by Tim Stone, reporting for the AFANA @ Subiaco, WA.
A game that saw West Coast go in as underdogs at home for the first time in 2 years, has had bookies reshaping the odds for the premiership as the Eagles blitzed the flag's favourites and ladder leaders in Adelaide by an astounding 82 points at Subiaco Oval. A game that most supporters in the West had already conceded, turned out to be anything but a write off as West Coast produced the game of the season in the top of the table clash in round 17.
West Coast, who would have lost 2nd place with a defeat, (a position they require for a home final) are now contenders for the minor Premiership. The win gives them a significant percentage boost and draws them to within only 1 game of Adelaide on the top of the table. A West Coast side, depleted without the likes of Embley, Hunter, Nikoski, Gardiner, Cox and Fletcher, were astonishing still too much for a Crows outfit. The Crows were 1 player from full strength minus their playmaker in Andrew McLoud with a foot injury.
Adelaide have now only lost 3 games for the year, but have succumbed to West Coast on both outings against the Blue and Gold. While their previous 2 losses had been by less than a goal, this defeat nobody saw coming.
Michael Braun seemed to have the ball on a string, accumulating his most ever posessions in an AFL game with 41 touches. This effort was coupled with the courageous 34 touches from Kerr, and the ever reliable Cousins who contributed with an inspired 38 possessions.
For Adelaide, there didn't seem to be a winner amongst the side. In every match up, West Coast dominated. Every time Adelaide went forward, West Coast strangled the ability to gain easy possession.
The usually slow starters were anything but, as West Coast piled on 5 goals unanswered from the opening bounce to stamp a commanding position on the game early in the proceedings.
It was a brief moment up forward from Riccuito that saw Adelaide stop the onslaught, however it was only brief as the momentum never waivered.
The second quarter didn't show signs of the Eagles letting up as Lynch goaled in the first minute. Tyson Edwards goaled in reply as Adelaide managed to bring the game to a grinding halt, as they played possession footy in an attempt to play themself back into the game.
Adeliades opportunities going forward were few and far between, their first 3 goals in the game coming from free kicks from the zealous work of Daniel Chick and Beau Waters.
Adelaides tactic did nothing to make inroads into the deficit however. They merely slowed the inevitable as West Coast kicked 3 of the next 4 goals for the quarter as it opened up a commanding lead. The lead swayed dangerously towards the point of no return for Adelaide, until Thompson capitalized on a West Coast error in defense to reduce the West Coast lead to 34 at half time.
With the Crows allowing a miniscule 64.5 points per game before this encounter, it was a shock to the system to see West Coast had already accrued 64 points to half time. Even more unpredictable was where the next goal scorer would come from, with 14 goals kicked to half time, there wasn't a multiple goal kicker on the ground.
The onslaught was only to get worse for Adelaide. West Coast took the premiership quarter by the scruff of the neck with an astounding 9 goal to 4 quarter, that left supporters in awe, rather than the jubilation that previous quarters had evoked from the home town crowd.
Kerr was a 3 vote player for the side. His return to form was visible as he played with reckless abandon for the betterment of his side. His inspired efforts created 2 goals off his own boot, not to mention improving the fortunes of numerous others.
Adelaide had all but conceded defeat in the last quarter as key players were given rest as they assessed the game from the confines of the visitors bench.
The quarter saw key forwards able to add to their tally, Lynch racking up a game high 4 goals, while Judd, Armstrong, and Hanson all booted their third.
Adelaide were left to limp off the ground, heads hung low and pride even lower as they put in their worst effort as a team since their 141 point loss to Brisbane in 2004.
WEST COAST: 6.3 10.4 19.6 26.9 (165)
ADELAIDE: 1.0 4.6 8.6 12.11 (83)
GOALS
West Coast: Lynch 4, Judd, Armstrong, Hansen 3, Sampi, Kerr,
Cousins, Staker 2, Butler, Braun, Seaby, Morton, Stenglein
Adelaide: Burton 3, Ricciuto 2, Goodwin, Edwards, Thompson,
Hentschel, McGregor, Mattner, Reilly
CROWD - 40,380 at Subiaco Oval, Perth
Article last changed on Monday, August 14, 2006 - 11:09 AM EDT
