TonyK
CibbuanoRound fifteen preview: West Coast v St Kilda
July 11th 2009 15:02
VENUE and TIME: Subiaco Oval, Sunday 12 July, 4.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 35, West Coast 20, St Kilda 14, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: St Kilda 25.11 (161) def West Coast 9.10 (64), Round 3, 2009 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The honours have been shared in the past four clashes between these two sides.
FORM: West Coast backed up its impressive win over Hawthorn in round 13 with a disappointing 20-point loss to bottom-placed Melbourne last weekend. The Eagles have now lost 18 in a row away from home. St Kilda maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a thrilling six-point win over Geelong in a classic contest at Etihad Stadium last Sunday.
MEDICAL ROOM: West Coast welcomes back star ruckman Dean Cox and Mark Nicoski from groin and back injuries respectively but are still without classy midfielder Daniel Kerr (general soreness) while defender Brett Jones (hamstring) and youngster Scott Selwood (general soreness) will miss. For the Saints, veteran defender will be out for one to two weeks with an ankle injury while. Jarryd Allen (hip) and Xavier Clarke (ACL) areunlikely to play again this season.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Clinton Jones vs. Matt Priddis
With Kerr still out of the side the Eagles will need Priddis to win plenty of the football at the stoppages to help get them going.
However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with Jones likely to be given the task of tagging him.
Jones not only applies relentless pressure - he laid a staggering 14 tackles when these two sides met in round three - he is also capable of hurting his opponent going the other way.
Priddis is more than capable of winning plenty of the football but if he is going to have any hope of having an impact with his possessions he will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages.
Adam Selwood vs. Nick Dal Santo
In that round three clash Dal Santo starred with a game-high 31 possessions, one goal and eight inside 50’s.
If the Eagles are going to have any hope of containing St Kilda’s potent forward line they will need to quell the influence of Dal Santo who consistently creates scoring opportunities with his clean use of the football.
Selwood is West Coast’s best stopper in the midfield and will be given the task of running with Dal Santo in what will be a pivotal duel.
West Coast will need Selwood to not only be proactive and get his hands on the football at the stoppages but also apply relentless pressure when he doesn’t have the football otherwise Dal Santo will tear the Eagles to shreds with his exquisite skills.
Zac Dawson vs. Josh Kennedy
Kennedy has hit his straps in recent times, booting two bags of four goals in the past three weeks.
West Coast will need a similar performance from him on Sunday otherwise they will struggle to kick enough goals to be competitive.
Dawson has been a revelation down back since joining the Saints after a brief stint with the Hawks and will most likely be given first crack at Kennedy.
If Kennedy is going to have any hope of having an impact he will need his midfield to not only be clean with their use of the football going forward but also move it quickly otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound it out of defensive 50.
Darren Glass vs. Justin Koschitzke
Koschitzke was one of three players that booted four goals the last time these two sides met.
The 26-year-old has already had his most productive season in front of goal - booting 35 goals in 13 games.
Koschitzke will most likely start closer to goal while skipper Nick Riewoldt will play further up the ground so you would expect Glass to be given the job on Koschitzke.
The Eagles are ranked last in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 51.4 - they will need to lift their intensity otherwise the Saints will be able to continually deliver the football lace out to the likes of Koschitzke.
VERDICT: St Kilda could be a little vulnerable after one of the most intense home-and-away season games in recent memory but even if they are slightly off their game they should still win quite comfortably as West Coast simply don‘t have the skills to punish them. Expect the Eagles to stick with the ladder leaders for the first half before the St Kilda‘s class comes to the fore. Saints by 35 points.
WEST COAST v ST KILDA
WEST COAST
B: Matt Spangher, Darren Glass, David Wirrpanda
HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Mark Nicoski
C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Adam Selwood
HF: Sam Butler, Josh Kennedy, Andrew Embley
F: Quinten Lynch, Mitch Brown, Mark LeCras
Foll: Dean Cox, Brad Ebert, Chris Masten
I/C: Adam Cockie, Ashley Hansen, Patrick McGinnity, Tyson Stenglein
Emg: Chad Fletcher, Ben McKinley, Tom Swift
In: Mackenzie, Nicoski, Cox, Hansen, McGinnity
Out: Brett Jones (hamstring), Scott Selwood (general soreness), Chad Fletcher, Ben McKinley, Nic Naitanui
New: Patrick McGinnity (Claremont)
ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Sam Gilbert, Zac Dawson
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Farren Ray, Andrew McQualter, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Jason Gram, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider
F: Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Clint Jones, Leigh Montagna
I/C: Raphael Clarke, Luke Ball, Sean Dempster, Ben McEvoy
Emg: Robert Eddy, James Gwilt, Luke Miles
In: Dempster
Out: Jarryn Geary
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 35, West Coast 20, St Kilda 14, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: St Kilda 25.11 (161) def West Coast 9.10 (64), Round 3, 2009 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The honours have been shared in the past four clashes between these two sides.
