Stevo's AFL season preview: 1st place
With the AFL season kicking off tonight LIVE AND FREE on 7, Channel 7's Mark Stevens takes a look at the team he thinks will finish the year in 1st place.
WEST COAST
INS: Jamie Cripps (traded from St Kilda), Cale Morton (traded from Melbourne), Sharrod Wellingham (traded from Collingwood), Brad Dick (promoted rookie), Brant Colledge (drafted), Adam Carter (drafted), Mark Hutchings (drafted)
OUTS: Quinten Lynch, Ryan Neates, Koby Stevens, Lewis Stevenson, Andrew Strijk, Tom Swift, Gerrick Weedon
BEST 22:
B: Eric MacKenzie, Darren Glass, Shannon Hurn
HB: Brad Sheppard, Will Schofield, Beau Waters
C: Sharrod Wellingham, Chris Masten, Daniel Kerr
HF: Andrew Gaff, Josh Kennedy, Luke Shuey
F: Mark LeCras, Jack Darling, Nic Naitanui
Foll: Dean Cox, Matthew Priddis, Scott Selwood
I/C: Andrew Embley, Matt Rosa, Josh Hill, Mark Nicoski
BIGGEST GAME: Every derby is important in the West, but this year there will be added spice. With both teams beginning to build fortresses at Paterson's Stadium, knocking off a rival in Perth could be the difference between finishing top four or even top two. Win the battle of the West and West Coast will be on track to ensure a fantastic finals campaign.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: There was a glimmer of a thought that Nic Naitanui would overtake him, but Dean Cox once again outlined how immense he is for the Eagles in 2012. The man rucks, roves and kicks goals with the best of them and provides West Coast with inspiration nearly every week. At 31, he's possibly in the best nick he's ever been in and will be vital to the Eagles taking out the premiership this season.
RISING STAR: Youngster Andrew Gaff has been able to make a spot his own in West Coast's star-studded midfield. Averaging close to 25 disposals a game in your second season is nothing to be sneezed at, and his (along with a number of other youngsters) improvement is a big reason why the Eagles were up there last year. His creativity and run-and-carry will be hugely important again in 2013.
IT'S A BIG YEAR FOR: Injury-plagued in 2012, key defender Mitch Brown was looking for a way out of the West during last year's trade period but couldn't secure a deal. Now he's still at West Coast, and needs a big year to earn a spot in the side and keep his AFL career alive. He would need to at least double his eight games from 2012 to make this happen.
STEVO SAYS: I was lucky enough to be in Perth to watch the Eagles destroy North Melbourne in week one of the finals last year. The speed and precision of the ball movement was breathtaking. And to think the win came with Josh Kennedy underdone and Mark Le Cras missing completely. West Coast's midfield depth, with Shuey, Selwood and Gaff blossoming, is as good as anyone's. The forward half looks scary, the defence solid and how about the ruck?!? Cox and Naitanui is the most potent big man combo in the game. Cox is now in the veteran class and Naitanui is hampered by a groin at the moment, but if both click the flag is heading west.
STEVO’S PREDICTION: 1st
Remember, footy is back LIVE and FREE on Channel 7 starting with with Adelaide v Essendon on March 22
Follow Mark on Twitter, @Stevo7AFL
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