When and Where:
2.40pm at Patersons Stadium
Overall Head-To-Head:
West Coast Eagles – 21
Richmond – 14
Draws – 0
Last Time They Met:
Richmond 19.12 (126) defeated West Coast 11.11 (77), Round 12, 2010 at the MCG
Recent Form:
West Coast Eagles – BWLWW
Richmond – LLLLB
Current Ladder Positions:
West Coast Eagles – 5th (12-5)
Richmond – 13th (5-1-11)
Key Players:
You just had to admire the performance of Andrew Gaff last weekend and say to yourself ‘this kid is going to be star’. The 31-year-old kicked two goals from a career-high 31 disposals. Gaff showed explosive pace and precise efficiency via foot to catch the Bulldogs off guard. He’s yet to play a big game in front of his home crowd at Patersons Stadium. Against a confidence-sapped Richmond, Sunday afternoon might be the perfect opportunity.
Come on Jack Riewoldt – it’s time to stand up! The 22-year-old has really struggled for form over his past three matches, kicking just five goals against Essendon, Gold Coast and Geelong. Some believe Riewoldt is carrying an injury, but when you run out onto an AFL field, you’re expected to play at your best. The high-flying full-forward may go into Sunday’s game with a little extra motivation, knowing the last time he played the Eagles he booted a lazy 10.3 from nine marks. However the Eagles are a much improved side since Round 12, 2010.
West Coast Eagles Team Changes:
IN – Daniel Kerr, Mitch Brown, Chris Masten and Nic Naitanui
OUT – Beau Waters (elbow), Thomas Swift, Scott Lycett and Eric Mackenzie (Injured)
Richmond Team Changes:
IN – Mitchell Farmer, Matt Dea, Shaun Grigg and Brad Miller
OUT – Chris Newman (Knee), Jake Batchelor (Shoulder), Matt White and Ben Griffiths
Who Wins?
Expect a big margin here.
West Coast has been challenged in the past couple of weeks, but has found ways to win on both occasions. The Eagles led by significant margins against both Fremantle and Western Bulldogs but allowed both teams to come back during the final quarters. However they rallied in the final minutes to win both games by one and eight points respectively. Ruckman Dean Cox was herculean last weekend, taking two telling marks in the dying minutes to singlehandedly win the game for his team. He’s had yet another outstanding season and there’s something wrong if he isn’t Athe number one ruckman in the All-Australian side this year.
Richmond’s bye came at the right time last weekend after what has been a shocking second half of the season. The Tigers needed to freshen up, after losing seven of their past eight games, including an embarrassing loss to Gold Coast in Round 17. Their most recent loss, a 61-point thumping at the hands of Geelong, was just as demoralising, kicking just one goal in the first half. The end of the season can’t come quickly enough for the Tigers.
West Coast will win this game comfortably and should win its following four games to secure s double chance – something not many would’ve predicted pre-season.
Best Head-To-Head Bet:
West Coast Eagles -45.5 line ($2.10 – Centrebet)
Also Sportingbet Australia is doing a first goal scorer special on the AFL, on top of the usual first goal scorer payout. If your first goal scorer bet scores the second goal, the guys at Sportingbet will pay you out as well! If he kicks the first two, they will pay you double! Get on!
Other Suggested Bets:
First Goal Scorer – Mark LeCras on Sportingbet