Western Derby XXVII - Who will win and why?

[Scotland]

It's Thursday and there is no pre-match thread so here it is.

West Coast vs Fremantle, Subiaco Oval, Satruday April 5 2008.
Predicted weather conditions: few showers, Max 25°C.

Last time they met: Fremantle 19.10.124 def West Coast 14.13.97
Last 5 meetings: Fremantle 3, West Coast 2.

Teams:

WEST COAST
B: Hurn, Glass, B.Jones
HB: Waters, Hunter, A.Selwood
C: Ebert, Kerr, Braun
HF: Embley, Hansen, Staker
F: Wirrpanda, Lynch, Seaby
FOLL: Cox, Priddis, Stenglein
I/C: Fletcher, Nicoski, Kennedy, S.Selwood
EMG: Masten, McNamara, McKinley
IN: Kennedy, S.Selwood
OUT: Graham, Masten
NEW: Scott Selwood, Selection No.22, 2007 AFL National Draft, from Bendigo Under-18s

FREMANTLE
B: Hayden, McPharlin, Grover
HB: Dodd, Michael Johnson, Mundy
C: Headland, J.Carr, Peake
HF: Bell, Tarrant, Mayne
F: Farmer, Pavlich, Gilmore
FOLL: Sandilands, M.Carr, Palmer
I/C: Crowley, Duffield, Ibbotson, Schammer
EMG: Drum, Warnock, Black
IN: Duffield
OUT: Campbell

Who do you think will win?

Which of our strengths will we look to use to our advantage?

Which of our weaknesses will Freo will look to exploit?

Who are the key players for each side? Who are you expecting to lift/struggle?

-----

Freo fans welcome of course, but let's see if we can get a decent discussion going about the game instead of point scoring over drug taking, wife beating, trading for Croad etc.

P.S. for those who support Freo, XXVII means 27, it's not some nasty West Australian inspired insult that has been blocked by the BigFooty swear filter.

 

[sdsdsdsd]

Not either a freo or coast fan but managed to watch both matches last week so these are my opinions, wont be 100% accurate but il do my best

Who do you think will win? Freo (just)

Which of our strengths will we look to use to our advantage? I feel this game could be a lot similiar to the adelaide last week. Your midfield was superior to adelaide and again i see it as your strongest advantage. If it rains then players such as kerr, masten(if he plays) and jmac(if he plays) should thrive on this and you will win this department.

Which of our weaknesses will Freo will look to exploit? Again like last week your foward line. If eagles are going to win this, you guys will need to improve your forward line pressure or people such as hayden, schammer and stuff will rebound everytime, alot similiar to adelaide.

Who are the key players for each side? Who are you expecting to lift/struggle?
Pav/Glass is a very important match up and the winner of that could have a major say on the outcome of the game. Probably the 2 most imposrant players along with kerr, lynch and jcarr,headland who usually kills you guys.

 

[Lynch takes a mark]

unless we can get a serious amount of run and carry from Braun, Hunter, Hurn and Brett Jones then we will get flogged.

 

[Flymaster]

Not either a freo or coast fan but managed to watch both matches last week so these are my opinions, wont be 100% accurate but il do my best

Who do you think will win? Freo (just)

Which of our strengths will we look to use to our advantage? I feel this game could be a lot similiar to the adelaide last week. Your midfield was superior to adelaide and again i see it as your strongest advantage. If it rains then players such as kerr, masten(if he plays) and jmac(if he plays) should thrive on this and you will win this department.

Which of our weaknesses will Freo will look to exploit? Again like last week your foward line. If eagles are going to win this, you guys will need to improve your forward line pressure or people such as hayden, schammer and stuff will rebound everytime, alot similiar to adelaide.

Who are the key players for each side? Who are you expecting to lift/struggle?
Pav/Glass is a very important match up and the winner of that could have a major say on the outcome of the game. Probably the 2 most imposrant players along with kerr, lynch and jcarr,headland who usually kills you guys.

I agree that forward line pressure is the key this week. That's where we got smashed last week, albeit only for about half the game which was enough to get belted on the scoreboard. Having said that, Freo do not have anyone of the same class as McLeod and Johncock down back. Hayden and Schammer won't get off the chain like the other 2 did, nor are they capable of causing as much damage.

 

[jesterwester]

I think that this game really relies on Michael Braun of all people. If you watch his two games this year, he had a good game round one. We won. He was well tagged round two, we got flogged.
The reason imo he is so important to the side is his experience & toughness around contests, for a little bloke he shakes an awful lot of tackles, and generally uses the ball so well. He also would be in the elite class in regards to running as well.
There are a few things that will happen this week. It will rain, Cox will play well, Josh Carr will try to niggle Daniel Kerr. How well Daniel kerr responds to that will be interesting, but Fremantle will have to watch that they aren't Kerr conscious this week- i have a feeling that there will be more run in the legs from the midfield this week.

