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West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons Highlights: AFL live scores, blog

Roar Guru
24th June, 2017
Kick-off: 7.40pm (AEST), 5.40pm (AWST) Saturday 24 June 2017
Venue: Subiaco

Last five games
R18, 2016, West Coast 10.6 (66) d Melbourne 8.12 (60) at Domain Stadium
R14, 2015, West Coast 16.18 (114) d Melbourne 9.6 (60) at TIO Stadium
R22, 2014, West Coast 18.11 (119) d Melbourne 8.5 (53) at Domain Stadium
R2, 2014, West Coast 18.15 (123) d Melbourne 4.6 (30) at the MCG
R3, 2013, West Coast 27.15 (177) d Melbourne 13.5 (83) at the MCG

West Coast Eagles
B Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Will Schofield
HB Thomas Cole,Tom Barrass, Brad Sheppard
C Andrew Gaff, Matt Priddis, Elliot Yeo
HF Lewis Jetta, Jack Darling, Dom Sheed
F Liam Duggan, Jeremy McGovern, Drew Petrie
Fol Nathan Vardy, Sam Mitchell, Luke Shuey
I/C Jamie Cripps, Mark Hutchings, Josh Hill, Malcolm Karpany

Melbourne Demons
B Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB Jordan Lewis, Sam Frost, Jayden Hunt
C Christian Salem, Clayton Oliver, Jake Melksham
HF James Harmes, Cameron Pedersen, Christian Petracca
F Mitch Hannan, Tom McDonald, Jeff Garlett
Fol Max Gawn, Bernie Vince, Jack Viney
I/C Dom Tyson, Billy Stretch, Alex Neal-Bullen, Tomas Bugg
Roar Guru
24th June, 2017
132
4120 Reads

Match result:

Melbourne have pulled off a sensational last minute win over the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco.

» Click here to read the full match report

Final score
West Coast Eagles 14.12.96
Melbourne Demons 15.9.99

Match preview:

The finals will be shaped in Perth tonight, as the West Coast Eagles face the Melbourne Demons at Subiaco. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 7:40pm AEST (5.40pm AWST).

It’s been a long time since the Demons had a win against this team – almost eight years in fact.

But Melbourne seem altogether a different proposition in 2017 – demonstrated no better than by their thumping win over the reigning premiers last week – and so most betting markets have framed this game as being essentially too close to call.

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With both teams sitting on seven wins and five losses, just outside the top four, it certainly looks an even contest on paper, although West Coast have home ground advantage.

There’s a perception that things seem to be falling into place for the Dees. While they haven’t been totally consistent, they seem to have hit a pretty strong run of form over the past five rounds, winning four of those games.

And tonight they welcome back influential ruckman Max Gawn, who has missed most of the season. How he works in tandem with Cam Pedersen, who has filled in ably, will be one of the points of interest in this game.

From West Coast’s perspective every game is taking on extra significance in a year where not much separates the top of the ladder from the bottom. Their struggles to win on the road make it essential that they consistently beat teams near their level at home.

Last week against the red-hot Cats they did exactly that, although it got closer than they would have liked.

The Eagles boast a powerful midfield group, including Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff, Matt Priddis, Elliot Yeo and the rapidly improving Dom Sheed, and they seem to be in form right now.

At selection, Mark LeCras and Jackson Nelson miss through injury for the home side, while Josh J Kennedy is still not ready to resume his position at full forward. Josh Hill and Malcolm Karpany come in.

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Two significant outs for Melbourne, with Nathan Jones and Jack Watts missing through injury. Billy Stretch comes in, and of course the Demons regain Max Gawn.

Prediction
Both these sides seem to be hovering around the bottom of the eight, but arguably Melbourne’s best footy this year has been more impressive than the Eagles’.

Neither side has been all that consistent, but at home West Coast have generally got the results they wanted. An eight-point loss to the Giants is their only slip at Subiaco.

With the Demons missing Jones and Watts, and given their history of sometimes struggling to back up from a good result, the Eagles look more likely tonight.

West Coast by 18 points.

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