davey_magik
30 Mar 2006, 18:31
Eagles v Saints
Sportal.com
VENUE & TIME: Subiaco - 19:45 AEDT
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 29 - West Coast 16, St Kilda 12, Drawn 1
COVERAGE: Channel Nine, 3AW, 6PR, ABC, Triple M (Melbourne), afl.com.au
LAST TIME: West Coast 13.10 (88) d St Kilda 7.10 (52) at Subiaco, round 8, 2005.
WALKING WOUNDED
St Kilda is without key big man Justin Koschitzke but Aaron Hamill is expected to play despite suffering more calf problems during the pre-season.
West Coast's major concerns are underdone trio Darren Glass, Chad Fletcher and Ashley Sampi, who have all had injury-hit pre-seasons, but Eagles coach John Worsfold has declared all three certain starters.
FORM
These two have been widely tipped already to play-off in this year's grand final, even before the start of the home and away season, but both were unimpressive during the pre-season. Both bowed out in the first round of the NAB Cup with the Saints winless in their four pre-season games while the Eagles won just one of their four matches.
WHO'S HOT
Ben Cousins might have been forced to stand down as Eagles' skipper, in favour of Chris Judd, following his much-publicised drink/driving incident but it has hardly affected his form and the reigning Brownlow Medalist has enjoyed a superb pre-season on the field.
The big improver at St Kilda over the pre-season has been Jason Gram and while he has been a fringe player for most his time at the Saints, expect him to be a regular senior player in 2006.
KEY MATCH-UPS
The availability of Glass is crucial for the Eagles as he will take St Kilda spearhead Fraser Gehrig but just who Worsfold assigns to St Kilda's champion centre-half-forward Nick Riewoldt looms as the Eagles' biggest quandary with Adam Hunter likely to get the job. The Saints have the tough job of trying to contain the Eagles' all-star midfield of Cousins, Judd and Fletcher and expect Saints' coach Grant Thomas to assign his number one tagger Steven Baker to Judd.
WE THINK
The Eagles have had a troubled pre-season build-up following Cousins decision to stand down as captain while their form over the pre-season has also been disappointing. But last year's losing grand finalists remain a formidable force at home, where their powerful midfield brigade tends to run opposition teams into the ground on the wide expanses of Subiaco. St Kilda will be competitive but the Eagles at home are always a safe bet. West Coast by 14 points.
Should be a great season opener, I'm tipping the Saints in an upset with Riewoldt BOG.
Sportal.com
VENUE & TIME: Subiaco - 19:45 AEDT
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 29 - West Coast 16, St Kilda 12, Drawn 1
COVERAGE: Channel Nine, 3AW, 6PR, ABC, Triple M (Melbourne), afl.com.au
LAST TIME: West Coast 13.10 (88) d St Kilda 7.10 (52) at Subiaco, round 8, 2005.
WALKING WOUNDED
St Kilda is without key big man Justin Koschitzke but Aaron Hamill is expected to play despite suffering more calf problems during the pre-season.
West Coast's major concerns are underdone trio Darren Glass, Chad Fletcher and Ashley Sampi, who have all had injury-hit pre-seasons, but Eagles coach John Worsfold has declared all three certain starters.
FORM
These two have been widely tipped already to play-off in this year's grand final, even before the start of the home and away season, but both were unimpressive during the pre-season. Both bowed out in the first round of the NAB Cup with the Saints winless in their four pre-season games while the Eagles won just one of their four matches.
WHO'S HOT
Ben Cousins might have been forced to stand down as Eagles' skipper, in favour of Chris Judd, following his much-publicised drink/driving incident but it has hardly affected his form and the reigning Brownlow Medalist has enjoyed a superb pre-season on the field.
The big improver at St Kilda over the pre-season has been Jason Gram and while he has been a fringe player for most his time at the Saints, expect him to be a regular senior player in 2006.
KEY MATCH-UPS
The availability of Glass is crucial for the Eagles as he will take St Kilda spearhead Fraser Gehrig but just who Worsfold assigns to St Kilda's champion centre-half-forward Nick Riewoldt looms as the Eagles' biggest quandary with Adam Hunter likely to get the job. The Saints have the tough job of trying to contain the Eagles' all-star midfield of Cousins, Judd and Fletcher and expect Saints' coach Grant Thomas to assign his number one tagger Steven Baker to Judd.
WE THINK
The Eagles have had a troubled pre-season build-up following Cousins decision to stand down as captain while their form over the pre-season has also been disappointing. But last year's losing grand finalists remain a formidable force at home, where their powerful midfield brigade tends to run opposition teams into the ground on the wide expanses of Subiaco. St Kilda will be competitive but the Eagles at home are always a safe bet. West Coast by 14 points.
Should be a great season opener, I'm tipping the Saints in an upset with Riewoldt BOG.