The WAFL Eagles have caused an almighty round nine upset, knocking off ladder-leaders Claremont Tigers by 10 points at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday.
In what was a perfect day for football, The WAFL Eagles came to play, with a dominant nine goal third term being the difference in the 16.11 (107) v 15.7 (97) defeat.
Acting captain Elijah Hewett impressed across four quarters, finishing with 22 touches and eight tackles, while Oliver Francou was an important contributor, managing an equal game-high 25 touches and five marks.
New Eagles Category B Rookie Jake Miles-Wrency played his first game in the blue and gold, and showed promising signs with his strength and positioning in a contest.
Claremont were kept in the fight by the heroics of forward Jaiden Hunter, kicking seven goals for the day, including four in the Tiger’s final term fight-back.
It was a tight and competitive contest in the first term, with West Coast’s Tom Gross opening the scoring, kicking his first of four goals for the game, with the Eagles applying heavy defensive pressure to limit Claremont’s firepower.
Exciting youngster Josh Lindsay kicked a ripper goal in the dying minutes of the first term to give the visitors a one-point lead, his class and clean ball movement on full display.
Claremont countered with a goal after the quarter-time siren to Joel Western, the Tigers holding a five-point buffer after the first break.
It was goal for goal in the second term, with Tyler Brockman and Matt Flynn stepping up for West Coast to help hold the margin to just nine-points at the half.
The Eagles unleashed in the third quarter, managing an incredible nine majors off the boots of Jack Williams, Matt Owies, Tyrell Dewar, Joshua Burke, Flynn, Brockman and Gross, while keeping the Tigers goalless.
West Coast went into the final term with a handy 45-point lead, before Claremont opened the floodgates and embarked upon a hard-fought comeback, kicking seven goals to the Eagles’ one.
The fightback fell short for the home side, with the Eagles holding on to claim an outstanding 10-point win and secure their fourth win of the season.
West Coast head to Steel Blue Oval in round 10 to take on the Swans, bouncedown from 2:30pm.
CLAREMONT: 4.1 8.3 8.6 15.7 (97)
WEST COAST: 3.2 6.6 15.9 16.11 (107)
GOAL
Claremont: Hunter 7; Gowdie, Mainwaring, Spyvee, Western, Delacy, Musika, Mountford
West Coast: Gross 4; Dewar, Owies, J Williams, T Williams 2; Lindsay, Brockman, Burke, Flynn
BEST
Claremont: England, Mainwaring, Hunter, Alvarez, Elliott, Mountford
West Coast: Hewett, Francou, Macrae, Gross, Flynn, J Williams
