The second of tonight’s AFL Round 4 matches will be played at Patersons Stadium between West Coast Eagles and Carlton Blues. The opening bounce is set to commence at 5:40pm local time and 7:40pm AEST with the home team West Coast Eagles being the short priced favourites in the market and have been heavily backed to continue Carltons winless start to the season. View our live scores and results for the game between West Coast Eagles and Carlton Blues.
WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Saturday April 20, 5:40pm
West Coast Eagles $1.40 vs Carlton Blues $3.05 at Sportsbet Australia
Preview:
West Coast play Carlton on Saturday night at 7.40pm, with this clash taking place at Subiaco. It is fair to say that neither of these teams have set the world on fire during the last few weeks, and both will be wanting to prove themselves to their supporters as the season progresses. There was some buzz surrounding West Coast at the start of 2013, although with 1-3 so far, it hasn’t been the start everyone expected. Carlton have had an even more disappointing start to the season however, and if they make it four losses in a row this week, it will be the worst start to a season in almost 25 years.
West Coast Eagles:
B: Will Schofield, Darren Glass, Jacob Brennan
HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Sam Butler
C: Daniel Kerr, Matt Priddis, Chris Masten
HF: Jamie Cripps, Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras
F: Ashton Hams, Jack Darling, Josh Hill
Foll: Dean Cox, Scott Selwood, Luke Shuey
I/C: Andrew Gaff, Adam Selwood, Bradd Dalziell, Callum Sinclair
Emg: Mitch Brown, Mark Hutchings, Ashley Smith
IN: Mackenzie, Dalziell
OUT: Brown, Embley (foot)
Carlton Blues:
B: Chris Yarran, Michael Jamison, Lachie Henderson
HB: Zach Tuohy, Dennis Armfield, Bryce Gibbs
C: Kade Simpson, Andrew Carrazzo, Mitch Robinson
HF: Chris Judd, Andrew Walker, Jeff Garlett
F: Ed Curnow, Shaun Hampson, Sam Rowe
Foll: Robbie Warnock, Marc Murphy, Brock McLean
I/C: Aaron Joseph, Kane Lucas, Heath Scotland, Simon White
Emerg: Dylan Buckley, David Ellard, Nick Duigan
IN: Warnock, Curnow, White
OUT: Kreuzer (broken thumb), Davies (hamstring), Buckley
Callum Sinclair a secret weapon in tonight’s match?
West Coast ruckman Callum Sinclair has revealed how some sound advice from Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy helped him achieve his AFL dream.
Sinclair was left despondent after being overlooked by AFL clubs three years in a row.
Several clubs were tempted to draft him over that period, with the Eagles showing the most interest.
But it wasn’t until Sinclair made the move from Melbourne to Perth at the end of 2011 that West Coast’s enthusiasm soared, with the 23-year-old’s strong season for Subiaco last year finally convincing the Eagles to snare him via pick No.12 in the rookie draft.
However, Sinclair’s move to Perth might not have happened if it wasn’t for the urging of Healy.
“He lived in my local area and he gave me a bit of advice on the possibility of moving to WA, because I was a bit nervous about it at the time,” Sinclair said.
“He kind of gave me that push to give it a go.
“A few clubs had contacted me over that period I was playing VFL footy … and for whatever reason I wasn’t taken at the time.
“I think the move to Perth probably showed West Coast I was pretty keen and eager to play for them.”
The move west has paid early dividends for Sinclair, with the 200cm Victorian playing the past two games for West Coast as a fill-in for injured ruckman Nic Naitanui.
Sinclair has spent most of his career as a forward, but said he was keen to improve his ruck work by learning off Dean Cox and Naitanui.
“To have a six-time All-Australian talking to you every day about where you can improve is a massive bonus,” Sinclair said.
“I feel I’ve learned a lot over the past four months. Dean’s a massive reason for that.
“Ruck work is pretty new to me over the last 12 months, and to learn off two All-Australians is a massive positive.
“It might be difficult to get a game at times with those guys there, but to learn off them is going to be a great experience.”
With Naitanui still battling a groin injury, Sinclair is again set to partner Cox for Saturday night’s clash with Carlton at Patersons Stadium.
Blues ruckman Robbie Warnock is likely to replace Matthew Kreuzer, who injured his thumb in last week’s loss to Geelong.
