TonyK
CibbuanoRound four preview: West Coast v Essendon
April 15th 2010 13:37
VENUE and TIME: Subiaco Oval, Friday April 16, 6:40pm AWST (8.40pm AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 40, West Coast 17, Essendon 23
LAST TIME: West Coast 14.11 (95) d Essendon 10. 8 (68), Round 18, 2009 at Subiaco Oval
RECENT HISTORY: The Eagles have won six of their past eight matches against Essendon.
FORM: West Coast is winless after the first three rounds of the home-and-away season for the first time since 1989 following losses to Brisbane, Port Adelaide and North Melbourne. The Eagles have been in a winning position in all three matches with the average losing margin being just 20 points. The Bombers opened their account in 2010 with a 20-point win over Carlton in a scrappy contest at the MCG last Saturday night.
MEDICAL ROOM: West Coast welcomes back Patrick McGinnity from a quad injury but promising young midfielder Luke Shuey (knee) will miss. Mark Nicoski (shoulder) and Brad Sheppard (cheek) will be sidelined for at least another week while Sam Butler (fractured eye socket) is three weeks away from playing. Tim Houlihan (lacerated foot) won‘t play until the second half of the home-and-away season. For Essendon, key midfielder Brent Stanton will miss the clash with West Coast due to a back injury while veteran Mark McVeigh will make his return from a blood infection via the VFL. Angus Monfries (quad), speedster Leroy Jetta (broken thumb), Tom Bellchambers (mouth), Michael Quinn (quad) and John Williams (ankle) are a week away.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Henry Slattery vs. Mark LeCras
LeCras was West Coast’s most dangerous forward in the 25-point loss to the Kangaroos with five goals.
It is scary to think what the classy 23-year-old could do if the delivery from the midfield was up to scratch.
Slattery - who kept Carlton’s Eddie Betts to just two goals last weekend - will be given first crack at LeCras in what will be a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.
The Bombers defender will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give LeCras any time or space in which to work in as he has the uncanny ability to create something out of nothing.
Brett Jones vs. Mark Williams
Williams was instrumental in the Bombers’ win over Carlton with four goals - two of which came in the final term.
That performance will give the former Hawthorn premiership player a great deal of confidence after failing to kick a goal in his first two matches for his new side.
Jones looms as the obvious candidate to match-up on Williams as he has the ability to match him overhead and also go with him when the football hits the deck.
The Eagles are ranked 12th in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 59.7. They will need to lift their intensity otherwise the Essendon midfielders will be able to continually break the lines and deliver the football lace out to the likes of Williams who is quick off the mark.
Andrew Welsh vs. Daniel Kerr
Kerr was soundly beaten by NAB Rising Star nominee Ryan Bastinac in the first half last Saturday, the 18-year-old keeping the Eagles star to just three possessions.
The 2007 All-Australian midfielder bounced back with 18 disposals in the second half after Bastinac was moved to another opponent.
West Coast will be hoping that the 26-year-old builds on that second half showing on Friday night.
Keeping Kerr - who is one of the most damaging midfielders in the competition when he is on-song - quiet will be a key for the Bombers if they are going to starve the Eagles forward line of quality supply.
Welsh is Essendon’s number one stopper in the midfield and will be given the job of trying to negate Kerr.
It is vital for West Coast that Kerr imposes himself on the contest early otherwise Welsh will dictate terms and dominate.
Adam Selwood vs. Jobe Watson
Watson was one of Essendon’s best against the Blues with 26 possessions -21 of which were contested.
Limiting the influence of the Bombers skipper in the middle will be vital for the Eagles if they are going to shut-down the Dons’ running game.
Like Watson, Selwood is proficient at winning the football at close quarters.
West Coast will need Selwood to be proactive at the stoppages and clean with his use of the football as it will force Watson to worry about his direct opponent which in turn will help limit his impact on the contest as a creative midfielder.
VERDICT: This is a must-win match for John Worsfold’s men if they are serious about playing finals football in 2010. There was no questioning the Eagles’ endeavour last weekend but their skill level was simply atrocious at times. If they can improve their disposal efficiency then Josh Kennedy, Mitch Brown, LeCras and co. should be able to kick enough goals between them to lift West Coast to victory over an Essendon side that has a poor interstate record. Eagles by 21 points.
WEST COAST v ESSENDON
WEST COAST
B: Matt Spangher, Darren Glass, Brett Jones
HB: Andrew Embley, Will Schofield, Beau Waters
C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Bradd Dalziell
HF: Chris Masten, Josh Kennedy, Ashton Hams
F: Dean Cox, Mitch Brown, Mark LeCras
Foll: Nic Naitanui, Daniel Kerr, Adam Selwood
I/C: Brad Ebert, Ashley Hansen, Pat McGinnity, Scott Selwood
Emg: Ben McKinley, Ashley Smith, Tom Swift
In: Hams, McGinnity
Out: Luke Shuey (knee), Tom Swift
New: Ashton Hams (2009 rookie draft, from South Fremantle)
ESSENDON
B: Henry Slattery, Tayte Pears, Dustin Fletcher
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Cale Hooker, Nathan Lovett-Murray
C: Kyle Reimers, Jobe Watson, Jake Melksham
HF: Sam Lonergan, Scott Gumbleton, Bachar Houli
F: Jason Winderlich, Michael Hurley, David Hille
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Andrew Welsh, David Zaharakis
I/C: Mark Williams, Travis Colyer, Heath Hocking, Ricky Dyson
Emg: Alwyn Davey, Brent Prismall, Darcy Daniher
In: Hurley
Out: Brent Stanton (back)
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