Game Day Rnd 5 - West Coast vs Sydney - Saturday 23rd April @ SCG

[SpaceClef]

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SYDNEY SWANS v WEST COAST EAGLES​

ROUND 5 - SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND
1.45 PM SATURDAY - APRIL 23 2016​

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SUMMARY
Last year's Grand Finalists fly east this weekend to take on their former partner in crime in what was the most incredible football rivalry of the 2000s. That period is sadly over, and the past few years have seen the balance of power shift exponentially away from the abusers of coke, toward the abusers of COLA.

The media and pundits are placing increasingly large question marks over the team's ability to lift in big matches after the Eagles failed to force Hawthorn out of second gear in the Grand Final Replay* Rematch in Round 2.

* - no longer happens

LAST TIME WE MET
In hot form at the time, and buoyed by the psychological boost of Buddy withdrawing due to a mild form of epilepsy, the Eagles thumped Sydney to the tune of 52 points.

Priddis and Gaff racked up possessions, whilst Sydney looked a shadow of the opponent we had come to expect. Sydney's best was Lewis Jetta, who delivered a few spearing kicks inside 50, only to be repelled time and time again by debutant and future star Tom Barrass.

Last year's game will be forever remembered for the infamous yo-yo incident​

HISTORY
Before that boooooooo-tiful match, West Coast had been on the receiving end of an eight game losing streak against Sydney. Compounding the pain was that most of these matches were at home.

RECENT HISTORY
R17, 2015, West Coast 15.13 (103) d Sydney 7.9 (51) at Subi
R16, 2014, Sydney 10.19 (79) d West Coast 7.9 (51) at Subi
R17, 2013, Sydney 17.11 (113) d West Coast 11.13 (79) at Subi
R16, 2012, Sydney 18.13 (121) d West Coast 10.9 (69) at Subi

CLASSICAL HISTORY
GF, 2006, West Coast 12.13 (85) d Sydney 12.12 (84) at MCG
QF, 2006, Sydney 13.7 (85) d West Coast 12.12 (84) at Subi
GF, 2005, Sydney 8.10 (58) d West Coast 7.12 (54) at MCG
QF, 2005, West Coast 10.9 (69) d Sydney 10.5 (65) at Subi​

ANCIENT HISTORY
R14, 2003, Sydney 13.14 (92) d West Coast 12.12 (84) at SCG
R17, 2001, Sydney 11.17 (83) d West Coast 6.12 (48) at SCG
R17, 2000, Sydney 22.19 (151) d West Coast 12.8 (80) at SCG
R9, 1999, West Coast 14.10 (94) d Sydney 11.15 (81) at SCG ​

VENUE
An interesting factoid that you've probably read all over the internet this week is that IT HAS BEEN 17 ****ING YEARS since we beat these pricks at the SCG. Inexplicably, we haven't played at this chode of a footy oval since 2010, and the last time we won there was in 1999. Tom Lamb was 2.

Round 9, 1999 featured five members from our 1992 premiership side, and five from that which won in 2006. McIntosh kept Lockett to three goals, while Scotty Cummings dominated future nemesis Leo Barry to snag five of his own. Brendon Fewster finished the match with one handball, no kicks.

At the end of that round, West Coast were top of the ladder, whilst Fremantle were stuck smack bang on the bottom.

Actually, not much has changed in that regard.

In light of last week's 30th Anniversary, celebrated in the best way possible (demolishing Richmond, punching Vickery), one hopes that the players will be motivated by the fact that our last win at the SCG was closer to our club's inception than the present day.

Sydney is likely to be rainy, which will really test us given we tend to become so spudlike at the slightest hint of weather, we need to resort to dunking footballs in buckets of water at training. We've had a taste of wet weather footy this year though, so it hopefully that bodes well.

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FASHION
Whilst it will take a win against a top side to make Eagles fans truly satisfied with our performance in Season 2016, there is no denying we are more than satisfied with our appearance. We have been treated to the unveiling of two incredibly sexy football jumpers in 2016 - so much so that a return to our beloved royal wings this Saturday almost seems a bit anticlimactic.

If the long-awaited abolition of the tripe anal (replaced with surprisingly amazing navy wings) wasn't enough, last weekend's victory against witches hats the Tigers was made even more glorious thanks to the reintroduction of the Peril:

Sex​

Thanks also to the aptly-titled guernsey, we are again the media's favourite villain. This is perhaps fitting for this weekend's match, given we were always the perfect bad guys for Robert Walls' classic "Battle of Good vs Evil". Maybe we can ask Wallsy to commentate?

Yellow Peril Fever took over the WA media this week
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SQUAD
B: Sheppard MacKenzie Butler
HB: Yeo Schofield Hurn
C: Gaff Priddis Jetta
HF: LeCras McGovern Masten
F: Darling Kennedy Hill
R: Naitanui Redden Shuey

I: Wellingham Duggan Cripps McInnes
E: Cole Hutchings Lucas

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Callum Sinclair
The former Eagle will be desperate to prove that he is a valid ruckman against his old side. He will also be desperate to ensure that the times he's asked to compete at centre bounces conveniently align with the times that Nic Naitanui needs a spell and is replaced by non-redhead Fraser McInnes.

