West Coast 20.10 (130) defeat Richmond 12.11 (83)
Wow. That was some statement from the Eagles. It’s their eighth-straight victory, and they’re now a game clear on the top of the table, relegating the reigning premiers to second and taking a chunk out of their percentage. Jack Darling had a career-high six goals and 21 disposals, but for me it was Elliot Yeo who stole the show with 29 disposals including 15 contested possessions, 10 clearances and seven inside 50s. He looked like he was out of the game in the first quarter, and came back in electrifying fashion. After the game he admits he might have something to worry about after scans during the week: unbelievable to think he performed like that after some kind of injury.
Thanks for joining me for this Sunday liveblog, and I look forward to seeing you back here next weekend.
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Q4 00:16 West Coast 20.10 (130) v Richmond 12.11 (83)
Jack Darling has a shot at his 300th goal and seventh for the day – and can’t convert. He’s as disappointed as the crowd, but it has been all West Coast in the second half.
Q4 02:16 West Coast 20.9 (129) v Richmond 12.11 (83)
Another consolation for the Tigers – this time bringing up Riewoldt’s fifth goal. He’s been good in a side that has been pretty comprehensively beaten today. A brief shot of the live ladder shows us that the Eagles will finish the round above the Tigers, with their now-superior percentage.
Before you know it, the Eagles have hit back through Mark LeCras, who has also had a good day with three goals. Nic Nat giving his midfielders some incredible service.
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Q4 03:07 West Coast 19.9 (123) v Richmond 11.11 (77)
Simply can’t understand why the players keep attempting 45m snaps instead of drop punts. It hasn’t worked all day, and Jack Riewoldt adds his name to a long line who have attempted it and failed today. The Eagles machine have slowed down for a moment, until Grimes gives away the free-kick on Waterman on a sharp angle inside 50. That looked like frustration more than anything, and a small melee ensues.
He can’t convert, but it’s a big Eagles lead: 52 points now. Houli drags that back to 46 with a consolation goal with a few minutes remaining.
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Q4 10:46 West Coast 19.7 (121) v Richmond 10.9 (69)
Darling AGAIN! Nic Nat comes back on off the bench and is unstoppable in the ruck – finding Hutchings with the perfect tap. Darling takes a brilliant contested grab and then hits his sixth – a career-best for him.
Q4 11:40 West Coast 18.7 (115) v Richmond 10.9 (69)
It’s getting ugly for Richmond, and Cripps lets them off the hook by failing to make the distance from outside 50m. It’s rushed over for a behind. Jack Riewoldt eases the pain for Tiger supporters with a major – and that’s his own fourth. He pushed up the wing just before that and hasn’t stopped trying all day.
Q4 14:06 West Coast 18.6 (114) v Richmond 9.8 (62)
Darling has another chance at a goal – this would be his fifth – and it’s straight through the middle. What a game from the Eagles, and Darling too – he’s on 27 goals for the season and is second in the Coleman behind Ben Brown. Huge game from him and a big statement from West Coast as the rest of the competition watches on.
Q4 16:03 West Coast 17.6 (108) v Richmond 9.8 (62)
Elliot Yeo again with the successful tackle on Dustin Martin – maybe some other clubs should ask what he’s doing differently? In turn the Richmond defence give away a free for in the back to Conca. Redden then follows up with another goal – they look unstoppable the Eagles. Chant goes up around Optus Stadium.
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Q4 17:45 West Coast 16.6 (102) v Richmond 9.8 (62)
This time it’s Cripps on the lead – the Tigers just have no answers for the Eagles’ fluency of ball movement at the moment which isn’t giving their defenders much of a chance. Beautiful kick puts the Eagles back out to a 40-point lead.
Enjoying the replay of Nic Nat’s tackle on Nankervis – not sure how that’s any different to the one that got him suspended. Maybe the size of the opponent? How silly...