Beware a wounded proud side.

 

[the crane]

we will win

go eagles.

 

[Scotland]

I'll have a go at my own post...

Which of our strengths should we look to use to our advantage?

Cox & Seaby alternating through the ruck to run Sandilands ragged. Seaby to float forward and Cox to run around picking up touches in midfield. For whatever reason, Warnock isn't getting a game, and Gilmore while a good runner is a lousy tap ruckman.

Braun, Kerr & Embley. Guys who can run & carry the ball and find it themselves. The ability to throw these guys into the engine room is a bonus. The idea of Peake, Schammer etc. doing the same doesn't frighten me.

Priddis. While not overly damaging, he is a clearance machine. The brothers stupid are likely to go after Kerr, so Priddis could slip under the radar.

Run off half-back from Brett Jones, Hunter, Hurn & Nicoski. Our forward line has a better chance of functioning if the ball is coming in quickly, and the lollipop handballs and slow ball movement aren't achieving a lot. Run the ball hard and kick it long.

Which of our weaknesses will Freo should look to exploit?

Our forward line. Top-heavy, disfunctional and unaccountable. Black, Johnson, Dodd, Hayden etc. all love to run and carry the ball from half-back and set up play. We love to bomb the ball in long to contests and don't like chasing and tackling. If Harvey can't see how we play into Freo's hands there he is a muppet.

Our midfield. Sans Judd and Cousins, it's not as imposing as it one was. As as well as being weaker around stoppages, our midfield (bar those given tagging roles) don't like working the other way. The less focus on negating our guys and the more focus on running free and creating play, the more headaches we will have. You can afford to roll the dice a lot more against Priddis & Fletcher than you can against Cousins & Judd.

Who are the key players for each side? Who are you expecting to lift/struggle?

West Coast: Cox, Kerr, Priddis, Hansen & Lynch (both have to lift and work harder defensively), Glass.

Freo: Pavlich, Farmer, Tarrant (all eyes on him, will it be another dogs breakfast or will he wake up?), Hayden, Sandilands, J Carr (little prick always does well against us. The bravado and rough tactics are only annoying when they are off the play and aren't picked up by the umps, but the 30 possessions and a couple of goals are annoying always. We need to keep tabs on this bloke)

 

[M4TTh3W]

The eagles need to play flowing footy through the midfield and apply pressure not just in the forward line but all parts of the ground.
Also they need to play a bit smarter than last week and use team mates around them. And last but not lease, they should try running in groups. Get on top of the dockers, and out number them and prssure them in all areas. We can do this! Go Eagles!
_______________
.:Matthew:.

 

[sumavich]

Masten out is an interesting one. I reckon he'll play, he didn't do a lot wrong last week. Therefore, I think both teams will not start as picked.
I think the game will be very close, and in the end it will depend on who plays the full four quarters.
We haven't done that yet, and neither have you lot.
Conclusion - DRAW.

 

[SupersonicDocker]

Assuming Selwood was always going to play so masten on ebert would have had to make way. Ebert seemed pretty dam good with the ball, probably a little further ahead than masten development wise.

For me this game is a Coin Toss, like they have been for nearly 3 years. If it rains enough to affect the conditions, Eagles. if it's dry, Dockers. But neither team will get flogged

Maybe the tell tale will be the tall timber, Lynch/Hansen/Pavlich/Tarrant... Whichever combo comes out on top...

though i have a feeling tarrant may be sent on to kennedy even for a while if kennedy plays close to goals...

 

[West Coast 06]

Freo will win because Worsfold is too busy having a battle of wills with Nesbitt to notice that we are going in far too tall for a forecast wet game, and our forwardline has become effectively worse than last week if that is actually possible.

 

[crisco]

Who do you think will win? Knobjobs(purple panzies)

Which of our strengths will we look to use to our advantage? running, kicking it to Lynch, Seaby

Which of our weaknesses will Freo will look to exploit? all they have to do is tackle us or wait till 4 of our boys all decide to hanball around in a circle

Who are the key players for each side? Who are you expecting to lift/struggle?

