Eagles face Suns in a chance for win but lose Tyler Brockman for the year, Demons fight for season

Mid West stars will be put to the test with a Friday night AFL double-header featuring local talent. West Coast look a chance to clock a win at Optus Stadium, facing a Gold Coast side who have struggled on the road. The Suns have not won a game away from home since round nine last year, which was against the Eagles. West Coast has confirmed that Tyler Brockman’s season is over following an ankle injury suffered in their round 18 loss to Brisbane. In his first year with the Eagles, Brockman appeared in 10 games and kicked just one goal, which came in his last match. He missed time from the team during the midway point in the season when he was involved in a one-car crash while in Geraldton. Eagles traded for Brockman during the offseason, sending picks 44 and 63 to Hawthorn in exchange to the forward originally from WA. Northampton’s Jamie Cripps production has been down for the Eagles in recent weeks, kicking 1.3 against Fremantle in a season where he has been up and down when going for goal. Through 19 games this season, the small forward has kicked 20.26, looking on track to kick more behinds than goals in a season for the first time in is career. While West Coast forward Liam Ryan had a hot start against Fremantle with two early goals, but the Rovers export ‘s work rate dipped in the second half. The other Friday game at Marvel Stadium has Melbourne facing one of the most in-form teams — the Western Bulldogs. The Demons’ season is on the line, and Geraldton’s Judd McVee has been in career best form over the past four weeks, averaging 21.3 disposals and 5.5 marks per game. During the round one clash between the two teams, the Demons got up 109-64 and McVee had a career high 419 metres gained, but both sides look very different at this point in the year. On Saturday, Carlton will look to regain their form against Collingwood, as the Blues looks to hold on to their top four spot. Brownlow favourites Patrick Cripps and Nick Daicos will go head-to-head, with Northampton’s Cripps maintaining hot form despite his team’s up and down fortunes. Chapman Valley’s Jack Carroll was back as the sub during Carlton’s loss to Port Adelaide, while former Towns player Jack Martin continues to push for a spot in the Blues’ side. Northampton’s Brynn Teakle, a mid-season recruit for North Melbourne, will face Richmond in the battle for the first pick, with the Roos and Tigers both looking to avoid the wooden spoon. Since coming into the side after being picked up in the mid-season draft, Teakle has been a main stay in North’s forward line, kicking six goals in his seven games for his new club. Sydney and Coorow-Latham’s Logan McDonald will hope to get back in the winners side after the Swans have lost four of their past five, taking on the Power at Adelaide Oval. Sunday sees Fremantle travel to take on Essendon, with the Dockers looking to firm up their top four spot against a side that has slide out of the eight. Dongara’s Jaeger O’Meara seems to have adjusted to his role on the wing, averaging 20 disposals over the last three games and kicking two goals in last weekend’s derby win.