Q4 19:16 West Coast 15.6 (96) v Richmond 9.8 (62)
Guess who? Yeo with another clearance, this time to Jack Darling on the lead. Not sure what happened to him when he went off with injury but he has simply dominated since. Darling kicks it straight through the middle, and things just got a little harder for the Tigers.
Three-quarter-time West Coast 14.6 (90) v Richmond 9.8 (62)
Well, just as it looked like this would be a blowout win to the Eagles, Riewoldt got one back against the grain (and all the momentum), before Willie Rioli collided into Jayden Short (after he’d marked the ball) and gave away 50m. Not sure what he was doing, really. That was costly, as it gave the Tigers a sniff going into the last quarter. Rance rushed a behind with a second to go, and Richmond will go into the last just close enough to give the Eagles a scare.
Q3 01:22 West Coast 14.5 (89) v Richmond 9.8 (62)
Against all the momentum, and odds, Jack Riewoldt finds one back for the Tigers. The Eagles’ defenders completely mistimed the spoil and Riewoldt was able to sit back and capitalise with a running goal. He does his best to get his team fired up and back into the contest.
Meanwhile, Willie Rioli commits a poor error and gifts Short a 50m penalty from the centre of the ground – and he hits the wobbly-looking goal to bring the Tigers back within (perhaps) striking distance.
Q3 03:28 West Coast 14.5 (89) v Richmond 7.8 (50)
After looking like he was lost to the game – and potentially for a lot longer – Yeo is now dominating this game. He does the unthinkable – catches Dustin Martin – and wins the holding the ball, before he also wins a 50m penalty as Dusty creeps too close to the mark. He makes him pay the ultimate price with a goal – and it’s now looking almost impossible for the Tigers to get back from here.
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Melbourne 25.9 (159) defeat Carlton 7.8 (50)
Just in case you didn’t catch the news earlier, Melbourne delivered Carlton an almighty thumping – the Blues slumping to a 109 point loss and the biggest of Brendan Bolton’s coaching career. The Dees now move into the top four as a result of that massive percentage booster.
Bolton says the team won’t sweep the loss under the carpet, and he’ll ensure the team address the loss as an unacceptable step backwards.
“Really disappointed with the second half, particularly,” he said. “We won’t sweep it under the carpet. I’ve asked our players to confront this game and reflect on it really strongly. I don’t want them to let go of it until we’ve got through the review.
“Coaches will do the same. We want to learn from it. We want to grow from it and we want to challenge it.”
“There’s a reality with a young midfield and some injuries. We’ve walked under a ladder in terms of injuries this year but we’re not going to let a young group use that as an out,” he said. “Then you’ve got an easy getaway. We want to lose and grow.
“If [the attitude] is ‘we’ll be right when we get others back’ it gives youngsters an out. There’s a reality there but we’re not going to accept that because it’s not high-performance thinking.”
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Q3 04:52 West Coast 13.5 (83) v Richmond 7.8 (50)
Dusty Martin decides to take matters into his own hands, and motors out of the middle but overcooks the pass inside 50. The Eagles rebound with exceptional speed, and Mark LeCras takes the mark 10m out from goal, in front of his own teammate in Darling. It’s another goal – and a 33-point lead. What have the Tigers got from here?
Q3 06:00 West Coast 12.5 (77) v Richmond 7.8 (50)
Oh boy – McGovern is dominating the Eagles and this time pushes up to the wing and takes a really good contested mark in front of Trent Cotchin, who responds with frustration and punches the ball from his hands. He gives away the 50m, and McGovern will line up from 45m out on a 45 degree angle. It drifts from left to right, and lands right through the middle. That’s some costly ill-discipline from the skipper.
Q3 07:55 West Coast 11.5 (71) v Richmond 7.8 (50)
Oh no, Darling lets the Tigers off the hook big time with a poor miss – that’s probably his first real blemish for the day. Still, the Eagles are looking really dangerous with some excellent pressure, particularly in their forward half. The Tigers try to run the ball quickly back down the ground, but McGovern is too good for his opponent: Richmond’s attack is breaking down at half-forward.
