West Coast Eagles assistant coach Scott Burns may take more than the usual interest in the opposition during Sunday’s AFL clash with Port Adelaide as he continues to be named as a contender to coach the Power next season.
Caretaker coach Garry Hocking will be in charge of the Port squad at AAMI Stadium and is yet to decide if he wants to bid for the role in 2013, replacing Matthew Primus who was sacked after the side’s round 19 loss to Greater Western Sydney.
Former Western Bulldogs coach and current Collingwood strategist Rodney Eade is considered one of the favourites to take the job, with Port thought to want an experienced hand.
But there is also some speculation that the Power might look to someone like Burns and provide him with a more experienced mentor on a joint ticket.
Former West Coast and now Port star midfielder Brad Ebert has backed a tilt by Burns at the Port job.
He said he got on well with the former Collingwood star during his time at the Eagles and believed he had the goods to take charge of an AFL side.
“I think he’s ready to be a senior coach, whether it’s here or somewhere else,” Ebert said.
“He’s an intelligent guy and knew what he wanted to get out of the playing group.
“I reckon given his chance, he’ll do well.”
Port has made five changes to the team which challenged Hawthorn for three quarters last weekend before conceding 11 goals in the final term.
Coming into the 25-man squad are Alipate Carlile, Chad Wingard, Aaron Young, Tom Jonas and Daniel Stewart while Tom Logan, John McCarthy and Jarrad Redden have been omitted.
Troy Chaplin is also out after opting to have season-ending surgery on his troublesome knee and Hamish Hartlett will serve the first of a two-week suspension.
For the Eagles, wingman Brad Dalziell has been included with midfielder Thomas Swift omitted.
The match will be Dalziell’s first since round three, when he suffered a serious knee injury in the match against Greater Western Sydney, and only his second appearance for the Eagles this season.
A win against Port will help consolidate West Coast’s spot in the top eight and keep its chances of a top four finish alive.
Though the Eagles face a tough end to the season with games against Hawthorn and Collingwood in the final two rounds of the home-and-way season.
A win for Port would be a major upset, though Ebert, who will be facing his former side for the first time, said the team were prepared to the take the game on.
“If we can come out like we did against Hawthorn, kick a few early goals and get some momentum, that will be good,” he said.
“Then being able to maintain that will be the big thing.”
