Round 9 Preview: Eagles v Richmond

Mr Q

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Thread starter #1
http://eagles.newman-knights.com/index.php?newsid=43

Who says you have to play four quarters to win a football match? The Eagles played 22 minutes last week to beat the Pies (fifteen in the first quarter and seven at the end of the game) - but what a 17 minutes it was!

Anyway onto this week. Nine weeks ago if you had predicted that this weeks Eagles v Richmond clash would be match of the round you'd have been laughed at. If you'd even suggested it would have two teams in the eight you'd have been looked at funny. If you'd had the temerity to suggest it would have been 2nd v 3rd the men in white coats would have been at your door before you could say "unpredictable".

Apparently Richmond are the Eagles bogey side. And a quick look at the stats (eight of the last nine games to the Tigers) seems to support that theory. On the other hand though, Richmond's appearances at Subiaco to play the Eagles have been far from common - this will be only the third appearance since 1995, so the Tigers' dominance may not be so extreme. Interestingly 2003 will be the first year ever that the Eagles do not travel to Victoria to play the Tigers.

Changes
Daniel Chick's calf sees him unable to make the side, while Ashley McIntosh's unmemorable performance has seen the Eagles backman dropped from the side for this week. Coming back in their place is Kane Munro for another chance and Glen Jakovich who seems to have recovered fine from his heart arrythmia last week. Somewhat surprisingly Troy Wilson has not been brough back in for the out of form David Haynes, suggesting the big man might need to kick a lot more at the Royals to get his spot at full forward back.

Click here for the squad

Lead up
These two teams aren't two and three for nothing. Both sides would be considered the surprise packets of the year - very few would have predicted either to be top four material at any stage of the year. However there it is.

The Eagles, second on the ladder are in form not seen since the days of Mick Malthouse. Two consecutive away wins added to an unblemished record at home makes the Eagles look outstanding in 2003. The only blemish would be that the Eagles last two games, while both victories have not been the best - the home game against Geelong looked lacklustre, while the win over the Pies last week was done with two amazing spurts separated by a large amount of Collingwood dominance. The positive in both these games though is that the Eagles showed a lot of tenacity to hold on in those games and manage to grind out a win where most teams would fold.

On the Richmond side of the ledger, the main question is how the Tigers will go when faced with "real" opposition. Up to now, they haven't beaten any of the form teams in the competition except the Dockers, and that appeared to be during a tidal wave. To be fair though, you can only beat the teams you play. This week's game against the Eagles must be considered a real test for the Tigers.

Injuries and Suspensions
The Eagles have a few injury concerns, the primary one being high profile recruit Daniel Chick who is unlikely to recover from a calf strain in time to play. Travis Gaspar is listed as being available, but given his tendency to injury it wouldn't be surprising if the Eagles left him out for another week, and Phil Read's ankle looks unlikely to come up for the game. On the positive side it seems likely that Glen Jakovich will be available for the game.

From Richmond's performance this year you'd think they were full strength. However, they will be missing Brad Ottens and former Bomber Justin Blumfield this week for certain. Wayne Campbell is reasonably likely to play, something the Eagles would not be happy about given his performance last time we met.

Match Ups
Michael Gardiner once again stars in the Match ups section, his duel with Greg Stafford should be interesting. Gardiner is clearly the best ruckman in the league so far this season, but Stafford has been reasonably good for the Tigers. Nullifying Gardiner would be a big step forward for the Tigers.

Matthew Richardson has traditionally been a nightmare for Perth teams (forgetting he is supposed to be his own teams worst enemy), and he is in form at the moment, and would be the player giving the Eagles brains trust the most nightmares. Finding a big man to match up on Richo will be difficult as he has in the past given a bath to Trent Carroll and would certainly be too mobile for Glen Jakovich. Darren Glass perhaps?

The battle of the midfield, a big part these days of any Eagles match sees the Eagles' rampant midfielders (Ben Cousins, Chris Judd, Daniel Kerr and Chad Fletcher, with also possibly David Wirrpunda) probably too good for the likes of Wayne Campbell, Joel Bowden and Mark Coughlan. The Tigers will need to keep the game slow to negate the impact of the Eagles mosquito fleet.

Andrew Embley, whether out on a wing or up forward will also take some watching, as will Phil Matera and Ashley Sampi. For the Tigers, we need to keep a careful eye on the dangerous David Rodan and former Crow Kane Johnson.

