Where and when: Adelaide Oval, Sunday, April 9, 3.20pm
TV: Delayed until 2pm on Ch7 in Perth, live on Fox Footy and streaming on Kayo
Last time we met: Geelong 19.17 (131) def. West Coast 7.4 (46) at GMHBA Stadium, round 23, 2022
Taking an understrength team to Geelong for a final round clash to end a rough season always spelled trouble and the Eagles were soundly beaten as the Cats tuned up for their run to the 2022 premiership. Playing his 200th game in blue and gold, Jamie Cripps snared three majors, while young ruck Bailey Williams produced his best game for the club with 25 disposals and five clearances. Returning to face his former club, Tim Kelly had 28 touches and kicked a goal, while Tom Barrass tried hard to limit the influence of Cats spearhead Tom Hawkins (four goals) in the face of a flood of inside 50s against West Coast.
What it means for the Eagles: The effort of a youthful and inexperienced team couldn’t be faulted in the opening half against flag fancy Melbourne last round but the drop-off after the long break left a sour taste in a 63-point defeat. The Cats look to be back to their best after thumping Hawthorn, and while West Coast will be playing to win the team won’t be satisfied with anything less than a competitive four-quarter effort against the reigning premier.
The stat: Adelaide Oval will be the seventh venue West Coast has played against Geelong - including Kardinia Park, Subiaco Oval, the WACA, Waverley Park, the MCG and Optus Stadium.
The match-up: Elliot Yeo v Jeremy Cameron
Getting through three quarters in his first game since round 16 last year was a big tick for Yeo – who provided drive with his 12 disposals against Melbourne - and the Eagles star could continue playing across half-back as he builds his match fitness. That might mean he’s the man to match-up on Geelong dynamo Jeremy Cameron, arguably the best player in the competition, who is coming off a seven-goal rout of Hawthorn on Easter Monday. At 191cm and 91kg, Yeo would be giving away five centimetres and as many kilos to the big Cat – who has drilled 18.6 in four games and is averaging nearly 20 disposals - but the two-time John Worsfold medallist has the explosiveness and power to go with Cameron.
It’s a big week for: Tim Kelly
The silky midfielder has been in sensational form across the past three rounds – averaging nearly 34 disposals and a goal per game – during a stretch without Elliot Yeo in the engine room and minus skipper Luke Shuey against the Demons last round. West Coast is relying on Kelly to keep shouldering a heavy load and leading a youthful onball brigade against Geelong, while he would no doubt enjoy squaring the win-loss ledger at 2-2 against his former club.
Big call: Oscar Allen has been building every week since his return from a season out of the game and we’re backing him to equal his career-best haul of five goals on Sunday.
