Collins calls for Central's Cheer Squad to help Westies

WEST HUNTING FOXTEL CROWN

By ZAC MILBANK | Twitter @zacmilbank

West Adelaide coach Andy Collins has issued a passionate plea for all Bloods fans to get to AAMI Stadium for Tuesday night’s Foxtel Cup grand final.

The only SANFL side to compete in all three Foxtel Cup campaigns, West is aiming to be the first club from South Australia to win the state league title when it tackles East Fremantle at 8.05pm.

And the Bloods’ mentor is even appealing for fans from rival SANFL teams to support their local side in its quest to claim the $100,000 prize purse awarded to the 2013 champion.

‘’It’s got legs this competition,’’ Collins said in reference to the Foxtel Cup.

‘’And we hope that every West Adelaide person comes out. I’m thinking about making a phone call to Kris Grant (Central District chief executive) to get the Central cheer squad out to help as well.

‘’I think it would be fantastic, on a Tuesday night, to bring some prestige into this wonderful state competition we have here.

‘’It would be really nice to see an army of black and red West Adelaide people. I hear about the people who have supported this club and have experienced so much pain. It would be lovely to see them come to support these boys and support the club.

‘’It would be lovely to have a black-and-red army and it wouldn’t be bad to be supported by a Bulldogs cheer squad.’’

After smashing Port Melbourne by 53 points in their opening encounter at the MCG, Andy Collins’ charges qualified for the Foxtel Cup grand final after earning an ugly 17-point victory against Claremont in the semi-final.

Hard-working West midfielders Travis Tuck and Ben Macreadie have been strong contributors in both wins through their ability to win the ball in close amid slippery conditions.

Classy half-forward Jon Beech has regularly finished in front of goal for the Bloods, using his uncanny goal sense and strong overhead marking to his advantage.

Emerging ruckman Peter Nelson has performed strongly on the state league stage, kicking four goals against Port Melbourne while impressive youngsters Tom Schott, Chris Bonney and Josh Schiller have also had their moments.

And the Bloods will be significantly boosted by the inclusion of key defenders Ryan Ferguson and Joel Tippett, who were both sidelined for the semi-final victory.

Key defender Adam Hartlett and half-back Aaron Anderson – who did an admirable job of keeping former Docker Paul Medhurst quiet against Claremont – were held back from Round 18 SANFL action to be primed for the Foxtel Cup.

‘’He is a boy who is really emerging for us as a small tough defender,’’ Collins said of Aaron Anderson.

Coached by former West Coast captain Steve Malaxos, the Sharks boast the AFL experience of former Fremantle pair Brett Peake and Steven Dodd.

The visitors are captained by former Collingwood midfielder Mark McGough, who revelled in the wet conditions at AAMI Stadium when the visitors upset Norwood on May 21.

Clever rover Rory O’Brien is another East Fremantle player West must keep an eye on, the ball magnet racked up 22 disposals, seven clearances and 15 tackles against the Redlegs.

‘’They’ve got a pretty good team haven’t they?’’ Collins said.

‘’They’ve got some powerful players in board but they also have some terrific running wingmen. And they have a good blend of tall and small forwards.

‘’They have had some injuries earlier in the year but they are starting to come together now.’’

WEST ADELAIDE v EAST FREMANTLE
AAMI Stadium, Tuesday April 6 at 8.05pm
TV - Live on Fox Footy Channel

ROAD TO THE FOXTEL CUP FINAL

West Adelaide
Tuesday June 11 – West Adelaide 17.9 (111) d Port Melbourne 9.4 (58) at the MCG
Tuesday July 16 – West Adelaide 6.7 (43) d Claremont 3.8 (26) at AAMI Stadium

East Fremantle
Tuesday May 21 – East Fremantle 6.6 (42) d Norwood 4.11 (35) at AAMI Stadium
Tuesday July 9 – East Fremantle 6.4 (40) d Werribee 2.4 (16) at Patersons Stadium

PREVIOUS FOXTEL CUP WINNERS
2011 – Williamstown (VFL)
2012 – Claremont (WAFL)

FOXTEL CUP GRAND FINAL TEAMS

WEST ADELAIDE
F: Jon Beech (14), Michael Still (17), Shane Birss (3)
HF: Matthew Rankine (21), Ryan Ferguson (27), Chris Bonney (29)
C: Nick Homburg (30), Chris Schmidt (5), Taite Silverlock (4)
HB: Brad Mangan (43), Adam Hartlett (7), Aaron Anderson (42)
B: Kurt Thompson (31), Joel Tippett (12), Daniel Caire (13)

R: Peter Nelson (33), Ben Macreadie (10), Travis Tuck (18)
INT: Josh Schiller (34), Tom Keough (20), Daniel Webb (26), Aaron Fielke (9)
EMG: Tom Schott (39), Dean Poynton (25), Brad Kirk (35)

EAST FREMANTLE
F: James Depane (30), Rob Young (23), Louis Cronan (20)
HF: Godfrey Curley (26), Jack Perham (6), Sean Henson (5)
C: Brett Peake (7), Mark McGough (1), Mitchell Boyle (14)
HB: Jayden Schofield (13), Steven Dodd (, Andrew Stephen (12)
B: James Bayliss (35), Tom Howlett (29), Samuel Read (9)

R: Fraser MacDougall (28), Aidan Tropiano (3), Rory O’Brien (4)
INT: Brad Cooper (32), Cameron Symonds (15), Scott Hancock (16), Scott Jansen (10)
EMG: Adrian Ricciardello (33), Tom Hooker (11), Kieran King (25)

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Collo is a funny fella. I know of a Norwood and a Sturt supporter who'll be attending tomorrow night.

Strong side. Think Ferg might struggle to get up after Saturday, but then again he didn't have to do much on Saturday.