The West Coast Eagles are looking to make it three from four when they take on a Richmond Tigers team with their backs against the wall. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:10pm (AEST).
Widely tipped to knock Hawthorn off their premiership perch this season, the West Coast Eagles haven’t had it all their own way in 2016.
They were made to work in a season-opening 64-point win over the Brisbane Lions, before suffering a very disappointing 46-point loss to a vulnerable Hawks team the following week.
Last week the Eagles got back on the winners list, overcoming some dreadful accuracy to heap the pain on their winless arch rivals Fremantle.
They may be 2-1, but they’re yet to hit top gear. West Coast will be looking to hit their stride tonight.
Richmond, on the other hand, are staring down the barrel of an all too familiar story. It may be early days, but right now Richmond’s goal of winning a finals match might be snuffed out by not making finals at all.
After looking very unconvincing in a first-up win over Carlton, the Tigers have suffered bitterly disappointing losses to Collingwood and Adelaide.
Richmond have proved over the last few years that they can compete with anyone on their day, but ‘their day’ has become a difficult event to pin down.
A stirring win could give their season a spark, but a big loss will see the pressure valve go up yet another notch.
These two sides have fought a relatively even battle over the last decade, with the record split at 5-5 in the last ten matches. West Coast have taken three of the past five clashes, although the Tigers have triumphed in the last two encounters in Perth.
Prediction
They may be struggling, but Richmond are still a team nobody particularly looks forward to playing.
West Coast will have their work cut out for them, but they still have the class to take home the four points.
Eagles by 21 points
Will the Tigers continue their good recent record out west? Or will the Eagles continue to heap pressure on Richmond. Join The Roar from 8:10pm (AEST) to keep up with all the action with our live scores and blog.
jax
Guest
Average would be in the 8-10 range of the ladder. WC were better than 16 other teams last year, finishing 2nd in the H&A and backing it up by playing in the GF. If that's average we can expect the bottom four from last year to be competing for the eight this year.
DJW
Roar Rookie
Clanger Cotchin!
michael RVC
Roar Pro
WCE average at best...........pretty typical comment from a Vic footy fa. Talk about "weak in weak out". And this from what looks like a Richmond fan................let's make a comparison that might be meaningfull to you Jaques, hey............ie:. The way the Melb media carries on about Cotchin, you would think he is in the top 10 midfielders in the game. Fact is........"äverage at best" would be the correct description for him. Not knocking the guy, he is a good average player at the top level, he is captain of his club, but a topliner he is not.
jax
Guest
Hutchings replaced Pridda, not Yeo. Simmo moves Yeo around to fill holes because he is so versatile. Maybe when Welli and Ellis are back in defense Yeo can spend more minutes in the centre. Or if Lecca spent more time forward. You'd have to ask Simmo. You hate Pridda, you always have and you can't wait for an opportunity to trade or replace him. How's Redden going in the middle? Where is Sheed? Where was Masten for the first 2 weeks? These players were out of the side and Redden hasn't played well, and either has Jetta - yet Yeo wasn't played in the middle - why was that exactly Lroy? Were they all taking Yeo's spot? Of course not but let's blame Pridda when we get a chance to. Yeo played on Fyfe in the middle last week while Pridda won the Ross Glenndining Medal. Pridda is not taking Yeo's place in the middle. Simmo's game plan, structure and injuries to players is. Did Pridda run over your dog? You've had a huge grudge against him for as long as I've seen you commenting. In 2014 you said Priidis was a slow useless hack that should be traded. He won the Brownlow that year so I'm glad you're not on the selection committee. You want an inconsistent 22yo to lead the team, wow. Pridda has the 2nd most disposals of any man playing the game today and he's top 5 for tackles and CP's also I believe. Yeah, put last years Brownlow RU on the bench, smart move Lroy!
Lroy
Guest
pretty clear after tonight that Yeo is the Eagles go to man. Time for Priddis to come of the bench or be the designated tagger.... he has been holding Elliot back for far too long ... the kid can play... put him in the centre, let him lead the team... he has what it takes. Sorry, if the Eagles want to win a flag, they have to be ruthless at selection time... Brownlow or not.. Priddis is not the best player in that Eagles midfield.
