The WAFL Eagles were defeated 8.7 (55) to 20.4 (124) by East Perth in a tough contest played in wet conditions.

Senior Coach Kyal Horsley said the team were up for the challenge against one of the flag favourites in tough conditions at Leederville Oval. The Eagles had a promising start but couldn’t maintain momentum as the Royals gradually took control.

“We started the game well with debutant Tylah Williams kicking the first goal of the game with a nice finish from the pocket.” Horsley said.

“The first quarter was a real arm wrestle with both teams adjusting to the conditions.

“From there East Perth were able to gain the ascendancy and pulled away at each change.

“Although the scoreboard got away from us, it didn’t truly reflect the contest. Both sides had plenty of opportunities, but East Perth’s ability to deny us in front of goal and capitalise on their own chances made the difference."

Top Performers

Matt Flynn

Matt had an enthralling battle with Scott Jones in the centre. It was a hard-fought ruck duel with both big men going toe-to-toe. Flynn’s impact around the ground set him apart as he influenced the game in all areas.

Jayden Hunt

Jayden impressed down back with his speed and clean ball use on both sides of the game, working tirelessly from start to finish.

Thomas Edwards-Baldwin

It was Thomas’ first game back from injury after four weeks out and he didn’t miss a beat. His work around the stoppage and through the contest was impressive in difficult conditions.

AFL Listed Players

Coen Livingstone

While the conditions made it tough for the talls to consistently influence the game, Coen made the most of his chances. He looked dangerous whenever he was involved, hitting the scoreboard and creating opportunities for his teammates.

Harvey Johnston

Harvey was solid in defence and gave us plenty of run. His quick, clean hands in close stood out, highlighting him as a key part of our ball movement.

Harry Barnett

Like the other big men, the conditions limited the opportunities to impact the game. To Harry’s credit, he was able to take some strong marks and hit the scoreboard off limited chances.

Noah Long

Noah played up forward and looked dangerous. He stayed composed in the conditions and used the ball well.

Jack Hutchinson

Jack looked a class above early in the game. Dominating the first quarter and a half. Unfortunately, his day was cut short after tightening up following a heavy push in the back while at full pace.

Jack Williams

It was a challenging day for key forwards in the conditions, but Jack competed relentlessly. Consistently providing an option and rarely losing a contest.

Lucca Grego

Lucca didn’t rack up the stats due to how the game unfolded, but he worked tirelessly across all areas to support the team.

Malakai Champion

Malakai started up forward and thrived in the tough conditions, winning numerous contests and using the ball effectively to create multiple opportunities. After Hutchinson went down, we moved him inside where he made an even bigger impact, producing several damaging moments with the ball in hand.

Sandy Brock

Sandy’s speed and intensity in defence was notable. He worked extremely hard and gave multiple full field efforts to win the ball back for the team.