Scott Lockhart reporting for AFANA from Subiaco Oval, Perth.
West Coast has catapulted itself back to the top of the AFL ladder and handed Melbourne their worst start to a season in 34 years after a 77 point win at Subiaco Oval on Sunday. The Eagles bounced back from their first loss of the year against Geelong last week to inflict further pain on Melbourne’s already dismal season. The Eagles dictated the play throughout the game, Chris Judd and Daniel Kerr leading the way with 31 and 29 possessions respectively. Despite being off target for most of the day Quinten Lynch was the spark up forward for the reigning Premiers kicking five goals in a return to form. The Eagles will sweat on tribunal results throughout the week after Daniel Kerr was reported early in the opening term.
The Eagles came into the match following the news that Grand Final star Andrew Embley would miss at least a month of football after undergoing surgery on his troubled knee. On a brighter note, the premiers welcomed back ruckman Dean Cox and midfielder Chad Fletcher into the team after dropping the out of form Steven Armstrong. Melbourne also had its troubles during the week after Byron Picket was suspended for a month by the club following a personal indiscretion before last weeks match. West Coast came into the match short priced favorites against a Melbourne side desperate for its first win of the season.
The Eagles opened the stronger of the two teams in the first quarter with key playmakers Chris Judd and Daniel Kerr getting early touches and Ashley Hansen opening the scoring with a goal at the three minute mark. Melbourne had no answers to the Eagles early run with West Coast doubling the possession rate of their opponents. Kerr found himself on report following a front on charge, an incident that sent shockwaves through the competition’s Brownlow medal betting. Melbourne captain David Neitz opened the scoring for his team and brought the margin back to within a goal despite the Eagles domination of the game in the early stages. Melbourne’s run was halted by two goals from Eagles full forward Quinten Lynch who has been off target in recent weeks. The signs became more ominous for Melbourne after goals to Kerr and David Wirrapanda stretched the lead to beyond five goals. However, the Eagles inaccuracy in front of goals was giving the scoreboard some respectability. At the first break it was a dominant Eagles team leading by 32 points.
Melbourne opened the second quarter on a brighter note with a goal to Travis Johnstone, giving the contest some life. The Eagles continued to be inaccurate in front of goal, a trend that has developed over the last few weeks. Melbourne continued to increase their run and workload but were unable to make any inroads into the Eagles lead as a tireless Judd weaved his magic through the midfield, setting up numerous scoring opportunities. Goals to Wirrapanda, Lynch and Staker, all from set shots, gave Melbourne no reprieve on the scoreboard. Melbourne’s performance left a lot to be desired as the quarter continued, after their run became stifled by strong zone defense by the Eagles whose pressure was immense. A goal to James McDonald after the siren brought the margin back to 41 points at half time.
Melbourne’s disposal problems continued at the opening of the second half, with their inability to find targets on a consistent basis being exposed. However, this did not stop them from opening the scoring for the term through a goal to Ricky Petterd, created by rare glimpse of pressure from Melbourne. A goal to Colin Sylvia brought the margin back to within five goals and gave the game a much needed heartbeat. Another goal to Melbourne, again through Sylvia, brought Melbourne well and truly back into the contest having kicked the last four goals of the match. Eagles Youngster Mitch Morton halted the Demons attempt at a comeback with an important goal at the halfway mark of the quarter. Melbourne’s resurgence was again hampered minutes later with a beautiful running goal to Judd who was dominating around the stoppages. Signs of Melbourne’s first half performance re-emerged in the later stages of the quarter, with sloppy defense resulting in a third goal to Wirrapanda and a second to Morton for the quarter as the Eagles took the margin out to a game high 49 points. A goal to both sides in the final stages of the term saw the margin sit at 50 points at the final change.
The final quarter saw Melbourne again starting strongly kicking the first two goals through Ruckman Jeff White and Sylvia who continued his strong second half performance. However, the Eagles showed they were not going to be outplayed in the final term, kicking three goals in the early stages through Morton, Tyson Stenglein and Shannon Hurn, extending the lead beyond 50 points. The Eagles class continued to prevail in the final quarter with their continual hard running and strong pressure leading to goals to Judd and Lynch. The scoreboard continued to look darker for Melbourne as the match entered its final stages, with another goal to Judd handing the Eagles a comfortable 77 point victory.
Next week the Eagles make the longest road trip in football to play Hawthorn in Tasmania on Saturday, while Melbourne return home in search of their first win when they face a Kangaroos side in good form at the MCG on Sunday.
West Coast has catapulted itself back to the top of the AFL ladder and handed Melbourne their worst start to a season in 34 years after a 77 point win at Subiaco Oval on Sunday. The Eagles bounced back from their first loss of the year against Geelong last week to inflict further pain on Melbourne’s already dismal season. The Eagles dictated the play throughout the game, Chris Judd and Daniel Kerr leading the way with 31 and 29 possessions respectively. Despite being off target for most of the day Quinten Lynch was the spark up forward for the reigning Premiers kicking five goals in a return to form. The Eagles will sweat on tribunal results throughout the week after Daniel Kerr was reported early in the opening term.
