Not feeling as positive about this game as previous weeks or even round 22 when we last played there. West Coast have the running game, tall forwards and intercept defenders to really worry us. Then there’s the home ground advantage and the fact that the bottom end of their team bat a lot deeper than Geelong or Hawthorn. To win Melbourne will need to dominate the stoppages, be ruthlessly efficient going inside 50 not giving Hurn, McGovern or Barrass the chance to intercept and repel we also need to nullify Shuey and Yeo while not allowing the likes of Cole, Duggan or Jetta to run and carry. It goes without saying the massive threat their forwards pose. It’s not impossible but I feel a lot would have to go right for us to win the game and conversely West Coast could lose a couple of key battles yet still come up with the win.
Fair assessment & that the Eagles havent lost when Darling & Kennedy play puts the spotlight on where Melbourne needs to at least break even. If you read the Melbourne press on the Pies-Eagles final they are full of praise for Goldsacks effort on Kennedy, but JK got 2.4* in the 2nd half after getting his hands to the ballon half a dozen contests.
* the winning margin 2.4
Not denigrating Goldsacks effort for one second.
From an Eagles viewpoint I'm looking to Scott Lycett, Max looms LARGE.