WEST COAST will be looking for its first finals win since 2012 when they take on Hawthorn in Friday night’s Qualifying Final at Domain Stadium.
Having finished behind only Fremantle at the close of the home-and-away season, the Eagles will be full of confidence, particularly after only going down by 14 points when the two sides met in Round 19.
Coach Adam Simpson told media on Monday his side was taking an optimistic approach into what will be a high-stakes game.
“We’re excited, we’re enjoying the ride and hopefully there’s a few more weeks left," Simpson said.
“We’re aware of the scale and how big the game is, but we’re not intimidated by it. It’s a game on our turf and we’re looking forward to it.”
A former Hawthorn assistant himself, Simpson is well aware of the threat that the Hawks pose, despite the fact they haven’t had to travel through any of their past three premiership-winning finals campaigns.
“They pretty much play a finals brand of football every week. They’re consistent, they’re pretty healthy, their list, so I’m sure they’re ready, as we are," he said.
And after finishing ninth in 2014, the Eagles don’t have any plans to settle for a ‘good enough’ result this season.
“It’s the unknown for us, we haven’t set a limit on what we can achieve this year and we’ve got a home final so its the best position we can be in, we’ve given ourselves every opportunity," Simpson said.
Players to watch
Andrew Gaff has enjoyed a career-best season this year, averaging 30 disposals and 4.5 inside 50s to be included in the 40-man squad for 2015 All-Australian side.
Gaff’s run and carry is likely to also prove a danger for the Hawks on the wide expanses of Domain Stadium.
Recently-crowned Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy, who kicked 75 goals through the home-and-away season, is another threat who has the potential to take the qualifying final away from the Hawks.
Kennedy is likely to go head-to-head with either Brian Lake or James Frawley, in what looms as a critical match up.
Potential Changes
Chris Masten has been cleared of a serious hamstring injury after being subbed out of the Round 23 win over St Kilda, but is still in doubt for the qualifying final.
Along with defender Will Schofield, who could return from his own hamstring injury, Masten remains a test to come up for Friday night and will need to prove himself through the week.
Scott Selwood and Patrick McGinnity loom as potential inclusions if Masten fails to be fit. McGinnity was the AFL side’s emergency last week, while Selwood had 24 disposals, six tackles and kicked two goals for East Perth on Sunday.
RELATED
Six Hawks named in All Australian squad
