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West Coast ready to beat bogey team Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium

There'll be more than just four points on the line for superstitious West Coast fans when they watch their side do battle against Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium.

The Eagles have shot into premiership contention after eight straight wins, with the hot run giving them a one-game buffer on top of the AFL ladder ahead of round 10.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson says it's always tough for AFL sides to win away.

Photo: AAP

But they will have to overcome bogey team Hawthorn in Melbourne on Sunday if they want to keep that winning run alive.

West Coast haven't beaten Hawthorn outside Perth since round 14 in 2006, when they won by 10 points at the MCG and went on to win the flag that September.

Eagles fans will hope for a similar outcome in 2018 if the 10-game losing streak against the Hawks – five losses at the MCG, four in Tasmania and one at Etihad – is broken.

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Coach Adam Simpson wasn't reading too much into that stat, especially after seeing his team win all three interstate games so far this season.

"Everyone's talking about our record against Hawthorn, can we win in Melbourne, all those things," Simpson said.

"They'll be there forever because it's hard to win on the road for anyone.

"We understand the challenge, understand the record but we are embracing it at the moment."

Hawthorn have welcomed back dynamic duo James Frawley (shoulder) and Jaeger O'Meara (calf) after the duo missed last week's shock 56-point loss to Brisbane.

West Coast have named an unchanged line-up from the team that smashed Richmond by 47 points last week, with Luke Shuey to miss a third straight game due to a hamstring injury.

Simpson revealed luckless defender Eric Mackenzie could return to WAFL ranks next month after his long recovery from stress fractures in both feet.

Mackenzie is set to join in with the main group at training next week but he faces a major fight to win back a senior spot this season.

Hawthorn slipped out of the top eight following their shock loss to Brisbane but Simpson expects Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson will have some tricks up his sleeve to unleash this week.

EAGLES V HAWKS OUTSIDE PERTH SINCE 2006:

Round 5, 2017 – Hawks 19.11 (125) bt Eagles 11.9 (75) at MCG

Round 2, 2016 – Hawks 14.15 (99) bt Eagles 7.11 (53) at MCG

Grand Final, 2015 – Hawks 16.11 (107) bt Eagles 8.13 (61) at MCG

Round 12, 2014 – Hawks 19.9 (123) bt Eagles 12.7 (79) at York Park

Round 13, 2013 – Hawks 19.9 (123) bt Eagles 16.7 (103) at Etihad Stadium

Round 23, 2012 – Hawks 14.11 (95) bt Eagles 10.10 (70) at MCG

Round 4, 2011 – Hawks 10.12 (72) bt Eagles 9.11 (65) at York Park

Round 5, 2009 – Hawks 11.8 (74) bt Eagles 7.14 (56) at York Park

Round 14, 2008 – Hawks 18.18 (126) bt Eagles 9.15 (69) at MCG

Round 9, 2007 – Hawks 15.9 (99) bt Eagles 8.16 (64) at York Park

Round 14, 2006 – Eagles 17.12 (114) bt Hawks 16.8 (104) at MCG

AAP

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