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
Not sure what Hardwick's thinking, no system, no skills, no game plan, well no game plan that any of his overrated players can follow. Premature decision to sign him up for another 2 year contract, like Buckley, you really have to question their ability to lead men like their top echelon contemporaries - Beveridge and Clarkson. Thank god I dont follow this underachieving football club, they're afraid of success!! West Coast are average at best and the Tiges were spanked off the park. Kinves may be sharpened at punt road.
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Their handballing is atrocious! Never have I seen a side handball so much to teammates in danger. It's been happening for years now, I wonder what the hell is going through Hardwick's mind sometimes...
fairsuckofthesav
Guest
Training for Richmond this week should be kicks only with handballs banned.
Stirling Coates
Editor
THE ROAR MVP VOTES 3 VOTES - Elliot Yeo (WCE) - Absolutely savaged Richmond across half forward with 25 touches, nine marks, eight inside 50s and seven clearances. Kicked 2.4, although two of the behinds were passes that teammates missed, standout effort. 2 VOTES - Luke Shuey (WCE) - 22 touches might not look like a lot, but it came at an absurd 96% efficiency. Add nine tackles, eight clearances and two goals and you've got a sublime performance. 1 VOTE - Andrew Gaff (WCE) - Racked up a game-high 33 possessions and six inside 50s. Strong all night, but not as much as impact as Shuey or Yeo.
Freo As
Guest
Hahahaha, excellent!
Stirling Coates
Editor
WEST COAST EAGLES v RICHMOND FULL TIME REPORT West Coast - 18.17 (125) Richmond - 9.3 (57) GOAL KICKERS Eagles: Darling 4, Shuey 2, Hutchings 2, Kennedy 2, LeCras 2, Yeo 2 Jetta, Lycett, Hill, Redden Tigers: Riewoldt 4, Lloyd 2, Rioli 2, Lambert DISPOSAL LEADERS Eagles: Gaff 33, Yeo 25, Shuey 22 Tigers: Cotchin 29, Rance 26, McIntosh 24 TEAM STATS Disposals: Eagles 342, Tigers 339 Contested Possessions: Eagles 130, Tigers 106 Tackles: Eagles 58, Tigers 57 Insides 50s: Eagles 60, Tigers 27 Clearances: Eagles 37, Tigers 33
Samantha
Roar Rookie
Sad when a side loses by 68 and your first though is, 'wow they should have lost by twice that much'
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIREN The siren sounds just now, but we knew the result of this one a very, very long time ago. West Coast take it by 68 points over a very lacklustre Richmond side. Rumours abound that the Richmond CEO is on the phone in team rooms. WCE - 18.17 (125) RCH - 9.3 (57) FULL TIME
Deluded Don from Western Australia
Guest
Another tainted victory for West Coast tonight. Stevic gifted them so many goals. Richmond were robbed.
Stirling Coates
Editor
Be careful what you wish for...
Stirling Coates
Editor
Disposals currently at 333-333. Clearances have evened out this half. West Coast were up 22-11 at half time, back to 37-32 at present. WCE - 18.17 (125) RCH - 9.3 (57) Q4: 2'
Samantha
Roar Rookie
Can we have Carlton back playing Friday nights, they at least have a go. Tigers just dreadful to watch.
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL EAGLES Long kick to full forward, and Jack Darling - who has been West Coast's best forward all night - takes a great mark in front of the pack. Kicking from 30 out on an angle, he makes the goal umpire work again, but it's through - and that's four goals for Darling. WCE - 18.17 (125) RCH - 9.3 (57) Q4: 4'
Bill
Guest
He has been crap.
Stirling Coates
Editor
Don't believe the umpiring has been one-sided tonight, just generally poor. Exemplified by the last passage of play, quick kick to Scott Lycett bounces off his hands - mark paid regardless. Lycett hands over to Mark LeCras, LeCras is run down but executes a legal kick - holding the ball. Very disappointing. WCE - 17.17 (119) RCH - 9.3 (57) Q4: 5'