Where and when: UTAS Stadium, Sunday, May 21, 1.10pm (11.10am AWST)
TV: Live on 7 in WA, Fox Footy and streaming on Kayo
Last time we met: Hawthorn 15.12 (102) def. West Coast 12.5 (77) at the MCG, round 18, 2022
The best efforts of star full-back Tom Barrass – who notched up career-highs for disposals (30) and marks (18) – weren’t enough to inspire West Coast to victory. Hawthorn small forward Luke Breust snared six goals for the home team, whose seven-goal second term proved decisive in the result. In his final game at the MCG, veteran spearhead Josh Kennedy kicked two goals, while Jake Waterman finished with three majors as mid-season draftee Jai Culley laid a game-high 11 tackles on debut.
What it means for the Eagles: The chance to claim a second victory for the season. West Coast has been chasing wins without success since defeating Greater Western Sydney in round two and Sunday’s clash in Tasmania pits the 17th-placed Eagles against bottom team Hawthorn. A victory would help build confidence amongst the playing group, who have been showing promising glimpses of a consistent gamestyle without producing the four-quarter effort the Eagles are searching for.
The stat: West Coast has faced Hawthorn seven times in Launceston for two wins and five losses. The most recent clash was 2014, when the Eagles went down by 44 points to the then-reigning premiers.
The match-up: Oscar Allen v Sam Frost
Allen’s return from a season on the sidelines has been nothing short of exceptional, with the Eagles star making the most of limited opportunities and being the only player in the competition to kick multiple goals in each of the opening nine rounds. The 24-year-old sits fifth in the Coleman Medal race with 24 majors – more than a quarter of West Coast’s 87 for the season so far. If West Coast can provide enough supply, Allen looms as a match-winner in Launceston, but Frost and Hawks captain James Sicily will be doing everything they can to thwart West Coast spearhead.
It’s a big week for: Jake Waterman
The absence of veteran goalkicker Jack Darling (arm) opens the door for Waterman to become more of a primary target in attack – and he has proven this season he is capable of having a major impact on the scoreboard. Waterman has booted career-high four-goal returns twice this season against the Giants and Cats, and if he can support Allen the Eagles will go a long way towards victory.
Big call: Jack Petruccelle ignited West Coast’s midfield after half-time against Gold Coast and the speedy small forward will better his career-high 20 disposals in his 61st game on Sunday.
