The Final Countdown
It probably pays to start with the losers, who despite a truly disspiriting final term gave a decent account of themselves. Bob Murphy (27 touches), Jack Macrae (25) and Luke Dahlhaus (24) all gave honest accounts of themselves but it was forwards Jake Stringer (5 goals) and Stewart Crameri (3 goals) who held the key. Their struggle to assert themselves in the closing stages of the game was a by-product of West Coast’s general ascendancy. Things fell away badly at the end.
For the Eagles, Nic Naitanui (48 hit-outs, 14 touches and a goal) was devastating in the middle, capably assisted by ball magnets Matt Priddis (37 disposals) and Andrew Gaff (35 possessions). Mark Hutchings (25 and 2 goals) and Luke Shuey (31 and 1) weren’t exactly slack either. The big winners out of that midfield dominance were the Eagles forwards. Josk Kennedy kicked 7.3 and genuinely could have had 10, while Josh Hill (4 goals) bobbed up when needed in a handy performance.
Mark LeCras added three but I was more impressed with Callum Sinclair (15 possessions, 22 hit-outs and 2 goals), who receives about 0.00001% the press of his more-famous ruck partner but continues to blossom into a potent weapon for the Eagles. He was brilliant today.
The tale of woe for the Dogs can be read from the team stats, which saw the Eagles ahead on clearances (+13), inside-50s (+9), marks inside 50 (+12), contested possessions (+33), tackles (+11) and hit outs (a remarkable +42). So an absolute belting, in simpler terms.
This match always shaped as a bit of a reality check for the Dogs and in that final term particularly, they got a most savage one. Thanks for joining us for all of the live action today and make sure you stop by for more goal-by-goal analysis throughout the closing stages of this AFL season. Adios!
The Eagles win it by 77 points in a final-quarter blow-out
West Coast 25.12 (162) thump the Western Bulldogs 13.7 (85)
Finally there’s blessed relief for the Doggies as the final siren sounds with 77 points the final damage. That was after the Eagles lead by only 28 at the final break. So a final quarter thumping in every sense.
“It’s working pretty well and we’ve just gotta continue in the next couple of weeks,” says Nic Naitanui, who was magnificent today. As he says that the Doggies trudge off the ground a dejected lot but they also had their moments, particularly in a super-competitive first half. They haven’t played a contender since Round 7 and in that final term in particular, it showed. I’ll be back in a minute with some final stats and comments, but it suffices to say that it was a commanding performance from the home side.
Eagles goal! - 4th quarter (0:41 remaining) West Coast 25.12 (162) vs Western Bulldogs 13.7 (85)
The Eagles might actually have worn themselves out with all this goal-kicking madness and there’s loose men everywhere in the final minutes. Mitch Wallis lets fly with his third bad miss of the day when he hits the post from 35 metres out in acres of space and as though to rub the Bulldogs’ noses in it one final time, West Coast swing it forward and into the big, sticky mitts of Kennedy. He’s in seventh heaven and as slots one final goal. Derm is now just listing cast members of the Magnificent Seven. It’s been a rough 15 minutes for everyone.
Eagles goal! - 4th quarter (5:48 remaining) West Coast 24.12 (156) vs Western Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
This is a bit of a disaster for the Dogs now. They were never winning it when they went into the three-quarter time huddle but the lead has now blown out to percentage-damaging proportions and they’re going to slide from 4th to 6th. Now Mark Hutchings gets another. This is just brutal stuff. The Bulldogs inexperience always shaped as a liability today but this has been a disappointing finish, even conceding them some slack.
Eagles goal! - 4th quarter (5:48 remaining) West Coast 23.12 (150) vs Western Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
A miss! A Mark LeCras miss! The Eagles goalsneak was on for his fourth after marking metres from goal here but the tight angle put paid to his drop punt attempt. He might have run around onto his left boot to make it more manageable but perhaps he was just setting himself a challenge.
It doesn’t matter anyway. Moments later Josh Kennedy roosts through his sixth and Eagles fans have actually managed to stop booing, they’re so happy. Conversely, Jarrad Grant’s nose looks very broken as he sits on the bench. So too is the spirit of his side.
