Where and when: Norwood Oval, Sunday, April 12, 12pm (10.30am WST)
TV: Live on 7 and 7plus in WA, nationally on Fox Footy and Kayo (see broadcast guide here)
Last time we met: Geelong 17.14 (116) defeated West Coast 11.7 (73) at Optus Stadium, Round 12, 2025.
West Coast trailed by just seven points early in the final term and had chances to close further, but the Cats piled on seven of the next eight goals, with Jeremy Cameron exploding late to finish with five majors. Liam Baker was prolific with 29 disposals, while Harley Reid, Elijah Hewett and Kelly were among the Eagles’ best.
What it means for the Eagles: A win over Geelong at Gather Round would be the ideal response after a 128-point hammering against Sydney at Optus Stadium last Saturday. It’s a chance to show the group can reset quickly and, ideally, deliver a four-quarter performance after starting slowly in all four matches this season. There’s also the added symbolism of wearing the club’s throwback ochre guernsey which was first worn in round one of the 2000 season, when West Coast marked the occasion with a win over the reigning premiers North Melbourne, and hasn’t been seen on-field since 2002.
The stat: The Eagles have never played for premiership points at Norwood Oval. The narrower dimensions are set to drive a fierce inside battle, with limited space to spread the field and tackling numbers likely to spike for midfielders.
The match-up: Bailey Smith v Dev Robertson
A fascinating midfield duel on Sunday will see Robertson return from a one‑match suspension to face Geelong ball‑winner Smith, who comes off a dominant 33‑disposal performance against Hawthorn last week. Smith’s running power and ability to spread from stoppage make him a key driver of the Cats’ ball movement, while Robertson brings trademark pressure, physicality and contest work to the Eagles’ midfield. On the tighter confines of Norwood Oval, Robertson’s ability to limit Smith’s time and space while making an impact of his own could play a defining role in shaping the contest.
It’s a big week for: Bailey Williams
Williams returns to the AFL stage after an interrupted pre-season that limited him with a groin issue. The ruckman tuned up strongly through the WAFL last week with a dominant performance and now gets his first opportunity in 2026 at the top level, where his follow-up work, physical presence and competitiveness around the contest will be crucial against a formidable Geelong midfield.
Big call: Jack Graham will set the standard around the contest, finishing the game with a game‑high 10+ tackle count.
