West Coast Eagles - Semi Finals Team
Two changes for the Eagles team to take on Collingwood Friday night at Subiaco. The big outs are Judd and Cousins, and in come Hansen and Fletcher.
WEST COAST v COLLINGWOOD
Friday, 6.45pm WST, Subiaco OvalWEST COAST
B: Brett Jones, Darren Glass, David Wirrpanda
HB: Beau Waters, Adam Hunter, Tyson Stenglein
C: Michael Braun, Adam Selwood, Andrew Embley
HF: Daniel Chick, Ashley Hansen, Mark Nicoski
F: Mark LeCras, Quinten Lynch, Mark Seaby
FOLL: Dean Cox, Chad Fletcher, Shannon Hurn
I/C: Rowan Jones, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa, Brent Staker
EMG: Chad Jones, Jamie McNamara, Mitch MortonIn:Hansen, Fletcher
Out: Ben Cousins (hamstring), Chris Judd (groin)COLLINGWOOD
B: James Clement, Shane Wakelin, Tarkyn Lockyer
HB: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien, Tyson Goldsack
C: Martin Clarke, Scott Burns, Nathan Buckley
HF: Nick Maxwell, Anthony Rocca, Scott Pendlebury
F: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Sean Rusling
FOLL: Guy Richards, Shane O’Bree, Leon Davis
I/C: Dane Swan, Josh Fraser, Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst
EMG: Paul Licuria, Rhyce Shaw, Chris BryanNo change
Arguably Ashley Hansen is more important to us in terms of Wins vs. Losses than any other Eagles player. Arguably a fit Kerr, Cousins and Judd are pretty handy too, but we can’t cry over spilt milk. We’ve got to go with who’s fit - and that is a big question mark.
It appears it’s not only the big guns who are injured - a large number of Eagles are carrying injuries - Selwood, Glass, Wirra, Staker, Chick, Rosa, Priddis, Cox - and injuries could yet tell the tale at the end of the day.
Having said that our best performance, at home, should be too strong for the plucky Pies. I’d still back the boys to dig deep and get into that golden groove we’ve seen the boys switch on on occasion this season. This could end in disappointment, or it could be a chance for the spirit of the club to shine through in spite of the odds. Can’t wait to see how it goes.
Sep 13th 2007
Much as I’d love to see us do the Pies, I’m not getting too worked up about this match.
It feels like the season is pretty much over and we’ve done well to get to here given the dramas and injuries. Part of me is waiting to see the team develop further and take the next step in 2008.
I can’t see anyone beating Geelong. It’s not that I think they’re that good - I just think the rest are either not good enough or too decimated by injuries.
Sep 13th 2007
I’m the opposite - hanging out for this match. Even not expecting to win, and trying to prepare myself that all these injuries to top players may have in fact rooted our chances of back to back, I still can’t help feeling we’re a chance, and I’ll be gutted if we exit.
Sep 13th 2007
I don’t know about Geelong - I reckon they are susceptible big time. Not sure why, but they’ve been up for ages and some of their players would still have ??? in the back of their minds I reckon. Can you imagine how hard the Geelong players will be trying NOT to get ahead of themselves? (and here I am thinking of next week already doing the same….)
Whilst we’re still alive, the dream is still alive.