West Coast have hung on grimly in the last quarter for a brave seven-point AFL win over the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Western Bulldogs 11.14.80
West Coast Eagles 12.15.87
A struggling West Coast Eagles side will be looking to hold onto their spot in the top eight when they take on the Western Bulldogs fresh off a win. Catch all the live scores, highlights and blog on The Roar from 1:45pm (AEST).
The Eagles are teetering on the edge of the finals equation in eighth spot and have lost four of their last five games dating back to their last encounter with the Bulldogs.
After flying out of the gates with six wins and two losses at the start of the season to sit pretty at the pointy end of the standings, the West Coast have fallen rapidly over the past two months.
They’re fresh of a painful three-point loss at the hands of the Demons last week that saw them give up a three-goal lead in the final quarter.
For the Bulldogs, they too are coming into this one off the back of a thrilling contest, this time on the winning side as they just held on against the Kangaroos to take a much-needed one-point win.
In the midst of a tough premiership defence, the Dogs are now sitting equal with the Eagles on 28 points but sit back in tenth on percentage.
Their undulating form has seen them win two and lose three from their last five games.
West Coast got the better of the Bulldogs back in Round 8 with a grinding eight-point win to snap a run of three losses from four games against the Dogs.
They have both won four games each against each other over the last four years, including an incredible three games that have been won by more than 60 points.
Team News
The Bulldogs will welcome back skipper Bob Murphy from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since Round 10 against the Saints.
Tom Liberatore has been ruled out though with a cork that won’t go away.
For the Eagles, coach Adam Simpson has been hit with a host of injuries to deal with this week.
Shannon Hurn has been ruled out with concussion troubles, while Will Schofield has failed to prove his fitness as he suffers through a hip injury.
Josh Hill is suffering from illness and Matt Priddis is the final change, being taken out of the side with general soreness and recovery.
This opens the door for veteran Sam Butler, Chris Masten, Sharrod Wellingham and Jack Redden to all come into the side.
Prediction
This is a hard one to pick just because both sides have been so inconsistent this season.
The Eagles are certainly the out of form side leading into this one but this could be the game to turn it back around and head towards the pointy end of the standings again.
The Bulldogs just didn’t show enough last week to be confident in picking them this week and I think their premiership hangover may continue.
West Coast to win by 13
Mattician6x6
Guest
IAP - did you catch Darlings game? No need for sarcasm now ;)
Mattician6x6
Guest
Trade stringer while other clubs think he has talent.
Mattician6x6
Guest
A mighty victory against all odds, the bulldogs are the woewodin of premiership winners it seems. Great to see Darling silence the doubters( a greater talent than stringer) and for vardy to prove the difference in the last 5minutes. Too old, too slow, pretenders but remaining in finals calculations.
Mad Bulldog
Guest
Weak effort again by the dogs! Now they cant make the eight - might as well tank and run last! They will lose almost all of their remaining matches as they play with no spirit. Until next year....
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
The Wallis mark that shouldn't have been and the Darling mark that wasn't paid were glaring errors For all the 'unpaid' frees against the Eagles,there at least half a dozen illegal disposals by the Dogs that happened under the umpires' nose(s). Not the best umpiring display,but the Dog's didn't do enough
I ate pies
Guest
Hawthorn did it in 2009.
Connor Bennett
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report The Eagles move up into seventh ahead of the Swans with that win while the Dogs stick down in 10th. Andrew Gaff racked up 42 disposals throughout the afternoon.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME The final siren sounds and the West Coast Eagles can breath a massive sigh of relief after a nerve-racking final quarter for the Eagles who confirm their spot in the top eight. They were 30 points up at one point in the second half but conceded 29 points and scored just 2 of their own in the last quarter to let the Dogs back within one point. Nathan Vardy kicked the final goal of the game with a few minutes to go for the Eagles to push the lead back out beyond one goal and hault the momentum of the Dogs and thats the way the scores would end. Bulldogs 11.14 (80) West Coast 12.15 (87)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Inside the final minute now. The Dogs in possession but they have to go coast to coast and somehow find two scoring shots in 50 seconds. Bulldogs 11.14 (80) West Coast 12.15 (87)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' McGovern marks between two Bulldog forwards in front of his own goal sqaure!! That is huge, he's denied a certain six points for the defending premiers and they're running out of time now. Bulldogs 11.14 (80) West Coast 12.15 (87)
Matto
Guest
Of course they could. Will dogs be the first premiers to miss the 8.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' West Coast up front again now... they're really trying to slow the pace of the game down here, they want to take as much time off the clock as they can as they punch it across the park from right to left through the midfield looking to stretch the Dogs. Bulldogs 11.14 (80) West Coast 12.15 (87)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Dogs under the pump... at the top of the goal square... AND WEST COAST HIT ONE!! GOAL EAGLES!! That is huge!! It took nearly the entire term but the Eagles finally have their first of the quarter!! Just three minutes left and Nathan Vardy has snapped it through for six points in the midst of a sea of bodies in the Dogs goal square. The lead beyond one goal and the Bulldogs are again desperately chasing the lead. Bulldogs 11.14 (80) West Coast 12.15 (87)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' On a side note, Andrew Gaff has an incredible 41 disposals for the game so far for West Coast. Bulldogs 11.14 (80) West Coast 11.15 (81)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' This is insane footy!! Still 5 minutes on the game clock and somehow the lead is just one. The Eagles have scored just two points in the final term to the Dogs 29. Bulldogs 11.14 (80) West Coast 11.15 (81)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL BULLDOGS!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!! Jake Stringer like a snake in the grass pops up at the top of the goal square as the Eagles look to clear out of the danger zone and he picks off the short kick from the Eagles and pumps the footy through goal from 10 metres out. One point in it!! Bulldogs 11.14 (80) West Coast 11.15 (81)
peter chrisp
Guest
Can the West Coast hang on
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Mitch Wallis fires off from long range on the run... but he hooks it through the left gate for a behind!! The lead is seven now and the pressure continues to build. Bulldogs 10.14 (74) West Coast 11.15 (81)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Out on the full from West Coast and the Dogs fans love that one. They're leaving the door open for the Bulldogs but they need to get back up the other end of the park. Bulldogs 10.13 (73) West Coast 11.15 (81)