3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2023 AFL Season.

We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.

WEST COAST v GWS

Sunday 26 March @ Optus Stadium

The last game of the round is one of those swing games where an unquestionably unsatisfactory performer from the first game takes on a team who looked dead but rose from it.

How could you not be filthy if you had any ounce of respect for the West Coast Eagles. They had all things in their favour bar having to fly to Melbourne.

North Melbourne were always going to give something more for Clarkson on his first foray back but they were missing some important cogs and the Eagles had had time to digest and forget 2022.

No matter the late comeback to get within a goal at the end, that probably makes it more annoying. How could they have the gumption to recover? Surely it should have come a lot earlier.

Much was and is still being made about List Management decisions and whether they are paying for them now. Plus Josh Kennedy is gone and it's now Allen, Ryan and Darling's forward line.

Even though between them they kicked 6 goals, it will need to be doubled going forward for them to be winning games against the better sides than North or even GWS.

And so that Giants side don't exactly bring with them the flashest of performances but lord do they bring with them the gutsiest of efforts.

Down by 5 goals multiple times to the Crows and facing 35 plus degree temperatures at the Olympic precinct, they held nerve long enough to fight back by ¾ time then ran on by.

Many things need to be fixed such as their forward entry and giving Toby Greene more support but that one win gives them belief that they will follow Adam Kingsley no matter what he asks.

There will be times and opponents when that won't work but at least somewhere down the track, in a game of far more consequence, they can draw from that experience and know what he's saying is actionable.

Tom Green surely can't be allowed to run around with his hand on the sherrin all game this time. If he gets 37 and Coniglio 32 then the same result is on the cards.

Adam Simpson should just give two of the mids an assignment to tag them both. Even a 15% drop off could be enough playing in Perth for a swapping of the 4 points.

West Coast is 9 & 5 against GWS since inception but importantly 5/1 in Perth and 3/0 at the Perth Stadium. If ever they have to bounce back and want to bounce back this is now.

GWS played in oppressive temperatures, have a day less to recover and have to fly all the way West. It is reason enough to give the Eagles ONE MORE CHANCE.

Match Selection: West Coast by 3 points

Suggested Bets: West Coast 1-39 @ $2.70