Q3 10:45 West Coast 11.4 (70) v Richmond 7.8 (50)
Ouch, Yeo misses the chance to extend the Eagles’ lead, but he’s been on fire to start this third quarter. Just has all the space he wants at the moment. Nic Nat is also exerting his dominance up and down the field – and this time sets up Rioli on the wing, who in turn finds Mark LeCras in the 50. That’s an important goal and sets up a 20-point lead.
Q3 12:46 West Coast 10.3 (63) v Richmond 7.8 (50)
Guess who? Kennedy. Really fast movement from the Eagles after the turnover inside Richmond’s 50. He can’t convert, however, and lets the Tigers off the hook. Down the other end, Reece Conca has a chance from 50m out to stem some of the bleeding – and it just sneaks in for a goal. Tigers back in it.
Q3 14:37 West Coast 10.2 (62) v Richmond 6.8 (44)
Score review is called but it’s a clear goal to West Coast – this time via Josh Kennedy. It wasn’t close to being touched, but there’s a fair bit going on behind the ball with Martin and Yeo. Yeo can’t understand how he didn’t get a holding the ball decision, with the ball seeming to come off Dusty’s knee. Reckon that’s one of the worst things for fans – that players aren’t being penalised for incorrect disposal or dropping the ball.
Meanwhile Kennedy gets his third after a contested, sandwiched mark deep inside 50. Great squaring ball from Waterman. Last three goals to West Coast and all the momentum with the home side.
Q3 18:43 West Coast 8.2 (50) v Richmond 6.8 (44)
That was quick: the Eagles with the immediate clearance which finds Kennedy 45m out – and he goes for a Stevie J snap – just like Castagna! This one is off the outside of the boot and out of bounds on the full. What’s with players taking them from much further out this game?
Lucky for the Eagles, Nic Nat bangs it back inside 50 and Jack Darling takes a strong contested grab. He’s in scary form, and drills the goal.
Brisbane Lions 20.19 (129) defeat Hawthorn 11.7 (73)
Big upset from the Gabba, with the Lions finally breaking through for their first win for the season against the Hawks. It was a big win too: 56-points. Eric Hipwood kicked four goals for the home side, while Dayne Beams had 28 disposals and two goals. Zorko also roared back into form with 30 touches.
For the Hawks: Gunston kicked four goals while Mitchell had another mammoth bag of possessions: 46 this time. Brisbane now leap over Carlton who have been relegated to last.
Here’s a sorry sight for Hawks fans:
Hodgey gets the win over his old side 👏👏👏#AFLLionsHawks pic.twitter.com/PMzKwfGu9D
— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 20, 2018
Half-time West Coast 7.2 (44) v Richmond 6.8 (44)
Castagna involved again – this time he’s on the end of a Dusty chip pass and receives a free-kick much to the distaste of the parochial home crowd. He holds onto it a bit too long and allows the Eagles an intercept grab. Eagles force it forward with a great contested mark to Darling on the wing, but they get stuck at the 50m line, and the Tigers’ defence successfully clears. Tigers will be happy with a dominant second term that really should have them in front.
23 inside 50s to four that quarter!
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Q2 01:33 West Coast 7.2 (44) v Richmond 6.8 (44)
Castagna this time with the goal – again Riewoldt is involved! He looked gone for all money with an inevitable holding the ball, but managed to get a toe to it at the last minute and Castagna was able to snap the goal with all sorts of pressure from the Eagles’ defence. All tied up!
Q2 02:00 West Coast 7.2 (44) v Richmond 5.8 (38)
73% time in forward half for Richmond this term, but they just can’t make any meaningful ground on the Eagles. There’s a couple of minutes left to rectify that, but Jack Riewoldt spills his own attempted mark. He’s flown for everything this quarter with little reward, but this time soccers a brilliant goal off the pack after a ruck contest. Finally, reward for effort.
