Eagles out for AFL redemption against Cats

9 Aug 2012, 2:38 pm   -   Source: AAP
The top-four hopes of West Coast and Geelong will go on the line at Patersons Stadium on Friday. (AAP)

The top-four hopes of West Coast and Geelong will go on the line at Patersons Stadium on Friday. (AAP)

The top-four hopes of West Coast and Geelong will go on the line on Friday night when they face off at Patersons Stadium.

After enduring a hellish month, West Coast's midfield brigade will be aiming to prove a point when they take on a resurgent Geelong in Friday night's AFL blockbuster in Perth.

Despite the silver-spoon service provided by formidable ruck duo Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, West Coast's midfield have been smashed at the stoppages in recent weeks, resulting in heavy losses to Sydney (52 points), Adelaide (49) and Fremantle (65).

Even their 98-point win over Brisbane a fortnight ago failed to generate a positive count at the stoppages.

Against the Dockers last Saturday, West Coast won the hitouts 61-38 but were comprehensively beaten 49-35 in the clearances, with the Dockers scoring nine goals from stoppages.

Although Eagles' onballer Daniel Kerr starred with 36 possessions and 11 clearances, noted ball-winners Luke Shuey (11 touches), Matt Priddis (19) and Scott Selwood (23) were well down on their output.

And it won't get any easier against the Cats, whose ground-level soldiers of Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood, Paul Chapman, James Kelly and Steve Johnson have the potential to wreak havoc around the stoppages.

Kerr believes West Coast's onballers might have become too attack-focused in recent weeks, leaving them vulnerable even when Cox and Naitanui win the taps.

Cox, who should encounter few problems against an inexperienced Geelong ruck division led by Orren Stephenson, said it was important for West Coast's midfielders to maintain a defensive element.

"We've been scored heavily against from stoppages. That's been the most disappointing thing," Cox said.

"It's just a matter of trying to really make sure we aren't all attacking and we do have some respect for the opposition.

"So it's not a matter of if we just front-run and try and all attack and get on the end of a ruck tap. It's a matter of trying to work out how can we create space for one of the target players, how can we work together and cover their most dangerous exits?"

Geelong are oozing confidence following classy wins over Hawthorn, Adelaide and Essendon.

Their new-found belief has been best typified by forward Tom Hawkins, who has booted 14 goals in his past three games, including the match-winner against Hawthorn last Friday night.

The sixth-placed Cats sit just percentage adrift of West Coast, meaning only the winner of Friday's match will have a genuine chance of snaring a coveted top-four berth.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube