Andrew Gaff

Chris Kowald reporting for AFANA from Domain Stadium, Perth.

One of the most remarkable home-and-away seasons concluded with ninth placed West Coast Eagles defeating the league leaders, the Adelaide Crows, by a large enough margin to slip into the top eight of the competition, at the expense of the Melbourne Demons. To add drama to the last AFL game played at Domain Stadium, the Eagles achieved the task within the last four minutes of the last game of the regular season. The Demons, who would have been watching the game live on TV in Melbourne, would have been cursing themselves for their slow start against the Collingwood Magpies two nights earlier; which left the gate open for the Eagles and cost the Demons their first finals appearance in ten years.

Chris Kowald reporting for AFANA from Domain Stadium, Perth

The Melbourne Demons overcame a fifteen-year hoodoo to beat the West Coast Eagles in Perth and post one of their most important victories of the season. The win places Melbourne in a good position to contest the finals, while West Coast will be thrown back with a pack of teams fighting to make the top eight.

St Kilda, desperate to atone for their loss to the Melbourne Demons the previous week, led the West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium until time-on in the final quarter, but it was not enough. On a warm and still Perth night, the Saints’ hard running players ran themselves into the ground on the vast expanses of the Eagles’ home turf. In the final stanza, with both teams nearing exhaustion, it was the class and superior finishing of the Eagles that punished the Saints.

Chris Kowald reporting for AFANA from Domain Stadium Perth, Australia.

In a Thursday night (Perth time) elimination final, the Western Bulldogs defied history and the betting markets by shredding the West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium. 

Eleven days earlier the Bulldogs had been humiliated at the same venue by losing to the struggling Fremantle Dockers. Experienced tipsters gave the Bulldogs no chance of defeating the Eagles who had lost only one home game this season.

Chris Kowald reporting for AFANA from Domain Stadium Perth, Australia.

The clash between the Eagles and the Hawks at Domain Stadium was always going to be a game when one side suffered a setback. The Hawks were on top of the competition and needed to win to stay there. The Eagles were hoping to earn a highly valued home final. Something had to give.

Chris Kowald reporting for AFANA from Domain Stadium Perth, Australia

This was meant to be a game where the result was never in doubt. West Coast at home are a formidable team, who despite recently capitulation to Adelaide, were expected to blow the Bombers away by a huge margin. The pregame highlight for the West Coast fans was the lap of honor performed by the 2006 Premiership team marking the tenth anniversary of the club’s third premiership.

Chris Kowald reporting for AFANA from Domain Stadium Perth, Australia

After a tough Western Derby and a second successive six-day-break, West Coast used their height and tackling pressure to totally dominate Richmond in a punishing game of quality football.

Richmond’s only victory this year has been against lowly Carlton and serious questions now hang over the club's direction. Coach Damien Hardwick will face increased scrutiny on his return to Melbourne.

In the first two minutes, the Tigers showed good defense and cleared a stoppage with a chain of accurate deliveries, to score a fine goal via Kane Lambert. However, this sparked the Eagles into life and their midfield

by Chris Kowald, reporting for AFANA from Perth, Australia

West Coast Eagles sent a powerful message east. From the first bounce, when Nick Naitanui flew over opposing ruckman, Stefan Martin, it was clear that the Eagles would not be dispensing Easter cheer. Brisbane though were not to be denied, Tom Rockliff was back to his best, as he showed his young charges how to draw first blood, with a goal at the three–minute mark. The Eagles responded a minute later by kicking long into the forward line.

Rick Browner reporting for AFANA from Perth

Even if you remember these events from 2003 - the space shuttle Columbia disintegrating on its return to Earth, Andre Agassi winning the Australian Open in tennis and Netscape being taken down for Mozilla - you will be forgiven if you don’t remember that 2003 was the last time that the West Coast Eagles defeated the Collingwood Magpies in Melbourne.

2003 was a very long time ago in football terms and the Magpies may have expected the trend to continue as second placed Eagles traveled to Etihad Stadium in Round 16. All things must pass and so it was with the hoodoo when - despite horrific shooting on goals - the Eagles ran over top of the cooling Pies.