Western Derby has all the makings of a classic clash

Dubbed the most important clash of the 53 held between cross-town rivals Fremantle and West Coast, Sunday’s virtual elimination final has all the makings of a classic.

With key personnel from both sides missing from the round 22 match, it already resembles the famed Demolition Derby from 2000.

The last derby was a fizzer for Fremantle, but there’s much more riding on this one.Credit:Getty Images

Not since 2015 have the hometown rivals played in such a high-stakes match that could impact a finals spot. That year they split the derby ledger, with West Coast winning the last Derby of the season that began an 11-game streak, as the Dockers and Eagles finished 1-2 on the ladder.

Fast-forward six years, and just one win separates the pair on the ladder amid a logjam of six clubs fighting for seventh and eighth position with two games of the home-and-away to play.

While Sunday’s victor won’t be guaranteed a finals spot, they will live to fight one last week, while the loser will know it’s the end of the line for season 2021.

“It’s not an eight-point game, it’s a final really,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson said on Thursday as he continued to search for a spark to kickstart his flat-footed side.

“This is one of the more important derbies we have all played in for a long period of time. It’s high stakes.”

Finals aspirations aside, there are salivating sideshows to the 3.10pm clash.

There’s the West Coast winning streak, which has not looked in danger before this season. Before the Eagles went on their run late in 2015, Fremantle were just one win from squaring the derby ledger.

Many predicted the dominance of the 2018 premiers would end earlier this season â€" myself included â€" especially after West Coast’s home ground advantage was scuttled just hours before the round seven fixture when a COVID scare forced the cancellation of crowds at Optus Stadium.

A tense start where Fremantle had the edge everywhere but on the scoreboard was superseded by an Eagles outfit that displayed its high-octane, super-efficient game style to run away 59-point victors.

Then there’s the small but not insignificant milestone of the man known down at the Dockers as ‘Barra’ â€" Mundy, David Mundy. In All-Australian form, the league’s second-oldest player at 36 equals club legend Matthew Pavlich’s 353-games record to sit 16th on the all-time AFL/VFL list.

Given Andrew Brayshaw’s suspension and captain Nat Fyfe’s injury, Mundy will need to be at his legendary best, with able support from emerging superstars Caleb Serong and Adam Cerra, to stave off West Coast’s Rolls-Royce running brigade, who found some form late in the close loss to Melbourne after a bizarre lightning break halted the game in the final quarter.

That battle may be decided in the ruck, where Nic Naitanui faces a mountain in Sean Darcy and his offsider Lloyd Meek, who is improving every week.

Darcy has been in All-Australian form himself and his uncanny ability to read the play and take marks around the ground will test Nic Nat.

The 23-year-old has averaged 17 disposals at 69 per cent efficiency, six score involvements and five marks (two contested and one inside 50) in a breakout season. He’s also kicked 11.12 and is my tip for the Glendinning-Allan Medal should the Dockers prevail.

On the personnel front, Eagles captain Luke Shuey is back, along with defender Tom Barrass, key forward Jake Waterman (in case Josh Kennedy isn’t fit), Luke Foley and the electric Liam Ryan. Shannon Hurn, who always seems to save his best for derbies, has been ruled out with a hamstring while rookie-listed recruit Connor West was omitted.

For the home team, defender Nathan Wilson is out injured as is ball magnet Brayshaw after his tribunal appeal failed. Small forwards Sam Switkowski and Bailey Banfield join defenders Blake Acres, Ethan Hughes and Tobe Watson as inclusions on an extended bench.

With any luck, the sun will shine on Optus Stadium for what we hope is a bruising, bustling encounter. A few walk-up tickets were still available as of Friday evening. They might just be the hottest tickets in town.

Tip: Fremantle by 13 points

David Prestipino writes about sports and lifestyle for WAtoday.

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