Q2 03:34 West Coast 7.2 (44) v Richmond 4.8 (32)
Finally the Tigers find some much-needed space inside 50, but Dusty drops a sitter with no pressure to speak of. There’s plenty of Tigers in space to pick up the ball and snap on goal, but the shot goes wide. They’ve botched that one, but have had plenty of chances, the Tigers. This time Castagna takes a contested grab and can finally put six points on the board for Richmond. He goes the round the body snap from 45m out and doesn’t make the distance – it’s rushed through for another behind. No idea why you would do that...
Q2 06:44 West Coast 7.2 (44) v Richmond 4.5 (29)
Edwards continues a wonderful quarter with another inside 50 entry for the Tigers, but the Eagles’ defence manages to repel another entry. It’s not long, however, before the ball is locked back in the 50 – they’ve had 13 inside 50s to three this quarter, the Tigers, but just can’t seem to find any efficiency with their entries. That trend continues with Waterman taking a contested mark deep inside the 50.
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Q2 10:30 West Coast 7.2 (44) v Richmond 4.5 (29)
Nankervis really making his presence felt at the moment, while Dusty is also getting more of the ball with Yeo off the ground. Speak of the devil – Yeo has made a miraculous recovery and is back on the ground. He has a hand in several forays forward before Jack Darling ends up with the ball on an extremely tight angle, almost 50m out from goal. He goes with a checkside banana....... and it doesn’t come off, but lands in the arms of Jack Redden. That’s a fan killer. It’s another goal to the Eagles.
Q2 13:50 West Coast 6.2 (38) v Richmond 4.4 (28)
Tigers looking a little more lively this term, and are creating more opportunities on goal but with less reward than they’d like so far. This time, however, Jack Riewoldt’s flying leap over two Eagles rewards another chance: and from 45m out he bends it back, right to left, for another major.
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Q2 16:34 West Coast 6.2 (38) v Richmond 3.4 (22)
Yeo still on the bench – with a towel over his knees and some water. Will bring you an update once we get one. This time a free-kick in the 50 gifts Chris Masten a shot on goal. Didn’t look like there was much in it, and with some justice, he misses.
Q2 17:59 West Coast 6.1 (37) v Richmond 3.4 (22)
That’s what the Tigers needed - a quick major through Shane Edwards, who creates the goal with some brilliant forward running and evasion skills. He’s then back in the centre square with the clearance, and forward 50 entry, which finds Grigg 45m out. Little to no angle, but his shot is off to the left for a behind.
Quarter-time West Coast 6.1 (37) v Richmond 2.3 (15)
Here go the Eagles with some of their own run through the middle – but the ball is held up in the middle by Jake Waterman, and the bomb long into the 50 is intercepted by Rance. The siren sounds with Caddy about 100m out – who nonetheless attempts a (failed) torp.
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Q1 01:47 West Coast 6.1 (37) v Richmond 2.3 (15)
Uh oh, Elliot Yeo is limping from the ground for the Eagles – that could turn the tide. He looks very unhappy as he walks the boundary line, despondent. Simultaneously, the Tigers have another shot on goal through Grigg - this one 35m out. It’s just wide - that’s a let off for the Eagles.
Q1 03:30 West Coast 6.1 (37) v Richmond 2.2 (14)
Darling again with the lead-up goal for the Eagles – he’s looking ominous now with two goals int he first quarter. Kennedy has one and the two big men are working very well in tandem, while Darling is also pushing up the ground to help Nic Nat in the ruck.
Q1 05:51 West Coast 5.1 (31) v Richmond 2.2 (14)
Cotchin has the mark just outside 50, and passes off to Jayden Short, who goals on the run. They need that badly, the Tiges.
Here’s that nice hanger by Gaff earlier:
GET UP GAFF! #AFLEaglesTigers pic.twitter.com/k1wsfK50Zd
— Stats Insider (@statsinsider) May 20, 2018
Q1 06:29 West Coast 5.1 (31) v Richmond 1.2 (8)
This time Dusty gets a snap on goal – but it’s also inaccurate. The Eagles are consistently scoring from turnovers at the moment – four of their five scores have come from turnovers so far. Waterman with the long kick inside 50, and Darling takes a nice grab coming in from the side of the pack. The Richmond defenders were caught minding Kennedy – and the unchecked Darling nails the goal.
