Round 8 Preview: The Derby Part 1

The first derby of the season arrives at a critical point in our season. For us, although a vastly improved side, we have still only split our first 6 games. This one is massive. Bragging rights are cool, but its our finals aspirations which are greatly improved with the 4 points here.

For them, well I don't really care about the purple malaise. Not worthy of a mention really. Win a premiership, hell make a GF and then I'll refer to them with some measure of deference. They are parasites, living on the morsels of protein that falls from our beaks as we chew on our evening rodent.

Of late we have allowed them that protein and smiled. Little did we know that they were slowly stealing our goddamn way of life...
Strange metaphors aside, we have only won 1 of the last ten.

But does that even matter? It matters to me, because they act like they have just won a premiership; running around naked, washing their genitals in the derby cup etc.

But as Darren Glass suggests, it's not really a psychological problem (the genital washing is though):

I think over the last couple of years they've clearly been a better side and we're hoping things will be different this year," Glass said. "It's probably our best chance in a while.

Fact. They've been better than us. Probably because every team was better than us.

It all ends Sunday (?). They look vulnerable and we look ready. It won't be easy as, despite my parasite comments, they are a decent team with some great players. Sandi may nullify our dominant ruck duo. They also have a fairly solid backline which may be able to curtail our big forwards. Their forward line is nothing special, not counting the more midfield oriented Pav.

But, here's my problem, I think their midfield is superior to ours. The team news is frustrating in this regard.

West Coast
B: Shannon Hurn, Darren Glass, Ashley Smith
HB: Sam Butler, Will Schofield, Scott Selwood
C: Andrew Embley, Matthew Priddis, Matthew Rosa
HF: Luke Shuey, Josh Kennedy, Mark Nicoski
F: Mark LeCras, Quinten Lynch, Jack Darling
Foll: Dean Cox, Adam Selwood, Daniel Kerr
I/C: Chris Masten, Bradley Ebert, Nic Naitanui, Patrick McGinnity
Emg: Brad Sheppard, Gerrick Weedon, Andrew Gaff
In: Chris Masten, Patrick McGinnity
Out: Brad Sheppard, Gerrick Weedon
* Milestones: Scott Selwood - 50 games

Fremantle
B: Greg Broughton, Antoni Grover, Paul Duffield
HB: Garrick Ibbotson, Luke McPharlin, Adam McPhee
C: Matthew de Boer, Matthew Pavlich, Nathan Fyfe
HF: Stephen Hill, Michael Johnson, Jay Van Berlo
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Christopher Mayne, Kepler Bradley
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Nick Lower
I/C: Ryan Crowley, Clancee Pearce, Jesse Crichton, Jack Anthony
Emg: Rhys Palmer, Jonathon Griffin, Jayden Pitt
In: Ryan Crowley, Jesse Crichton, Jack Anthony
Out: Rhys Palmer, Dylan Roberton, Jayden Pitt
New: Jack Anthony (Collingwood)

Instead of going with the Gaffer, the match committee has selected Chris Masten. I mean, if I try and put aside the fact that the 70s called and they want their porn-star back, he's been a huge disappointment. A number 4 draft pick, part of the Jud(d)as trade, he represents everything that was wrong with us in the last few seasons. Poor kicking skills, inconsistency and bad facial hair.
This inclusion honestly makes me think twice about picking the Eagles. But I think we are 2 even teams. So we can win.

Hmmm...
....Maybe
....Definitely!

Misanthropic Eagle

P.S Congrats to young Selwood on a truly invisible 50 games.