The spacious surrounds of Subiaco Oval present an opportunity for the team when they clash with West Coast on Friday according to coach Matthew Knights.

 

""We have a very strong support base in Western Australia and the club is looking forward to playing on a spacious ground because we will get some valuable match fitness and practice into our players,"" he said.

 

""We have recovered well after our other interstate trips this year and we don’t think traveling to Subiaco is an issue.
 
""If we had of beaten St Kilda in the semi final we would have been traveling to Adelaide to play the Grand Final anyway.""

 

A major positive to come out of Friday night's disappointing three-point loss to the Saints is that the team did not suffer any serious injuries.

 

""Heath Hocking was rested in the second half as a pre-caution due to some soreness but every other player came through the game fine,"" Knights said.

  

""From a team perspective it was very good to play the Saints because they play a very competitive type of game. Scores were lower and there were more stoppages so it was good to play that sort of game.

 

""Being such a young team there was a lot of learning scenarios that came out of the game that we can look at during the week - we still have a fair way to go in regards to our skill and defensive actions and we will keep really working on that.""

 

One player to really stamp his name on the game was Jay Neagle who played his first NAB Cup game of the year.

 

""From my perspective it was fantastic to see him complete the game considering the physical and mental challenges he has had to overcome due to injury,"" Knight said.

 

""His one-on-one contested situations were encouraging against more senior players.""

 

The Essendon fixture is as follows (all times local):

NAB Challenge

Friday 7 March - West Coast v Essendon, Subiaco at 6.40pm