West Coast Eagles vs Adelaide Crows: AFL match result, highlights

Match result:

The West Coast Eagles have survived an almightly scare from the Adelaide Crows to win by ten points in the final match of Round 21.

The Crows are now out of the eight, unfortunately switching places with their rivals in Port. The Eagles, now, are in third, but in good contention for a top-two spot depending on how the next fortnight pans out.

Final score
West Coast Eagles 13.12.90
Adelaide Crows: 12.7.80

Match preview:

Another of the easier games to tip this round, this Sunday afternoon matchup will see a near full-strength West Coast side host an Adelaide side which is down on confidence and form – last week’s win against the Saints notwithstanding. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 5:20pm AEST.

West Coast has really garnered some nice form of late; their last outing was a win over Carlton, preceded by closer than expected wins over North Melbourne and Melbourne.

West Coast are in the hunt for a top-two spot, but if that fails to eventuate they’re nigh-on guaranteed a top-four spot. West Coast face Richmond and Hawthorn in two big games after this clash.

For Adelaide, though, this game means a helluva lot: lose, and their precarious grasp on a finals position gets even more wobbly.

Win, and they’ll head into their final two games (against Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs) with a little more confidence. Besides that win against the Saints, Adelaide has lost clashes against Essendon and Carlton, epitomising their poor form of late.

In terms of personnel changes, it’s the Eagles who have made the most. Two changes for them – small forward Jamie Cripps returns to the side, and Mark Hutchings joins them. It’s Jarrod Cameron and Chris Masten departing the twenty-two in their place.

Adelaide’s made just the one selection change. Young ruckman Rielly O’Brien has been omitted, and the experienced ruck in Sam Jacobs has been included for his second game this season.

Prediction
This is West Coast’s game to lose, and lose they won’t. Adelaide’s position in the top eight has been tenuous for a few weeks now, and it’s going to be even more so after their trip to West Australia. Expect the Eagles to win by around five goals.

West Coast by 32

When: 5:20pm (AEST)
Where: Optus Stadium
TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy, Kayo
Betting: West Coast $1.22, Adelaide Crows $4.30

West Coast Eagles
B Shannon Hurn, Tom Barrass, Will Schofield
HB Lewis Jetta, Jeremy McGovern, Brad Sheppard
C Jamie Cripps, Jack Redden, Andrew Gaff
HF Dom Sheed, Jack Darling, Liam Ryan
F Willie Rioli, Josh J. Kennedy, Oscar Allen
FOL Tom Hickey, Elliot Yeo, Luke Shuey
I/C Jake Waterman, Mark Hutchings, Jack Petruccelle, Jackson Nelson

Adelaide Crows
B Luke Brown, Daniel Talia, Jake Kelly
HB Brodie Smith, Kyle Hartigan, Rory Laird
C Rory Sloane, Brad Crouch, David Mackay
HF Wayne Milera, Taylor Walker, Tom Lynch
F Lachlan Murphy, Darcy Fogarty, Eddie Betts
FOL Sam Jacobs, Matt Crouch, Bryce Gibbs
I/C Riley Knight, Rory Atkins, Andy Otten, Richard Douglas