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Rick Browner reporting for AFANA from Domain Stadium, Perth

A ten goal haul to West Coast Eagle forward Josh Kennedy was the difference in what became a one-sided game against the Carlton Blues at Domain Stadium in the opening match of Round 2. Kennedy was unstoppable and deadly accurate as he single-handedly tore the Blues apart. His tally of ten goals 1 point at the end of the game was only one point less than Carlton’s entire score.

It was a shootout early in the game with ten goals scored in the entertaining first quarter. Nic Naitanui scored the Eagles’ first within twenty seconds of the bouncedown after gathering his own ruck knock and sprinting to the 50 meter line to drill a goal. Carlton was unfazed by the first goal, hitting back with the next three and at one stage it was a goal a minute in a flurry of scoring. Not to be outdone, West Coast scored the next three majors with Kennedy nailing the first of many more to come. Carlton replied with three more goals but suffered a blow when Simon White was substituted out through injury and Clem Smith came on for only his second game.

West Coast players looked panicked early in the second quarter and started to make basic errors in their disposal of the ball. Chris Judd was relishing his return to his old stomping ground in the West and was carving up the opposition in the middle with tough possessions and clever distribution of the ball to runners going past. Matt Rosa was moved onto him and the move proved a master stroke by Coach Adam Simpson as the champion's influence was curbed for most of the remaining game. The contest tightened up with less free flowing movement and consequently the scoring dried up. However the Eagles managed three more goals and gradually opened up a margin over the Blues. These two teams have played each other 40 times over the years and it was the first time in their history that one of them had been held scoreless in a quarter. The Blues failed to score in the second quarter and found themselves trailing by 13 points at the long break. Bryce Gibbs and Mark Murphy, although gathering possessions, were not having a significant impact on the game. In contrast, journeyman Andrejs Everitt was a standout with his effort at the contests.

The second half got underway in a mirror image of the first with a goal to the Eagles within the first 30 seconds. Unfortunately for Carlton it was all one way traffic after that and Kennedy proceeded to give Carlton a major dose of the blues. He scored six goals in the third quarter and effectively put the game beyond doubt. A Liam Jones’ goal for Carlton was their first since the 27 minute mark of the first quarter and it seemed to provide some momentum. Levi Casboult came to life and kicked a couple back to back to give Carlton three goals on the trot. Sadly for Blues' fans, it was too late to make a real difference as Mark LeCras, Jamie Cripps and Kennedy put them back in their box with some deadly goal shooting to finish off the game.

It was a disappointing loss to the Blues who now drop to zero and two for the start of the season. West Coast has a one-one record but they showed more heart and discipline this week than they did in their last game against the Western Bulldogs. This win will be good for the Eagles' percentage in the log-jam around the middle of the ladder.


Scoreboard
West Coast: 4.1 7.8 14.10 20.11 (131)
Carlton:    6.1 6.1  7.6   9.8   (62)

Best Players
West Coast: Kennedy, Priddis, LeCras, Shuey, Naitanui
Carlton:    Tuohy, Simpson, Docherty, Gibbs
 

Article last changed on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 - 5:14 PM EDT


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