Where and when: Optus Stadium, Saturday August 24, 6.10pm AWST
What it means for West Coast: Plenty. Victory guarantees a finals double chance, and keeps the slender hope of a home qualifying final alive. If other results go the Eagles' way, namely a Geelong loss to Carlton or heavy defeat for Brisbane against Richmond, they could finish top two.
What it means for Hawthorn: The Hawks are one of four teams in the hunt for eighth spot and an upset win in the west, combined with a narrow Adelaide win over the Bulldogs, should be enough to clinch the last spot in the finals.
The stat: Elliot Yeo's 15 clearances against Richmond was the third-most in a game by a West Coast player. Matt Priddis holds the top two spots, with 17 against the Dogs in 2012 and 16 the next season versus Hawthorn.
The match-up: Josh Kennedy v James Frawley
The Eagles would love their spearhead to rediscover some form before finals, but it won't be easy against nemesis Frawley. When the teams met at a wet MCG in round 13, the Hawks' full-back held Kennedy goalless for the first time in 68 games, a streak stretching back to their duel in the 2015 Grand Final. Kennedy has slipped six spots to rank 15th for key forwards in the Official AFL Player Ratings this year, and has only three goals and 19 disposals from his past three games.
It's a big week for: Adam Simpson
Pressure in the AFL comes in many forms and while the reigning premiership coach won't publicly admit he is worried about round 23 ladder permutations, Simpson will know a loss to the dangerous Hawks could be catastrophic for the Eagles' back-to-back flag bid.
Big call: Jack Darling, who is one shy of his career-best tally of 53 majors, to bag six goals and demand selection in the All Australian team for the first time.
Prediction: Eagles by 15 points
