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The pressure will be on Collingwood to come away with the win when they take on West Coast at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
West Coast will be aiming to erase the memories of last year’s elimination final heartbreak when they take on Collingwood at Optus Stadium.
The Magpies bucked the odds last year when they travelled to Perth and beat the Eagles by a single point to knock them out of the premiership race.
American Mason Cox was the hero that night, booting three early goals in a five-minute blitz to set up the win.
The 211cm forward has been dropped for Friday night’s re-match after going goalless from ten disposals in last week’s shock loss to GWS.
The Magpies will also be without star midfielder Taylor Adams, who will miss ten weeks with a knee injury.
West Coast were also dealt a series of blows, with stars Liam Ryan (shin) and Shannon Hurn (calf) among the players ruled out.
Collingwood’s backs are against the wall at 1-3, with the pressure intensifying on coach Nathan Buckley.
West Coast will start the match as hot favourites, but Eagles coach Adam Simpson is wary of Collingwood’s us-versus-the-world mentality.
“It’s going to be a great battle and they beat us five games ago, really,” Simpson said.
“I don’t think they’d be too worried about coming over here.”
West Coast (2-2) are also desperate to bounce back after coughing up a 33-point lead to St Kilda last week on the way to a 20-point loss.
The Eagles’ midfield copped a battering in the second half, with the absence of injured duo Luke Shuey (hamstring) and Elliot Yeo (osteitis pubis) proving telling.
Simpson said it was up to the club’s leaders to stand tall under pressure.
“We’ve been in a position to win every game, and we haven’t closed it out,” Simpson said.
“We’ve been a bit disappointed in the results. Lapses in concentration and consistency has cost us. But there has to be 15 clubs going through the same thing.
“So trying to etch out wins is critical at this time of the year. It doesn’t matter how you do it, we’re just looking for the win.”
Optus Stadium is back to full capacity after WA’s government eased the COVID-19 restrictions, meaning up to 60,000 fans can attend Friday’s match.
“We’re hoping for 55,000 Eagles supporters and 200 Collingwood supporters. Bring the noise,” Simpson said.
© AAP
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