Eagles goal! - 4th quarter (8:09 remaining) West Coast 22.11 (143) vs Western Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
In a pairing that will probably please Melbourne radio host Jon Faine, Lin Jong is now competing against Naitanui in the ruck. Pleasing Eagles fans, Mark LeCras kicks his third after getting on the end of a Sinclair pass. This is an absolute rout now.
Eagles goal! - 4th quarter (9:15 remaining) West Coast 21.11 (137) vs Western Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
The Dogs are giving nearly everyone a go in the ruck now; after Bontompelli earlier it’s Lin Jong now. Perhaps Luke Beveridge was listening to Derm’s “vertical ups” chatter earlier in regard to Jong. Canny. I didn’t mention it earlier but the Eagle subbed off for Newman was Xavier Ellis. So there’s that for you. Here’s something else: Patrick McGinnity has kicked a goal, ugly but effective. We’ll almost get the full set of Eagles today. The Dogs are spent.
Eagles goal! - 4th quarter (12:19 remaining) West Coast 20.11 (131) vs Western Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
Oof, there’s an awful moment here when Naitanui unintentionally causes some grief for Bulldog Jarrad Grant. The Eagles ruckman was attempting to shove Marcus Bontompelli out of a ruck duel but in doing so caused a clash of heads between he and Grant, who is taken from the ground with blood streaming down from his nose. To compound that, Jack Darling bounces out of a contest to goal on his left. That’s his first goal of the day and the Eagles’ 20th. It’s an avalanche in the final term.
Eagles goal! - 4th quarter (13:12 remaining) West Coast 19.11 (125)) vs Western Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
Murray Newman gets a goal! And he’s swamped by his teammates, nearly all of them. Luke Shuey had marked well within range but after spotting his teammate in the corridor he shot off a pass and Newman swung around onto his left to snap a major. Good stuff from the young lad, who appears to have turned his life around.
Bulldogs goal! - 4th quarter (13:52 remaining) West Coast 18.11 (119) vs Western Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
Murray Newman has had had a checkered past, to say the least, but he’s back in action for the Eagles now and emerges from the sub’s vest for his first run of the day. His arrival heralds a consolation goal for the Bulldogs, for whom Mitch Wallis finally gets on the board. Adam Simpson is filthy with that, which says a bit about his current expectations of his side.
Eagles goal! - 4th quarter (15:20 remaining) West Coast 18.11 (119) vs Western Bulldogs 12.6 (78)
Hill is in with a sniff of another when Callum Sinclair biffs the ball forward in his direction and then there’s another from the crumbs of a Dom Sheed shot on goal but neither chance comes off. No matter, Sheed marks the artless rebound 40 metres from goal and on that gorgeous left boot of his the first-year Eagle strokes it through the middle. Party time for the Eagles.
Eagles goal! - 4th quarter (17:00 remaining) West Coast 17.11 (113) vs Western Bulldogs 12.6 (78)
Dale Morris is subbed off for the Dogs and Daniel Pearce emerges from the sub’s vest as we get under way in the final term. Personally I think they need more of a Brad Pearce type at the moment. If any of you are obsessive Matt Priddis fans - and why wouldn’t you be? - the curly wurly warrior had 28 touches by the start of this term. He’s a marvel.
Well, the third term finished with some Josh Hill brilliance and this one begins with more when he leaps high into the air to mark at the top of the square and slots his fourth goal. This could really blow out now, you feel.
Eagles fans' outrage at anything that doesn't go their way is something to behold. They'll boo red lights on the way home. #AFLEaglesDogs
— Peter Hanlon (@PeterGHanlon) August 23, 2015
Three-quarter time - Eagles lead by 28 points and look good for the win
West Coast 16.10 (106) vs Western Bulldogs 12.6 (78)
The Dogs entered this third term in a competitive position but trailing by 28 points now and inevitably tiring in the Perth heat, they’ll struggle to storm home and pinch this one. Never entirely brilliant, the Eagles have nevertheless absorbed the pressure well to stretch their lead. They look a good thing from here.
