The second of Saturday AFL Round 9 matches is between Greater Western Sydney Giants and West Coast Eagles. The game is set to commence at 2:10pm local time with the game to be played at Skoda Stadium. Away team West Coast Eagles go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Greater Western Sydney Giants and West Coast Eagles.

Round: Round 9 2:10 PM May 25, 2013
Stadium: ŠKODA Stadium
Weather: 19° A few showers

Featured Bookmakers:

Greater Western Sydney Giants $16.00 vs West Coast Eagles $1.01 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Greater Western Sydney Giants $19.01 vs West Coast Eagles $1.01 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:

Greater Western Sydney Giants	16.00	17.00	19.00	17.00	16.00	16.00
West Coast Eagles	1.01	1.01	1.01	1.01	1.01	1.02

Preview:

It has been twelve matches now since GWS recorded the last of their two victories since joining the AFL in 2012.

Their average losing margin in those twelve games has been 60 points and their last two outings have resulted in losses of 135 points to Adelaide and 83 points to Hawthorne.

The closest they’ve come to beating an opponent this year was against in the opening round where they were defeated by Sydney 106 – 76.

The West Coast Eagles started the season with a record of 1-4 after the first five rounds but have clawed their way up to eleventh spot on the ladder with three consecutive wins over Western Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions and last week, a goal to star player Nic Naitanui after the final siren saw the Eagles snatch a 90-88 victory over North Melbourne.

It was their first win this year against quality opposition and one they’ll take great benefit from and add to this week.

Teams:

Greater Western Sydney Giants:
B: Joshua Bruce, Stephen Gilham, Tim Mohr
HB: Matthew Buntine, Aidan Corr, Anthony Miles
C: Devon Smith, Toby Greene, Rhys Palmer
HF: Adam Treloar, Jeremy Cameron, Lachie Whitfield
F: Taylor Adams, Adam Tomlinson, Callan Ward
Foll: Dean Brogan, Tom Scully, Stephen Coniglio
Int: Curtly Hampton, Dylan Shiel, Adam Kennedy, Jonathan Giles
Emerg: Jacob Townsend, Thomas Downie, Setanta O’hAilpin

In: C.Hampton, A.Treloar, M.Buntine
Out: T. Bugg (iIllness), T.Golds, M.Whiley

West Coast Eagles:
B: Jacob Brennan, Darren Glass, Mitchell Brown
HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Sam Butler
C: Andrew Gaff, Scott Selwood, Bradd Dalziell
HF: Mark LeCras, Jack Darling, Chris Masten
F: Dean Cox, Josh Kennedy, Daniel Kerr
Foll: Nic Naitanui, Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey
Int: Mark Hutchings, Brad Sheppard, Josh Hill, Matt Rosa
Emerg: Blayne Wilson, Ashton Hams, Andrew Embley

In: S. Butler, M. Brown, B. Dalziell, M. Hutchings
Out: A. Selwood (quad), B. Waters (quad), W. Schofield (finger), S. Wellingham (ankle)

Naitanui AFL trade not an option: Eagles

West Coast coach John Worsfold says there’s zero chance of a rival AFL side poaching Nic Naitanui while the star ruckman is still contracted to the Eagles.

Outgoing Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy rocked the boat earlier this week when he claimed he would trade an entire year of draft picks to snare Naitanui.

Sheedy won’t have the chance to test the waters on that front given he’ll be replaced by Leon Cameron after this season.

But even if Sheedy did manage to stay at the helm, his bid to snare Naitanui is doomed to fail.

Naitanui is contracted to the Eagles until the end of 2014, and Worsfold said there was no way the club would consider trading the All-Australian, who kicked the match-winning goal in last week’s triumph over North Melbourne.

“While he’s contracted here, it’s not in our plans for any of that to change. That’s the short answer,” Worsfold said on Wednesday.

“Nic’s a wonderful young man, level headed with great values. We’re very lucky to have that package here.”

The Giants have used Naitanui’s image to promote Saturday’s clash between the two sides at Skoda Stadium.

And such is Sheedy’s admiration for Penrith-born Naitanui, the master coach even wrote the 23-year-old an open letter on Wednesday praising his football skills and role in promoting diversity in the game.

“From the moment you set foot on an AFL field, you captured the public’s imagination with your extraordinary athleticism, prodigious leap and ability to provide dazzling moments like last weekend,” Sheedy wrote on the Giants’ website.

“Our game needs stars and you are truly one of those.

“But what I also like about you is the way you go about your football and your life.

“There is a youthful energy and freshness to your approach.

“I only wish you had never left Western Sydney and had played for the Giants.

“I even suggested this week that perhaps we should give up all our draft picks this year to get you.

“I know I’ve said some out-there things in my time, but it may not be as crazy as it first seems.”

Sheedy joked he would curb Naitanui’s influence on Saturday by organising a giant net to catch him whenever he leaped in the air.

The Eagles (4-4) will be without midfielder Sharrod Wellingham (ankle) and defender Will Schofield (finger) this week, paving the way for veteran wingman Andrew Embley and backman Mitch Brown to return.