The West Coast Eagles take on Geelong at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night, two rivals that have had some epic battles in past years and who, at the start of the 2013 season, were tipped to be playing finals. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 7.40pm AEST.
The Eagles have had a year that, to those expectations, has been well below par, and looked to have kissed their finals chances good bye with the loss to the Western Bulldogs.
With the AFL announcement of the Essendon hearing on August 26, however, the Eagles suddenly have something to play for.
Should the Bombers lose premiership points, as is widely expected, the Eagles, currently tenth and two games behind eighth placed Port Adelaide, could be the team that benefits.
Only 1.2 percentage points separates West Coast from ninth placed Carlton who, with form and now injury concerns, look to be limping towards seasons-end.
Crucially, the Eagles are playing the best they have all season at a time when it counts most.
To have any chance of jumping Carlton and being into a position to benefit should Essendon lose points, they have to keep winning.
West Coast beat the Bombers comfortably in Melbourne last Sunday, their first win against a top-eight side this year.
They can take momentum from this and their win against Gold Coast the previous week, but Geelong are an entirely different prospect to either of those sides.
The Cats continue to roll on in second place in a season in which coach Chris Scott has said repeatedly that his team has not yet played its best football.
If they finally put four quarters together on Saturday night, the Eagles will be in trouble.
Injuries will be a factor for both sides, with Geelong finally give the increasingly restricted Tom Hawkins a rest and not subjecting his dodgy back to the flight to Perth.
Importantly for the Eagles, Mark LeCras won’t play after damaging his ribs kicking five goals against Essendon.
The Eagles have also left out young defender Blayne Wilson, while Geelong have omitted Jesse Stringer.
The unavailability of Lecras may prove the deciding factor should the Eagles manage to stay close for the majority of the game, his poise and skill likely to be missed.
For West Coast, Luke Shuey and Adam Carter come into the side, while Geelong have added pace in youngsters Jordan Murdoch and Mark Blicavs.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Well, that was distressing. At West Leederville hoping the train comes before any rain.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Matthew Stokes has celebrated his 150th in style, while Sharrod Wellingham has had a 100th game he would rather forget. Geelong supporters will no doubt be happy, while Eagles fans will be wondering where their season went wrong. Injuries haven't helped the Eagles but there is more behind their miserable season than that. Looking forward to seeing how the rest of this round pans out, as well as the final two rounds of the season. The is Chris Mason signing off for the night.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Geelong have their last two games at home and look to be on track for a tilt at yet another premiership. They have made a statement with this win tonight and any team that meets them from this point on will underestimate them at their peril. They outplayed the Eagles in every facet of the game, controlling it from the start and never looking like they were going to lose. They will face tougher opponents in the week's ahead but this team knows how to win and they play for each other, a dangerous combination. It's hard to see anyone knocking them over in this form.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Well that's full time and a comprehensive thrashing of the West Coast Eagles by Geelong Cats by 66 points at Patersons Stadium. 41 points is the lowest ever score by the Eagles at the ground and typifies a performance that is well below par for a side that at the beginning of the year were touted as a firm contender for a premiership. Their slim hopes of sneaking into the eight on the back of Essendon penalties is well and truly gone now. They meet the Magpies in Melbourne next week in what could be another thrashing if they serve up what they did tonight.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Jack Darling marks just outside 50 and drills it home, two in a row for the Eagles after Wellingham's goal a few minutes earlier.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Under 4 minutes to go now and the sting is well and truly gone from this one. Geelong playign keepings off, Podsiadsly pumps it inside 50 and Duncan's snap hits the post. Geelong 106-35.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Few technical difficulties for a bit there but we're back and Geelong still have a 70 point lead on the Eagles.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Josh Caddy with the first inside 50 of the final quarter but Mitch Brown marks his kick.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Final Quarter is underway
chrismason
Roar Guru
3 Quarter Time and the Cats lead by 70 points against an Eagles side that have just not turned up. Geelong have been very good but the Eagles have been disappointing after coming into the game with a lot to play for. They have put in a performance that has summed up their season - full of promise and expectation, but the reality has been far from the mark. The best players for Geelong have been, well, Geelong - the entire team is working for each other and playing a brand of football that will hold them in good stead for a finals series in which they will surely play a big part. Hard to find any stand-outs for the Eagles but Sharrod Wellingham has tried hard all night and Scott Selwood has done some good things. The only question is can Geelong win by 100 points?
chrismason
Roar Guru
The Selwood's have been opposed to each other for a large part of the night and there is quite a bit of banter between the two.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Sheppherd wins a free in the centre square for a slide from Bartell. Into the Eagles 50 and Scott Selwood wins a free for a high tackle and slots the goal.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Well there's another one for Geelong as they run the length of the ground yet again and Murdoch bends one around on his left for a goal. Four in a row for the Cats for a 76 point lead
chrismason
Roar Guru
Kennedy wins a free for a high tackle outside 50, kicks it inside but Dalziell gives away a free kick for hands in the back in the goal square. Sums up the Eagles night
chrismason
Roar Guru
The Cats are toying with the Eagles here and seem to be able to do whatever they want with little fear from the opposition side. The Eagles have no system and bomb it forward when they do get it only for the Cats to regain possession easily and hit up players that are, more often than not, running into dangerous positions.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Eagles scrapping in front of their goals but give away a free kick to a high tackle and Geeliong are away.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Embley has been subbed on for Luke Shuey who has had a quiet night after coming back from injury
chrismason
Roar Guru
Christensen kicks another one for the Cats, all too easy now, up by 70. Concerns though for the Cats now as it looks like Walker may have a wrist injury as he comes to the bench.
chrismason
Roar Guru
This looks like Geelong are playing a reserves side at the moment.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Here's one for the Eagles though as Cox line's up form the left pocket, he misses to the near side