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Eagles now flying above the radar

Expert
16th June, 2015
16

I’m pretty happy with myself. I wrote that if the AFL grand final was played on paper, West Coast and Sydney would square off for the ultimate prize.

However that was before last season, and the Eagles ended up missing the eight, struggling against the good sides.

I also need to admit that I didn’t believe they would make the eight this season. Their midfield looked slow, lacked depth and losing Eric Mackenzie was close to the biggest loss player-wise for any team in 2015.

Yet at the halfway mark they have recorded eight victories, including seven in their past eight, after Fremantle thrashed them back in Round 3. North Melbourne has been their only defeat since then, and the football world is starting to take notice.

They have a favourable draw leading into the finals and have regained their ability to be dominant at Subiaco Oval. Most importantly, they are coping with key players being absent for long periods through injury.

Mackenzie, as mentioned, is gone for the season with a knee injury, as is his replacement, Mitchell Brown. This leaves Will Schofield and Jeremy McGovern to play as key defenders, and they are performing well.

Jack Darling has only just returned, but the forward line has combined effectively without him. Josh Kennedy is on Coleman Medal pace, while Mark LeCras, after some horrible injuries, is returning to his blistering, All Australian form of 2010.

Jamie Cripps and Josh Hill although still inconsistent at times are contributing, giving the Eagles one of the best-performing forward lines.

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Nic Naitanui has had to step up to take over as number one ruckman after the retirement of the great Dean Cox, and has handled the responsibility, which has resulted in more disposals each game and more involvement every week for longer periods.

The midfield seems to have disguised the lack of pace by winning the football. Brownlow medalist Matthew Priddis has been more prolific than ever, averaging 30 touches a game to be shading last year, when he was just under 29. He obviously knows how to poll votes and must be in contention again.

Chris Masten’s use of the footy has improved and Andrew Gaff is learning to break tags better as he just keeps running on the wings.

The addition of first-round draft pick Liam Duggan has been seamless, he plays like he has more than 100 games’ experience, and Sharrod Wellingham is approaching some of his Collingwood form when they won the flag five seasons ago. Elliott Yo, now in his second season back home, is also shining as a versatile option.

On form they will be favoured to win their three matches after the bye, although Richmond this week will be a tough test.

We will know whether West Coast is good enough after Round 20 when they have played Adelaide, Collingwood, Sydney, Hawthorn and Fremantle in a brutal five-week block. This is the only time they meet the Hawks and the Swans this season, so it has been an easier draw than most, but that’s an 18-team competition playing 22 home-and-away matches.

Like the Magpies, who have a similar draw between Rounds 13 and 16, they probably need a couple of big scalps in that bracket to be seen as more than September nuisance value.

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