TonyK
CibbuanoRound seven preview: West Coast v Melbourne
May 9th 2009 15:54
VENUE and TIME: Subiaco Oval, Sunday 10 May, 4.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 37, West Coast 23, Melbourne 14
LAST TIME: Melbourne 11.13 (79) def. West Coast 5.15 (45), Round 20 2008 at the MCG.
RECENT HISTORY: West Coast has won four of its past five against Melbourne with three of those wins coming at Subiaco Oval.
FORM: West Coast has lost its past two matches to Hawthorn and Fremantle. The Eagles led by 23 points at half-time last weekend but they faded badly in the second half, eventually going down by 13 points. John Worsfold’s men have won two of their first four six matches. Melbourne was competitive early against Geelong at the MCG last Sunday but didn’t have the class to match last year’s grand finalists who cruised to a 43-point win. The Demons are languishing in last place on the ladder with just one win.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Eagles welcome back key forward Josh Kennedy who has recovered from a bleeding eye but will be without Mitch Brown (hamstring) and utility Brent Staker who will miss six weeks with a broken thumb. Beau Waters (elbow) is out for the season while midfielder Luke Shuey (groin) is four weeks away from resuming. For the Demons, youngster Jack Grimes will play his first game for the year after recovering from a back injury but ruckman John Meesen will miss the remainder of the season with a foot stress fracture. Lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri won't play his first match in 2009 until at least round 13 after twisting his knee while playing for the Casey Scorpions while Brad Green (broken jaw) is up to three weeks away from playing. Paul Wheatley (quadriceps) will be sidelined for at least another two weeks while promising young defender Colin Garland (foot) is out indefinitely. Ruckmen Mark Jamar and Jake Spencer will miss with foot injuries while youngster Sam Blease (broken leg) is out for the season.
KEY MATCH-UPS: James McDonald vs. Daniel Kerr
Kerr has struggled to have an impact in the past couple of weeks, managing just 10 and 16 possessions in the losses to the Hawks and the Dockers.
The Eagles star is damaging with his ability to win the football at the stoppages and create.
If West Coast is going to snap a two-game losing streak they will need Kerr to step up and stamp his authority on the contest.
Shutting down Kerr’s creative run will be a key for the Demons as he can tear sides apart on the wide open expanses of Subiaco Oval - highlighted by his performances against Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.
McDonald did a relatively good job on Geelong star Gary Ablett last weekend - he racked up 16 possessions and kept Ablett to 25 touches - which is well down on his season average of 35.7 disposals per game.
Expect McDonald to go head-to-head with Kerr on Sunday in what will be a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this contest.
McDonald is also effective at winning the football in close and will try and hurt Kerr going the other way.
Adam Selwood vs. Aaron Davey
Davey continued his brilliant start to the season with a team-high 30 possessions in the loss to the Cats.
The 25-year-old has been one of the most efficient users of the football in the AFL so far this season.
If the Eagles are going to starve Melbourne’s forwards of quality supply they will need to limit the influence of Davey through the middle of the ground.
Selwood is West Coast’s best stopper in the midfield and looms as the obvious candidate to run with Davey.
The 101-gamer, who is ranked second at the Eagles for tackles and has averaged 25 possessions per game so far this season, will make Davey earn every possession and also test out the defensive side of his game.
James Frawley vs. Mark LeCras
LeCras had a superb start to the season but has struggled in recent weeks - he was held goalless in the loss to the Hawks and managed just two goals against the Dockers.
The Eagles will need LeCras to have a greater impact against the Demons if they are going to secure a much-needed win to get their season back on track.
Frawley usually gets the opposition’s most dangerous mid-sized forward and he is yet to be disgraced so far this season.
He has the ability to match LeCras in the air and at ground level and will most likely be given first crack at the dangerous Eagles forward who has the uncanny ability to create something out of nothing.
Expect Frawley, who racked up 19 possessions in the loss to the Cats, to run off LeCras at every available opportunity and try and hurt him on the rebound.
Brett Jones vs. Russell Robertson
Robertson made a solid return to AFL football after being sidelined with an Achilles injury since round 10 last year, booting three goals against Geelong.
