Where and when: Optus Stadium. Sunday, August 9 (1.35pm AWST)
TV: Live on Channel 7, Fox Footy, Kayo and the official AFL app
What it means for the Eagles: West Coast could leap in to second place with a big win against the resurgent Blues. Sunday’s match also offers the Eagles an opportunity to silence the doubters by proving their system stacks up in the wet.
The stat: Josh Kennedy currently sits atop the 2020 Coleman Medal leaderboard with 22 goals to his name, but did you know that 15 of those goals have come in the past three weeks? Only one player has come close to keeping pace with Kennedy during those run of games and that’s Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron, who bagged eight goals in the same time frame.
The matchup: Jackson Nelson v Eddie Betts
When it rains, you’ve got to keep an eye on the little guys. And that’s why Jackson Nelson will have a pivotal role to play at Optus Stadium on Sunday. Nelson is having a breakout season in 2020, achieving career-best numbers for average disposals (13.9), marks (3.7) and intercepts (3.4). He will be one of several Eagles tasked with minding Betts, who is showing no signs of slowing down at age 33. The three-time all-Australian has booted 10 goals in his eight outings this year, including a four-goal haul against the Western Bulldogs in round six. If Nelson can curtail Betts’ influence, it will go a long way to helping West Coast notch another win.
It’s a big week for: Andrew Gaff
The 2015 John Worsfold has been receiving plenty of attention this year and has often been the go-to guy for the opposition’s assigned tagger. He’ll likely have renowned run-with expert Ed Curnow by his side on Sunday, so Gaff will need to use every cunning play in his trick bag to shake the pesky Blue.
Big call: Elliot Yeo lays more than 20 tackles and kicks two goals in wintry conditions
