Where and when: Optus Stadium, Saturday, June 3, 2.35pm
TV: Live on 7 in WA, Fox Footy and streaming on Kayo
Last time we met: Collingwood 10.14 (74) def by. West Coast 14.3 (87) at Marvel Stadium, round four, 2022
At the time, it was one of the Eagles’ great against-the-odds wins on the road. More than 12 months later it stacks up as an all-time classic against a team that fell agonisingly short of making the Grand Final later that season. Following a winless opening three rounds impacted by an injury and Covid crisis, the Eagles jumped on the back of defensive pillars Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass, and were guided to victory by some unerring goalkicking – with Josh Kennedy, Junior Rioli, Jack Darling and Liam Ryan combining for 10-straight majors. Xavier O’Neill (24 disposals) produced one of his best games in a midfield missing Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, Tim Kelly, Dom Sheed and Andrew Gaff as the Eagles hung on for a stirring triumph.
What it means for the Eagles: There’s no tougher task in football at the moment than taking on the red-hot Pies and the learning opportunity for West Coast’s youngsters will be invaluable. Only five Eagles running out this Saturday played in the 2018 Grand Final triumph – Shannon Hurn, Tom Barrass, Liam Duggan, Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed – with another six missing through injury. The West Coast list transition is well under way and the Eagles will take plenty out of testing themselves against the strong Collingwood side named to fly west.
The stat: West Coast has won three of five clashes with the Pies at Optus Stadium. Both losses - in the 2020 elimination final and round 17 clash the previous year – were by a solitary point.
The match-up: Reuben Ginbey v Nick Daicos
It’s a mouth-watering prospect. Two young guns of the competition going head-to-head and it could happen at stages. Ginbey has been handed some of the biggest jobs in the game in his first season and there’s none more challenging than shadowing Brownlow Medal fancy Daicos when he has stints in midfield. The star Pie rotates through positions and mainly across half-back, where tenacious half-forward Connor West might be tasked with trying to keep a leash on Collingwood's chief playmaker.
It’s a big week for: Dom Sheed
The understated Eagle never seeks the spotlight but has been rightly feted leading into his 150th match in blue and gold – ironically against Collingwood, the team he will forever be linked with following his 2018 Grand Final heroics. Five years on, the Kalgoorlie kid is now an established leader at West Coast, helping guide the next generation on the path back up the ladder and into flag contention once more.
Big call: Sheed to produce another ‘inch-perfect’ goal from the boundary that brings the blue and gold army at Optus Stadium to their feet.
