Ross Lyon believes Fremantle ruck coach Simon Eastaugh’s knowledge of West Coast will be a key in taking the honours in Sunday’s Carlton Draught Derby.
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Eastaugh was West Coast’s ruck coach from 2010-2013, working closely with Nic Naitanui when he was named All Australian in 2012.
Lyon said Eastaugh would work closely with Fremantle champion Aaron Sandilands to try and reduce Naitanui’s influence on the contest.
“Simon Eastaugh’s our ruck coach,” Lyon said.
“He used to be at the Eagles for a while, so he’ll have a deep understanding of what Nic likes and doesn’t like.
“They’ll (Eastaugh and Sandilands) work together and try and negate, but still bring their strengths to the table.
“They’re both significant players in their own right and that battle is going to be a crucial battle.”
There has been plenty of hype regarding the form of Fremantle midfielders Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Stephen Hill, but Lyon thinks West Coast’s engine room is underrated.
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“I think what gets lost a little bit is the West Coast midfield,” the Freo senior coach said.
“We understand (Scott) Selwood is not there (through injury), but even from a few years ago, they’re all there.
“(Matt) Priddis is a Brownlow Medallist, Nic Nat is a star of the comp and then (Sharrod) Wellingham is a premiership player brought over specifically, he’s up and going now.
“You’ve got (Chris) Masten, (Andrew) Gaff’s a star…and they’re running (Shannon) Hurn and (Brad) Sheppard through there and you’ve got (Jamie) Cripps as a first-round draft pick.
“I don’t see the West Coast midfield diluted at all, bar Selwood.
“That’s where it’s going to be won and lost.”
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Lyon described the Eagles midfielders as ‘elite’ and knows how tough Sunday’s match is going to be.
“It’s quite mature in there, they might have one young guy, but the rest of them have been around for four, five, six years, which puts them in the ‘elite’ category,” he said.
“There’s a reason that they were premiership favourite a few years ago.
“For our midfield, we understand we’ve got a significant challenge.”
Freo takes on West Coast in the Carlton Draught Derby on Sunday 19 April.
MATCH PREVIEW
Bounce down is 2.40pm WST at Domain Stadium.
