Where and when: Adelaide Oval, Sunday, May 26, 4:10pm (2:40pm WST)

TV: Live on 7 in WA, Fox Footy and streaming on Kayo

Last time we met: Waalitj Marawar 12.6 (78) defeated by Kuwarna 17.21 (123) at Optus Stadium, round 24, 2023.

Waalitj Marawar last met Kuwarna in the final game of the 2023 season, in what was an emotional occasion farewelling premiership captain Shannon Hurn, Norm Smith medallist Luke Shuey and game-changing ruckman Nic Naitanui in front of over 47,000 fans at Optus Stadium. While the game got away from Waalitj Marawar in the final term, with Kuwarna kicking the final eight goals of the game, it was still a worthy performance from the home side. In true fashion, Hurn finished with an impressive 22 disposals and seven rebound 50s, while Shuey managed 25 touches and six inside 50s. Oscar Allen and Jack Darling combined for seven goals, and Tim Kelly finished with 35 disposals.

What it means for the Eagles: Waalitj Marawar comes into this game bolstered with momentum from their huge upset win over Narrm (Melbourne) last weekend. The team has been playing a good brand of football and showing some very encouraging signs with the direction they’re headed. The confidence is high, and another competitive performance this week on the road against Kuwarna will see Waalitj continue with their upward trajectory.

The stat: Waalitj Marawar have taken 31.7% of their kick-ins into their forward 50 this season, the second-highest percentage of any team.

The match-up: Tom Barrass v Taylor Walker

Key Kuwarna forward Taylor Walker has enjoyed his recent run-ins with Waalitj Marawar, kicking a staggering 19 goals in their past two matchups. Tom Barrass will be looking to rain on Walker’s parade this week, and will likely share time between manning Walker and Darcy Fogarty with Jeremy McGovern.

It’s a big week for: The whole team. Waalitj Marawar are yet to win a game on the road so far this season and with the form they’re in, complemented by the excitement factor of young guns such as Reuben Ginbey, Harley Reid and Brady Hough, it’s a realistic opportunity for the boys in blue and gold to get one back at Adelaide Oval.  

Big call: Exciting Waalitj Marawar forward Liam Ryan will kick three goals and take one huge hanger against Kuwarna.

Kuwarna was far too strong in a dominant 99-point triumph over Waalitj Marawar to finish Sir Doug Nicholls Round. 

The Eagles (16th, three wins, eight losses) entered the game with three wins from their past six matches, but slumped to their biggest loss of the season.

West Coast's veteran defender Jeremy McGovern (25 possessions, seven marks) battled against the tide, Tim Kelly collected 23 disposals and No.1 draft pick Harley Reid tried to lift Waalitj Marawar in the third quarter, finishing with 14 disposals, plus a goal, for the match.

Led by skipper Jordan Dawson, who produced a masterly 32-disposal display, the Crows triumphed 21.11 (137) to 5.8 (38) at Adelaide Oval in Sunday's twilight fixture.

Waalitj Marawar was well beaten in the possession count (-140), inside 50s (-20) and lost contested possesion by 24 on a tough night. 

In-form forward Jake Waterman was held to just one major and was one of five individual goalkickers for the visitors. 

Wingman Campbell Chesser tried hard with 15 disposals but the Eagles' midfield couldn't arrest momentum throughout the match.

Waalitj Marawar started poorly and trailed 7.4 to 0.2 after the first stanza with Dawson kicking two goals, setting up another, gathering 12 disposals and having five inside-50s in the term.

He finished with nine inside-50s and nine marks and was among 13 Kuwarna goalscorers - winger Chayce Jones kicked three and Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty, Josh Rachele, Brayden Cook and Ben Keays slotted two each.

Adelaide winger Lachlan Sholl had a game-high 34 disposals, midfielders Matt Crouch (30 touches) and Rory Laird (31) were busy, and coach Matthew Nicks had the luxury of resting young on-baller Jake Soligo, who was substituted at half-time with the result settled.

With Dawson in full flight early, Adelaide recorded their highest-scoring first quarter since logging 7.5 against the Eagles in round 13 last year.

West Coast couldn't manage a goal until the seventh minute of the second quarter when Jack Williams converted a set shot.

And while the visitors scored three majors for the term, the Crows continued their scoring spree with another six goals to create a 61-point half-time lead, 13.5 to 3.4.

Adelaide broke the 100-point barrier 24 minutes into the third term - they scored five goals to one in the term and took a whopping 86-point lead into the final change. 

The Crows then cruised to a percentage-boosting win with three goals to one in the final term.

KUWARNA                    7.4    13.5    18.9     21.11 (137)
WAALITJ MARAWAR   0.2     3.5      4.7      5.8 (38)

GOALS
Kuwarna: Jones 3, Walker 2, Rachele 2, Fogarty 2, Keays 2, Dawson 2, Cook 2, Soligo, Sholl, Schoenberg, O'Brien, Murphy, Burgess
Waalitj Marawar: J.Williams, Waterman, Reid, Darling, Cripps

BEST
Kuwarna: Dawson, Sholl, Jones, Fogarty, Laird, Crouch
Waalitj Marawar: Kelly, McGovern, Yeo, Reid

INJURIES
Kuwarna: TBC
Waalitj Marawar: TBC

SUBSTITUTES
Kuwarna: Sam Berry, replaced Jake Soligo at half-time
Waalitj Marawar: Tyrell Dewar, replaced Alex Witherden at three-quarter time

Crowd: 40,965 at Adelaide Oval