Where and when: Optus Stadium, Sunday, July 16, 2.40pm
TV: Live on 7 in WA, Fox Footy and streaming on Kayo
Last time we met: Richmond 15.14 (104) def. West Coast 8.10 (58) at the MCG, round eight, 2023
After hanging tough for nearly three quarters – and hitting the front during the third term when Jack Darling converted – the Eagles fell away late as Richmond put the foot down. Tigers midfielder Dion Prestia was the gamebreaker with three goals in rapid succession, while West Coast spearhead Oscar Allen booted four majors to be the Eagles’ best afield. Just two weeks after being nominated for the Rising Star award, emerging midfielder Jai Culley suffered a devastating ruptured ACL halfway through the opening quarter.
What it means for the Eagles: If the last home game against St Kilda represented a step forward, the clash against Brisbane was a step backwards and the Eagles will be determined to reproduce the same attack on the football and intensity that highlighted the Saints performance. The Tigers are always up for the fight and West Coast will need to be on their game from the opening bounce to avoid another slow start.
The stat: Oscar Allen (65.5 per cent) has the second-best accuracy among the top 20 goalkickers this season, with only North Melbourne’s Nick Larkey (68.8) ahead of the star West Coast spearhead.
The match-up: Luke Shuey v Dion Prestia
The Eagles’ inspirational skipper is back from soreness in time for a blockbuster midfield contest against Richmond’s talented line-up, headlined by three-time Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin alongside a more-than-handy supporting cast. Prestia was the match-winner last time the teams met, and along with gun recruits Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, plus the classy and elusive Shai Bolton, he looms as a huge threat to the Eagles. Shuey is often the firestarter for West Coast but Tim Kelly, Dom Sheed, Reuben Ginbey, Elijah Hewett and co. will have big jobs helping turn the tide in the blue and gold’s direction and providing the forward line with enough supply to kick a winning score.
It’s a big week for: Jack Darling
Any player will tell you the game isn’t about individual honours but Darling’s impending feat of kicking his 500th career goal will be worth celebrating. Only Josh Kennedy (712) and Peter Sumich (514) have booted more majors for the Eagles, and Darling’s consistency across a 13-season career has been remarkable. Darling, who only needs a solitary major to reach the mark, will also notch his 271st career game, drawing him level in fourth all-time on West Coast’s list of matches played.
Big call: Young key forward Jack Williams is showing glimpses of the form he displayed during pre-season and will kick multiple goals (three) for the first time in his fifth game.
