West Coast closed out their WAFL pre-season campaign in style on Sunday, finishing strongly to claim a 17‑point win over East Fremantle at Mineral Resources Park.
Fielding their strongest WAFL side bolstered by 14 AFL-listed players including Tom Cole, Ryan Maric and new recruits Fin Macrae and Harry Schoenberg, the Eagles produced an energetic and encouraging performance ahead of the official season commencement.
The home side burst out of the gates early, led by excellent defensive pressure and lively ruck work from Bailey Williams and Harry Barnett. Williams set the tone with a strong early mark, and after the Sharks opened their account, Macrae fired back with a brilliant running goal from the centre square to restore West Coast’s advantage.
Sam Cipriani, Thomas Edwards-Baldwin and some sharp ball movement through the middle kept the scoreboard moving, while newly appointed captain Callum Jamieson impressed behind the ball with strong intercept play.
A composed finish from Edwards-Baldwin, created by a neat connection from Harvey Johnston, ensured the Eagles took a six‑point lead into the first break.
West Coast carried that momentum into the second term, slotting consecutive goals to push the margin out to 18-points as Archie Watt imposed himself around stoppages and Macrae continued to find dangerous positions forward of centre.
Caleb Datson added another to extend the lead further, but East Fremantle rallied late, capitalising on a handful of forward-half opportunities to narrow the gap to just five-points at half time.
The Sharks carried that surge into the third quarter, kicking the opening two goals to hit the front for the first time in the match. Schoenberg responded with a commanding, physical display in the midfield as he continued to push for an AFL debut. Malakai Champion kept the Eagles close with a clean finish that trimmed the margin to three-points.
Despite their pressure, the Eagles were left to rue missed chances as East Fremantle made the most of theirs, edging the lead out to 14-points at the final change.
Needing a spark, West Coast rose to the moment in the fourth quarter. Tylah Williams and Harvey Johnston hit the scoreboard in quick succession to bring the Eagles within a kick, before a brilliant centre clearance from Macrae found Schoenberg, who released Clay Hall for a composed finish that swung the momentum back in the home side’s favour.
A spectacular contested grab from Bailey Williams, capping off one of the performances of the day, pushed the lead out again. But the Sharks responded with back‑to‑back goals to briefly reclaim a three‑point advantage.
From there, the Eagles stamped their authority on the contest, dominating territory and applying relentless forward-half pressure. A late surge saw the Eagles regain control and finish 17-points clear to close out an encouraging pre‑season performance.
WEST COAST 5.2 4.1 1.3 7.4 (112)
EAST FREMANTLE 4.2 4.2 4.5 2.2 (95)
GOALS
West Coast: B.Williams (2), Macrae (2), Edwards-Baldwin (2), Hall (2), Kernutt, Datson, Champion, T. Williams, Johnston, Cipriani.
East Fremantle: Bailey (3), Ball (2), Pickett (2), Austin (2), Robinson, Cleaver, Vladich, Stockden, McManus, Marsh, Smartt, Benning.