2002
The Eagles and Tigers only met once in 2002, predictably in Melbourne at Docklands. The Tigers were led by Wayne Campbell to what was an unexpected victory over the Eagles that helped wedge the travel monkey on the back of the 2002 Eagles.
Round 8, Docklands
Richmond 2.3 7.6 10.9 13.16 ( 94)
West Coast 3.4 7.5 8.11 10.13 ( 73)


Head to Head
Overall: Played 24; West Coast 13, Richmond 11, Draws 0.
At Subiaco: Played 8; West Coast 7, Richmond 1, Draws 0.
Biggest Margin - West Coast: West Coast 20.15 (135) d Richmond 5.9 (39) - 96 points, M.C.G, R3 1994
Biggest Margin - Richmond: Richmond 20.18 (138) d West Coast 10.13 (73) - 65 points, Docklands, R20 2001

Milestones
Brauny! Everyone's favourite Eagle reaches 100 matches in the blue and gold this week.

Summary
When you look at this game at first glance, you tip the Eagles unhesitatingly. Then you remember that Richmond are sitting third on the ladder at the moment and start to worry a bit. Countering that Richmond have only beaten Essendon from the top eight so far this year and this games at Subiaco (contrary to normal service), and the Eagles are still looking pretty good at home while Richmond don't have much experience on the road yet for 2003. In the end first impressions mean something so I'm going to tip the Eagles.

My prediction: West Coast by 23 points.
 

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carlyp

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#2
The Tigers will be a tough team, if we can get over em were doing well. Lets just hope we start this game like we finished the pies game. Who will take Richo? Whoever it is, they better have a crack. We need to shut him down!
 
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ScouseCat

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#3
Originally posted by carlyp
Who will take Richo? Whoever it is, they better have a crack. We need to shut him down!
Matthew Richardson is one of the best players in the competition when his mind is focussed on his game, so you guys will need to shut down the supply from the midfield or have your other defenders help out as much as possible.

Having said that, I expect the Eagles to win over there but don't take the Tigers lightly... they have got under a few team's guards already this year.

Good luck. :)
 

carlyp

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#4
Originally posted by ScouseCat
Matthew Richardson is one of the best players in the competition when his mind is focussed on his game, so you guys will need to shut down the supply from the midfield or have your other defenders help out as much as possible.

Having said that, I expect the Eagles to win over there but don't take the Tigers lightly... they have got under a few team's guards already this year.

Good luck. :)
Uhuh for sure. I'd like to see whoever plays on him get under his skin and make him crack the ****s majorily!
 

jod23

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#5
Anybody think Wirrpunda should play in defence for this weekends game. He is a master at filling the holes and with Richo in good form it might be an idea to have Wirrpunda down back helping out the poor soul that is given the job.
 

Thrawn666

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#6
Originally posted by jod23
Anybody think Wirrpunda should play in defence for this weekends game. He is a master at filling the holes and with Richo in good form it might be an idea to have Wirrpunda down back helping out the poor soul that is given the job.
Im always of the opinion he should play in defense. Its where he plays his best football and has most impact and benefit.
 

carlyp

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#7
Originally posted by Thrawn666
Im always of the opinion he should play in defense. Its where he plays his best football and has most impact and benefit.
Yep I wasnt always a believer in Wirra as a defender because I thought he didnt man up well enough. But after seeing his match last week down back I have totally changed my mind. He is perfect down back!
 

Goldenblue

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#8
Originally posted by jod23
Anybody think Wirrpunda should play in defence for this weekends game. He is a master at filling the holes and with Richo in good form it might be an idea to have Wirrpunda down back helping out the poor soul that is given the job.
Good Preview Mr.Q

Exactly Jod, you are spot on with Wirra. Fantasic the way he played last week.
 

llosis

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#9
Play Wirra down back always. I agree with Thrawn 100%. Look back at Wirra's top games and they are all out of the back half.

Mr Q - I too sit in block 315. I'm row Q.
 

Mr Q

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Thread starter #10
Wirra's obviously great down back, but if the opposition aren't going crash hot I like the idea of seeing him in an attacking defender's role, sort of McKennaesque.

I should be in Row Q, but I'm not. Row E for me, and going on 10 years there.
 

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carlyp

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#12
Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
Link

Stafford and Coughlan are both in doubt.
Their wheels are falling off :)
Hmmm good if it happens! Stafford is quite capable of matching it with Gardi imho. To have him out of the side will be good for us. It'll help us win the midfield!
 
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