Promising forward Oscar Allen hasn’t forgotten last year’s thumping loss to Gold Coast and is wary of the rising Suns ahead of Sunday’s season-opener.
The Eagles will relish being back in front of the blue and gold army at Optus Stadium in round one, and hope to start the campaign on the right note after last year’s disappointment at Metricon Stadium.
Coming back from the COVID-19-enforced layoff, West Coast was ambushed by Gold Coast and went down by 44 points.
“That game we played them they really jumped us,” Allen admitted on Monday.
“We were really disappointing that day, but they’re a really tough side and they’ve got a lot of top-end, young talent.
“We know what they bring. They’re strong in the contest so we’re going to have to really be on our ‘A game’ or they can beat us.”
The teams each have two wins and two losses from the past four meetings, however West Coast has never lost to the Suns at home, possessing an 8-0 record in the west.
Sunday’s 3.10pm bouncedown should see the return of champion forward Josh Kennedy and star midfielder Tim Kelly after the key duo missed both pre-season warm-up games.
Emerging onballer Xavier O’Neill looms as a likely starter following skipper Luke Shuey’s untimely hamstring niggle, while draftee Zane Trew has also impressed and will be pushing for a debut early in 2021.
“Xavier has been playing with the mids and I think he played a full game in our last pre-season hitout, and Zane Trew’s been really impressive, young kid, 18, being drafted and really taking it up with our best mids, which not many midfielders do in their first pre-season,” Allen said.
“Definitely excited to see what both of them bring. I’m sure one of them probably will get an opportunity but we’ll just have to wait and see which one it is.
“I think he (Trew) gave big Nic (Naitanui) a fend-off early in the pre-season and sent a message to all the boys that he’s a strong kid, he’s well-built and he likes the contest.
“That’s what we love of our midfielders, so we’re excited to see what he brings to the side.”
Much has been made of Allen’s flexibility so far this pre-season and the mature 21-year-old is comfortable playing at either end of the ground.
With Nathan Vardy a strong chance to support Naitanui in the ruck, Allen could be relieved of pinch-hitting duties and instead be shifted between attack and defence early in the year.
“I think it helps me develop a lot. If you look at a lot of young forwards and key position players they play at both ends of the ground,” Allen said.
“It exposes you if I play on a really good forward to maybe pick up a few tricks of what they’ve done.
“I know being a younger player you’ve probably got to play whatever role the side needs – and I enjoy that.
“For a long period of time it’s kept me in the side. Probably 2019 there were probably times I could have gone out the side but my versatility probably allowed me to keep playing.
“I’m not quick to forget the faith the coaching staff put in me so I’m happy to play whatever needs be.”