Even the Bulldogs social media team is getting a bit desperate at this point.
Shane Biggs having to play like his name says, has been moved into the ruck. The coach looking to add another runner around the ball.
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) August 23, 2015
Eagles goal! 3rd quarter (0:50 remaining) West Coast 16.10 (106) vs Western Bulldogs 12.6 (78)
“This man has very good vertical ups” says Dermott Brereton of Lin Jong. I think that’s a good thing, right? He marks 30 metres from goal but not so good is his kick, a genuine howler that slews metres to the right for a minor score. That would have been handy with only 2 minutes to play in this third term. Very handy. As it is the game is slipping from the Bulldogs’ grasp with every passing minute and Josh Hill compounds the error by streaming forward to boot his third goal against his old side. That hurts just that little bit more for the Dogs.
Eagles goal! 3rd quarter (4:37 remaining) West Coast 15.10 (100) vs Western Bulldogs 12.5 (77)
The game is in the balance now and up stands Josh Hill to mark 30 metres from goal and squeeze through a drop punt to gives the Eagles a 23-point buffer.
Bulldogs goal! 3rd quarter (6:36 remaining) West Coast 14.10 (94) vs Western Bulldogs 12.5 (77)
If the Dogs are to claw their way back from the abyss the final 7 minutes of this terms is when they’ll need to do a power of work. A great start in that effort is the goal that Stringer kicks here after shimmying around the lumbering Hurn and buring the Eagles defender off to goal on the run from 15 metres out. He’s got five and his side is still in with a sniff.
Bulldogs goal! 3rd quarter (8:46 remaining) West Coast 14.10 (94) vs Western Bulldogs 11.5 (71)
Elliot Yeo is in the wars today. Fresh from his crocked neck he’s now been tackled to the ground by Tory Dickson and the Dogs forward makes no mistake with the resultant free kick from 30 metres out. Did he have prior opporunity to dispose of the ball? Yeo’s Eagles teammates think not but it’s on the scoreboard. He looked a bit stiff to be honest.
Eagles goal! 3rd quarter (10:01 remaining) West Coast 14.10 (94) vs Western Bulldogs 10.5 (65)
Kennedy marks again 52 metres from goal near the boundary on his ‘banana’ angle and though lesser practitioners would look to pass he has full confidence in his boot. And why not? He goes back and slots it in ridiculously relaxed fashion. What a player. The Dogs have no answer for his brilliance today.
Eagles goal! 3rd quarter (11:08 remaining) West Coast 13.10 (88) vs Western Bulldogs 10.5 (65)
Kennedy butchers a forward entry when he marks 55 metres out, neither shooting at goal convincingly nor hitting a teammate with a pass. The Dogs rebound immediately and though Stringer looks to be on the receiving end he’s all but knocked out when Hurn bodies him out of it and the Bulldogs forward goes crashing head-first to the turf. It was a fair contest but Stringer has been pole-axed.
Of course the Eagles rebound thereafter, setting Kennedy up for a raking 50-metre set shot goal that pushes the lead into dangerous territory as far as the Dogs are concerned. Crucially for the latter, it looks as though Stringer will be fine to return. That’s a big relief.
Eagles goal! 3rd quarter (13:29 remaining) West Coast 12.10 (82) vs Western Bulldogs 10.5 (65)
The Dogs launch another attack from the restart but after wheeling around promisingly on his left when he’s 75 metres from goal, Stringe sends a left foot pass about 5 metres further away from his own goal when it slides off the side of his boot. The unfortunate rider there is that it opens the way for West Coast to head forward and Mark Hutchings nails a running goal to stretch the Eagles lead back out to 17.
Bulldogs goal! 3rd quarter (15:23 remaining) West Coast 11.10 (76) vs Western Bulldogs 10.5 (65)
As the third term gets under way Bombers fan Brendan Brown emails in with some well wishes for Stewart Crameri, which is mightily magnanimous of him. “I hope he kicks a bag,” says Brendan.