Q1 08:54 West Coast 4.1 (25) v Richmond 1.1 (7)
Mark Hutchings is keeping a close eye on Dustin Martin, who has been unusually quiet thus far. However this time he gets off the leash – and finds Jack Riewoldt on the lead. Riewoldt is booed on approach and then misses to the left to a chorus of cheers.
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Q1 10:20 West Coast 4.1 (25) v Richmond 1.0 (6)
Gaff has drifted forward into the 50, and takes a mark uncontested at 45m out. He can’t make the distance, but the ball comes back in via Hurn. Rioli has a snap for his second but it’s smothered – and the clearing kick by the Tigers is taken by Gaff again! That was some hanger. He’ll get another chance from the same angle - perhaps slightly closer in. No such problems this time – and the crowd are up and about.
Q1 12:21 West Coast 3.1 (19) v Richmond 1.0 (6)
Darling with the brilliant tap over to Kennedy, who boots the goal. He’s in some form Darling, and that was a very clever touch over the hands of a couple of Tigers defenders. Suddenly it’s the Eagles who look to be charging ahead.
Q1 13:36 West Coast 2.1 (13) v Richmond 1.0 (6)
Have to agree with this tweet, there’s quite a striking difference between the areas of the ground bathed in sunlight and those in shade.
Meanwhile, Rioli with some excellent roving work to snap the goal after Kennedy failed to glove the contested mark. He looks a find.
Sun/shade issues at @OptusStadium are as bad as at @EtihadStadiumAU. Why wasn't the roof a bit more translucent? Or the camerawork needs to be more dynamic on the light/dark balance.#closetheroof#afleaglestigers
— Freo ⚓ Pope (@FreoPope) May 20, 2018
Operation bury the Weagles. #AFLEaglesTigers #gotiges pic.twitter.com/TeF3wsSLCj
— Tiger Time 🐯🏆 (@_tigertime) May 20, 2018
Q1 16:17 West Coast 1.1 (7) v Richmond 1.0 (6)
Tigers running in numbers, Cotchin to Caddy to Butler, but Nic Nat with some excellent pressure from behind halts the charge forward. Tigers look hot, the running handball game is on. Eagles win the turnover via Hurn, and Le Cras finds Cripps 45m out. It’s a very nicely struck goal.
Q1 17:54 West Coast 0.1 (1) v Richmond 1.0 (6)
Gaff with the intercept on the wing, who finds the in-form Darling on the 50m line, who in turn hits up Kennedy. He’s on a tight-ish angle, but if anyone can kick it it’s him. 35m out, he misses to the right.
Q1 19:00 West Coast 0.0 (0) v Richmond 1.0 (6)
As per usual I’m eating my words as the Tigers go bang, bang. Caddy takes a very nice contested mark (or free kick against Elliot Yeo, however you want to interpret it), after the quick clearance from Cotchin. Tigers looking to silence the crowd early.
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Welcome
Hello there and welcome to this top of the table clash between the West Coast Eagles and the Richmond Tigers at Optus Stadium in Perth.
I’ll admit I’m one of those (idiots) who wrote off the Eagles at the start of the season, not even bothering to mention them amongst my main contenders for the Premiership in 2018. I remember one WA reader commenting below the line and saying that the West Aussie teams were used to being written off, and that was just the way they liked it. Well, I’ve learned my lesson and have jumped back on the bandwagon today: I reckon they have every chance of knocking off the ladder-leaders at home.
Jack Higgins is the late out for the Tigers with Shaun Grigg his replacement. The Eagles will go in unchanged.
p.s. good news AFL fans – comments on the blog are OPEN! You can thank me later.
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Kate will be here shortly. In the meantime, have a read of Sam Lane’s piece on the problem with no women remaining as AFLW coaches.
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