Where and when: Marvel Stadium, Saturday, April 9, 4.35pm (2.35pm AWST)
TV: Live on 7, Fox Footy, Kayo and the AFL Live Official app.
Last time we met: Collingwood 14.6 (90) def. West Coast 6.9 (45) at MCG, round 20, 2021
A marquee occasion for premiership captain Shannon Hurn didn’t elicit the performance hoped from the Eagles, who conceded the first eight goals and never looked likely in a 45-point defeat at an empty MCG. It was a hammer blow to West Coast’s finals ambitions and bitterly disappointing way to mark Hurn becoming the first player in club history to reach the 300-game landmark.
What it means for the Eagles: The reasons behind a 0-3 start for the first time since 2010 are obvious for all to see and while there are still challenges on the availability front the Eagles will be desperate to compete against an in-form Collingwood outfit, which has played with dash and dare under new coach Craig McRae.
The stat: The Eagles have used 38 players in the opening three rounds – 10 more than Collingwood – and that number will swell in coming weeks when Elliot Yeo, Oscar Allen and Jamie Cripps return from injury.
The match-up: Nic Naitanui v Brodie Grundy
Two of the premier big men in the competition will go head-to-head once again in a pivotal battle. West Coast’s first-choice engine room should be pieced together again soon, but the Eagles will be relying on emerging types at ground level, so Naitanui getting first hands to the ball and getting the Sherrin going West Coast’s way will be important – as he did early in the third quarter in the RAC Derby when the Eagles booted two goals in 30 seconds. Grundy has been in fine form to start the season, with his 20-disposal, eight-clearance effort almost inspiring the Pies to victory against Geelong last round.
It’s a big week for: Jake Waterman
It has been an interrupted start to the campaign for the son-of-a-gun – like many of his teammates – and Waterman will be keen to grasp the opportunity against the Magpies. The mobile forward started the year with 11 touches and a goal in the loss to Gold Coast, before missing round two due to the AFL Health and Safety Protocols and being named med-sub for the RAC Derby. He returns to the line-up on a half-forward flank and his ability to work up the ground and get dangerous around goals should be valuable at Marvel Stadium.
Big call: Connor West to collect a team-high for disposals as a key plank in an undermanned midfield.