The enigmatic 30-year-old is one of the few Melbourne players that is capable of breaking the game open with a burst of brilliance.
The Demons will need him to fire if they are going to record just their second win of the season.
Expect Jones, who is a mobile defender that is good overhead for his size, to be given first crack at Robertson.
In last weekend’s loss to the Cats Melbourne tried hard all day but they continually butchered the football.
If the likes of Robertson are going to have any hope of having a meaningful impact on the contest the Demons midfield will need to use the football a lot better otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the long-kicking Eagles.
VERDICT: This is a must-win match for West Coast if they are going to be any chance of securing a finals berth. With Dean Cox likely to dominate in the ruck and give his midfielders first use of the football, the Eagles should be able to provide their forwards with enough quality supply and if they make the most of their chances in front of goal - which they failed to do in the loss to the Dockers - then they should cruise to an easy win. Eagles by 39 points.
WEST COAST v MELBOURNE
WEST COAST
B: David Wirrpanda, Darren Glass, Mark Nicoski
HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Adam Selwood
C: Matt Rosa, Daniel Kerr, Andrew Embley
HF: Adam Cockie, Josh Kennedy, Sam Butler
F: Mark LeCras, Quinten Lynch, Ben McKinley
Foll: Dean Cox, Matt Priddis, Chris Masten
I/C: Adam Hunter, Brett Jones, Jamie McNamara, Matt Spangher
Emg: Will Schofield, Scott Selwood, Beau Wilkes
In: Kennedy, McNamara, Spangher
Out: Ashley Hansen, Brent Staker (hand), Mitch Brown (hamstring)
MELBOURNE
B: James Frawley, Matthew Warnock, Ricky Petterd
HB: Cameron Bruce, Jared Rivers, Aaron Davey
C: Clint Bartram, Colin Sylvia, Brock McLean
HF: Cale Morton, Lynden Dunn, Russell Robertson
F: Brad Miller, Stefan Martin, Matthew Bate
Foll: Paul Johnson, Brent Moloney, James McDonald
I/C: Nathan Jones, Addam Maric, Jamie Bennell, Jack Grimes
Emg: Neville Jetta, Michael Newton, Kyle Cheney
In: Grimes
Out: John Meesen (foot)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 37, West Coast 23, Melbourne 14
LAST TIME: Melbourne 11.13 (79) def. West Coast 5.15 (45), Round 20 2008 at the MCG.
RECENT HISTORY: West Coast has won four of its past five against Melbourne with three of those wins coming at Subiaco Oval.
FORM: West Coast has lost its past two matches to Hawthorn and Fremantle. The Eagles led by 23 points at half-time last weekend but they faded badly in the second half, eventually going down by 13 points. John Worsfold’s men have won two of their first four six matches. Melbourne was competitive early against Geelong at the MCG last Sunday but didn’t have the class to match last year’s grand finalists who cruised to a 43-point win. The Demons are languishing in last place on the ladder with just one win.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Eagles welcome back key forward Josh Kennedy who has recovered from a bleeding eye but will be without Mitch Brown (hamstring) and utility Brent Staker who will miss six weeks with a broken thumb. Beau Waters (elbow) is out for the season while midfielder Luke Shuey (groin) is four weeks away from resuming. For the Demons, youngster Jack Grimes will play his first game for the year after recovering from a back injury but ruckman John Meesen will miss the remainder of the season with a foot stress fracture. Lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri won't play his first match in 2009 until at least round 13 after twisting his knee while playing for the Casey Scorpions while Brad Green (broken jaw) is up to three weeks away from playing. Paul Wheatley (quadriceps) will be sidelined for at least another two weeks while promising young defender Colin Garland (foot) is out indefinitely. Ruckmen Mark Jamar and Jake Spencer will miss with foot injuries while youngster Sam Blease (broken leg) is out for the season.
KEY MATCH-UPS: James McDonald vs. Daniel Kerr
Kerr has struggled to have an impact in the past couple of weeks, managing just 10 and 16 possessions in the losses to the Hawks and the Dockers.
The Eagles star is damaging with his ability to win the football at the stoppages and create.
If West Coast is going to snap a two-game losing streak they will need Kerr to step up and stamp his authority on the contest.
