Sunday’s clash with Greater Western Sydney might just be West Coast’s toughest match of the year.
Well, that’s the opinion of Adam Simpson.
The Eagles senior coach told media today that it was going to be “game on” against the Giants, who he expected to come out breathing fire following a disappointing loss to crosstown rivals Sydney.
West Coast will be looking to extend two winning streaks this weekend – the first its run of seven-straight wins in 2020 and the second a three-game streak over GWS dating back to round eight, 2018.
However, Simpson said the Eagles would be preparing for the game of their lives when they faced off against the 2019 grand finalists in what could be the club’s last outing at Optus Stadium for the year.
“Knowing (Giants coach) Leon (Cameron) reasonably well, I worked with him in a small office at Hawthorn for a few years, and knowing the way (GWS) play, they’ve been up and about for five years,” Simpson said.
“His record is probably the best in terms of position on the ladder. Outside of winning a premiership, he’s got those guys in a really good space. I think last year they went through a bit of a flat patch and they ended up playing off in a grand final.
“If you look at that team in the grand final and compare it to what we are going to get this week, it’s probably four or five players better. We understand it was a down performance at the weekend (against Sydney), but it wasn’t the first team that we’ve seen do that this year.
“No doubt he’ll get them going. I said to the players today this will be the toughest game of the season for us.”
One of those returning players will be Toby Greene, who has missed GWS’ past two outings due to injury.
Simpson said it would probably take a collective effort from West Coast’s defensive unit to curtail the dynamic small forward – along with the rest of the Giants’ attacking arsenal including the likes of Jeremy Cameron, Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson.
“I was sort of hoping they might just give (Greene) another week to get him right for the back end of the season,” Simpson joked.
“He’s a great player; he’s a match winner. How many match winners are in the league? There are probably two or three on every side, max.
“He definitely makes everyone play a bit stronger and a bit tougher around him. We’re aware of it.
“I think our backline has complemented each other very well in the last five or six weeks. They’ve been a real catalyst behind our return to a bit of form. We might have to share the role.
“They’ve got some pretty good players; if you look at that forward line it’s pretty high in caliber. We’ll have our work cut out for us.”
While Simpson and his coaching panel will no doubt be devising tactics to nullify countelss Giants, they also have several decisions to make on the home front, starting with who will replace injured midfield role player Jack Redden.
Simpson said there were a number of players in the mix to replace Redden, including Mark Hutchings, who is available for selection after being sidelined for the entire season to date.
The senior coach also suggested that he might throw returning utility Liam Duggan onball against the Giants.
Duggan has been stationed down back for the past two years, but Simpson had faith the Western Jets product - who was originally recruited as a midfielder - could slot into the centre line if required.
“Duggo played as a midfielder for a few years and he’s trained up,” Simpson said.
“We have pretty specific roles for all of our players and I think we’re going to need a bit of flexibility in the next month and that includes this week.”
