Where and when: Mineral Resources Park (Whadjuk), Saturday, October 22, 2:10pm AWST
TV: Live on 7mate in WA, Fox Footy, Kayo and the AFL Live Official app.
Last time we met: West Coast Eagles 1.2 (8) def by Western Bulldogs (10.8) 68 at Mineral Resources Park, round nine, season six, 2022
Last season’s final score between these two clubs would have been erased quickly from the memory of Eagles players after going down to the visiting Bulldogs by 60 points. The opposition midfield duo of Kirsty Lamb (20 disposals) and Ellie Blackburn (23 disposals) were key performers in the victory while Evie Gooch led the home side with 22 disposals from the defensive line. It was a tough night for Eagles’ veteran Dana Hooker, who left the field with a shoulder injury during the second quarter and didn’t return to the field in what was a devastating blow.
What it means for the Eagles: Saturday’s game will be a key opportunity for the Eagles to show how far they’ve come since last season, proving the youth driven route and a significant list turnover is already paying off. Hooker who arguably had her best performance of the season last week will relish the opportunity to face the Bulldogs again after her early exit due to injury last year. While the Bulldogs lost key players to expansion franchises this season, they still sit eighth on the ladder, giving the Eagles an opportunity to disrupt their run towards finals with a win for the visitors all but securing a place in the top eight.
The stat: The top two league leaders in hit-outs will go head-to-head this weekend as West Coast’s Sarah Lakay (203) only sits 16 hit-outs behind Bulldog Alice Edmonds (219), and both rucks will be looking to give their midfields first use of the Sherrin around stoppages.
The match-up: Ellie Blackburn vs Emma Swanson
Winning the midfield battle is always crucial and round nine’s clash remains no different. Both Emma Swanson and Ellie Blackburn are arguably the top players at each of their respective clubs and with higher honours looming at the back end of the season winning this matchup will be a key measuring stick against how they have performed this season. In last week’s match against Geelong, Swanson led the side yet again with 24 disposals while Blackburn notched 23 last week in their confidence-building win over St Kilda. The two aggressive midfielders’ stat lines look almost identical and superiority in this head-to-head clash will have a huge impact on the game.
It’s a big week for: Sophie McDonald
There’s been a lot of chat this week about the underrated performances this season from Eagles’ key defender Sophie McDonald. Senior coach Michael Prior said twice during the week that his side’s defensive pillar should be considered for not only the AFLW 22 under 22 but the All-Australian team as well. McDonald’s contributions this season will be hard to ignore if she can put on a dominant performance this weekend shutting down Bulldog key forward Celine Moody.
Big Call: Ashleigh Gomes will kick-off her career in style with 10+ disposals and a goal on debut.
