Take a look at our comprehensive preview of Essendon's clash with West Coast on Tuesday night.
WEST COAST v ESSENDON
Tuesday, September 1
8:10pm AEST
The Gabba
Live on Fox Footy
THE HISTORY
Games played - 54
Won – 29
Lost – 25
Drawn - 0
FIVE FACTS
1. Hooker in rare company
Cale Hooker will play his 200th AFL game on Tuesday night, becoming the 29th player in history to reach a double century in the red and black. He's also just three games shy of equalling Mark Thompson (202) as Essendon's games record holder in the No.26. Selected at pick No.54 in the 2007 national draft, the 2014 All Australian and 2015 Crichton medallist has proven to be one of the Bombers' shrewdest selections of the AFL era.
2. All Australians all together
With the return of Dyson Heppell and Michael Hurley this week, the Bombers finally have their full All-Australian contingent back together. It'll be the first time since round nine last year that Heppell, Hurley, Dylan Shiel, Joe Daniher, Cale Hooker, Zach Merrett and Jake Stringer have played in the same game, making up just under a third of the Bombers' line-up.
3. Eagles' recipe for success
Control, control, control. That's the modus operandi for the Eagles, who built their recent eight-game winning streak on a possession-based style. Averaging the second-most kicks and marks, West Coast has relished controlled, precise ball movement on the wide expanses of Optus Stadium. That game-plan didn't hold up on the tighter confines of Metricon Stadium against the Tigers, though, who dialled up the pressure to force the Eagles into more handpasses than usual and heavily restrict their marks as a result (46 to Richmond's 69).
4. Eagles ruling the air
The Eagles are a serious threat in the air, ranked equal first for contested marks per game and first for free kicks in marking contests. The Bombers average the least contested marks in the competition and were beaten 13-7 against the Hawks despite the returning Joe Daniher taking three contested grabs. Despite the Eagles' aerial advantage, they were held to just two contested marks in their loss to the Tigers. The loss of Josh Kennedy in the first term to concussion didn't help, with the key forward ruled out of facing the Bombers.
5. What is it about Queensland?
Can you believe Essendon and West Coast have combined for just three wins and a draw from 12 games in Queensland this season? For all of the Eagles' dominance at Optus Stadium, their formline in the Sunshine State (four losses from six games) paints a whole different story. Whether it's the smaller grounds restricting their possession-gamed style or the greasy conditions taking away their aerial dominance, the Eagles have struggled for supremacy on the other side of the country. The Bombers have won just once from six starts in Queensland this season, but their loss to St Kilda at the Gabba in round 12 was their first at the venue since 2009.
LAST TIME WE MET
Elimination final, 2019: West Coast 17.14 (116) defeated 9.7 (61) at Optus Stadium
There's no finals task more daunting than the Eagles in Perth, and that's exactly what the Bombers faced in these two sides' last meeting.
Kicking off the 2019 finals series on a Thursday night, the Bombers started brightly with the first major but were never in the hunt from quarter-time.
They were heavily beaten at the coalface, losing contested footy 138-116, but also wasted the ball when they had it, giving up 10 intercept marks in the first quarter alone.
On a tough night, young gun Andrew McGrath (30 disposals, six score involvements, five inside 50s) worked tirelessly, while Adam Saad (two goals, 18 disposals, 583m gained) was also a shining light in his first final.
FORM
West Coast
Round 12: Defeated Hawthorn 12.9 (81) to 7.7 (49) at Optus Stadium
Round 13: Defeated Greater Western Sydney 9.7 (61) to 7.7 (49) at Optus Stadium
Round 14: Lost to Richmond 9.7 (61) to 14.4 (88) at Metricon Stadium
West Coast's eight-game winning streak came to an end in a 27-point defeat to Richmond last week.
Missing stars Elliot Yeo and Jack Redden and losing Josh Kennedy early in the game, the Eagles continued to challenge but were never able to take control.
Jack Darling stepped up in Kennedy's absence with four goals, while Liam Ryan (three goals) was sent to full-forward to great effect.
