It’s here everyone, it’s arrived! No, not Christmas. Something even more special.
It’s that very magical time of year that divides WA. When pals, colleagues and family members turn against eachother. When reasonably calm footy spectators suddenly turn in to overly-passionate, argumentative, angry lunatics. When alien life could touch down on the east coast and we wouldn’t even know, because this week, the whole of WA is focused on only one thing - the Carlton Mid Derby.
It’s an intense time people! There’s a lot of pressure when you’re about to take on your cross-town rivals. West Coast has taken home the last two Carlton Mid Derby trophies, and Freo, with their shiny-new coach Ross Lyon, will be keen to prove a point and make their coach’s first-ever derby a memorable one.
Do you think we’re going to let them though? Definitely not. Fresh off the back of that thriller against The Saints last week, our boys are flying high. But, in an effort to remain objective, let’s look at the facts:
Freo tend to lift when they play us don’t they? They get pretty hardcore and extra-hungry for the ball. And with that devastating defeat last weekend against Hawthorn, I’m gonna bet my bottom dollar that the Dockers are going to come at us guns blazing the minute that first bounce hits the turf of the centre circle at Patersons.
And this year the cross-town rivalry has been fuelled even more so with West Coast’s assistant coach Peter Sumich jumping ship to Freo. Suma is a good egg - a great egg in fact, we be tight - but with this being the first derby since his departure, I reckon there will be some tension in the air between the two squads! I’m predicting a few sly comments and a couple of black eyes. (Not that I condone fighting. Violence is not the answer, kids.)
But let’s take a look at our team - big Coxy played the game of his life last week. What a superstar that man is. Beau Waters did an absolutely stellar job, as did Nic Naitanui upon his return after his brief stint on the sideline. And this week, the man who took out the Ross Glendinning Medal for the first derby of the season last year, Matt Priddis, is likely to come back in to the team. After being concussed in round seven, the ball-magnet with the golden curls is a potential for selection. Oh happy days!
So I reckon as much as Freo come at us with all their derby-hyped aggression, the mighty West Coast Eagles will still be too strong. Look at our squad. Go on, take a look. Even with our injuries, it is still pretty darn amazing.
It’s going to be a nail-biter of a match, and Freo will make us work for it, but this weekend I am tipping us to take home our third consecutive Carlton Mid Derby trophy. And Coxy for the Ross Glendinning.
See you all on derby day!
Love Rick.
