Today’s fourth AFL Round 5 match is between Port Adelaide Power and West Coast Eagles. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:15pm local time with the game to be played at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide. The away team West Coast Eagles are the current favourites in the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Port Adelaide Power and West Coast Eagles.

Round: Round 5 7:15 PM April 27, 2013
Stadium: AAMI Stadium
Weather: 25° Mostly sunny.

Featured Bookmakers:

Port Adelaide Power $1.96 vs West Coast Eagles $1.84 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Port Adelaide Power $2.00 vs West Coast Eagles $1.80 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison:

Port Adelaide Power	1.96	2.00	2.00	2.00	1.96	1.98
West Coast Eagles	1.84	1.80	1.80	1.80	1.84	1.86

Preview:

At the start of the season, I would not have thought this game would be a flip of a coin but, with Port surprising all with their unbeaten start to the season and the Eagles not flying high as most would have anticipated, this game should be a close one.

Port have had a favourable draw, having met Melbourne, GWS and Gold Coast in three of their four matches but it was their win over cross town rivals the Crows, that made us stop and take a close look at them.

Kicks, Handballs, Marks and Goals are areas of the game where Port are in the top five teams of the competition and they’ll fancy their chances of making it five straight.
The Eagles have had a tougher time of it from a draw prospective and have taken on Fremantle, Hawthorne and Carlton with their only win coming over the Demons in round three.

But it’s been the size of those losses – 28, 50 and 24 points that have been a concern and they need to register win two quickly.

They lead the competition in tackles and will need to apply pressure from the outside here for if Port get their nose in front at home, they may prove hard to run down.

Teams:

Port Adelaide Power:
B: Thomas Jonas, Alipate Carlisle, Campbell Heath
HB: Jasper Pittard, Jackson Trengove, Dom Cassisi
C: Kane Cornes, Travis Boak, Brad Ebert
HF: Paul Stewart, Justin Westhoff, Matthew Broadbent
F: Robbie Gray, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard
Foll: Brent Renouf, Ollie Wines, Hamish Hartlett
I/C: Matthew Lobbe, Angus Monfries, Jake Neade, Cameron O’Shea
Emerg: Sam Colquhoun, Lewis Stevenson, Matt Thomas

IN: Paul Stewart
OUT: Lewis Stevenson

West Coast Eagles:
B: Shannon Hurn, Darren Glass, Jacob Brennan
HB: Beau Waters, Eric Mackenzie, Sam Butler
C: Chris Masten, Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff
HF: Jamie Cripps, Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras
F: Callum Sinclair, Jack Darling, Daniel Kerr
Foll: Dean Cox, Scott Selwood, Luke Shuey
I/C: Ashton Hams, Bradd Dalziell, Mitch Brown, Josh Hill
Emerg: Mark Hutchings, Ashley Smith, Will.Schofield

IN: Beau Waters, Mitch Brown
OUT: Adam Selwood, Will Schofield

Sharrod Wellingham nearing Eagles debut

Premiership midfielder Sharrod Wellingham is in line to make his West Coast debut next week after finally overcoming an ankle injury.

Wellingham has been grounded since damaging ankle ligaments in a freak trampoline accident in February, but will make his playing return in East Perth’s WAFL clash with Perth on Thursday.

Should the 24-year-old make it through that hit-out unscathed, the former `Pie could feature in West Coast’s AFL match against the Western Bulldogs on May 5.

The addition of Wellingham would give the Eagles a much-needed boost through the midfield and up forward as they attempt to revive their top-four hopes.

Wellingham kicked 55 goals over 92 games for the Magpies, and tallied 20 disposals and two goals in their grand final win over St Kilda in 2010.

West Coast gave up pick No.18 in the national draft to snare his services, and coach John Worsfold said the 185cm utility was in good shape despite his lengthy injury layoff.

“He’s pretty fit. So this hit-out is just to give him some real good match practice,” Worsfold said on Wednesday.

“Providing he moves and recovers from the game as well as we expect, he’ll be up for selection after this one.

“He’s keen to play. He just loves playing footy. He’s looking forward to getting out and playing with the guys, because that’s why he came here.”

West Coast (1-3) are already two wins adrift of fourth spot, and they’re bracing themselves for a stiff challenge in Saturday night’s clash with unbeaten Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Worsfold said skipper Darren Glass, who injured his shoulder in last week’s loss to the Blues, was almost certain to play this week, while vice-captain Beau Waters is also expected to feature after recovering from a calf injury.

Wingman Matt Rosa is likely to spend another week in the WAFL to build up more match fitness.

Worsfold praised the impact of new Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, who has led the Power to four straight wins in a dream start to his tenure.

“He’s done a wonderful job in terms of putting his stamp on them and quickly getting good results,” Worsfold said.

“It’s often said that it can take six months or 12 months for a new coach to get in there and start to see the results.

“He’s got the team playing pretty well already.”