LIFT- Kerr, Lynch, Pavlich

STRUGGLES- Priddis, Glass

 

[sdsdsdsd]

Not either a freo or coast fan but managed to watch both matches last week so these are my opinions, wont be 100% accurate but il do my best

Who do you think will win? Freo (just)

Which of our strengths will we look to use to our advantage? I feel this game could be a lot similiar to the adelaide last week. Your midfield was superior to adelaide and again i see it as your strongest advantage. If it rains then players such as kerr, masten(if he plays) and jmac(if he plays) should thrive on this and you will win this department.

Which of our weaknesses will Freo will look to exploit? Again like last week your foward line. If eagles are going to win this, you guys will need to improve your forward line pressure or people such as hayden, schammer and stuff will rebound everytime, alot similiar to adelaide.

Who are the key players for each side? Who are you expecting to lift/struggle?
Pav/Glass is a very important match up and the winner of that could have a major say on the outcome of the game. Probably the 2 most imposrant players along with kerr, lynch and jcarr,headland who usually kills you guys.

Probably change this now considering the teams. Considering the weather i would have put jmac and masten over nicoski and kenedy. Agree with many posters that mckinley shuld get a go over hansen but realistically i didnt see it happening. Also i dont understand y every1 thinks ebert was so great last week, he had his moments but had 14 disposals for 7 clangers.

New prediction: Freo by 20-30

 

[Crimson King]

If Kennedy and Lynch kick 10 between them we will win.

 

[Genesis67]

This Derby will be won on ball delivery.

The Eagles won the clearances and the ruck taps last week, but spent the day butchering the delivery of the football, especially into the forward line. The Dockers may be 0-2, but both were meritorious losses against probable Top 4 sides.

With the Eagles going tall again, we cant afford the same skill level as last week. If the teams line up as announced, we'll need to ensure we take marks inside the 50, because we can expect to see more than a few rebounds from the Freo defence once the pill hits the ground.

Glass on Pavlich will be important, but I dont think will be indicative of the result. If Hunter gets Tarrant, he will be an important avenue to the forward line for us, cus Tarrant doesnt understand what chasing his man means.

I think Brett Jones to Jeff Farmer. Easily quick enough, but taller and stronger. If the Wizard starts to get the better of him, push Staker back onto him in a pure tagging role.

Us by 13 points (I hope!)

 

[Cuzz09]

If Kennedy and Lynch kick 10 between them we will win.

Yeah, asking a bit.

Be nice to see Lynchy get into the goals a bit more.

 

[sumavich]

Who do you think will win? Knobjobs(purple panzies)

Which of our strengths will we look to use to our advantage? running, kicking it to Lynch, Seaby

Which of our weaknesses will Freo will look to exploit? all they have to do is tackle us or wait till 4 of our boys all decide to hanball around in a circle

Who are the key players for each side? Who are you expecting to lift/struggle?

LIFT- Kerr, Lynch, Pavlich

STRUGGLES- Priddis, Glass

Didn't take long for one of you Primma Donnas to get offensive !!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!

 

[crisco]

Didn't take long for one of you Primma Donnas to get offensive !!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!

its derby week mate, cmon get into the spirit

 

[sumavich]

I did, it was the BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!

 

[back pocket]

While the eagles are to be commended on their new-found culture, and general goody-two-shoesedness, I believe their football has suffered, since we all know they are a much better unit with a healthy assortment of criminals.

So my prediction is Freo by 8 points even though the eagles will get 738 possessions, 74 free kicks, and boo the Purple out of Jeffery for no apparent reason.

 

[Coast_Watch]

Unfortunately, I fear the Eagles will get flogged. There are too many lumbering talls in the squad, so it lacks both speed and 'balance' - Neil Craig now knows what that means to a side. We can't afford to carry both Kennedy and Staker in the same side; it means we will lack the ground speed and agility to place attacking and defensive pressure in our forward area (sad)

 

[anti.]

mckinley in as a late change, he'll kick 5. we'll win by 40.

yeah, i can dream.

 

[wce4premiership]

It will be a draw.


Eagles midfield is still far superior to the shockers, priddis, kerr, cox and even embley are better then what's at their disposal. Freo's forward line is way better then ours though and i don't think glass knee is 100% fixed yet, we have no chick or banfield to take farmer the dog.

 

[eagles rule]

We will win because Freo haven`t won a game yet.

 

[mark johns]

Who do you think will win?
eagles by 3 goals
Which of our strengths will we look to use to our advantage?
clearances priddis, kerr, cox should give us alot of forward fifty entrents
Which of our weaknesses will Freo will look to exploit?
our lack of forward line pressure
our inability to man up anywere on the ground we continually allow
40m kicks to open people when they should have to kick to a contest
Who are the key players for each side? Who are you expecting to lift/struggle?
priddis for glendinning
staker 4 goals