FORM: West Coast backed up its impressive win over Hawthorn in round 13 with a disappointing 20-point loss to bottom-placed Melbourne last weekend. The Eagles have now lost 18 in a row away from home. St Kilda maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a thrilling six-point win over Geelong in a classic contest at Etihad Stadium last Sunday.
MEDICAL ROOM: West Coast welcomes back star ruckman Dean Cox and Mark Nicoski from groin and back injuries respectively but are still without classy midfielder Daniel Kerr (general soreness) while defender Brett Jones (hamstring) and youngster Scott Selwood (general soreness) will miss. For the Saints, veteran defender will be out for one to two weeks with an ankle injury while. Jarryd Allen (hip) and Xavier Clarke (ACL) areunlikely to play again this season.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Clinton Jones vs. Matt Priddis
With Kerr still out of the side the Eagles will need Priddis to win plenty of the football at the stoppages to help get them going.
However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with Jones likely to be given the task of tagging him.
Jones not only applies relentless pressure - he laid a staggering 14 tackles when these two sides met in round three - he is also capable of hurting his opponent going the other way.
Priddis is more than capable of winning plenty of the football but if he is going to have any hope of having an impact with his possessions he will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages.
Adam Selwood vs. Nick Dal Santo
In that round three clash Dal Santo starred with a game-high 31 possessions, one goal and eight inside 50’s.
If the Eagles are going to have any hope of containing St Kilda’s potent forward line they will need to quell the influence of Dal Santo who consistently creates scoring opportunities with his clean use of the football.
Selwood is West Coast’s best stopper in the midfield and will be given the task of running with Dal Santo in what will be a pivotal duel.
West Coast will need Selwood to not only be proactive and get his hands on the football at the stoppages but also apply relentless pressure when he doesn’t have the football otherwise Dal Santo will tear the Eagles to shreds with his exquisite skills.
Zac Dawson vs. Josh Kennedy
Kennedy has hit his straps in recent times, booting two bags of four goals in the past three weeks.
West Coast will need a similar performance from him on Sunday otherwise they will struggle to kick enough goals to be competitive.
Dawson has been a revelation down back since joining the Saints after a brief stint with the Hawks and will most likely be given first crack at Kennedy.
If Kennedy is going to have any hope of having an impact he will need his midfield to not only be clean with their use of the football going forward but also move it quickly otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound it out of defensive 50.
Darren Glass vs. Justin Koschitzke
Koschitzke was one of three players that booted four goals the last time these two sides met.
The 26-year-old has already had his most productive season in front of goal - booting 35 goals in 13 games.
Koschitzke will most likely start closer to goal while skipper Nick Riewoldt will play further up the ground so you would expect Glass to be given the job on Koschitzke.
The Eagles are ranked last in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 51.4 - they will need to lift their intensity otherwise the Saints will be able to continually deliver the football lace out to the likes of Koschitzke.
VERDICT: St Kilda could be a little vulnerable after one of the most intense home-and-away season games in recent memory but even if they are slightly off their game they should still win quite comfortably as West Coast simply don‘t have the skills to punish them. Expect the Eagles to stick with the ladder leaders for the first half before the St Kilda‘s class comes to the fore. Saints by 35 points.
WEST COAST v ST KILDA
WEST COAST
B: Matt Spangher, Darren Glass, David Wirrpanda
HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Mark Nicoski
C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Adam Selwood
HF: Sam Butler, Josh Kennedy, Andrew Embley
F: Quinten Lynch, Mitch Brown, Mark LeCras
Foll: Dean Cox, Brad Ebert, Chris Masten
I/C: Adam Cockie, Ashley Hansen, Patrick McGinnity, Tyson Stenglein
Emg: Chad Fletcher, Ben McKinley, Tom Swift
In: Mackenzie, Nicoski, Cox, Hansen, McGinnity
Out: Brett Jones (hamstring), Scott Selwood (general soreness), Chad Fletcher, Ben McKinley, Nic Naitanui
New: Patrick McGinnity (Claremont)
ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Sam Gilbert, Zac Dawson
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Farren Ray, Andrew McQualter, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Jason Gram, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider
F: Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Clint Jones, Leigh Montagna
I/C: Raphael Clarke, Luke Ball, Sean Dempster, Ben McEvoy
Emg: Robert Eddy, James Gwilt, Luke Miles
In: Dempster
Out: Jarryn Geary
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