Ross Glendinning Medal tips for West Coast vs. Fremantle derby

Ladder position
West Coast Eagles: Eighth
Fremantle Dockers: 17th

Season record
West Coast Eagles: 1-1
Fremantle Dockers: 0-2

Head-to-head odds
West Coast Eagles: $1.43 with Crownbet.com.au
Fremantle Dockers: $2.85

Line betting
West Coast Eagles: -16.5 ($1.92 with CrownBet.com.au)
Fremantle Dockers: +16.5 ($1.92)

A PAIR of teams coming off losses will square off on Saturday night in one of the most fiercely contested rivalries in Australian sport.

The AFL’s two Western Australian teams, the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers, will go head to head again in a battle for intrastate supremacy.

And with the bitter rivalry comes plenty of individual pride, with the players strutting their stuff in the Western Derby for the coveted Ross Glendinning Medal.

Named after shining Western Australian star Ross Glendinning, who was the Eagles first captain and a former member of the Freo board, the medal is awarded to the player adjudged the best on ground in the match.

Former Dockers gun Paul Hasleby has won the medal four times, the most of any player.

But it’s 2016 and it’s time for us to pick out a couple of big chances to help you win a little cash.

Ross Glendinning Medal tips

West Coast Eagles:

Rolled gold: Matt Priddis ($6 with WilliamHill.com.au)

Smokey: Josh Hill ($41)

Special mention: Josh Kennedy ($10)

It is rather difficult to go past the 2014 Brownlow Medallist and resident ball magnet Matt Prides when you’re looking at individual award markets. Priddis had the fifth most possessions of any player in the AFL last season and his distinctive curly blond locks mean he is always under the voters’s nose. Priddis had a pig of a day against the Hawks last week with just 19 disposals – well below his lofty standards – and will be more than keen to atone for that. Picked up 43 disposals against Brisbane in round one and is no stranger to the medal, having won it in round 8, 2011. Fleet footed star Josh Hill, is our pick to have a tiny drink on. Hill is another player who, by his standards, was down on form against the Hawks, but we’re treating that game as an aberration and focusing on his three goal, 19 disposal effort against Brisbane in round one. Hill is a smooth mover who can be a bit of a downhill skier, but, if all things go well for the Eagles, expect him to be involved in plenty of it. If he hits the scoreboard, he will be a huge chance to win the medal. Another man to consider is reigning Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy. The gun forward dined out on the Lions with eight goals, but then sputtered badly against the Hawks, fuelling the popular belief that he only kicks bags against the AFL’s lesser lights. He can go a way to dispel that with a big effort against the Fremantle defence.

Fremantle Dockers

Rolled gold: Nat Fyfe ($7 with WilliamHill.com.au)

Smokey: Michael Barlow ($23)

Special mention: Lachie Neale ($13)

Fyfe, like Priddis, is the Dockers’ star, but even a super effort from him might not be enough to get Fremantle over the line any more. Bounced back from a poor round one performance against the Western Bulldogs to churn out a three goal, 34 disposal effort that defied belief for a side that lost to the Gold Coast Suns on their home deck. That’s the sort of form that wins medals and former Eagles superstar Chris Judd once won the medal in a losing effort. If any one can emulate the all time great, it is Fyfe. We go from a man in form to a man who could be described as any thing but. Some pundits are saying the mature aged recruit who has been a linchpin for the Dockers for so many years might have finally bitten the dust. We don’t subscribe to that. This bloke is too tough and too good to give up the goat just yet and we’re hoping for a big bounce back game in the derby. He has won the medal twice and we wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it triplets. Another dual winner who must be considered when placing your bet is gun midfielder Lachie Neale. The youngster has defied the Dockers’ poor form, kicking off the season with 32 and 27 disposals, really making the midfield tick. He is a solid pick at good odds to claim a third Glendinning medal.

Western Derby match predictions

Match winner: West Coast Eagles to win ($1.43 with CrownBet.com.au)

Line: West Coast Eagles -16.5 ($1.92 with CrownBet.com.au)

From minor premier last season to second bottom after two rounds in 2016, it is early days, but the fall from grace for Fremantle looks marked. The likes of Fyfe and Neale are still firing on all cylinders, but the fading talents of Matthew Pavlich have hurt up front and the retirement of Luke McPharlin has killed their defensive structures. Belted by the Western Bulldogs in round one and then rolled on their home deck by the Gold Coast Suns last week, something has to change if they are to be any hope of winning this game. We don’t think they can. The Eagles are simply incapable of playing on the MCG, as shown by their woeful display against the reigning premiers Hawthorn last week. But they are nearly unbeatable at Domain Stadium and, given Freo’s serious struggles, the message to them is beware the wounded Eagle. West Coast look far better equipped across all lines to deal with the Dockers and the likes of Kennedy, Jack Darling and Mark LeCras should feast up forward, while Priddis and company will have their way in the middle and that dependable back half led by Shannon Hurn should be able to deal with the waning talents of the Fremantle attack. This one has the makings of a blow out, but we’re going to be a little bit conservative, because these derby games tend to throw form and reason out the window for some reason. The Dockers had won six in a row between these two teams until last season’s 24 point victory by the Eagles and we’re tipping them to make it two in a row. That will cause some trouble for the Dockers, who have not lost the opening three games of a season in six years. If and when they do get rolled, Ross Lyon and company are sure to hit the panic button.

Glendinning Medal market

Matt Priddis ($6)

Nat Fyfe ($7)

Andrew Gaff ($8)

Josh Kennedy ($10)

Nic Naitanui ($11)

David Mundy ($11)

Luke Shuey ($12)

Lachie Neale ($13)

Mark LeCras ($15)

Lewis Jetta ($21)

Stephen Hill ($21)

Matthew Pavlich ($23)

Aaron Sandilands ($23)

Michael Barlow ($23)

Michael Walters ($23)

Jack Darling ($23)

Jeremy McGovern ($26)

Elliot Yeo ($26)

Jack Redden ($26)

Hayden Ballantyne ($26)

Michael Johnson ($34)

Chris Mayne ($34)

Shannon Hurn ($41)

Josh Hill ($41)

Brad Sheppard ($41)

Jamie Cripps ($41)

Eric Mackenzie ($41)

Garrick Ibbotson ($51)

Danyle Pearce ($51)

Nick Suban ($51)

Tom Sheridan ($51)

Clancee Pearce ($51)

Cameron Sutcliffe ($67)

Lee Spurr ($67)

Alex Pearce ($101)

Ed Langdon ($101)

Lachie Weller ($101)

Jamie Bennell ($101)

Sam Butler ($101)

Scott Lycett ($101)

Jackson Nelson ($101)

Will Schofield ($101)

Liam Duggan ($101)

Zac Dawson ($151)

Odds provided by WilliamHill.com.au