Jamie Cripps won’t kick a bag if he’s spraying them like his opening chance of this term, which sprays right from 30 metres out when he streams forward. As that’s happening Elliot Yeo heads off for some treatment on his neck. In these days of absurd sports science practices the treatment advice is reassuring in its simplicity: just roll your head around in circles, Elliot. That’ll iron out the kink.
Speaking of kink, anyone with a fetish for goals will have been a bit disappointed with the scrappy start to this half, a deadlock that is finally broken when Jack Redpath curls a flawless (read: complete fluke) banana from the definition of an impossible angle. The Dogs draw closer.
Some number-crunching
Well, the Eagles are still dominating the clearances (+13), inside-50s (+4), hit-outs (+18) and contested possessions (+27. Yes, +27) but there would also be some mild concerns for Adam Simpson at the break, because the Dogs remain lethal on the counter-attack and as long as Stringer (4 goals) and Crameri (3 goals) provide a threat.
Nic Naitanui has been devastating in the ruck, racking up 24 hit-outs, kicking a goal and providing plenty of drive around the ground. Josh Kennedy has kicked 3.3, Mark LeCras and Callum Sinclair have 2 goals apiece and in the middle, Andrew Gaff and Matt Priddis (17 possessions each) have played their role.
For the Dogs, Lachie Hunter has 18 touches in an impressive showing, while Mitch Wallis (14 possessions) might have made an even greater impact if he’d nailed 2 very gettable chances for goals. This has been a defence-slashing contest of the highest order and hopes are high that the game will continue on similar lines in the second half. One concern: might one or both sides run out of gas at some point? It’s been frantic stuff so far.
Half time for a stretch for JK. #AFLEaglesDogs pic.twitter.com/cOAHEk78jx
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) August 23, 2015
Half-time - the Eagles lead by 16 points
West Coast 11.9 (75) vs Western Bulldogs 9.5 (59)
The Eagles go forward once more but they run out of time for a final score of the half, having to content themselves with a 16-point lead at the main break. That was a cracking half of football; lots of scoring, end-to-end running, fierce tackling and a trio of virtuoso key forward performances by Josh Kennedy, Jake Stringer and Stewart Crameri, all of whom will be game-shapers in the second half. I’ll be back with some stats shortly.
Bulldogs goal! 2nd quarter (0:26 remaining) West Coast 11.9 (75) vs Western Bulldogs 9.5 (59)
The Eagles are finishing this half like a footballing inferno and Naitanui almost sets Dom Sheed up for another when he bullocks his way through two Dogs defenders to squeeze it out to the on-baller but his shot on goal sprays across the face. Crucially, that opens up the possibility of one last Dogs counter attack and once they’ve swung it down the other end Stringer does the seemingly impossible to outmark two Eagles defenders in the goal square and kick the goal.
Geez, Adam Simpson will be livid with Sharrod Wellingham for that spoiling effort. Awful. The Dogs hang in there.
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (2:58 remaining) West Coast 11.8 (74) vs Western Bulldogs 8.5 (53)
Oh dear. Conceding free kicks 10 metres from your defensive goal is not ideal in the final minutes of a quarter - at any time really - but the Dogs cough one up to Naitanui here when Redpath pushes him out of a ruck contest as the third man up. Naitanui belts it through, salutes the sky and is then immediately swamped by teammates. Beautiful stuff.
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (4:15 remaining) West Coast 10.7 (67) vs Western Bulldogs 8.5 (53)
Cometh the challenge, cometh Josh Kennedy. Or maybe not? The big Eagle marks 30 metres out from goal on a 45 degree angle - the kind of territory from which you’d pencil him in for a major - but floats it to the right. Maybe he’s a bit pooped.
Both sides look in need of a rest after this frenetic first half, though there’s not much lactic acid in Mark LeCras’ legs by the looks of his high, perfectly-spinning drop punt through the middle from the boundary. The Dogs need to watch that their hard work isn’t ondone in the last five minutes of the half.
Bulldogs goal! 2nd quarter (5:48 remaining) West Coast 9.6 (60) vs Western Bulldogs 8.5 (53)
Jake Stringer shows some nominative determinism by twirling the ball is if it was attached to a piece of string when he hauls in a juggling mark close to the boundary but after nothing comes of that chance, Stewart Crameri marks 15 metres from goal and threads his third for the day. He’s become a real factor in the late stages of this season, Crameri. What a difference it makes to have so many scoring options.
