Almanac Footy: Eagles could upset the Pendles Party

It’s a monumental occasion this Saturday late afternoon at the MCG.

Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury will surpass North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey to play his 433rd game against West Coast Eagles.

However, for all the accolades Pendlebury deserves and rightly so, win, draw or lose, the Eagles are not without half a chance of upsetting the Pies.

If that happens, it would mark West Coast’s most significant win since its epic 2018 Grand Final triumph at the G against the same opponent.

There’s every reason that coach Andrew McQualter would instil a “why not us” mentality in a game that marks young gun Harley Reid’s 50th AFL game.

Harley versus Scott. Master against the apprentice.

How awesome would that match-up be!

Reid hits that pack at a million miles an hour and he doesn’t care who’s in the way.

Pendlebury plays the game as if it’s in slow motion amid the chaos all around him.

He’s done it all his career.

Maybe the Collingwood hierarchy would be regretting in resting Pendles in the draw against Hawthorn and the six-point loss against ladder leaders Sydney Swans.

Many argue that he’d have made the difference and Collingwood would be in a much better position than its current standing at four wins, five losses and a draw.

The Eagles will be buoyed from its come-from-behind win against Greater Western Sydney Giants last weekend.

One gets the feeling West Coast has a point to prove and perhaps the team will feel insulted that Pendles could have accomplished his massive feat in games prior.

But the wheel is turning after rousing wins against North Melbourne in the west, Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval and last Sunday against the Giants at Optus Oval.

The Eagles next generation of stars led by Reid include Milan Murdock who is likely to mind superstar Nick Daicos after keeping GWS playmaker Lachie Whitfield in check and Jake Waterman making his mark as one of the AFL premier forwards.

Ruckman Bailey Williams had a career game against the Giants in the ruck and also booted two goals.

Tylar Young took a massive step forward as a key defender on Sunday.

Jobe Shanahan and Willem Duursma have X-factors and have impacted matches already as forwards and both can also take telling marks in defence.