Sunday’s AFL 2018 Round 18 match is between West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs. The opening kick is set to commence at 15:20 local time with the game to be played at Optus Stadium. The home team West Coast Eagles are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs.
When: 15:20 | Sunday 22/07/2018
Where: Optus Stadium
Preview:
It’s a massive boost for West Coast to have Eagles forwards Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Mark LeCras back from injury.
They’ll be better for the run last week.
Bitter blow though for the Eagles to have Nic Nat out injured but they do have cover with Scott Lycett ready to step up.
The Bulldogs have been good in their first halves but have fallen away badly in their second halves in the last fortnight which is a concern.
KEY BATTLE: Bulldogs defenders v Josh Kennedy & Jack Darling
I don’t see any key match-ups in this one but the Dogs will have to somehow stop Kennedy and Darling.
The Verdict
Eagles to consolidate their position in the four at home.
West Coast has a 13-3 (81.3 percent) record as a home team in day matches since 2016.
Unibet Odds:
West Coast Eagles at $1.10
Western Bulldogs at $7.50
Odds:
Tip: West Coast Eagles at $1.11
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Josh J Kennedy (WC) at $6.00
More Info:
Teams:
West Coast Eagles: 
B: Hurn, Schofield, Sheppard
HB: Duggan, McGovern, Jetta
C: Hutchings, Yeo, Masten
HF: Cripps, Darling, Redden
F: LeCras, Kennedy, Rioli
FOLL: Lycett, Shuey, Gaff
I/C: Sheed, Venables, Vardy, Cole
EMG: Nelson, Barrass, Ah Chee, Waterman
IN: Sheed, Vardy
OUT: Naitanui, Waterman
Western Bulldogs: 
B: Adams, Trengove, Smith
HB: Morris, Cordy, Johannisen
C: Crozier, Macrae, Hunter
HF: Richards, Schache, Dunkley
F: Dahlhaus, Boyd, Gowers
FOLL: Roughead, McLean, Wallis
I/C: Naughton, Honeychurch, Daniel, Lynch
EMG: Greene, Biggs, Lipinski, Roberts
IN: Crozier, Boyd
OUT: Biggs, Lipinski
AFL News:
Ruckman Scott Lycett rates West Coast’s win over Collingwood as their best this AFL season and knows it has also brought a major challenge.
Scans on Monday are expected to confirm that the Eagles’ No.1 ruckman Nic Naitanui will need another knee reconstruction, ending his season.
He suffered the injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s MCG win and Lycett stepped up once Naitanui was out of the game, breaking even with star Magpies ruckman Brodie Grundy.
One of the keys for the rest of West Coast’s season is how well they cover Naitanui’s absence.
“I’m not thinking too far ahead; wait until he gets the scans, all that kind of stuff,” Lycett said of Naitanui.
“But guys have gone down this year; JK (Josh Kennedy), (Jack) Darling and (Mark) LeCras.
“Blokes have come in and played their role.”
Kennedy, Darling and LeCras all successfully returned from injury in the big win over the Magpies
Nathan Vardy had 66 hitouts in the WAFL on Saturday and will most likely return to the senior team to share the ruck work.
Lycett will appreciate the help.
“I was buggered towards the end (on Sunday). I’ve been playing probably 40 or 50 per cent in the ruck and then forward, the same as Nic Nat,” he said.
“I had to grind it out for the boys and it was pleasing I could keep playing my role.”
There were extremes of emotion in the Eagles rooms post match.
While they were devastated for Naitanui – coach Adam Simpson in particular was emotional – West Coast were rapt with the win.
It was their first win over Collingwood at the MCG since 1995.
Starting with West Coast’s 2015 grand final disaster against Hawthorn, the only two wins out of their past eight MCG visits have been against lowly Carlton.
“I’m trying to say it politely but it’s just awesome to stick it up everyone who says we can’t come here and win,” Lycett said.
“We knew we could play our brand of footy and the boys will definitely take a lot of confidence out of this game.
“It’s probably the biggest win we’ve had all season.
“No away trip is easy and to come over here against Collingwood … it’s just a massive win and it builds our confidence.”
West Coast took second spot from the Magpies and are on the same points as leaders Richmond, with only percentage separating them.
One of the keys to Sunday’s win was the shutdown role that Mark Hutchings did on Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom.
“He’s gone under the radar most of the season,” Lycett said of Hutchings.
“He’s shut down some gun midfielders – you look back last week, with (GWS onballer) Josh Kelly.
“Hopefully he gets some credits that he deserves.”
