West Coast coach Adam Simpson appears to have timed his side’s preparation to perfection

ADAM Simpson — aka Bart Cummings — seems to have timed this preparation to perfection, peaking at the pointy end of the year, writes DAVID KING.

Jeremy McGovern is back to his best. Daniel Wilkins.

ADAM Simpson — aka Bart Cummings — seems to have timed this preparation to perfection, peaking at the pointy end of the year.

West Coast have been criticised for the bulk of the home and away season but victories over GWS, Hawthorn and Adelaide changed everything.

The “Web” defensive grid is functional again as the intercept marking duo across the halfback

line are almost impossible to deny.

HUGE CLASH: DOGS AGAINST THE WORLD OUT WEST

RISING STAR: MILLS TAKES OUT TOP AWARD

We all recognise Jeremy McGovern’s aerial dominance but young gun Tom Barrass has been a revelation, highlighted by six intercept marks against the Crows in Round 23.

Can he replicate that effort in a cutthroat final after only 12 games of AFL football?

Are the Eagles really back? Greater Western Sydney had 59 inside-50 entries and led by three goals late but faltered, badly.

Jeremy McGovern has been back to his marking best in recent weeks. Picture: Getty Images.

The Eagles then disarmed the Hawks who appeared lost down back without Ben Stratton and then Adelaide was impotent in the absence of Rory Sloane and Brodie Smith.

The Eagles’ contested possession game has spiked from break-even over the first 20 rounds

to averaging +18 over the past three weeks.

Luke Shuey, Matt Priddis and Andrew Gaff have a renewed thirst for the contest, they’re now fighting in the trenches.

Be warned, the Dogs are the AFL’s toughest team, averaging +14 contested possessions on their opponents.

Luke Beveridge knows what’s required to defeat the Eagles as they were successful back in

Round 11, albeit at Etihad. Marcus Bontempelli was brutal, the Dogs’ back six virtually shut

down Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy and the Bulldog handball game was supreme. They had almost 100 more handballs committing the Eagles to defend for longer, ultimately a test the

Eagles failed.

Luke Beveridge has injected some big names back into the team that travelled to Perth — and lost — in Round 23 but the match fitness of Tom Liberatore and Jackson Macrae will have caused much angst at match committee, let alone deep into the last quarter.

But then Macrae had 33 disposals and Libba kicked three goals last time these two sides met!

This game will be won at the clearances. The Dogs need to put their head in a hole for them to win the contest, because they will be beaten on the outside in space.

Adam Simpson appears to have timed his side’s run to perfection. Picture: Getty Images

The Eagles game relies on controlling forward-half territory dictated from clearance wins, but again without Nic Naitanui that becomes a challenge.

If there’s to be an upset this weekend, it’s this game.

YOUNG GUNS: YOUR CLUB’S BEST FIRST-YEAR PLAYER

FEATURE: KOUTA REMEMBERS THE MAGIC OF PRINCES PARK

Beveridge has already exhibited the plan in Round 11. They’ve had four main training sessions over two weeks to prepare and refine their tactical mode, rather than just the standard one, maybe two opportunities, and the travel issue isn’t as rushed given the luxury of time.

The bottom line is, the toughest team will win. Tipping the Eagles by under 10 points.

WATCH OUT FOR

1 Can Jonathon Giles do it again? Eagle Giles had 29 hit-outs, 10 to advantage, as he racked up 15 disposals against the Crows in Round 23. He’d played six games in two years and then, bingo, a best-on-ground performance.

2 Can the Bulldogs deny Andrew Gaff? The Eagle has amassed 30-plus disposals in six of his past nine games. Since his move into centre bounces his productivity has soared.

3 Good Jake Stringer can take the game from the Eagles single-handedly but only once since Round 9 has he kicked more than three goals. Bad Jake could end the Dogs’ 2016 campaign. C’mon Jake!