West Coast have misplaced 14 video games by greater than 50 factors since spherical six 2021, however their 63-point defeat by the hands of Melbourne on Sunday felt vastly completely different.
The Eagles have been responsible of waving the white flag early since plummeting down the ladder. With seven adjustments heading into the conflict, few individuals anticipated the match to be a real contest, however there’s no substitute for having a go in footy and the Eagles undoubtedly did that.
West Coast entered Sunday’s sport towards Melbourne with the footy world anticipating a mauling. No Nic Naitanui, no Luke Shuey, no Jeremy McGovern, no Jamie Cripps, no Liam Ryan, no Dom Sheed and no Alex Witherden towards the 2021 premiers. Good luck.
But it was apparent from the outset that they’d come to play. Regardless of the scoreboard and whatever the opposition expertise, the Eagles had been coming to play.
The hole between the 2 groups was evident when the Demons obtained the ball inside 50 early. While West Coast labored feverishly for his or her targets, Melbourne made the Eagles pay for errors.
The Eagles had 13 inside 50s within the first quarter for 2 targets. Melbourne booted 5 from simply 9 ahead entries.
The Demons led by 17 factors at quarter time and elevated that to 24 factors at half-time. But Tim Kelly had 19 possessions and one purpose for the Eagles. Former Demon Jayden Hunt had collected 16 touches and Melbourne had just one extra ahead entry than West Coast.
The dam wall broke within the third time period. Three targets in as many minutes hit the Eagles onerous. Melbourne kicked six targets to 2 throughout that quarter and Melbourne’s huge names all had loads of the ball.
The cream at all times rises to the highest and fatigue units in when there’s so many younger gamers in a staff. Once Melbourne took management, West Coast struggled to get the ball ahead. The inside 50s within the second half had been 34-15 to the Demons.
West Coast tried onerous to cease the sport change into a free flowing contest. There had been repeated stoppages which sapped power. And with All-Australian Brodie Grundy competing towards the younger Bailey Williams, Melbourne had a transparent benefit there and continuously kicked targets from stoppages
Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca had huge days. Oliver completed with 34 disposals, 10 clearances and 10 tackles whereas Petracca had 29 possessions and three targets.
Tom McDonald kicked 4 targets for the Dees and Bayley Fritsch booted three.
Kelly was incredible with 36 touches and two targets. Hunt had 20 disposals and one purpose.
West Coast earnt respect final week after they challenged Fremantle for 3 quarters regardless of working out of match gamers. They didn’t lose any of that respect towards the Demons.
Sacred Easter holidays haven’t been type to West Coast in latest seasons. Good Friday final 12 months was a 63-point loss to Sydney. The 2019 Good Friday sport in a 42-point loss to Port Adelaide.
Easter Sunday 2023 has one other huge margin. But Melbourne needed to work tougher to get the sweets than they might have anticipated.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
