When the West Coast Eagles triumphed in the high-stakes match against St Kilda last Thursday it did more than just secure them a place in the finals. It also gave the side a crack at a top-four finish.
The Eagles are plagued by injuries, and their chances of the finals double chance weren’t done any favours when Jeremy McGovern suffered a twinge to his hamstring against the Saints. Fortunately he won’t require surgery.
West Coast will be hoping the cavalry can return in time for finals action. The imminent returns of Elliot Yeo and Luke Shuey will be massive additions as the teams look to bolster their midfield to match the top sides.
Currently outside the top four looking in, it certainly would be handy to have that first-week insurance should they not be able to come out with a win. With Geelong having lost against Richmond, it has made their chances tougher.
(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images via Getty Images)
When asked about how they’ll approach the final game of their season, coach Adam Simpson said, “We’ll go hard. But that’s secondary, we just want to play a good brand of footy”.
When you think of the main contenders, the current top four of Port Adelaide, Brisbane, Richmond and Geelong are always discussed.
But why can’t the West Coast Eagles challenge for the title?
Should West Coast get fully fit, they are one of the more complete sides in the competition. The top teams have great midfields, but you could argue West Coast’s midfielders and also key position players both up forward and in defence are of high quality.
Up front they’ve got firepower led by Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Liam Ryan. In the midfield we’ve already mentioned Shuey and Yeo, and to add to them you have an incredible rotation of quality midfielders in Andrew Gaff, Tim Kelly and Dom Sheed.
In defence there’s McGovern partnering Tom Barrass, the two having been great at intercepting and spoils. Throw in Liam Duggan and Brad Sheppard, who are also primarily defenders, and there’s versatility through the whole squad.
Adam Simpson after the St Kilda win commented, “I’ve always got faith in our players. It’s a squad mentality and everyone at our club knows that. We had guys playing in different roles and we work on that a little bit”.
The trump card for the Eagles is Nic Naitanui. As one of the top ruckman in the game, he does all the dirty work to allow his team great opportunities to get in good positions offensively. He is elite in centre bounce clearances and is one of the best in providing hit-outs to West Coast’s favour. If he can maintain his performance, he can be the driving force for the Eagles to go deep into the finals.
The West Coast Eagles are more than capable of making some noise in the finals. Adam Simpson has instilled a next-man-up mentality for the squad, and they have done well to cover for their many absences.
If the Eagles can do their best to go as far as possible, allowing more time for injuries to heal, they have the pieces to be a dark horse and win the lot.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Stuck in the mud
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Were you Jax?
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Let’s wait and see. If they perform poorly in the finals I will give you your due but if not you will be literally speaking rubbish.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
I don’t think the Eagles are flying under the radar. I would have them, Geelong and Richmond as my choices to make it through to the Grand Final. All three have strong past finals experience, with a bit of a query over Geelong. Port Adelaide and Brisbane have poor recent finals experiences. The rest in the eight won’t have a chance IMO
Sir Luttinen
Roar Rookie
Why has Bruce suddenly excisted?
The Dom is good
Roar Rookie
well said Scott. Richmond supporters praising their team for beating West Coast who was (and still is) depleted with injuries. Having 8 premiership stars out and only get beaten by 27 points is pathetic, also consider the 5 free's in there 50 for 5 goals makes a mockery of the "praising" of Richmond. if they were that good why didnt they smash the Eagles who were just playing kids?
Bruce
Guest
why has 6x6 been abandoned?
Seymorebutts
Guest
I think the fact is we simply have 4 or 5 teams that are pretty good, a couple of them are very good, and the rest are just garbage. sorry, thats what equalization has given us. The Saints are apparently a final 8 side, yet they couldnt defeat the Eagles, who were playing away from home where their record is dreadful, with half their side being made up of WAFL players and who had just played 5 games in 19 days??
Lukey Miller
Guest
Alas not this year, they are flying bravely, but far too close to the ground.
Scott
Guest
Yeah righto pal. Got smashed by Richmond? Ya dreaming. Richmond only kicked 1 behind which was in the last minute of the match plus got 5 goals from frees. That was a close game where things went right for Richmond, west coast with players back and better luck will be very confident playing them again. The next 3 were all injury effected. They will get back Yeo, Shuey, Sheed, Redden, Cripps, Hutchings, Jetta (if selected), Ah Chee (if selected) and perhaps McGovern for the 1st final. That is a completely different side to the side that’s played the last few weeks. What will kill them is finishing 5th. If they somehow finish 4th then they are as good a chance as any
Sir Luttinen
Roar Rookie
Doubtful dude but keep up the thrilling work.
Klompy
Guest
Yes we are watching the games. yes we do have a few out at the moment. But when the finals come the Eagles will be ready. You do not know what you are talking about. I am an Eagles member and do watch the games.
Wenwen
Guest
It seems to me that people who are commenting here don’t really watch WCE games. Let’s analyze their games since returning to QLD: Vs Rich: got smashed Vs Ess: just got over the line, and we know how horrible the bombers are, possibly 2nd worst team right now behind North. Vs Dogs: lost but margin would have been bigger if Dogs took their chances. Vs Saints: just got over the line coz Saints choked big time in Q4, being up by 8pts half way through the quarter. And let’s face it the Saints are limping to the finals. All those who thinks WCE is a genuine contender are genuinely dreaming!
Klompy
Guest
Just a question, with the mighty Eagles are now the biggest club with members and supporters, I am wondering if the Eagles will get the same advantages as the big Melbourne clubs with the home games? I think I know the answer but it is worth the try. If the finish on top in 2021 then the eagles will be making the other clubs to play finals at the best stadium in Australia. It is nice that the other clubs will have to bow to the biggest AFl Football Club for once not the other way around. Then we will all the whinging then because they have to bow to the biggest club on home games. What a shame not.
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Don’t forget Bulldogs of 2016
Larrikin
Roar Rookie
the kids were very brave against the saints, great win! When we get some of the missing stars back the West Coast engine room will purr like the well oiled machine the Eagles are and become a threat to the finals campaign
Ronny Redleggs
Guest
The short answer is no!
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Truth is they'll be more isolated at home than in Qld. Facto mundo, dude.
Sir Luttinen
Roar Rookie
So being able to train and rehab in a 60 mill facility isn't a massive advantage? And you can have your wife/gf and kids live with you you realise and alot more. Think you're watchya bit to much footy classified scare mongering dude
Nelson Sing
Roar Guru
As long as they take it one week at a time and don't look ahead, you just never know