The crucial cogs of AFL's Round 9: Which players need to be the difference makers?
Jeremy Finlayson should be a welcome addition to the Port Adelaide forward line after kicking four goals in the SANFL last week.
Secrets are priceless, but West Coast aren’t worried about the prospect of any of theirs being leaked by their former coach.
Club legend John Worsfold ended his 12-year stint in charge of West Coast at the end of 2013, but he’s now in a rival camp after taking up the role as Adelaide’s director of coaching following the shock death of Phil Walsh.
The majority of West Coast’s best 22 played under Worsfold, but captain Shannon Hurn isn’t concerned that his former coach will be able to give Adelaide a vital tactical edge in Saturday night’s clash at Domain Stadium.
“He’s a very good coach and understands a good brand of football,” Hurn said on Tuesday.
“But in the last 18 months a lot has changed in our group. All of our coaching staff have pretty much changed.
“The game’s evolved and adapted, so it’s not like he’ll have too many inside secrets about us.”
Walsh spent five years as an assistant at West Coast and his death has hit the Eagles’ staff and players hard.
West Coast, Adelaide, and the AFL are in talks to organise a series of pre and post-match tributes to Walsh, with those plans set to be finalised in the coming days.
Hurn said the ultimate respect both teams can pay Walsh is by playing the game in the right spirit.
“Walshy was with us for five years and he did a fantastic job,” Hurn said.
“His mentoring to some of the young kids was excellent.
“So guys deal with (his death) in their different ways.
“We understand it’s going to be a different week and probably a few different emotions.
“But we still need to prepare as well as we can for how we want to play, and how we think Adelaide is going to play, and then make sure we can go out there and execute it.”
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Jeremy Finlayson should be a welcome addition to the Port Adelaide forward line after kicking four goals in the SANFL last week.
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Last, year in the second showdown, Adelaide destroyed Port by 47 points with a staggering 20 marks inside 50 with Tex Walker the main star.
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