Final round thriller in offing as AFL releases blockbuster draw

West Coast coach Adam Simpson said the Eagles are thriving in their second stint in southeast Queensland.

3 min read

6:37PMSeptember 08, 2020

Jeremy McGovern is set to play through the pain of a dislocated thumb Picture: Getty Images

West Coast has drawn a concession from the AFL with the date of their Round 18 clash against the Kangaroos opening the prospect of the club being allowed to spend up to a fortnight in Perth later in September.

The scenario could play out should the Eagles secure a home final in the opening week of the finals after their clash with North Melbourne on September 17, which is the open match of the final round.

The fifth-placed Eagles remain in the hunt for a top-two finish, which would grant them hosting rights for a qualifying final, but they must defeat St Kilda on Thursday and the Kangaroos.

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A fifth or sixth placed finish would earn the Eagles a home elimination final.

A return home is also dependent on a slight easing of border restrictions which would allow rival clubs to spend less time in quarantine for finals matches than the current requirement of a fortnight.

A thrilling finale to the home-and-away season is in the offing with several clubs battling for positions in the eight.

The Friday night showpiece between the sixth-placed St Kilda and eighth-placed Giants at the Gabba shapes as a virtual elimination final.

The season will finish with a Monday night clash between the top-placed Port Adelaide and Collingwood, which sits seventh, at the Gabba in a match with clear finals ramifications.

AFL broadcasting and clubs manager Travis Auld said on Tuesday that releasing the last round of a year where clubs have been relocated across Australia completed “the final piece of the puzzle in a complex season,”.

Despite recent losses to Richmond and the Bulldogs, West Coast coach Adam Simpson believes the Eagles have adapted well in their second stint in Queensland.

West Coast, which struggled for a period after the season resumption, have not trained since returning to the Gold Coast ahead of their 27-point loss to the Tigers on August 27.

The clash against St Kilda at the Gabba will be their fifth match in 19 days.

“This time is different. We have got a different vibe. All we are doing is recovery. We actually haven’t trained once up here yet,” Simpson told RSN 927.

“That is just a different mindset altogether. It is about getting your body right and having energy for game day. We are at a different hotel (in) Sanctuary Cove and if anyone has been to Sanctuary Cove, it is not a prison, put it that way. It is pretty nice.

“There are no complaints. Everyone is clear about their purpose. We are playing with spirit. We didn’t win the other night and we didn’t play at our best, but they still brought spirit and effort.”

The heavy workload has taken a toll on personnel despite the positive outlook, with the depth of the Eagles midfield tested by soft-tissue injuries to seasoned players.

“We got hit with a pretty bad stick the other night, so we are pretty light on,” Simpson said.

“We seem to have talls available and midfielders unavailable. We will keep working through that.”

He is hopeful stars including captain Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo will be available for the finals, but Jack Redden is unlikely to play again in 2020.

Star defender Jeremy McGovern believes the absence of stars through the midfield in the interim may prove a blessing by finals time with younger players given greater exposure.

“As much as I would love to have those blokes back out there, they are quality players, I think we have some younger boys and other people to fill those roles,” McGovern said.

McGovern dislocated his thumb during the Eagles two-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, which is a concern given the appendage caused him issues earlier this season.

But the four-time All Australian said it would not prevent him from playing against St Kilda.

“It is a little bit sore, but I didn’t re-aggravate the last injury I had, which was good. That was probably the main issue,” he said.

“(It was) just your stock standard ‘pop your thumb out’ sort of stuff. Initially I was worried about a break, but all good. I can perform with it. That’s why I am going out and playing.

“It does hurt here and there, but most players have got a few little niggles, especially with these short turnarounds and breaks.”