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (7:36 remaining) West Coast 9.6 (60) vs Western Bulldogs 7.5 (47)
Two in a row for the home side. Now it’s Hill who marks 25 metres from goal and carresses it through. You’d hope the Dogs haven’t shot their bolt. They’ve been tenacious so far and always responded well to Eagles surges.
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (8:59 remaining) West Coast 8.6 (54) vs Western Bulldogs 7.5 (47)
Ah, an Eagles answer. Of Course. This time it’s lumbering Sinclair, perhaps an underrated element of the Eagles’ resurgence this year and never less than a scoring threat today. He’s got two goals now and the Eagles a 7-point lead.
Bulldogs goal! 2nd quarter (10:01 remaining) West Coast 7.6 (48) vs Western Bulldogs 7.5 (47)
“Redpath it’s good to see ya back.” It’s one of my favourite lines of ‘C’mon Aussie C’mon’ and also vaguely relevant to this game of football when Jack of the aforementioned surname gets a chance to kick a running goal. He misses but that tenuous reference remains. If only this game featured a Pascoe to be “making divots in the green”.
Jake Stringer is making divots in the scoreboard though and slams through another open goal from point-blank range here when the Dogs counter-attack thrillingly through Crameri. Stringer was in an acre of space when he finished that one off.
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (13:28 remaining) West Coast 7.5 (47) vs Western Bulldogs 6.4 (40)
Under seige and momentarily outflanked, there’s some relief for the Eagles here when they counter-attack in devastating fashion through Kennedy, who marks the ball over the top and dishes it inside for Cripps to boot an open goal. Phew. That could be the circuit-breaker for the home side. This is an absolute belter of a game.
Bulldogs goal! 2nd quarter (15:10 remaining) West Coast 6.5 (41) vs Western Bulldogs 6.4 (40)
Phwoar, this is getting even better for the Dogs. Now Crameri gets another - only 20 seconds from the restart - latching onto a handball and emphatically thumping it home from 30 metres out on the run. Game on! ‘Don’t worry about contested ball stats’ is the message, just kick goals.
Bulldogs goal! 2nd quarter (15:28 remaining) West Coast 6.5 (41) vs Western Bulldogs 5.4 (34)
This is a decent little patch for the Dogs. Now Dickson marks in space from a Dalhaus pass, 35 metres out close to the boundary on the banana angle for a righty. If anyone can kick a goal like that it’s Dickson and he duly strokes it straight over the goal umpire’s head. I’d have him kick for my life, to be honest.
Bulldogs goal! 2nd quarter (16:42 remaining) West Coast 6.5 (41) vs Western Bulldogs 4.4 (28)
Stringer answers for the Dogs! It was a mad scramble forward but the canny forward actually roved a marking contest 10 metres from goal, waiting for the spillage and booting it through with a volley. It was unconventional and that’s what the Dogs will need to be today.
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (17:10 remaining) West Coast 6.5 (41) vs Western Bulldogs 3.4 (22)
As the second term gets under way, it’s worth assessing some stats from the first. The Eagles won the clearances (+9), inside-50s (+4) and contested ball by a whopping +18. That’s going to need to change significantly if the Dogs are to stay in the contest. Josh Kennedy kicked 2.2 to demolish the Dogs defence and both he and ruckman Nic Naitanui were a dominant force.
The Dogs start with a near-miss when Wallis surges forward and then trap it inside 50 long enough for another minor score but worryingly, Kennedy gets in on the act again marking strongly 20 metres from goal before booting his third. He’s almost definitely off on one today.
Quarter time - Eagles lead by 15 points
West Coast 5.5 (35) vs Western Bulldogs 3.2 (20)
Well, the Dogs gave a decent account of themselves in that opening terms but go to the first break 15 points down. They’ll need to play out of their skins to beat the Eagles today, you feel.
