West Coast v Essendon finals preview: Speed kills, but can Dons do it against Eagles’ towers?
Essendon is set to regain a number of its best players from injury for its do-or-die finals clash with West Coast. Can the Bombers speed take it to the might and power of the reigning premier? BURNING QUESTIONS
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Essendon travels to Perth on a hiding to nothing in the First Elimination Final on Thursday night.
Some believe the reigning premier West Coast just has to turn up to win this one.
But the Bombers faithful will be at least hopeful they can emulate what Hawthorn did in Round 23 and pull one out of the hat.
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BRADEN QUARTERMAINE looks at the burning questions for each side.
WEST COAST
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1 WILL NIC NAITANUI AND SHANNON HURN PLAY?
Naitanui has never done things by halves and the cutthroat final will be a grand stage for his latest comeback from injury.
Having missed the past three finals series and played just three games this year, the ruckman looks to have won his race against time following a serious ankle syndesmosis injury in Round 17.
Naitanui powered through a two-hour workout on Friday morning, when he showed off his trademark leap and rucked as part of match simulation.
Hurn is nursing a hamstring niggle and sat out the match simulation. But he looked to run strongly and the Eagles are confident their captain will play.
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2 CAN THEY REDISCOVER THEIR INTERCEPT MAGIC?
Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass are two of the best intercepting defenders in the league, but both had little impact against Hawthorn in Round 23.
Will Schofield is likely to be brought back as the Eagles revert to a three tall defender model and coach Adam Simpson will hope the use of Schofield in a lockdown job can enable McGovern and Barrass to dominate the air.
The Eagles have won the past five games that Schofield has played, but lost their last two matches of the regular season after discarding him for Round 22.
Hurn and Brad Sheppard also offer the ability to chop off opposition attacks.
3 EARLIER THIS YEAR
West Coast dominated Essendon in Round 14 at Perth Stadium and should have won by more than 35 points, after kicking an inaccurate 14.22 (106) to 11.5 (71).
The Eagles enjoyed a massive 64-40 edge in inside 50s and took 22 marks in their attacking arc to the Bombers’ eight.
Significantly, West Coast was able to largely shut down the rebound of Adam Saad and Conor McKenna, although Mark Hutchings (hamstring) appears set to miss this time. He kept Saad quiet last time.
The Bombers did upset the Eagles at the same venue last season and they can take heart from their win over Fremantle in Perth just a fortnight ago.
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ESSENDON
1 WHO WILL THE BOMBERS GET BACK?
There is a hint of trepidation about the build-up for the Eagles, because it echoes the corresponding Thursday night elimination final three years ago.
Back then, the Western Bulldogs used the pre-finals bye to recharge and bring back a host of players from injury before they stunned West Coast in a huge upset.
Now it’s the Bombers who will try to use their 13-day break to advantage. Key quartet Dyson Heppell (foot), Cale Hooker (groin/illness), Jake Stringer (hamstring) and Orazio Fantasia (hip) are all set to return, but Michael Hurley (shoulder) remains in doubt.
2 HOW DO THEY HURT THE EAGLES?
Speed kills. The Eagles are likely to go with a tall line-up. Naitanui will return and they appear wedded to keeping youngster Oscar Allen in the side.
That means West Coast will play two specialist ruckmen plus three tall forwards, with Naitanui on limited game time, regardless of conditions.
The Bombers could have their own issues with sore players but if they can start well, limit the crowd’s “noise of affirmation” and back themselves to play fast footy, it could go a long way towards a boilover.
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3 IS THIS WOOSHA’S LAST STAND?
Reportedly in the gun to hold on to his job if the Bombers go down, John Worsfold will coach against the club — where he is a legend — in a final for the first time.
Having coached West Coast to the 2006 premiership and captained flags in 1992 and ’94, Worsfold remains a revered figure at the Eagles.
He will coach against Adam Simpson, the man who replaced him, in a showdown between West Coast’s last two premiership coaches.
An upset victory would be Essendon’s first finals win in 15 years and surely enable Worsfold to continue into 2020.
Originally published as West Coast v Essendon finals preview: Speed kills, but can Dons do it against Eagles’ towers?