The Eagles have been unstoppable at home this season with seven wins from as many games at Optus Stadium, but the loss to the Tigers marked their fourth from six matches in Queensland.
Sitting in fifth position ahead of round 15, they'll be keen to avoid a repeat of their early season struggles in the Sunshine State.
Essendon
Round 12: Lost to St Kilda 5.3 (33) to 10.8 (68) at the Gabba
Round 13: Lost to Richmond 10.1 (61) to 10.13 (73) at TIO Stadium
Round 14: Defeated Hawthorn 13.9 (87) to 10.11 (71) at Adelaide Oval
Essendon snapped a five-game winless streak and kept its finals hopes alive with a stunning comeback against Hawthorn last week.
Trailing by 36 points at half-time at Adelaide Oval, the Bombers outscored the Hawks by 52 points in the second half to run out 16-point winners.
The returning Joe Daniher was the spark with a three-goal second half, while Andrew McGrath (32 disposals, 10 clearances) and Zach Merrett (36 disposals, 520m gained) were dominant in midfield.
After being forced to field a youthful line-up in recent weeks due to injuries, the Bombers have regained all seven All Australians as they make a late dash for finals.
Sitting just two points outside the top eight in 11th spot, a win over the Eagles could see them return to it by the end of the round.
TEAMS
WEST COAST
Backs: Thomas Cole, Tom Barrass, Brad Sheppard
Half-backs: Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern, Lewis Jetta
Centre: Liam Duggan, Dom Sheed, Andrew Gaff
Half-forwards: Jack Redden, Jack Darling, Liam Ryan
Forwards: Bailey Williams, Oscar Allen, Brendon Ah Chee
Followers: Nic Naitanui, Tim Kelly, Luke Shuey
Interchange: Xavier O'Neill, Jackson Nelson, Mark Hutchings, Josh Rotham
Emergencies: Jarrod Brander, Tom Hickey, Will Schofield, Jarrod Cameron
In: Jetta, Allen, Nelson, Redden
Out: Kennedy (concussion), Cripps (rested), Brander (omitted), Reid (omitted)
ESSENDON
Backs: Martin Gleeson, Michael Hurley, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
Half-backs: Jordan Ridley, James Stewart, Adam Saad
Centre: Darcy Parish, Andrew McGrath, Kyle Langford
Half-forwards: Will Snelling, Cale Hooker, Irving Mosquito
Forwards: Devon Smith, Joe Daniher, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
Followers: Sam Draper, Dylan Shiel, Dyson Heppell
Interchange: Zach Merrett, Matt Guelfi, Dylan Clarke, Jake Stringer
Emergencies: Andrew Phillips, Mason Redman, Brayden Ham, Jacob Townsend
In: Heppell, Hurley, Draper
Out: Phillips, Ham, Redman (all omitted)
Milestone: Cale Hooker - 200 AFL games
BOMBER TO WATCH
Cale Hooker
The stage is set up perfectly for one of the biggest big-game players.
With the Bombers' finals hopes on the line, the 200-game milestone will only add fuel to the fire for Cale Hooker.
The 31-year-old was dangerous in his first game since round seven last week, swung forward in the second half to finish with 17 disposals, two goals and three marks.
With star forward Josh Kennedy missing for the Eagles and Michael Hurley returning to defence, another foray forward looks on the cards for Hooker.
Watch this space.
DANGEROUS OPPONENT
Nic Naitanui
The Eagles are ranked first for centre clearances per game, and owe much of that to star ruckman Nic Naitanui.
With his recent years ruined by injury, the 2012 All Australian has dramatically improved his ability to win his own ball at stoppages.
Averaging five clearances per game, he's the only ruckman to sit inside the top 10 for centre clearances in a clear sign of his ability to drive the Eagles forward.
He doesn't need many possessions to do a heap of damage, too, as we saw in round 11 against Carlton when he had only eight disposals but amassed 41 hitouts, four tackles and seven clearances.
The 30-year-old looms as a formidable opponent for 21-year-old Sam Draper, who will shoulder the ruck load for the Bombers' in just his fifth game.