Eagles goal! 1st quarter (1:23 remaining) West Coast 5.5 (35) vs Western Bulldogs 3.2 (20)
The Eagles can cut you up in minutes and now Luke Shoey belts one through, sprinting through the middle and following on from his own centre clearance to kick a running goal in far too much space. Sorry Lin Jong, that was your tackle to lay.
Eagles goal! 1st quarter (1:44 remaining) West Coast 4.5 (29) vs Western Bulldogs 3.2 (20)
The Eagles hug the boundary as they go forward and big Callum Sinclair turns creator when he cleverly cushions a left-foot pass out in front of Josh Kennedy, but while the latter pulls in a diving mark, he can’t repeat his miraculous boundary-side efforts of earlier and pushes the kick wide. Seconds later he marks in a similar spot and goes the snap, but that one also floats across the face. He’s certainly not short on scoring opportunities so far and at the other end, neither are the Dogs.
Right as I say that Kennedy marks within range for a third time in as many minutes and this time it’s 45 metres out on a far kinder angle. He methodically trots his way in towards goal and splits the middle. He’s giving the Bulldogs all sorts of problems right now. Is he on for another big bag?
Bulldogs goal! 1st quarter (5:44 remaining) West Coast 3.3 (21) vs Western Bulldogs 3.2 (20)
The Doggies get an immediate reply of their own when Jake Stringer leaps high over Jamie Bennell to mark 40 metres from goal and then sends his set shot straight over the umpire’s hat. They’re a serious football side, these Dogs.
Eagles goal! 1st quarter (6:50 remaining) West Coast 3.3 (21) vs Western Bulldogs 2.2 (14)
Oh dear, now Luke Beveridge has his head in his hands after an uncharacteristic handball turnover from Dogs veteran Rob Murphy lands in Callum Sinclair’s hands and the giant Eagle slots it from 20 metres out on the run, barely 30 second after the restart. Bang bang.
Eagles goal! 1st quarter (7:19 remaining) West Coast 2.3 (15) vs Western Bulldogs 2.2 (14)
The Eagles settle well in response to that Doggies goal and after a ferocioius tackling effort by Mark Hutchings, Josh Kennedy marks 35 metres out on an unkind angle to a right-footer but makes no mistake with a dead-eyed set shot. That’s an excellent goal and an equally good reply from the Eagles.
Bulldogs goal! 1st quarter (8:43 remaining) West Coast 1.3 (9) vs Western Bulldogs 2.2 (14)
After a bright and attacking start this one’s turned into something of a stand-off of ineptitude, neither side linking well through half-forward and both teams spurning the chances they do get. Natanui is destroying Tom Campbell in the ruck but that influence hasn’t told on the scoreboard.
In fact it’s the opposite now as the Doggies counter-attack with potency and while Mitch Wallis could have waltzed into an open goal from 40 out, he does the team thing and dishes off to better-positioned Jack Redpath. The latter swings it through from 20 metres out to put the Dogs a goal clear.
No goal but I better give you an update! 1st quarter (10:48 remaining) West Coast 1.2 (8) vs Western Bulldogs 1.2 (8)
It’s lung-busting stuff at the moment; not much congestion to disappoint the fogeys and plenty of end-to-end dash. And for the aesthetes, the Dogs again look an absolute sight in their red away strip, potentially the best of those in the league if you ask me. And I know you didn’t.
As I’m being mesmerised by the fashions, Eagle Brad Hill gets on the end of pass to mark 38ish metres from goal but his set shot falls short by a good five metres, which isn’t exactly the hallmark of an opportunist forward like him. Moments later Callum Sinclair gets a chance from a similar spot on the other flank and also falls well short. Is there a stiff breeze? Is the ball flat? This is making me long for a raking Mark Bayesesque punt from someone, anyone.
After all that Mitch Wallis almost squeezes through a counter-attacking goal for the Dogs but it grazes the post. Roarke Smith is on for the Dogs, by the way, and there’s a lovely moment when Cameron Mooney admits that like the rest of us, he has no real idea what sort of player the kid is. He’s good value, Mooney. So’s Smith by the look of his attack on the ball.
