How is this for a stat? West Coast Eagles haven’t beaten the Pies at the MCG since 1995!
Eeeek. Unfortunately for Eddie McGuire and Collingwood, I have a feeling that West Coast Eagles will break that curse on the weekend. The Pies play well at the G however, I think at this stage in the season, the Eagles obviously have more to play for.
Collingwood will be coming into this game off a 40 point loss to North Melbourne and may still be a little flat. West Coast managed a narrow 6-point win over Melbourne last week at home, a game that no one expected to be so close! The Eagles will have something to prove this week – that they are worthy of a top 4 finish.
Big news out of West Coast’s camp is that star ruckman Nic Naitanui WAS a chance to play against the Pies, depending on how he pulled up after training towards the end of the week. Naitanui has missed 5 weeks so far after having surgery on both of his legs, near the Achilles. However, coach Adam Simpson has decided to not name Naitanui in the side this week, I am assuming Simpson will bring him back for the home game at Domain Stadium next week for the Western Derby.
The ruck contest will be important for West Coast this week. Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy has shown great improvement this season and has been effect in the Pie’s line-up. With Naitanui not returning, Scott Lycett will be given the task of beating Grundy in the ruck and making sure his hit-outs are effective. In his 50th game, we may see Jeremy McGovern have a spell in the ruck as well.
I think the bottom line for these two teams is that this season, West Coast’s best footy is better than Collingwood’s best footy. Both teams have underperformed this season and not really met expectations. If West Coast come to win and play hard from the get go, are accurate in front of goal and win the ball out of the middle, they will be able to come out on top.
I think West Coast Eagles will get the job done this week, in a close contest, and get one back on their side in their stats at the MCG. I am tipping the Eagles to beat the Pie’s by 10 points!
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