TonyK
CibbuanoMatch preview: West Coast v Sydney
September 9th 2006 02:32
FIRST QUALIFYING FINAL: WEST COAST EAGLES V SYDNEY
WHERE & WHEN: Saturday September 9 at Subiaco at 5.30pm (WST)
TV & RADIO: TV: Channel 10 - Melbourne (7pm), Adelaide (6.30pm), Perth (6pm), Sydney (7pm), Brisbane (7pm), Triple M, 3AW, 6PR, 5AA
HEAD TO HEAD: West Coast 16, Sydney 17
LAST TIME: West Coast Eagles 9.13 (67) d Sydney 9.11 (65) at Subiaco, round 15, 2006. The Eagles came from 32 points down at half-time to pinch the game when Tyson Stenglein's goal at the 29 minute mark of the final term, which only just avoided a lunging Craig Bolton in the goalsquare, gave the Eagles the lead for the first time.
FINALS HEAD TO HEAD: West Coast 1, Sydney 2
LAST TIME IN A FINAL: Sydney 8.10 (58) d West Coast 7.12 (54) at the MCG, 2005 grand final
HEAD TO HEAD AT THIS VENUE: West Coast 11, Sydney 3
LAST TIME AT THIS VENUE: West Coast Eagles 9.13 (67) d Sydney 9.11 (65) at Subiaco, round 15, 2006.
TAB SPORTSBET: West Coast $1.40, Sydney $2.80
BETFAIR: West Coast, $1.47 Sydney $2.96
This is shaping as one of the greatest rivalries of the modern era.
The Eagles and Swans will contest in their fourth final in three years, with the past three encounters decided by a combined total of 10 points.
West Coast bounced back to their formidable best after the embarassment that was the western derby with a comprehensive 88-point win over Richmond at the MCG last Saturday.
Perhaps the most pleasing thing to come out of the game for coach John Worsfold was the performances of the lesser likes.
Youngster Mark LeCras managed five goals, while Steven Armstrong (20 possessions and 4 goals) and Sam Butler (25 possessions and 3 goals).
You know the likes of Judd and Cousins will perform week in week out, but its the aforementioned players and Quinten Lynch who continues to develop as a forward which will see West Coast possibly go one step further this year.
Tonight's match pits the number one clearance side in Sydney against the number two team in West Coast- whoever wins here will go a long way to winning the game.
This places greater importance on the match-up between Dean Cox who is returning to some of his best form and the much improved Darren Jolly who will play despite a dislocated finger.
The Eagles are number one in the competition for disposals and handballs, which suggests they like to run the football at every opportunity against a Swans side which will be aiming to shut the game down- a taxing tactic on the wide open expanses of Subiaco Oval.
West Coast has made just the one change from last week, with dashing defender David Wirrapanda recalled at the expense of the unlucky Brett Jones.
Tough midfielder Daniel Kerr is a notable absentee with a calf strain, while Andrew Embley is still sidelined with an AC joint.
The absence of Kerr is a big blow for West Coast and his ability to get the football in confined spaces will be sorely missed against the Swans, while Embley gives Worsfold another option up forward.
The last time these two sides met back in round 15, Adam Selwood kicked two goals as a defensive half-forward and it wouldn't be a suprise if he performed a similiar role tonight against Tadhg Kennelly.
Kennelly provides a lot of run off half-back for the Swans and is a catalyst for a bulk of their attacking moves.
While West Coast captured their first minor premiership since 1994, the Swans have been the sleeping giants of the competition.
Sydney have won four of their past five including a 92-point thumping of bottom-placed Carlton at the SCG last Sunday.
Brownlow medal favourite Adam Goodes did his chances of collecting his second medal no harm with 26 possessions and 4 goals and a match-up with Eagles captain Chris Judd looms as a tantalising prospect.
Although its doubtful this will eventuate, and you would expect Tyson Stenglein to take Goodes should he start in the midfield, with Jaymie Graham capable of covering the Swans big man should he push forward.
Goodes is the barometer for the Swans and shutting him down will be a priority.