Shutting down Kerr’s creative run will be a key for the Demons as he can tear sides apart on the wide open expanses of Subiaco Oval - highlighted by his performances against Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.
McDonald did a relatively good job on Geelong star Gary Ablett last weekend - he racked up 16 possessions and kept Ablett to 25 touches - which is well down on his season average of 35.7 disposals per game.
Expect McDonald to go head-to-head with Kerr on Sunday in what will be a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this contest.
McDonald is also effective at winning the football in close and will try and hurt Kerr going the other way.
Adam Selwood vs. Aaron Davey
Davey continued his brilliant start to the season with a team-high 30 possessions in the loss to the Cats.
The 25-year-old has been one of the most efficient users of the football in the AFL so far this season.
If the Eagles are going to starve Melbourne’s forwards of quality supply they will need to limit the influence of Davey through the middle of the ground.
Selwood is West Coast’s best stopper in the midfield and looms as the obvious candidate to run with Davey.
The 101-gamer, who is ranked second at the Eagles for tackles and has averaged 25 possessions per game so far this season, will make Davey earn every possession and also test out the defensive side of his game.
James Frawley vs. Mark LeCras
LeCras had a superb start to the season but has struggled in recent weeks - he was held goalless in the loss to the Hawks and managed just two goals against the Dockers.
The Eagles will need LeCras to have a greater impact against the Demons if they are going to secure a much-needed win to get their season back on track.
Frawley usually gets the opposition’s most dangerous mid-sized forward and he is yet to be disgraced so far this season.
He has the ability to match LeCras in the air and at ground level and will most likely be given first crack at the dangerous Eagles forward who has the uncanny ability to create something out of nothing.
Expect Frawley, who racked up 19 possessions in the loss to the Cats, to run off LeCras at every available opportunity and try and hurt him on the rebound.
Brett Jones vs. Russell Robertson
Robertson made a solid return to AFL football after being sidelined with an Achilles injury since round 10 last year, booting three goals against Geelong.
The enigmatic 30-year-old is one of the few Melbourne players that is capable of breaking the game open with a burst of brilliance.
The Demons will need him to fire if they are going to record just their second win of the season.
Expect Jones, who is a mobile defender that is good overhead for his size, to be given first crack at Robertson.
In last weekend’s loss to the Cats Melbourne tried hard all day but they continually butchered the football.
If the likes of Robertson are going to have any hope of having a meaningful impact on the contest the Demons midfield will need to use the football a lot better otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the long-kicking Eagles.
VERDICT: This is a must-win match for West Coast if they are going to be any chance of securing a finals berth. With Dean Cox likely to dominate in the ruck and give his midfielders first use of the football, the Eagles should be able to provide their forwards with enough quality supply and if they make the most of their chances in front of goal - which they failed to do in the loss to the Dockers - then they should cruise to an easy win. Eagles by 39 points.
WEST COAST v MELBOURNE
WEST COAST
B: David Wirrpanda, Darren Glass, Mark Nicoski
HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Adam Selwood
C: Matt Rosa, Daniel Kerr, Andrew Embley
HF: Adam Cockie, Josh Kennedy, Sam Butler
F: Mark LeCras, Quinten Lynch, Ben McKinley
Foll: Dean Cox, Matt Priddis, Chris Masten
I/C: Adam Hunter, Brett Jones, Jamie McNamara, Matt Spangher
Emg: Will Schofield, Scott Selwood, Beau Wilkes
In: Kennedy, McNamara, Spangher
Out: Ashley Hansen, Brent Staker (hand), Mitch Brown (hamstring)
MELBOURNE
B: James Frawley, Matthew Warnock, Ricky Petterd
HB: Cameron Bruce, Jared Rivers, Aaron Davey
C: Clint Bartram, Colin Sylvia, Brock McLean
HF: Cale Morton, Lynden Dunn, Russell Robertson
F: Brad Miller, Stefan Martin, Matthew Bate
Foll: Paul Johnson, Brent Moloney, James McDonald
I/C: Nathan Jones, Addam Maric, Jamie Bennell, Jack Grimes
Emg: Neville Jetta, Michael Newton, Kyle Cheney
In: Grimes
Out: John Meesen (foot)
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