Eagles are the ones to watch

... but Tigers up for the battle

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has anointed fourthplaced West Coast the “premiership favourites” before Thursday night’s blockbuster meeting on the Gold Coast.

Hardwick, who denied he was playing mind games or heaping pressure on the Eagles, said there was no doubt the Eagles were the “form side of the competition”.

“They’re incredibly talented, they use the ball very well and they try and keep the ball off through time and possession, so it’s going to be full of challenges but one our boys are looking forward to,” Hardwick said.

“You always look to challenge yourself against the very best and they are the best at the moment. Our boys will be up for the challenge and we’ll give it our best shot and see how we’re placed against probably the premiership favourites thus far.”

Sydney Stack (hip flexor) will miss the match but the Tigers will blood 2019 first-round pick Thomson Dow – the younger brother of Carlton’s Paddy Dow – against the Eagles.

“He’s going to get a fair initiation against one of the form sides of the competition in West Coast, which have a terrific midfield,” Hardwick said.

“But we think he’s going to be a really good player for us so we’re really happy to give him the opportunity.

“He’s a Shane Edwards type with elite hands who can get the ball and follow up, and use the ball as well.”

West Coast will also debut young Victorian ruckman Bailey Williams.

The 20-year-old, who stands at 200cm, had his early 2020 prospects hampered by a pre-season hamstring injury, but has impressed in recent scrimmage matches for the Eagles.

Williams was taken at pick No.35 overall in the 2018 draft, hailing from Dandenong in the under-18s.

All eyes will be on forward Tom Lynch against West Coast after the Tigers spearhead was cleared of striking Bomber Michael Hurley at the tribunal earlier this week.

Hardwick said he expected West Coast to come after Lynch because all teams did.

“Tom’s one of the better players in the competition and he’s had this his whole career,” he said.

“Tom can do some things better there’s no doubt about that, but the reality is we’ll continue to back him in as we love what he does and what he brings.”