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It’s a Saturday afternoon in AFL which takes us to Skoda Stadium as the GWS Giants host the West Coast Eagles. Live scores and commentary begins from 2.10pm AEST.
It’s not hard to guess who most of the tipsters are picking for today’s game, however the Giants showed a little bit of promise and determination last week against Hawthorn.
While it wasn’t the best game the Giants had played, at least they were able to stay with a Hawks team that is destined for great things in 2013.
Whether the same can be said of today’s opponents, West Coast, is yet to be really seen, so if they can find as close to a four-quarter performance today, it could keep them in the hunt for a fair distance.
Jeremy Cameron has been the key focal point up forward and is really shining too – four goals last week makes it 22 goals from 27 shots in eight games. It’s a fair return for the 20-year-old.
And there is no doubt the team is able to get their hands on the football, with the likes of Stephen Coniglio, Callan Ward and Rhys Palmer all racking up the possessions.
But its quality that is still lacking, as well as the petrol tank in the kids, which will build in time.
Today, they face a West Coast Eagles line up that is just starting to get back near its best.
Last week, the Eagles were put under immense pressure in their clash against North Melbourne, and with sixty seconds to go, looked as if it could have been chasing plenty of tail at 3-5.
Enter Nic Naitanui.
The big number nine launched over the pack in the forward pocket to take his place on many kid’s walls in the future. Then kicked the winning goal after the siren to set the Eagles up nicely at 4-4.
But if they’re going to get to the heady heights of the top four, which was roundly predicted for 2013, the accuracy will need to improve.
Combine the scores from Rounds 4, 5 and 8 and the Eagles have an efficiency rate under 33 percent.
Despite that, forward Josh Kennedy has had a fantastic start to the year with 26 goals and eight behinds, while averaging around 13 possessions a game and half his marks being taken inside the 50m arc.
Expect to see the Eagles rest of a few of their players today, while Sharrod Wellingham (right ankle) and Will Schofield (finger) out for lengthy stints with injury.
I’d expect West Coast to get the job done and done easily. But for many, we hope to see a bit more competitiveness from the Giants and to stay in the contest longer.
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