Callum will be grateful that Fraser is playing this week instead of his successor - Scott Lycett - whose legendary act brain fade against Richmond saw him receive a week off courtesy of the Match Review Panel.

Kane Lucas
Will he? Won't he? Given the fitness cloud over Andrew Gaff's calf (frontrunner for 2016's 'Injury of the Year'), there's a slim chance that Kane Lucas might debut in a huge do-or-die match for the Eagles.

All I know is I ****ing wish I was still his sponsor.

THE VERDICT
If the Eagles can use the Hawks game as motivation, stay clean and strong in the contests, and apply the web successfully to the strange dimensions of the SCG, there's no reason why their superior talent across the ground won't get them over the line.

Breaking the SCG curse against such an in-form side would mean more to our self-belief than almost any other victory, and it's just the kick start for Flag #4 we need.

Eagles by 4 points.

Token Simpsons picture​

 

[avishka5]

My favourite part was when Barry hall met up with karma and broke his hand after punch staker.

 

[SpaceClef]

My favourite part was when Barry hall met up with karma and broke his hand after punch staker.

Might add it.

 

[Euro Star]

Nice preview.

Really excited to see how both Jetta and Sinclair go.

 

[ChampRevesby]

Great preview, love the spears.
I reckon the Swans will come out hard and get a 5 goal lead. We will wake up after qtr time and keep in touch for the rest of the game but never manage to get our noses in front.
Swans by 26 points.

 

[kerrazy]

Cant see us winning this game, just hoping we will show some fight and not give up ala Hawthorn Round 2

 

[WCE_phil]

My favourite part was when Barry hall met up with karma and broke his hand after punch staker.

For all the shit the side copped at the time in not remonstrating with hall after he smacked staker it should be pointed out it was our captain bumping hall over the line that led to him breaking his wrist.

 

[RookiePick]

Really important that we don't get broken down and flail around for most of the game. We can definitely win if we turn up.

 

[SpaceClef]

Really important that we don't get broken down and flail around for most of the game. We can definitely win if we turn up.

I hope we treat this like a GF. We have so much more to gain by winning this.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

TBU dropping the f-bomb twice was gold.

Get behind The Q for Team 30

 

[Biggie]

****ing good read.

Shit ****ing font.

I'm pleased and unhappy.

 

[Suma Magic]

This preview is so good that it has rendered the game to epilogue status.

 

[ChampRevesby]

I hope we treat this like a GF. We have so much more to gain by winning this.

Hopefully not last years GF that could get messy. I just want them to have the attitude like they are going to win every contest and show real leadership when it gets hard.

 

[FatPizza]

For all the shit the side copped at the time in not remonstrating with hall after he smacked staker it should be pointed out it was our captain bumping hall over the line that led to him breaking his wrist.

Beau Waters had a go at Hall at least. Did better than Hunter did...

 

[Quinz]

Great preview, chrome working wonders obviously.

My favourite moment was when I got banned from the Sydney board.

 

[bigmikles089]

The 22

B Sheppard MacKenzie Butler
HB Yeo Schofield Hurn
C Gaff Priddis Jetta
HF LeCras McGovern Masten
F Darling Kennedy Hill

Foll: Naitanui Redden Shuey

I/C:Wellingham Duggan Cripps McInnes

EMG Cole Hutchings Lucas

• 
  

 

[SpaceClef]

******* good read.

Shit ******* font.

I'm pleased and unhappy.

Haha it's because I transferred it from Word to try and avoid another Firefox debacle. The font was all weird so I set it to Arial. I couldn't work out which was the de fault

 

[SpaceClef]

The 22

B Sheppard MacKenzie Butler
HB Yeo Schofield Hurn
C Gaff Priddis Jetta
HF LeCras McGovern Masten
F Darling Kennedy Hill

Foll: Naitanui Redden Shuey

I/C:Wellingham Duggan Cripps McInnes

EMG Cole Hutchings Lucas

Shit - reminds me I need to add it

 

[nameless]

Best WCE vs. Swans moment:
Kerr match-winning tackle on McVeigh in... 2009? With half our team out, that was brilliant stuff.

Nearly as good as this preview

 

[squashface]

I am adequately satisfied with this preview

 

[eaglespremiers]

 

[ep2018]

I find it hard to enjoy anything about 2007 knowing what happened at the end.

 

[WCEswift]

I want our big lads Darling Mcinnes especially smash into em hard. Let em know whats up

 

[Biggie]

*cough

And JJK

please continue

 

[WCEswift]

*cough

And JJK

please continue

I left him out as his value exceeds bashability otherwise him n nicnat would be in there lol