Barry Hall's match-up with Darren Glass shapes as a key as well.
Back in round 15 Hall booted four of the Swans 9 goals- a game which Glass missed through illness.
Since then Glass has been in stellar form and should be in line for All-Australian honours, while Hall has struggled of late managing 8 goals in the past month.
While the Swans are packed with stars such as Goodes, Davis, Hall and co its the lesser likes that the Eagles need to be wary of.
The likes of Amon Buchanan and Adam Scheinder have performed well in recent finals series and are capable of turning a game on its head in a matter of minutes.
The past three encounters between these teams have seen the winner kick no more than 10 goals, and you would expect tonight to be no different with a home preliminary final on offer.
However, despite their recent close encounters at Subiaco Oval the Swans have failed to take the points in their past five trips across the Nullarbor and you would expect that trend to continue tonight.
The Eagles are travelling better this year than they were at the same stage last season.
Lynch has given West Coast a consistent marking target up forward that the club has been crying out for and the likes of Matt Rosa and Butler are providing more than adequate support to a star-studded Eagles midfield.
Expect it to be a tight clash with the class of the West Coast midfield to get over the line in a thriller. West Coast by 16 points.
WEST COAST
B: Selwood, Glass, Wirrpanda
HB: Waters, Hunter, Stenglein
C: Braun, Cousins, Rosa
HF: Chick, Staker, Butler
F: Graham, Lynch, LeCras
FOLL: Cox, Judd, Fletcher
I/C: Armstrong, Banfield, R.Jones, Seaby
EMG: Hansen, B.Jones, Morton
IN: Wirrpanda
OUT: B.Jones
SYDNEY
B: Richards, Barry, Malceski
HB: Kennelly, Roberts-Thomson, C.Bolton
C: Buchanan, Kirk, Ablett
HF: O'Keefe, O'Loughlin, J.Bolton
F: Schneider, Hall, Fosdike
FOLL: Jolly, Goodes, McVeigh
I/C: Mathews, Davis, Dempster, Doyle
EMG: Phillips, Bevan, Grundy
IN: -
OUT: -
Field umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
WHERE & WHEN: Saturday September 9 at Subiaco at 5.30pm (WST)
TV & RADIO: TV: Channel 10 - Melbourne (7pm), Adelaide (6.30pm), Perth (6pm), Sydney (7pm), Brisbane (7pm), Triple M, 3AW, 6PR, 5AA
HEAD TO HEAD: West Coast 16, Sydney 17
LAST TIME: West Coast Eagles 9.13 (67) d Sydney 9.11 (65) at Subiaco, round 15, 2006. The Eagles came from 32 points down at half-time to pinch the game when Tyson Stenglein's goal at the 29 minute mark of the final term, which only just avoided a lunging Craig Bolton in the goalsquare, gave the Eagles the lead for the first time.
FINALS HEAD TO HEAD: West Coast 1, Sydney 2
LAST TIME IN A FINAL: Sydney 8.10 (58) d West Coast 7.12 (54) at the MCG, 2005 grand final
HEAD TO HEAD AT THIS VENUE: West Coast 11, Sydney 3
LAST TIME AT THIS VENUE: West Coast Eagles 9.13 (67) d Sydney 9.11 (65) at Subiaco, round 15, 2006.
TAB SPORTSBET: West Coast $1.40, Sydney $2.80
BETFAIR: West Coast, $1.47 Sydney $2.96
This is shaping as one of the greatest rivalries of the modern era.
The Eagles and Swans will contest in their fourth final in three years, with the past three encounters decided by a combined total of 10 points.
West Coast bounced back to their formidable best after the embarassment that was the western derby with a comprehensive 88-point win over Richmond at the MCG last Saturday.
Perhaps the most pleasing thing to come out of the game for coach John Worsfold was the performances of the lesser likes.
Youngster Mark LeCras managed five goals, while Steven Armstrong (20 possessions and 4 goals) and Sam Butler (25 possessions and 3 goals).
