Round 6 Preview: Slam Dunk Champion, Trampoline Extraordinaire Return

This fixture probably appeared a bit of a non-event at the start of the season. The Dogs were going nowhere fast, whilst we would be sailing through a relatively manageable schedule. Now, this game is a must win if we want to have a chance to make anything out of Season 2013.

The Dogs are still going nowhere. However, they've shown some steely determination in their win over Brisbane plus losses to Fremantle and Geelong. Not that I saw any of the Geelong game, as I was busy having my heart yanked out.

Our story is well known. A lethal cocktail of costly injuries, a seeming lack of desire, some rather indifferent coaching and woeful goal kicking have left us in dire straits.

It's not nice to find yourself in a must win game in Round 6. It's also not nice to find yourself winless from 3 encounters on your home turf. But we're here and this team has ran out of chances and ran out of excuses.

There is big team news of course. I probably don't need to repeat it, but yes...Brett Goodes is out suspended. A terrible blow to fantasy teams all over the country. Oh and we're boosted by the inclusion of some guy called Nic Naitanui. Never heard of him myself, but I've been told he can change games via his clearance work, tendency towards huge marks and timely, morale-boosting goals. Honestly though, the Eagles, nay football, just isn't the same without Naitanui. He energises and electrifies everyone who watches him play.

Almost as exciting, but not quite, is the debut of Sharrod Wellingham. He was recruited to add depth, experience and class to our fledgling midfield and I, for one, hope he doesn't go anywhere near a trampoline again.

Ashley Smith also returns. He's the forgotten man of this squad.  After playing 18 games in 2012, he managed only 5 last season. Apparently he played in Round 1, but I don't recall us participating in a Round 1 clash  so that must be a typo. But he is a very handy rebounding defender. He has a long kick and a penchant for coming forward and kicking goals. I do seem to recall his disposal can sometimes be a little iffy, which means he'll fit right in. New guy Swift Cripps is omitted (big surprise), Butler's injured (big surprise) and Hams is omitted (legitimately surprising).

WEST COAST
B: Mitchell Brown, Darren Glass, Shannon Hurn
HB: Beau Waters, Eric Mackenzie, Sharrod Wellingham
C: Andrew Gaff, Matt Priddis, Bradd Dalziell
HF: Josh Hill, Jack Darling, Chris Masten
F: Nic Naitanui, Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras
Foll: Dean Cox, Scott Selwood, Luke Shuey
Int: Will Schofield, Daniel Kerr, Ashton Hams, Ashley Smith, Jacob Brennan, Matt Rosa, Callum Sinclair
IN: Sharrod Wellingham, NIC NAITANUI,  Ashley Smith
OUT: Jamie Cripps, Sam Butler, Ashton Hams

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Dale Morris, Jordan Roughead, Liam Picken
HB: Jason Johannisen, Mark Austin, Tom Young
C: Jack Macrae, Matthew Boyd, Adam Cooney
HF: Jake Stringer, Dylan Addison, Koby Stevens
F: Luke Dahlhaus, Liam Jones, Jason Tutt
Foll: Will Minson, Nick Lower, Tom Liberatore
Int: Lukas Markovic, Daniel Pearce, Patrick Veszpremi, Mitch Wallis, Clay Smith, Christian Howard, Daniel Cross
IN: Dylan Addison, Christian Howard
OUT: Brett Goodes (suspension), Patrick Veszpremi  (Omitted)

We don't just need to win this game. We need to play 4 good, solid quarters of football with consistent effort, cleaner disposal and a score which doesn't make us wish it was the pre-season cup.

This is the first of around...16 must win games. 

We have to win. 

Let's win.