afternoon at Optus? What gate number do you enter from?

Normally Gate D for non-WA teams who have open training at Optus. It's on at 2-2:45pm

 

[Nunez]

Yup. First since the 1 point loss to freo a few years back

You're the new Dom Fay.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Doedee did his ACL at the start of the year. No way he is ready.

Partial tear

 

[Elixuh]

Partial tear

Yeah but it’s a full reco isn’t it

 

[Nunez]

Yeah but it’s a full reco isn’t it

Indeed it was.

 

[werdna78]

Yeah but it’s a full reco isn’t it

Indeed it was.

Bang bang Nunez and Elixuh.

 

[Nunez]

Bang bang Nunez and Elixuh.

We are not one but Dew.

 

[McIvor]

Yup. First since the 1 point loss to freo a few years back

I rarely post in the match day thread but when I always watch the replay, I read through that thread and I must admit Nathan, I’m expecting the thread to be half the length if you’re going to the game Hope the boys make it an enjoyable day for you

 

[morsie]

Hope we are practising our chicken wing tackles.Umps paying it every time.Not certain how you can dispose of the ball with one arm held.

 

[Mayestro]

Hope we are practising our chicken wing tackles.Umps paying it every time.Not certain how you can dispose of the ball with one arm held.

Lyons is very good at the one handed slap on the boot when the other hand is restrained. I hope everyone is watching his footage.

 

[FFB1]

If Footscray hold on here, Melbourne (Gawnless) can knock off the (overrated) Essendon Bombers, GC knock Port Adelaide Power and we win we'll be 4th.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Hope we are practising our chicken wing tackles.Umps paying it every time.Not certain how you can dispose of the ball with one arm held.

Steady on. I'll be happy with just tackling in general as a first step.

 

[Nathan Barley]

If Footscray hold on here, Melbourne (Gawnless) can knock off the (overrated) Essendon Bombers, GC knock Port Adelaide Power and we win we'll be 4th.

Now when has that happened before playing West Coast?

 

[Viceregal]

Just as a counterpoint and this is a personal dislike of mine and gives me the giggles ,the way players celebrate a goal these days as if they've climbed Mt. Everest is to me cringeworthy. It's often so over the top I'm thinking you must have been really desperate for that goal. And the whole team runs in sometimes . What are they, like twelve years old ?

I realise this will be an unpopular viewpoint because everything's for show these days but as another observation I haven't seen an improvement in performance or capacity to win the next clearance correlate.

Obviously some sort of bonding/coaching instruction that makes them look like try hards.

Just not my go and I understand the fans love reading stuff into it but seeing the players go off like nuts in the outer I suppose adds a bit of spectacle and gives BT something to talk about. As for the silly songs that blare out after a goal another Americanisation on which I'll make no comment.

I remember watching footage of John Coleman kicking goals and just walking back to his spot ...

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Just as a counterpoint and this is a personal dislike of mine and gives me the giggles ,the way players celebrate a goal these days as if they've climbed Mt. Everest is to me cringeworthy. It's often so over the top I'm thinking you must have been really desperate for that goal. And the whole team runs in sometimes . What are they, like twelve years old ?

I realise this will be an unpopular viewpoint because everything's for show these days but as another observation I haven't seen an improvement in performance or capacity to win the next clearance correlate.

Obviously some sort of bonding/coaching instruction that makes them look like try hards.

Just not my go and I understand the fans love reading stuff into it but seeing the players go off like nuts in the outer I suppose adds a bit of spectacle and gives BT something to talk about. As for the silly songs that blare out after a goal another Americanisation on which I'll make no comment.

Get onto youtube and watch some cricket from the 50's and 60's where the players did not go mad when success came their way. On a 100 a batsman (not a batter an Americanism I hate) would merely bow his head and raise his cap. A bowler getting a wicket would smile a bit.

Get Freddie Trueman getting his 300 wicket and the Aussies were more excited than his team mates,