The fourth game on Saturday for AFL Round 21 is between West Coast Eagles and Geelong Cats. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:40pm with the game to be played at Gabba. The favourite for the match is away team Geelong Cats. View our preview and teams for the game between West Coast Eagles and Geelong Cats.

Round: Round 21 7:40 PM August 17, 2013
Stadium: Gabba
Weather: 25° Mostly fine

Featured Bookmakers:

West Coast Eagles $2.55 vs Geelong Cats $1.50 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

West Coast Eagles $2.70 vs Geelong Cats $1.47 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:

West Coast Eagles	2.55	2.75	2.70	2.75	2.55	2.57
Geelong Cats	1.50	1.45	1.47	1.45	1.50	1.51

Preview:

West Coast hang by a thread in season 2013 and a win this week will see them keep their head above water for yet another week and a loss will see the curtain come down on a year that hasn’t lived up their expectations.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, they host a Geelong side that has only lost four games this season.

Two of those losses have come in the past five rounds however and West Coast have won two of their last three games against the Cats, including the most recent encounter in round 20 last year.

After three losses, including a surprise defeat to the Western Bulldogs, the Eagles have since accounted for Gold Coast and last week, the struggling Essendon Bombers.

This will be a big step up in quality of opposition for them this week and given that the Eagles have only registered one win over a top eight side this season, will likely struggle to meet the challenge.

Geelong, haven’t been at their best in the past month with unexpected losses to Adelaide and Richmond catching most by surprise.

Surprisingly, the Cats in the final quarter of three of their past four games have been outscored and should the Eagles be able to stick with the Cats, a home ground crowd could prove most advantageous.

More often that not, Geelong rises to the challenge and whilst this game will certainly be that, would expect them to come out on top.

Teams:

West Coast Eagles:
B: M.Brown D.Glass P.McGinnity
HB: S.Butler E.Mackenzie As.Smith
C: A.Gaff S.Wellingham B.Dalziell
HF: J.Cripps JJ.Kennedy J.Hill
F: L.Shuey S.Lycett J.Darling
FOLL: D.Cox S.Selwood M.Priddis
I/C: W.Schofield B.Sheppard C.Masten A.Carter
EMG: A.Embley A.Hams M.Rosa
In: Luke Shuey, Adam Carter
Out: Blayne Wilson (omitted), Mark LeCras (ribs)

Geelong Cats:
B: J.Rivers T.Lonergan C.Enright
HB: C.Guthrie H.Taylor J.Bartel
C: A.Christensen J.Selwood J.Kelly
HF: M.Stokes M.Blicavs S.Johnson
F: S.Motlop J.Podsiadly T.Varcoe
FOLL: N.Vardy J.Caddy M.Duncan
I/C: J.Corey A.Mackie J.Murdoch J.Walker

EMG: J.Hunt J.Schroder J.Stringer
In: Jordan Murdoch, Mark Blicavs
Out:  Tom Hawkins (back), Jesse Stringer  (omitted)

Worsfold keen to re-sign at AFL Eagles

West Coast coach John Worsfold claims he will explore the possibility of joining a rival AFL club if he isn’t re-signed by the Eagles.

Worsfold is out of contract at the end of this year but has told the club’s hierarchy he wants to coach on next season.

West Coast chairman Alan Cransberg has already declared the club is keen for Worsfold stay on, meaning a new deal should be finalised soon.

But if for some reason negotiations break down, Worsfold says he would have no hesitation joining a rival club.

And with Melbourne and Brisbane on the lookout for a new senior coach, Worsfold would be hot property on the open market, along with former Sydney coach Paul Roos.

Worsfold said money wouldn’t be a factor in his decision on where to coach.

But length of deal could be a sticking point for the 12th-year coach.

“If I wanted to coach, would I coach somewhere else? Absolutely I would,” Worsfold said on Wednesday.

“Alan Cransberg has made it public that they’re keen for me to coach on if I’ve got the passion, and I’ve indicated that I’m keen to coach on.

“At this stage, things are starting to line-up.

“My focus is on what’s best for the footy club – what they need, what they’re looking for.

“If I fit into that, that would be great. And if I don’t, other great things open up.”

Worsfold said he was surprised to learn of Brisbane’s decision to axe coach Michael Voss.

Voss signed on to become an assistant under Worsfold in 2008, but abandoned those plans after being offered the top job at Brisbane.

Worsfold has a good relationship with Voss, and contacted the former Lions skipper on Tuesday night to send through his condolences.

But the chances of Voss linking up with West Coast as an assistant next year appear slim, with Worsfold saying there aren’t any roles to fill at the minute.

That could change if highly-rated assistant coach Scott Burns lands a top job at a rival club at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Worsfold confirmed Mark LeCras would miss Saturday night’s clash with Geelong in Perth after sustaining two fractured ribs in last week’s win over Essendon.

LeCras, who played through the pain in that match to boot five second-half goals, could return as early as next week’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG.

Midfielder Luke Shuey will return from a hamstring injury against the Cats, while Andrew Embley, Matt Rosa and Adam Selwood are also in line for recalls.

10th-placed West Coast need Essendon to be stripped of their premiership points if they are to be a realistic chance of reaching the finals.