Star midfielder Andrew Gaff could miss West Coast’s entire finals campaign after breaking Andrew Brayshaw’s jaw with an unprovoked punch in Sunday’s 58-point win over Fremantle.
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Final score
West Coast Eagles 21.16.142
Fremantle Dockers 13.6.84
The West Coast Eagles will look to keep their hopes of an AFL minor premiership alive when they take on the Fremantle Dockers in the western derby on Sunday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:40pm (AEST).
It’s been a strong season for the Eagles, but they are currently geiht points off the pace at the top of the ladder, with the Richmond Tigers favourites to take the minor premiership.
Still, the Eagles can cut that lead to four, and should do so with the Dockers on struggle street throughout much of the season.
With the finals just around the corner, the Eagles will be looking to use this match as a tune-up and a test of their attacking mettle, something they will need come the finals.
The West Coast come into this match having won three of their last four, and it was pivotal they did so given the two losses in a row they suffered beforehand.
Some of their kicking has been a little bit off the mark, but they have dominated their matches against the GWS Giants, Collingwood Magpies and Western Bulldogs. Still, the worrying signs exist after they were shut down by the North Melbourne Kangaroos in Hobart last week.
The 40-point loss saw the Eagles kick just 41 points. With just five goals to their name, it highlights the worrying attacking trend which has left them just behind Hawthorn. If they can shake that though, the Eagles could well and truly go strongly during the finals.
The Dockers, on the other hand, are at the other end of the ladder and have struggled throughout the season. They sit in 13th spot and have lost four of their last five games, with some of those being blowouts.
The worst of the lot was a month ago against the Brisbane Lions at home, with their play on both ends of the ground being inept.
They did battle back for a low-scoring win over the Port Adelaide Power, but a 54-point loss to the Melbourne Demons and another 59-point loss just last week to the Hawks more or less shows us exactly where Freo are at.
Prediction
While the Eagles lost unexpectedly last week with their attack not even close to on the money, it’s hard to see them losing back in Perth in the derby to a team who are well below the level of the Kangaroos.
Eagles by 31.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 4:40pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Ridiculous. He hasn't told them anything of the kind. That event is done to death and will be sorted by the tribunal. Try reflecting on how Freo's kid stood up yesterday. What a game and what an experience! Even though most of them have already extended their contracts, they will bond even more over this. Tab's return, Darcy's strength, the neutralizing of Hurn, Shuey and Gaff...so much to like. Just a bit of fine tuning with pin pointing disposal and there would have been far fewer turnovers...and we still have Sandi, Fyfe, Blakely, Logue and Hamling to return.
Chris
Guest
Don, he has just told the WCE heirarchy that he doesn't want them to win the flag. So, Sam Mitchell back to Melbourne and Gaff to either Melbourne or Hawthorn. Don't tell me that Sam Mitchell hasn't spoken to Jordan Lewis or Alistair Clarkson! Let's not be so naive....He is as good as gone and then he'll give us the "I am a the reformed footballer routine". How pathetic and appalling!
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Just back to the game for a moment.... I really liked Venables game..... Thought he worked his way into it.... He had a few opportunities at the CBD and reminded me of Judd on a couple of occasions.... Looks like the kid can play and will be a big cog in our midfield next year.....
Don Freo
Guest
"Little doubt?" He's most likely to stay at WC.. especially now.
Chris
Guest
Andrew Gaff hails from Oakleigh. I understand he supported Melbourne as a youngster. There seems to be little doubt that he will be playing for the Dees or the Hawks next year. I don't think he'll go to Collingwood or Richmond. Now, as for sorrowful look on the sidelines that was little better than ham acting. "Why don't you grow up you aggressive ,belligerent and uneducated BULLY!" That is a bad look for us Victorians. Then again, remembering the Battle of the Oval..he'll probably be decked in the Brown and Gold! Suit Clarkson right down to the ground...
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Freo was quite competitive...just didn't finish when they had possession. Gold Coast and Carlton were uncompetitive.
REALLY
Guest
Hows this for thought... Gaff has just fulfilled the first part of his new contract with a Victorian team .... thats scared of west coast ... collingwood.... Richmond ...
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
There'd be a fair bit of remorse that he's possibly coward punched his way out of a finals campaign.
Downsey
Roar Pro
*stifles snort laugh* It just came out. I couldn't help it.
Downsey
Roar Pro
A WC classic, denial and deflection. Let's keep this going... ;)
Downsey
Roar Pro
I could also have been hyper-sensitive ;)
User
Roar Rookie
No implying that if you do something wrong you can't hide under your mother's skirt like we all probably did as toddlers, I'll expand more next time I just tend to give ppl benefit that they are able to apply critical thought, my mistake.
Downsey
Roar Pro
Unlike Gaff's display of remorse on the interchange? I try to avoid thinking the worst of players, but the cynic in me wonders if he was showing regret for doing something that would bench him for finals, or if he was genuinely remorseful for sending another player to hospital. If it's the latter, it seems strange that he'd then knock Crowden off his feet with a late, hard bump in the last quarter.
User
Roar Rookie
A Freo classic, complaining about WC supporters ?
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Like the Pies.
Downsey
Roar Pro
I don't disagree that we weren't competitive. A lot of frustrations in that game for me. But, there were some lovely moments from our younger players after the Gaff incident that give me hope. Last quarter, amidst all the hubbub, there was a clearance from WC's 50 through a handball under pressure from Banfield and he had such beautiful composure and skill that I was in awe. Gotta take the small things, eh.
Downsey
Guest
Different time to the Demolition Derby. Different attitudes towards this kind of on-field aggression. Made me worry about players and further injuries (to either team) due to reckless behaviour for the remainder of the game. I was in a bit of turmoil. On one hand I liked that Freo players were making their displeasure known, but on the other hand my heart was in my mouth every time Gaff was crunched.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Got to be at least 5-6 weeks for Gaff. ?
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
A WC classic ?booooo
CloudRunner
Roar Rookie
"Can't hide under his skirt"?? - implying he's a woman for feeling remorse for his actions as if emotion is gender exclusive?? I was at a game recently when a supporter said "Get Up! You're a girl!" and a chorus of voices both male and female said "What's wrong with being a girl?". He was dead silent as expected realising he was in the wrong. That notion is archaic and will die as generations progress.