You know the likes of Judd and Cousins will perform week in week out, but its the aforementioned players and Quinten Lynch who continues to develop as a forward which will see West Coast possibly go one step further this year.
Tonight's match pits the number one clearance side in Sydney against the number two team in West Coast- whoever wins here will go a long way to winning the game.
This places greater importance on the match-up between Dean Cox who is returning to some of his best form and the much improved Darren Jolly who will play despite a dislocated finger.
The Eagles are number one in the competition for disposals and handballs, which suggests they like to run the football at every opportunity against a Swans side which will be aiming to shut the game down- a taxing tactic on the wide open expanses of Subiaco Oval.
West Coast has made just the one change from last week, with dashing defender David Wirrapanda recalled at the expense of the unlucky Brett Jones.
Tough midfielder Daniel Kerr is a notable absentee with a calf strain, while Andrew Embley is still sidelined with an AC joint.
The absence of Kerr is a big blow for West Coast and his ability to get the football in confined spaces will be sorely missed against the Swans, while Embley gives Worsfold another option up forward.
The last time these two sides met back in round 15, Adam Selwood kicked two goals as a defensive half-forward and it wouldn't be a suprise if he performed a similiar role tonight against Tadhg Kennelly.
Kennelly provides a lot of run off half-back for the Swans and is a catalyst for a bulk of their attacking moves.
While West Coast captured their first minor premiership since 1994, the Swans have been the sleeping giants of the competition.
Sydney have won four of their past five including a 92-point thumping of bottom-placed Carlton at the SCG last Sunday.
Brownlow medal favourite Adam Goodes did his chances of collecting his second medal no harm with 26 possessions and 4 goals and a match-up with Eagles captain Chris Judd looms as a tantalising prospect.
Although its doubtful this will eventuate, and you would expect Tyson Stenglein to take Goodes should he start in the midfield, with Jaymie Graham capable of covering the Swans big man should he push forward.
Goodes is the barometer for the Swans and shutting him down will be a priority.
Barry Hall's match-up with Darren Glass shapes as a key as well.
Back in round 15 Hall booted four of the Swans 9 goals- a game which Glass missed through illness.
Since then Glass has been in stellar form and should be in line for All-Australian honours, while Hall has struggled of late managing 8 goals in the past month.
While the Swans are packed with stars such as Goodes, Davis, Hall and co its the lesser likes that the Eagles need to be wary of.
The likes of Amon Buchanan and Adam Scheinder have performed well in recent finals series and are capable of turning a game on its head in a matter of minutes.
The past three encounters between these teams have seen the winner kick no more than 10 goals, and you would expect tonight to be no different with a home preliminary final on offer.
However, despite their recent close encounters at Subiaco Oval the Swans have failed to take the points in their past five trips across the Nullarbor and you would expect that trend to continue tonight.
The Eagles are travelling better this year than they were at the same stage last season.
Lynch has given West Coast a consistent marking target up forward that the club has been crying out for and the likes of Matt Rosa and Butler are providing more than adequate support to a star-studded Eagles midfield.
Expect it to be a tight clash with the class of the West Coast midfield to get over the line in a thriller. West Coast by 16 points.
WEST COAST
B: Selwood, Glass, Wirrpanda
HB: Waters, Hunter, Stenglein
C: Braun, Cousins, Rosa
HF: Chick, Staker, Butler
F: Graham, Lynch, LeCras
FOLL: Cox, Judd, Fletcher
I/C: Armstrong, Banfield, R.Jones, Seaby
EMG: Hansen, B.Jones, Morton
IN: Wirrpanda
OUT: B.Jones
SYDNEY
B: Richards, Barry, Malceski
HB: Kennelly, Roberts-Thomson, C.Bolton
C: Buchanan, Kirk, Ablett
HF: O'Keefe, O'Loughlin, J.Bolton
F: Schneider, Hall, Fosdike
FOLL: Jolly, Goodes, McVeigh
I/C: Mathews, Davis, Dempster, Doyle
EMG: Phillips, Bevan, Grundy
IN: -
OUT: -
Field umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
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