Elimination Final Preview: 4 Wins to Glory.

It really is as simple as that: Win 4 games in a row and we are, to use the ridiculous American-style proclamation 'WORLD CHAMPIONS'. Of course, it will be the 4 hardest games of the season, perhaps bar this one, and I don't really have much confidence that we can do it.

But, taking it one week at a time, I am extremely confident we will prevail in Sunday's contest against North Melbourne. At home we are nigh unbeatable: In the past 2 seasons we have only lost 2 'Home' games and both of those were against the Swans. The Roos have also looked a little shaky the past 2 weeks. They got thrashed by Freo and then only managed to edge GWS by 5 goals in Round 23. Not exactly the form you want going into finals. And of course they're coached by a man who is in the top 2 human beings in the world in terms of being a sore loser, pulling a sour face and generally being a sook. The other man is of course he's evil twin Brad...or Chris...I don't know which one is which and I'm not wasting valuable kbs of my Internet quota to find out. They're both really terrible, let's just leave it at that.

The Roos, however, are bolstered by the return of Daniel Wells and a couple of others I couldn't pick from a line-up. We also get back E-Mac, sorely missed for the most pivotal of 10 minutes last week and the Q replaces Strijk.

West Coast
Backs: Waters Glass A Selwood
Half-backs: Hurn Mackenzie Schofield
Centres: Kerr Priddis Gaff
Half-forwards: Hill Darling McGinnity
Forwards: Embley J Kennedy Naitanui
Followers: Cox S Selwood Shuey
I/C: Brennan Butler Masten Lynch
In: Lynch, Mackenzie
Out: Brown, Strijk

North Melbourne
B: McMahon Grima Firrito
HB: Atley Thompson MacMillan
C: Gibson Wells Anthony
HF: Cunnington Tarrant Thomas
F: Harvey Petrie Hansen
FOLL: Goldstein Swallow Rover: Ziebell
I/C:  Bastinac Wright Harper Campbell
IN: Wells Grima Wright
OUT: Delaney, Garlett, Mullett

We really should win this one comfortably. The Roos haven't been in finals for a while, they seem to be fading and it's going to be a very warm day. All those factors give us the edge and when you consider that we are a better team and we are at home, I think a 6 or 7 goal win is to be expected.

Plus it's Coxy's 250th game and he is definitely the best ruckman in the game today, perhaps ever. So let's hope it's a game to remember like the last time we faced them.

Congrats Coxy.

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It's also been a busy week in terms of non-game news. Dick has been elevated (always the first step) to the Senior list meaning he could play during the finals. I don't think it will happen, but can you imagine if he played next week against the Pies at the G? It would be epic.

Meanwhile, both Hill and Hams have extended their contracts with the club. I've kind of cooled off on Hill in recent weeks but you can't deny he has done a sterling (that's right) job replacing the injured Nico and Le-snak. Hams also has had a decent year, definitely better than I thought him capable of. I can't, however, envisage him playing regularly next season with the return of the two above plus a possible role for Dick.

The Q may have a possible suitor when October comes with Carlton sniffing around like the pack of stray...poodles that they are. Honestly, I couldn't care less if Lynch left. Thanks for 06 but he really is surplus to requirements now given the emergence of Darling and (injuries notwithstanding) the presence of Kennedy. He's past his prime and maybe he will follow another guy who was past his prime when he left us back in 07 for the Blues.

Finally, the Eagles have 4 players in the 40 man All-Australian Team. Dean Cox, Darren Glass, Nic Naitanui and Beau Waters have been selected, with at least 3 of the above a shuey-in (sorry).