The Eagles came into the match following the news that Grand Final star Andrew Embley would miss at least a month of football after undergoing surgery on his troubled knee. On a brighter note, the premiers welcomed back ruckman Dean Cox and midfielder Chad Fletcher into the team after dropping the out of form Steven Armstrong. Melbourne also had its troubles during the week after Byron Picket was suspended for a month by the club following a personal indiscretion before last weeks match. West Coast came into the match short priced favorites against a Melbourne side desperate for its first win of the season.
The Eagles opened the stronger of the two teams in the first quarter with key playmakers Chris Judd and Daniel Kerr getting early touches and Ashley Hansen opening the scoring with a goal at the three minute mark. Melbourne had no answers to the Eagles early run with West Coast doubling the possession rate of their opponents. Kerr found himself on report following a front on charge, an incident that sent shockwaves through the competition’s Brownlow medal betting. Melbourne captain David Neitz opened the scoring for his team and brought the margin back to within a goal despite the Eagles domination of the game in the early stages. Melbourne’s run was halted by two goals from Eagles full forward Quinten Lynch who has been off target in recent weeks. The signs became more ominous for Melbourne after goals to Kerr and David Wirrapanda stretched the lead to beyond five goals. However, the Eagles inaccuracy in front of goals was giving the scoreboard some respectability. At the first break it was a dominant Eagles team leading by 32 points.
Melbourne opened the second quarter on a brighter note with a goal to Travis Johnstone, giving the contest some life. The Eagles continued to be inaccurate in front of goal, a trend that has developed over the last few weeks. Melbourne continued to increase their run and workload but were unable to make any inroads into the Eagles lead as a tireless Judd weaved his magic through the midfield, setting up numerous scoring opportunities. Goals to Wirrapanda, Lynch and Staker, all from set shots, gave Melbourne no reprieve on the scoreboard. Melbourne’s performance left a lot to be desired as the quarter continued, after their run became stifled by strong zone defense by the Eagles whose pressure was immense. A goal to James McDonald after the siren brought the margin back to 41 points at half time.
Melbourne’s disposal problems continued at the opening of the second half, with their inability to find targets on a consistent basis being exposed. However, this did not stop them from opening the scoring for the term through a goal to Ricky Petterd, created by rare glimpse of pressure from Melbourne. A goal to Colin Sylvia brought the margin back to within five goals and gave the game a much needed heartbeat. Another goal to Melbourne, again through Sylvia, brought Melbourne well and truly back into the contest having kicked the last four goals of the match. Eagles Youngster Mitch Morton halted the Demons attempt at a comeback with an important goal at the halfway mark of the quarter. Melbourne’s resurgence was again hampered minutes later with a beautiful running goal to Judd who was dominating around the stoppages. Signs of Melbourne’s first half performance re-emerged in the later stages of the quarter, with sloppy defense resulting in a third goal to Wirrapanda and a second to Morton for the quarter as the Eagles took the margin out to a game high 49 points. A goal to both sides in the final stages of the term saw the margin sit at 50 points at the final change.
The final quarter saw Melbourne again starting strongly kicking the first two goals through Ruckman Jeff White and Sylvia who continued his strong second half performance. However, the Eagles showed they were not going to be outplayed in the final term, kicking three goals in the early stages through Morton, Tyson Stenglein and Shannon Hurn, extending the lead beyond 50 points. The Eagles class continued to prevail in the final quarter with their continual hard running and strong pressure leading to goals to Judd and Lynch. The scoreboard continued to look darker for Melbourne as the match entered its final stages, with another goal to Judd handing the Eagles a comfortable 77 point victory.
Next week the Eagles make the longest road trip in football to play Hawthorn in Tasmania on Saturday, while Melbourne return home in search of their first win when they face a Kangaroos side in good form at the MCG on Sunday.
Final Score:
WCE: 5.8 8.14 13.18 19.23 (137)
Melb: 1.0 3.3 7.4 9.6 (60)
Best:
WCE: Judd, Kerr, Hansen, Lynch
Melb: Green, Johnstone, McDonald
Goals:
WCE: Lynch 5, Judd Wirrapanda 3, Kerr Stenglein Hurn Hansen Staker 1.
Melb: Sylvia 3, Johnstone 2, Neitz Petterd McDonald White 1.
Umpires: McBurney, Head, Hendrie
Injuries: Ferguson (broken thumb)
Reports: Kerr (Front on charge)
Crowd: 40, 068 at Subiaco Oval, Perth
Article last changed on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 9:25 AM EDT