Bulldogs goal! 1st quarter (17:48 remaining) West Coast 1.0 (6) vs Western Bulldogs 1.0 (6)
Tory Dickson brings Matt Priddis down in the centre to win a holding-the-ball decision and hammers if forward quickly. The Dogs don’t score from that initial pass, but Stewart Crameri soon capitalizes on an Eagles fumble to hammer through a running goal from 35 metres out. That’s a brilliant reply for the Dogs. They’ve settled.
Eagles goal! 1st quarter (18:40 remaining) West Coast 1.0 (6) vs Western Bulldogs 0.0 (0)
We’re under way at Domain Stadium and Nic Naitanui is everywhere in the opening stages to force the ball into attack for the Eagles. Seconds later he reels in a huge grab when the Dogs rebound before hitting Mark LeCras on the chest with a lace-out 25 metres from goal. LeCras nails it and the Eagles are away.
Congratulations Jack!! #AFLEaglesDogs pic.twitter.com/l8HEpt1luC
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) August 23, 2015
A note for the kiddies watching at home
Don’t try to emulate Josh Kennedy’s now-abandoned goal-kicking stutter. It’s bad. He’s just said so himself. If you add a stutter to your approach, Dermott Brereton will refer to you as a “species”, and nobody deserves anthropological analysis Derm style. Just run straight at the sticks. It’s worked for over a hundred years.
We’re only five minutes from the bounce and I for one can’t wait for this one..
Our teams today
West Coast
Brad Sheppard, Shannon Hurn, Jamie Bennell, Jackson Nelson, Sharrod Wellingham, Matt Rosa, Mark Hutchings, Matt Priddis, Patrick McGinnity, Andrew Gaff, Jack Darling, Jamie Cripps, Mark LeCras, Josh J. Kennedy, Josh Hill, Nic Naitanui, Elliot Yeo, Luke Shuey, Dom Sheed, Xavier Ellis, Callum Sinclair. SUB: Murray Newman
Western Bulldogs
Dale Morris, Michael Talia, Jason Johannisen, Robert Murphy, Joel Hamling, Easton Wood, Lin Jong, Jack Macrae, Shane Biggs, Luke Dahlhaus, Tory Dickson, Stewart Crameri, Lachie Hunter, Jack Redpath, Jake Stringer, Tom Campbell, Mitch Wallis, Marcus Bontempelli, Jarrad Grant, Caleb Daniel, Roarke Smith. SUB: Daniel Pearce
Final warm up begins. #AFLeaglesDogs pic.twitter.com/YkvkRbmJPt
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) August 23, 2015
Preamble
Hello AFL fans and welcome to what promises to an absorbing duel between second-placed West Coast, flying high on their home deck (or above it, one supposes) and the darlings of 2015, Luke Beveridge’s thrilling Western Bulldogs pups.
We’re just under 15 minutes from the first bounce but feel free to get in contact throughout the game on russell.jackson@theguardian.com or via twitter: @rustyjacko - i’ll be back in two shakes of Dermott Brereton’s new-age mullet with the teams for today.
Russell will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s what he had to say in his weekend preview about this match:
Do you believe in miracles? That’s what the Bulldogs might need to topple West Coast in Perth on Sunday but there’s been no better-spirited side in the competition this season than Luke Beveridge’s men, so you can’t rule them out entirely. The hard part of placing the Bulldogs’ stellar run towards the finals in context is that they just haven’t played many decent sides in the past six weeks. Sitting in fourth place now, they’ll struggle to maintain that spot with this tricky fixture followed by a tough home game against North and a final-round banana skin in the form of a trip to Brisbane. It’ll be fascinating to see how they wear that pressure.
Looking to back up their win in last week’s feisty western derby, the Eagles welcome back a host of useful contributors in Mark LeCras, Nic Naitanui, Tom Barrass, and by the look of their provisional team line-up, everyone else on their senior list too. Without those players and Jeremy McGovern the Eagles triumphed in the derby, yet another sign that they’re likely Preliminary finalists at a minimum. What a turnaround it’s been from both of these sides in 2015.
And catch up on yesterday’s events in the AFL here:
