Where and when: MCG, Sunday, July 17, 1.10pm (11:10am AWST)

TV: Delayed on 7mate until 2pm on 7mate in WA, Live on Fox Footy, Kayo and the AFL Live Official app.

Last time we met: Hawthorn 8.12 (60) def. by West Coast 14.14 (98) at the MCG, round eight, 2021

It was a sluggish start to the game but thanks to the brilliance of Tim Kelly and Andrew Gaff through the midfield, the Eagles opened the game up with a seven-goal second quarter. Brendon Ah Chee produced one of the best games in his career, booting four goals straight. Star forwards Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Jake Waterman also caused problems in the Hawks defence, combining for three goals. The Eagles extended their lead at every break to run out 38-point winners on the day. Gaff was the team’s best player, finishing with 38 disposals at 83 percent efficiency.

What is means for the Eagles: Only winning one out of the last three games and coming off a 63-point loss against Carlton, the Eagles will be desperate to bring home four points from the MCG. With several senior players sidelined, mid-season rookie draftee Jai Culley will make his long-awaited debut hopefully adding competitiveness to the side as they face another huge task.

The stat: Although Hawthorn is coming off a convincing 32-point victory over Adelaide, West Coast have won the last two games against the Hawks. Both sides have lost four out of the last five rounds.

The match-up: Tom Barrass v Mitch Lewis

The Hawks’ young emerging star Mitch Lewis is in fine form, kicking five goals against Adelaide last week. The Eagles will be relying on marking machine Tom Barrass who has saved plenty of goals averaging eight spoils and three intercept marks a game. After a few big weeks defending twin towers Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, and Coleman medallists Nick Riewoldt and Tom Lynch, Barrass is ready for the clash.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 16: Tom Barrass of the Eagles spoils the mark for Jack Gunston of the Hawks during the round 12 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Hawthorn Hawks at Optus Stadium on August 16, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

It’s a big week for: Bailey Williams

This week Bailey Williams will be leading the ruck in Naitanui’s absence. It will be a big task ahead for the ruckman with Hawks skipper Ben McEvoy returning last week after four months on the sidelines. The veteran ruckman spent plenty of time deep inside 50 getting help from premiership ruckman Ned Reeves.

Big call: Back-to-back Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy will be returning to the MCG where he played his first game and kicked his first ever goal in 2006. In what could be his last time at the ‘G, Kennedy to kick at least three goals.