Both sides go into the clash with a win-loss record of 3-4.
Previous history
North and West Coast had three meetings in 2012, each one noteworthy for different reasons. In Round 6, the fallout centred on the adjudication of high tackles, after Round 15 Luke Shuey’s Tribunal defence labelled Lindsay Thomas a ‘stager’, while North’s season ended in ugly fashion with a heavy loss in the Elimination Final.
There is plenty of feeling between the two sides, and it should set up for a highly charged encounter in the prime time of Friday night football.
Key match-up
Sam Wright v Shannon Hurn
After starting the season in defence, Wright has moved to the other end of the field to play as a defensive forward in recent weeks.
Wright restricted Grant Birchall’s influence in Round 5, and if it wasn’t for some inaccurate kicking on goal could have been the game changer.
Hurn plays a similar role to Birchall in the Eagles’ defence, kick-starting rebound with long, precise kicking. In the first meeting in 2012, he had 23 kicks and booted two goals, a clear sign of the danger he presents for the Kangaroos.
Wright will have to make Hurn accountable, and the best way to do that is by hitting the scoreboard himself.
Goal-kicking spread
What makes West Coast’s forward line so dangerous is its multiple players all capable of kicking big bags of goals.
Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling, Dean Cox, Mark LeCras, Josh Hill and Nic Naitanui can all be match-winners on any given day. The versatility means the Eagles can kick high scores easily if the game is open.
It won’t be easy for the Eagles though. North is also developing a dangerous forward line of its own. The tall forwards in Drew Petrie, Majak Daw and Aaron Black along with Coleman Medal leader Lindsay Thomas can all cause havoc for the opposing defenders.
Interrupted preparation
Both sides have midfielders in doubt for selection. For North it’s captain Andrew Swallow. He suffered a knee injury against the Bulldogs after an opponent fell across his body. The number 9 will fly with the team to Perth and his hopeful of making himself available.
Swallow has played the last 96 consecutive games for North Melbourne.
West Coast is waiting on the returns of Daniel Kerr and Chris Masten in its midfield. They both missed the win against Brisbane due to a knee injury and illness respectively.
Andrew Embley and Sam Butler may also return for the Eagles, strengthening a side that already looks to be approaching its peak form.
Midfield battle
A feature of West Coast in its wins at Patersons against North has been space in the midfield.
Since North’s loss to Sydney in Round 3, its on-ball brigade has improved its work rate defensively and has seen the results on the scoreboard. After conceding more than 100 points in each of the first three rounds, the Kangaroos have conceded just 85 a match in the last month.
The Eagles’ second tier of midfielders, often underrated, are key to their wins. Matt Rosa, Andrew Gaff and Sharrod Wellingham will look to hurt
North should it pay too much attention to the first-choice rotations.
Ryan Bastinac has done a good job tagging Daniel Kerr in the past, and that could be an option again if the West Coast star plays. Alternatively, if
Taylor Hine comes back into the side, he is another ace up Brad Scott’s sleeve.
Like the majority of games, the midfield battle will go a long way to determining the victor, perhaps even more so than normal on the wide expanses of Patersons Stadium.
