Where and When: Casey Fields. Sunday, March 8 (12:10pm AWST)
TV: Live on Channel 7, Fox Footy and the official AFLW app
Radio: ABC
What it means for West Coast: An opportunity to generate momentum from a victory, plant the flag in opposition territory and claim a maiden road win.
The stats:
64 per cent efficiency inside-50: Over the season’s first three matches, the Eagles have established their strength as a clearance side, although they lost that count last Saturday 14-22. The weight of numbers didn’t matter as West Coast made the most of their opportunities by repeatedly hitting up teammates in the attacking arc with efficiency and class.
7-1 running bounces: The Bulldogs’ strength as a kicking side was obvious on Saturday as they constantly pinpointed teammates with short kicks. But where the Bulldogs kicked their way down the field, the Eagles surged. The running bounce total was indicative of the Eagles’ overlap and running game that allowed them to create one-on-one opportunities down the field.
The match-up: Courtney Guard v Kate Hore
Guard hasn’t accumulated big stats this season, rather living up to her namesake by doing the small things and playing her role week-to-week as a blue-collar defensive stopper. Hore has quickly established herself as one of the competition’s best forwards and the mandate to clamp down on the livewire Demon is likely to fall on Guard’s capable shoulders.
It’s a big week for: Ashlee Atkins
Atkins opened the goal kicking on Saturday with an acute right-foot snap that sailed over a Bulldogs defender and crossed the line for her first goal as an Eagle. West Coast were all class generating opportunities for their forwards on Saturday and if Atkins can convert more half chances the Eagles could begin putting up bigger totals on the scoreboard.
Big call: Grace Kelly takes her red hot form to Casey Fields and kicks three goals.
