Where and when: Optus Stadium, Thursday September 5, 6.10pm
What it means for West Coast: The last time the Eagles hosted a Thursday night elimination final in 2016 they were ambushed by the fairytale Bulldogs, and there is a sense of trepidation in the west about Essendon’s visit. Keeping the back-to-back flag bid alive is one thing, but some need convincing that West Coast remains a serious contender after missing the top four.
What it means for Essendon: Winning a final was probably the Bombers’ pass mark before 2019 started and would go some way to appeasing a restless supporter base. Essendon has been waiting 15 years for a September victory – the longest stretch in the competition – and has lost its past five finals by an average of 49 points.
The stat: The Bombers have won all five of their finals against West Coast by an average of 46 points, but none of those have been in Perth. The teams built an intense rivalry during Kevin Sheedy’s era at the Dons’ helm but haven’t met in September since the 2002 elimination final at Marvel Stadium.
The match-up: Nic Naitanui v Tom Bellchambers
Naitanui will return for his first game in two months after an ankle complaint and there is no doubt the talismanic ruckman will energise West Coast early. If Bellchambers can weather the storm and the Bombers get on top around the contest an upset could be on the cards.
It’s a big week for: John Worsfold
You couldn’t script a more intriguing storyline for 2019’s opening final. West Coast’s favourite son, who captained the Eagles’ first two premierships and coached the ’06 triumph, heads back to Perth amid reports his job at Essendon won’t be safe without a victory over his former club.
Big call: Adam Simpson to emerge from the coaches’ box waving his jacket above his head after West Coast holds on in a thriller.
Mottsy’s Tip: Eagles by 60+ points.
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Thanks Motts. I hope you are right about the margin.
Go Eagles.
btw. Do you want the teams for the round?
WEST COAST EAGLES v ESSENDON
Thursday 5 September, 8.10pm EST at Optus Stadium
EAGLES
B: S. Hurn, T. Barrass, W. Schofield
HB: B. Sheppard, J. McGovern, L. Jetta
C: D. Sheed, J. Redden, A. Gaff
HF: W. Rioli, J. Darling, C. Masten
F: J. Cripps, J. Kennedy, L. Ryan
FOLL: N. Naitanui, E. Yeo, L. Shuey
I/C: J. Waterman, T. Hickey, J. Nelson, M. Hutchings
EMG: L. Duggan, N. Vardy, J. Cameron, B. Ah Chee
IN: W. Schoefield, N. Naitanui, M. Hutchings
OUT: O. Allen (Injured), L. Duggan (Omitted), J. Petruccelle (Omitted)
BOMBERS
B: A. Saad, C. Hooker, A. Francis
HB: C. McKenna, M. Hurley, M. Redman
C: A. McGrath, Z. Merrett, D. Parish
HF: J. Stringer, S. McKernan, P. Ambrose
F: A. McDonald-Tipungwuti, M. Brown, O. Fantasia
FOLL: T. Bellchambers, D. Shiel, D. Heppell
I/C: J. Laverde, K. Langford, W. Snelling, B. Ham
EMG: T. Jok, D. Clarke, M. Hartley, J. Ridley
IN: C. Hooker, O. Fantasia, D. Heppell, W. Snelling, J. Stringer
OUT: M. Hartley, (Omitted), T. Jok (Omitted), J. Begley (Omitted), D. Clarke (Omitted), M. Gleeson (Injured)
GEELONG CATS v COLLINGWOOD
Friday 6 September, 7.50pm EST at the MCG
CATS
B: Z.Tuohy, M.Blicavs, H.Taylor
HB: M.O’Connor, J.Henry, T.Stewart
C: M.Duncan, P.Dangerfield, B.Parfitt
HF: G.Ablett, E.Ratugolea, G.Rohan
F: L.Dahlhaus, T.Hawkins, J.Bews
FOLL: R.Stanley, T.Kelly, J.Selwood
I/C: J.Kolodjashnij, T.Atkins, G.Miers, Q.Narkle
EMG: S.Selwood, S.Menegola, J.Parsons, L.Henderson
IN: J.Kolodjashnij, T.Atkins
OUT: L.Henderson (Omitted), C.Guthrie (Injured)
MAGPIES
B: L.Greenwood, J.Roughead, J.Howe
HB: J.Crisp, D.Moore, B.Maynard
C: T.Phillips, S.Pendlebury, C.Mayne
HF: S.Sidebottom, B.Mihocek, W.Hoskin-Elliott
F: J.Elliott, J.De Goey, J.Stephenson
FOLL: B.Grundy, A.Treloar, T.Adams
