Popping my preview cherry, the pressure is on.
Well the CarlTANK have rocked up to lavish perth for an extended stay, lets welcome them into town west coast style…..BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Actual footage of the tank train at Perth Stadium Station
Not much pressure going into this game going for the eagles, who after a disastrous return to play in the hubba bubba have returned to the warm embrace of a Covid-safe hard border closure WA for an emphatic display of winning form. We are entering this game in mouth watering form on the back of 5 straight wins.
Carlton enter this game on the back of reasonable form. They looked like a sure thing at quarter time against the hawks but in the end coughed up a 5 goal lead, not for the first time I might add. This bodes well for the almighty eagles who are well known for their tortoise like starts.
To be honest this clash doesn’t have the build up or importance of years gone by. Its not one to circle on the calendar by any stretch, I mean we already know who won out of the Judd/Kennedy, masto & notte trade don’t we – WCE by the length of a straight.
10x Jubilant mastens agree with this (3x displayed for clarity)
Last 5 Matches – All to West Coast
2019 R20 Carlton (75) lost to WCE (99)
2018 R5 Carlton (69) lost to WCE (79)
2017 R21 WCE (100) defeated Carlton (83)
2016 R17 Carlton (75) lost to WCE (82)
2015 R2 WCE (131) defeated Carlton (62)
Recent history between these two suggests that even though West Coast have been in premiership contention & Carlton have been in rebuild, that our encounters end up being much closer than predicted. I expect this weekends encounter to me much of the same.
Possible Changes
For west coast it appears gov may miss another week, who knew a thumb injury could hurt so much. Club stalwarts in Schofield & Jetta may have their papers marked so I expect Rotham or even skinny Q-stick (Brander) to come in for Edwards who look promising in that quarter debut on the weekend.
Redden should be right to go, with Ah-chee making way due to a lower back complaint.
Cameron has been back for 3 weeks and still looks well off the pace, this may pave the way for a nick reid to make his debut for the club.
And for all the knocks young Brayshaw has, i think he will retain his place in the team.
I’m not really fussed about carltons changes so I’ll digress into the next topic of the preview
Key Match Ups
NicNat ‘No Stat’ V Marc Pittonet
While Nic Nat No Stat is a hilarious play on words (kudos to freo failures for this one
) . If the last 5 weeks are anything to go by, it doesn’t matter when you are utterly destroying the opposition ruckman and bringing them to their knees with exquisite ruck taps to midfield advantage and contested pressure around the contest.
HULK SMASH
Pittonet has been a handy acquisition for the blues, he fills a positional need for them. I suggest he wears extra undies into this contest as he has his work cut out for him
Kennedy/Darling V Jones/Weitering
Kennedy has wound back the clock with some vintage form. Darling chugging along nicely, albeit some classic darling dropped marks. Carltons back two will be a decent match up on the weekend.
Carltons Forwards V West Coasts Defense
To be honest, I think this is where the eagles are a bit thin. Hurn is in decline, Jetta & schoey on the outer, Gov injured. Barrass a bit shakey. Sheppard is rock solid as usual (how the FK did he miss all Australian last year) and Duggan in career best form. The mids will need to push back and help out defensively.
Forecast
18degC. Weatherzone says 90% chance of rain, however Mostly sunny all day, slight chance of a shower, most likely in the evening (some clubs just have all the luck don’t they).
Prediction
I was thinking 6 goals, however I have brought this back to 3 goals in light of the recent head to head results.
Well the CarlTANK have rocked up to lavish perth for an extended stay, lets welcome them into town west coast style…..BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Actual footage of the tank train at Perth Stadium Station
Not much pressure going into this game going for the eagles, who after a disastrous return to play in the hubba bubba have returned to the warm embrace of a Covid-safe hard border closure WA for an emphatic display of winning form. We are entering this game in mouth watering form on the back of 5 straight wins.
Carlton enter this game on the back of reasonable form. They looked like a sure thing at quarter time against the hawks but in the end coughed up a 5 goal lead, not for the first time I might add. This bodes well for the almighty eagles who are well known for their tortoise like starts.
To be honest this clash doesn’t have the build up or importance of years gone by. Its not one to circle on the calendar by any stretch, I mean we already know who won out of the Judd/Kennedy, masto & notte trade don’t we – WCE by the length of a straight.
10x Jubilant mastens agree with this (3x displayed for clarity)
Last 5 Matches – All to West Coast
2019 R20 Carlton (75) lost to WCE (99)
2018 R5 Carlton (69) lost to WCE (79)
2017 R21 WCE (100) defeated Carlton (83)
2016 R17 Carlton (75) lost to WCE (82)
2015 R2 WCE (131) defeated Carlton (62)
Recent history between these two suggests that even though West Coast have been in premiership contention & Carlton have been in rebuild, that our encounters end up being much closer than predicted. I expect this weekends encounter to me much of the same.
Possible Changes
For west coast it appears gov may miss another week, who knew a thumb injury could hurt so much. Club stalwarts in Schofield & Jetta may have their papers marked so I expect Rotham or even skinny Q-stick (Brander) to come in for Edwards who look promising in that quarter debut on the weekend.
Redden should be right to go, with Ah-chee making way due to a lower back complaint.
Cameron has been back for 3 weeks and still looks well off the pace, this may pave the way for a nick reid to make his debut for the club.
And for all the knocks young Brayshaw has, i think he will retain his place in the team.
I’m not really fussed about carltons changes so I’ll digress into the next topic of the preview
Key Match Ups
NicNat ‘No Stat’ V Marc Pittonet
While Nic Nat No Stat is a hilarious play on words (kudos to freo failures for this one
) . If the last 5 weeks are anything to go by, it doesn’t matter when you are utterly destroying the opposition ruckman and bringing them to their knees with exquisite ruck taps to midfield advantage and contested pressure around the contest.
HULK SMASH
Pittonet has been a handy acquisition for the blues, he fills a positional need for them. I suggest he wears extra undies into this contest as he has his work cut out for him
Kennedy/Darling V Jones/Weitering
Kennedy has wound back the clock with some vintage form. Darling chugging along nicely, albeit some classic darling dropped marks. Carltons back two will be a decent match up on the weekend.
Carltons Forwards V West Coasts Defense
To be honest, I think this is where the eagles are a bit thin. Hurn is in decline, Jetta & schoey on the outer, Gov injured. Barrass a bit shakey. Sheppard is rock solid as usual (how the FK did he miss all Australian last year) and Duggan in career best form. The mids will need to push back and help out defensively.
Forecast
18degC. Weatherzone says 90% chance of rain, however Mostly sunny all day, slight chance of a shower, most likely in the evening (some clubs just have all the luck don’t they).
Prediction
I was thinking 6 goals, however I have brought this back to 3 goals in light of the recent head to head results.
