WEST Coast Eagles will have plenty to play for – and a point to prove – when they host Hawthorn at Domain Stadium on Saturday.
The Eagles will be coming off a draw against Gold Coast Suns – a match they were expected to win comfortably.
But a win against the Hawks this weekend will all but seal a top-two finish and a home qualifying final for one of the competition’s most improved sides this season.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson labelled Saturday night’s draw with the Suns disappointing, but said it was a result his still developing side would learn from.
"I always thought the maturity of our group was still building and we're not quite there yet,” Simpson said after the match.
"You've got to go through situations where sometimes you are a bit off but you still get it done.
"How you handle those situations, how you handle the pressure, expectations, all those things, is part of the bigger picture.”
Simpson said this week’s match against the Hawks would be a big test and a good opportunity to bounce back strongly.
“We've been up for a long time and we've got a really tough run in front of us. This is all part of the journey and we're not satisfied,” he said.
"We've got a massive challenge this week, we're playing the reigning premiers and I don't know the last time Hawthorn lost two games in a row, but that's our challenge."
Players to Watch
Reigning Brownlow Medallist Matt Priddis leads the Eagles for disposals this season, averaging 30.4 per game, and is arguably in as good if not better form than last year.
He had another 34 disposals against the Gold Coast Suns along with 12 clearances, while the Eagles’ midfield has also been well served by the likes of Andrew Gaff, Chris Masten and Luke Shuey.
Josh Kennedy leads the race for the Coleman Medal with 58 goals, and combined with Jack Darling and Mark LeCras, looms as a significant threat for the Hawks’ defence.
Potential Changes
The Eagles have all but locked in key defender Jeremy McGovern to return from a hamstring injury.
McGovern has missed the past two weeks, and Simpson is “pretty sure” the up-and-coming star will play.
“He ticked off all the tests on Friday and he'll train all week, so I've got his magnet on the board already,” he said.
Tom Lamb and Pat McGinnity impressed at WAFL level, but it’s unlikely the Eagles will make too many unforced changes to a side which has not lost since Round 10.
