Jake Waterman has kicked a career-high 4 objectives as West Coast overcame every week of criticism to submit a 19-point AFL win over GWS at Optus Stadium.
The Eagles broke Sunday’s sport broad open with an eight-goal blitz within the second time period, with Waterman and Jamie Cripps kicking three apiece throughout the onslaught in entrance of 44,649 followers.
Importantly, West Coast gained the clearances (37-33) and contested possessions (125-118).
The 14.16 (100) to 11.15 (81) victory was simply the tonic for West Coast after the staff and coach Adam Simpson had been extensively panned for final week’s five-point loss to North Melbourne, which continued on from their two-win season in 2022.
“We were disappointed last week, but I suspect there’s 18 clubs who have been disappointed with a half here, a quarter there,” Simpson stated.
“Not many have got through with eight quarters of brilliance.
“I get the connection to final yr and the place we’re at and what we’re doing, and we’re nowhere close to the completed product.
“But I think we’re a different side. Different personnel, different fitness, hopefully a different style of play. They got rewarded with a bit of effort today, and it all started around winning the ball.”
Waterman, who missed choice in spherical one, completed with 4.2, eight marks and eight hit-outs from 16 disposals in the very best efficiency of his 74-match profession.
Cripps (3.2 from 17 disposals), Tim Kelly (32 possessions, one aim), Jamaine Jones (27 disposals, 11 inside 50s), Samo Petrevski-Seton (4 rating assists) and Jeremy McGovern (21 disposals, seven marks) additionally performed essential roles.
GWS captain Toby Greene was influential with 4.2 and three rating assists, whereas key ahead Jesse Hogan took eight marks however was wasteful in entrance of objectives with 3.4.
Giants utility Jacob Wehr suffered a game-ending AC joint harm within the second quarter after being flattened by Liam Duggan in a robust shoulder-to-shoulder bump.
Wehr instantly grabbed at his proper shoulder and reduce a despondent determine on the bench after being subbed out of the sport.
It got here only a week after Wehr was flattened by Adelaide ahead Shane McAdam, who acquired a three-match ban for the hit.
“I’m not sure the severity. It’s an AC joint – it was a nasty hit,” GWS coach Adam Kingsley stated.
“He’s put his body on the line two weeks in a row now. He’s a brave, brave boy.
“He would not take his eyes off the ball, goes precisely the way you need him to play.
“Today is just unfortunate. I didn’t have any gripes with it (the bump) to be quite frank, when two guys go for the ball.”
Greene kicked two objectives within the opening time period – each from point-blank vary – however Hogan was wasteful with 0.3 because the Giants took a seven-point lead into quarter time.
Finn Callaghan suffered an harm scare when he broken his left shoulder after operating into Shannon Hurn, however was in a position to return within the second time period.
Cripps and Waterman tore the sport open within the second quarter because the Eagles piled on eight objectives to 2 – marking the primary time they’d kicked eight objectives in 1 / 4 since spherical 16 of 2019 in opposition to Fremantle.
“It’s just a brutal competition. We can’t bask in the glory of the second quarter. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Simpson stated.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