I/C: J.Noble, C.Brown, J.Thomas, R.Wills
EMG: M.Scharenberg, T.Varcoe, J.Madgen, J.Daicos
IN: S.Sidebottom. J.De Goey, J.Stephenson
OUT: M.Scharenberg (Omitted), T.Varcoe (Omitted), J.Madgen (Omitted)
GWS GIANTS v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Saturday 7 September, 3.20pm EST at Giants Stadium
GIANTS
B: H.Shaw, P.Davis, S.Reid
HB: A.Corr, N.Haynes, L.Whitfield
C: Z.Williams, T.Taranto, A.Kennedy
HF: J.Finlayson, H.Himmelberg, B.Daniels
F: T.Greene, J.Cameron, B.Deledio
FOLL: S.Mumford, H.Perryman, D.Lloyd
I/C: S.Taylor, J.Hopper, J.Kelly, M.de Boer
EMG: I.Cumming, A.Tomlinson, L.Keeffe, I.Hill
IN: N.Haynes, T.Greene, B.Deledio, J.Hopper
OUT: I.Cumming (Omitted), L.Keeffe (Omitted), A.Tomlinson (Omitted), I.Hill (Omitted)
BULLDOGS
B: T.Duryea, Le.Young, H.Crozier
HB: J.Johannisen, Z.Cordy, E.Wood
C: L.Hunter, M.Bontempelli, E.Richards
HF: B.Dale, J.Schache, S.Lloyd
F: B.Smith, A.Naughton, T.McLean
FOLL: T.English, J.Dunkley, J.Macrae
I/C: M.Suckling, R.West, P.Lipinski, W.Hayes
EMG: J.Trengove, T.Dickson, B.Williams, R.Smith
No changes
BRISBANE LIONS v RICHMOND
Saturday 7 September, 7.25pm EST at the Gabba
LIONS
B: L.Hodge, H.Andrews, M.Adams
HB: A.Witherden, D.Gardiner, D.Rich
C: D.Zorko, J.Berry, M.Robinson
HF: C.Cameron, E.Hipwood, H.McCluggage
F: O.McInerney, D.McStay, C.Rayner
FOLL: S.Martin, L.Neale, J.Lyons
I/C: A.Christensen, L.McCarthy, Z.Bailey, N.Answerth
EMG: B.Keays, J.Walker, L.Taylor, R.Lester
IN: A.Christensen
OUT: C.Cox (Omitted)
TIGERS
B: D.Astbury, N.Broad, D.Grimes
HB: B.Houli, N.Vlastuin, J.Short
C: B.Ellis, D.Prestia, J.Caddy
HF: D.Rioli, T.Cotchin, K.Lambert
F: S.Bolton, T.Lynch, J.Riewoldt
FOLL: T.Nankervis, S.Edwards, D.Martin
I/C: I.Soldo, L.Baker, J.Graham, J.Castagna
EMG: J.Ross, M.Pickett, M.Chol, D.Butler
IN: T.Nankervis
OUT: N.Balta (Omitted)
You’re a legend, CT. Thank you mate.
NO LATE CHANGES
FINAL INTERCHANGES
West Coast: Jake Waterman, Dom Sheed, Tom Hickey, Will Schofield
Essendon: Darcy Parish, Kyle Langford, Aaron Francis, Brandon Ham
Backed wc geel gws and bris in a multi. I wanted to take wc 40+ but didn’t have the guts. Cmon wc!!!
COME ON DON GET THE WIN
West Coast Eagles: 6.4.40 Essendon Bombers: 3.1.19
Willie Rioli 41 Andrew McGrath 37
Jamie Cripps 39 Dyson Heppell 32
Jeremy McGovern 31 Darcy Parish 30
Jack Redden 28 Tom Bellchambers 29
Jack Darling 27 Will Snelling 29
Half time
West Coast Eagles: 10.8.68 Essendon Bombers: 6.2.38
Josh J. Kennedy 3.1,Jamie Cripps 2.2,Liam Ryan 2,Will Snelling 2.
Jamie Cripps 72
Josh J. Kennedy 70
Willie Rioli 62
Jack Redden 59
Liam Ryan 59
Adam Saad 59
Andrew McGrath 57
Dyson Heppell 55
Dyson Heppell 51
Dylan Shiel 51
At what point do Bet365 pay out early?
Just lost all respect for Zach Merrett.
What a tugger
Pretty soft by merrett , nicnat only got him by 20 cm and 30 kg, bet you would have stood up to him.
Third Quarter
West Coast Eagles: 13.11.89 Essendon Bombers: 8.5.53
Jamie Cripps 107
Josh J. Kennedy 90
Luke Shuey 83
Willie Rioli 78
Liam Ryan 73
Jack Redden 73
Adam Saad 86
Patrick Ambrose 81
Dyson Heppell 81
Aaron Francis 75
Conor McKenna 74
West Coast Eagles: 17.14.116 Essendon Bombers: 9.7.61
Jamie Cripps 4.3,Josh J. Kennedy 4.2,Liam Ryan 3, Jake Waterman 2.1,Jack Darling 2,Dom Sheed 1.1,Willie Rioli 1.1
A. M-Tipungwuti 2.2,Will Snelling 2,Adam Saad 2, Orazio Fantasia 1.2,Jayden Laverde 1,Andrew McGrath 1.
Jamie Cripps 142,Dyson Heppell 111,Jack Redden 110,Luke Shuey 108, Andrew McGrath 107,Josh J. Kennedy 104,Dylan Shiel 103,Adam Saad 100.
Might look at McGrath next year if he’s a DEF plus they mentioned that Lewis Jetta might be taking a few more kick ins in the future.
Yeah, McGrath piqued my interest as well.
Scored 108 and had 30 touches from only 59% TOG, but priced at an awkward 400k.