The West Coast Eagles will host the Optus Stadium acclimatised Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 8:10pm AEST.
The Eagles and the Suns both played at Optus Stadium last weekend, Gold Coast against Fremantle on Saturday and West Coast took on Geelong on Sunday afternoon.
West Coast started strongly against Geelong. They faded in the third term and let the Cats back in it, but six unanswered goals in the last quarter got them across the line.
In a ‘home’ match sold to the Dockers, the Suns battled hard all day. A three-goals-to-one last quarter extended Fremantle’s three-quarter time lead, sealing the win and dealing Gold Coast their first loss of 2018.
Gold Coast stayed in Perth after their 28 point loss to Fremantle; their ten-day trip to Western Australia allowing the team to settle and avoid extra travel in this tough first half of the season on the road.
The last time these two teams met was in round 11 last year. At Metricon Stadium, the Suns took a three-point win, with Tom Lynch and Elliot Yeo kicking three goals each.
West Coast lose Liam Ryan and his incredible leap to an ankle injury this week. After three goals against the Western Bulldogs in round two, Ryan’s three-goal haul against Geelong was overshadowed by an injured ankle that could keep him out for two months.
Dual Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy will take Ryan’s place in the forward line, overcoming pre-season ankle and knee injuries.
Mark Hutchings has been omitted by the Eagles to make way for Liam Duggan, who was a late withdrawal from last week’s game with a hamstring strain.
In the Gold Coast camp there is one change. Jack Bowes joins the interchange bench to replace Pearce Hanley, who severely injured his shoulder against Fremantle.
It is milestone week for three players between these teams. The Eagles’ Nic Naitanui notches up 150 games and Mark LeCras reaches the 200 game mark. While Aaron Hall will line up in his 100th AFL game for the Suns.
Prediction
Gold Coast will be looking to bounce back after their loss to the Dockers last Saturday. Their familiarity with the ground and each other after spending ten days in Perth together should help them, but West Coast look the better outfit. The inclusion of Josh Kennedy adds even more potency to the West Coast forward line, and should get them a strong win.
West Coast Eagles by 27
Matto
Guest
Richmond have shown to be pretty soft away from Melbourne, so prob the easiest of the three.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Port,Giants,Tigers would test any team.PA and Richmond at home should get one of those
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Don't forget Masten and Cripps
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Eagles take a big win over Suns The West Coast Eagles were too strong for the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night, taking an 80 point victory at Optus Stadium. Gold Coast are a young side that got outplayed by the bigger and more experienced Eagles side. West Coast begun their night with three unanswered goals, before the Suns got going and brought it back to a nine point deficit at quarter time. Eight goals to the Eagles in the second term, including three to Jamie Cripps, blew the margin out to 54 points at half-time. The Suns held strong in the third and won the quarter by four, but in the end West Coast ran out 80 point winners. The tall forwards dominated for the Eagles; Josh Kennedy booted five in his first game of the year after returning from injury. Jack Darling also impressed with three goals. Elliot Yeo got plenty of the ball (33 disposals, 5 tackles), as did Andrew Gaff (32 disposals, 3 tackles) and Chris Masten (30 disposals, 2 goals). For Gold Coast, David Swallow kept up his good form (29 disposals, 1 goal, 3 tackles) and Lachie Weller continued to improve with 23 disposals, making an impact around the ground. Tom Lynch managed three goals, but there were too many poor entries inside 50 for the Suns and the small forwards weren’t given the opportunity to capitalise. Gold Coast must return home after ten days in Perth and regroup for the Q-Clash next Sunday. This game against Brisbane provides a great opportunity for the Suns to get back on the winners board. The third quarter produced several injury concerns with Tom Lynch (ankle), Daniel Venables (ankle) and Ben Ainsworth (concussion) all going down. Lynch returned after having his ankle strapped, but Venables was put on ice for the night. Next up West Coast will head to their nemesis the MCG, but with a game against Carlton it should be another win for the Eagles. Meanwhile, Gold Coast face Brisbane in a Q-Clash both sides will be desperate to win.
Matto
Guest
Agree. Lets hope they can keep it up. Our fixture gets pretty tough for a while after the derby.
User
Roar Rookie
Another even performance hey matto. Everyone played their role and not just jk returning but yeo and gov played their best games this season.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Thanks for tuning in tonight I'll post a match report shortly
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Full Time Statistics Goals Eagles Kennedy 5, Cipps 4, Darling 3, LeCras 2, Masten 2, Rioli 2, Venables, Waterman, Lycett Suns Lynch 3, Young 2, Fiorini, Martin, Sexton, Swallow Disposals Eagles Yeo 33, Gaff 32, Masten 30 Suns Swallow 29, Hall 26, Lyons 26 Score Eagles 139 Suns 59
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Full-Time Eagles dominant all night. Suns showed some positive signs, but it was all the Eagles from the second quarter. Kennedy finished with 5 goals, Cripps 4 and Darling 3. Good night for Mark LeCras (200 games) and Nic Naitanui (150 games), their team got the win for them in their milestone matches. Eagles 139 Suns 59
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL EAGLES Kennedy comes into the sides and bags FIVE (with a couple of misses as well). Strong return for the tall forward. Eagles 139 Suns 59
Matto
Guest
And now highest score.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Five goals for West Coast to the Suns' one in this last term. The lead has extended to 74 with 1:30 remaining. Eagles 133 Suns 59
Matto
Guest
2nd time this season a team has kicked 20 goals.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL EAGLES Darling lines up for a set shot from 50. His run up is really long - he kicks through and celebrates his third. Eagles 133 Suns 59
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
The Eagles head up along the wing with a long kick as the Mexican wave goes past, but the Suns get the intercept and string some handballs together to go back up the wing. McGovern with another intercept mark... The long ball inside 50 doesn't work against West Coast and the Suns haven't learnt. Eagles 127 Suns 59
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL SUNS At the stoppage Young picks the ball up and snaps a goal. Eagles 127 Suns 59
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL EAGLES West Coast open up heading inside 50 and the string of passes ends up with Waterman who steadies and strides towards goal. He kicks another one for the Eagles, who are really extending this lead. Eagles 127 Suns 53
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL EAGLES Masten takes a strong grab as the Suns player flies in. He can line up for a set shot and his second... Kicks truly. 2 for Masten tonight - good game. Eagles 121 Suns 53
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL EAGLES Rioli strikes it nicely from 50 and he gets his second goal for the match and AFL career. Eagles 115 Suns 53
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEHIND EAGLES Rushed behind for the Eagles. Eagles 109 Suns 53