Sports broadcaster Daniel Garb has delivered an ‘Unconventional Preview’ for the West Coast Eagles ahead of their season opener against Gold Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
A freelance broadcaster and journalist, Garb has covered sport on a global scale, including as a Premier League match day correspondent for Fox Sports.
West Coast’s 2020 season came to an end in the first week of the finals, with a one-point defeat to Collingwood in Perth.
Which player will be a surprise top five finisher in the best and fairest?
Garb: “I looked at Liam Duggan and Tom Barrass for this question but both of them actually finished in the top five last season, so they wouldn’t fit the surprise criteria!
“Oscar Allen is one that I reckon jumps up, but he’s already a bit of a star so I’ll go with Tommy Cole. He had a really strong finish to the season last season.
“He’s a premiership player, very understated but I reckon he goes up to another level this year. Really good contributor across half-back, he’s one the coaches love. He’s a beauty.
What will be the Eagles’ biggest distraction?
Garb: “I just think the space between their own minds. A couple of times the last two years we’ve just been a bit complacent.
“At the start of last season in the hub we let a couple of games slip, that Hawthorn loss two years ago when if we’d won it we would’ve made the top four, that was a bit of a mental blank.
“If they can eliminate those slips mentally, I think they can push for a top four finish again. They look as if they’re fired up to make amends for that.
“It’s just controlling their own minds because when they’re up and going they’re as good as anyone on their day.”
Which new Eagle excites you the most?
Garb: “Alex Witherden as a new recruit, (but) I really like Jamaine Jones. He came in for a couple of games last season, and looked really promising but fell out because of injury.
“If they can get him fit, he can be a real link-up player between the midfield and half-forward, and perhaps make up for a lack of pace in the team at times.
“He’s really impressed in the pre-season and looks like he’ll make the round one team, so watch out for Jamaine Jones to be a contributor.
Which player that you’ve been unsure about will win you over?
Garb: I’m hoping it’ll be Jack Petruccelle. He’s got so much pace, he’s got a good eye for goal, he’s done a bit already but I’m just not sure if he’ll put it all together.
“Some fans are excited about him, I’m a bit unsure about him but he’s had a really good pre-season, reportedly. If he can come into the team and dominate, he’s such an asset.
“I’m hoping he’ll be the one to win me over, (though) I’m more hopeful than confident.
Which four players would you invite to dinner and why?
Garb: “You’ve gotta have the rockstar Nic Naitanui of course, just to take charge at the head of the table.
“Jeremy McGovern the superstar, he’s a bit of a larrikin, to provide some humour.
“Liam Ryan, (he’s) pretty quiet but as the night goes on you’d like to get a one-on-one chat with him and just find out what makes him tick.
“The other one would be Josh Kennedy, just for the aura. The aura of the superstar.”
If you could have a chat with the coach, your suggestion would be…
Garb: “To free up Tim Kelly a little bit more this season. It’ll be hard early on with (Elliot) Yeo out of course, and Luke Shuey missing the first three weeks.
“That final last year against the Pies, he got tagged out of the game by Greenwood and I just wanted him to move to half-forward at some stage, to free him up and break the tag.
“And we saw him do so well there for the Cats. He’ll play on-ball for the majority of the season, but I’d love to see him go to half-forward at times to break the tag, get a bit of a sniff around goals and contribute in that way.
“So Tim Kelly moving forward a little bit, changing up his game and giving us an extra dimension inside 50, that would be the message for Simmo.”
