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Duff and Quarters: West Coast cheer on Fremantle to knock Western Bulldogs out of Eagles’ path to premiership

Josh GarleppThe West Australian
VideoEssendon looks set to make a big call on outgoing coach John Worsfold this week.

West Coast will be watching Fremantle’s final fixture of the 2020 season against the Western Bulldogs with interest as the result potentially decides their opponent for the first week of the finals.

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On this week’s episode of the Duff and Quarters Podcast the West Australian’s chief footy writer Mark Duffield and The Sunday Times’ sports editor Glen Quartermain believe a fired-up Freo could do their cross-town rivals a massive favour if the Dockers cause an upset in Cairns.

The Bulldogs are part of a frantic shuffle with four other sides to ensure one of the last spots in the post-season and may need to beat the Dockers to not fall out of the top eight.

The Eagles most probable end-of-season position is fifth and Duff and Quarters believed West Coast will be cheering on their fellow WA side to help them avoid the fluctuating form of the Dogs in an elimination final.

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“This could cost the Dogs, a massive game for them,” Quartermain said.

“They get into that bottom end of the eight and the Eagles finish fifth, I reckon the Dogs and Collingwood are the two teams they don’t want to face.”

Marcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs breaks away from the centre during the 2020 AFL Round 17 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Western Bulldogs.
Camera IconMarcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs breaks away from the centre during the 2020 AFL Round 17 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Western Bulldogs. Credit: Matt Turner/AFL Photos

“I reckon West Coast would prefer a match-up against St Kilda if the first week of the finals (if the Eagles finish fifth),” Duffield replied.

The pair both picked the 2016 premiers to win at Cazaly's Stadium on Sunday but argue the tropical conditions in far north Queensland and the Dogs over-use of the footy could end the Dockers’ season on a high.

“This has got upset written all over it this game,” Quartermain said.

“One thing that worries me about the Dogs is the overuse of the handball but what happens in the hot, tropical, wet, dewy or rainy conditions in Cairns,” Duffield responded.

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