West Coast slips in thriller

IN ANOTHER classic between the two clubs, West Coast has lost to the Sydney Swans by five points – dropping a match-long lead with the last goal.

When Adam Hunter caught Jude Bolton over the shoulder inside 50 with a little over a minute remaining, and the Swan kicked truly with the resulting free kick, the Swans stole an amazing victory and broke the heart of a brave West Coast.

The 12.11 (83) to 11.12 (78) scoreline is another chapter in a great modern rivalry and this match sits comfortably with all that precede it.

After being booked by umpire Matthew Head in the first term for a head-high bump on Adam Selwood, Adam Goodes was heroic for the Swans earning 21 crucial possessions to lead his side to victory.

Selwood blanketed the champion onballer with distinction in the first half but the Brownlow Medallist showed his class eventually.

Daniel Kerr was superb for the Eagles with 23 possessions and two goals but they hardly told the story of his night. He may have only had four marks and laid three tackles, but all were courageous and at crucial times.

Quinten Lynch presented all over the ground while Andrew Embley and Beau Wilkes were reliable coming out of defence for the home side.

For Sydney, Goodes was assisted on the front line by Brett Kirk while the Swans' much-lauded defensive runners in Nick Malceski, Martin Mattner and Tadhg Kennelly were crucial in the fight-back.

Both coaches worked to smother the suggestion of rivalry or revenge during the week, but West Coast emerged feisty and fired up in the opening term.

The Eagles kicked the first six goals of the match, converting their dominance in possession and pressure around the ground into a 33-point lead at the first break.

Mark Nicoski snapped the opener within the first minute and, when Kerr burst on to a loose ball and kicked truly, there seemed to be something special brewing.

Selwood converted his free kick from Goodes' report into a major, while David Wirrpanda, Kerr and Brent Staker all kept the scoreboard pressure on with rapid-fire goals.

The second quarter was played on much more even terms as Sydney found their share of possession and controlled the tempo of the game.

But it still took the Swans until the 11-minute mark to kick their first goal, a sneaky snap from Jude Bolton, and they were unable to substantially peg back West Coast's lead.

Staker found Mark Seaby with his second clever goal assist and, when Adam Hunter leapt over Craig Bolton to take an impressive grab, the crowd erupted.

Hunter – in the side after a remarkable comeback from bone bruising to his knee – kicked the goal and West Coast won the term, entering the main break 36 points ahead.

But the third was all Sydney's. While far from prolific on the scoreboard they kept West Coast goalless in a defensive master-class.

Goodes emerged from Selwood's grip to have eight touches for the term but his comrades were wasteful up forward; Michael O'Loughlin and Luke Ablett both missing crucial set shots.

It took a late flurry from Brett Kirk to ensure a cliff-hanger finish as he booted two late goals in four minutes to bring the margin to 14 points at the final change.

Wirrpanda, Staker and Lynch all kicked goals in the final term but Jarrad McVeigh, Paul Bevan and Amon Buchanan ensured this match would go down to the wire.

When Goodes found Malceski with a deft tap under pressure the game was within reach for the Swans.

Bolton made sure it was theirs.

Sydney Swans           0.4   2.7   6.9   12.11 (83)
West Coast Eagles       6.1   8.7   8.11    11.12 (78)

GOALS
Sydney Swans: J. Bolton 2, Malceski 2, Bevan 2, McVeigh 2, Kirk 2, Buchanan, O'Loughlin
West Coast Eagles: Staker 2, Wirrpanda 2, Kerr 2, Lynch, Hunter, Seaby, Selwood, Nicoski

BEST
Sydney Swans: Goodes, Kirk, Malceski, Kennelly, J. Bolton
West Coast Eagles: Kerr, Embley, Lynch, Staker, Wirrpanda, Cox

INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
West Coast Eagles: Nil

Reports: Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans) reported by umpire Matthew Head for rough conduct on Adam Selwood (West Coast Eagles) in the first quarter

Umpires: Donlon, Kennedy, Head

Official crowd: 38,802 at Subiaco Oval

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club.