Has everyone recovered from last week’s derby?? Eagles’ supporters are no doubt still enjoying the win, while Dockers supporters are trying to wipe it far from their memory…

I have mixed feelings about last week’s game. On one hand (as a Dockers supporter) the game wasn’t great, on the scoreboard or the fact that Aaron Sandilands suffered a punctured lung and will be out for weeks. On the other hand, I think Freo did quite well to get within 5 points of West Coast at one stage WITHOUT a ruckman. Freo played a lot better than they have done in the previous weeks, however West Coast were just too strong and overran them in the end.

I think the outcome will be fairly similar this Friday night when West Coast take on Richmond. The Eagles are coming into this second home game in a row off a big win and I’m sure they will carry on the momentum. Richmond are coming off a home ground loss against Adelaide last week and will be looking to make up for it.

Even though Josh Kennedy, West Coast’s most dominant goal kicker, didn’t have a great last game in front of goal, the depth of West Coast’s forward line shone through with Jack Darling taking the reins and kicking 3 goals, along with new recruit Lewis Jetta and back up ruckman Scott Lycett kicking 2 goals each. Kennedy will be looking to improve his accuracy this time around and I expect him to kick a bag against the Tigers.

If Richmond want to stay in the game, their defence is going to have to step it up and try to limit West Coast’s scoring power. Also- for the sake of my fantasy footy team, and Richmond’s chances of winning, Jack Riewoldt is going to need to fire up and kick some goals! He hasn’t had his usual impact for Richmond so far this season, only kicking a total of 6 goals over 3 games. Friday night may be the night he gets his butt into gear… I think if anyone will be a threat for West Coast it will be him.

West Coast have an awesome midfield line-up at the moment which includes Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff, Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo, who all had a great game last week. Unfortunately, Priddis is currently nursing a thigh strain and hip soreness after last week’s game and is racing against time to be fit this week. Shuey has also been dealing with ankle and knee soreness for a few weeks now and has done minimal training this week. Fingers crossed that they both pull up in time to be named in the side.

Richmond midfielders Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Shaun Grigg and Brandon Ellis also had a fairly good last game, despite losing to the Crows. We may see a feisty battle of the midfielders! I think if Nic Naitanui can dominate the hit-outs, and injuries are not a factor, the battle will be certainly won by West Coast.

I am tipping West Coast Eagles to beat Richmond by 20 points, in what has been predicted to be perfect weather conditions at Domain Stadium on Friday night.

Let us know your #AFLEaglesTigers predictions at @TweetPerth @EmmaLianaPayne