The West Coast Eagles gave their WAFL Finals hopes a boost with an important 19-point win over an inaccurate South Fremantle at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday.
West Coast’s 15.12 (102) to 11.17 (83) victory leaves the Eagles in seventh spot on the ladder, percentage behind fifth-placed Subiaco, which is occupying the last finals spot ahead of a showdown with the Eagles next Saturday.
On a perfect winter’s day, the Eagles’ talented midfield brigade turned it on early against South and powered the home team to a defining lead before the Dogs bit back late to make it a nervous finish.
When Malakai Champion slotted his second goal in the second minute mark of the final term, the Eagles looked to have the clash against the reigning premiers in their keeping, up by 41 points.
But - inspired by a four-goal last quarter from ex-Eagle Isiah Winder - the Bulldogs surged to within 13 points, before Elijah Hewett calmly kicked the steadying goal for West Coast.
Hewett’s power and strength breaking tackles and away from stoppage was on full display, with the star midfielder among the best with 23 disposals and two majors.
Fin Macrae’s composed 32 touches and eight inside 50s complemented Clay Hall’s grunt work (24 disposals, seven inside 50s) and Tom Gross was tough in the clinches in another excellent display.
Gross finished with two goals and 21 disposals, while the Eagles engine room was well served by dominant big man Matt Flynn (35 hit-outs, 20 disposals and one goal).
Young gun Josh Lindsay (23 disposals) and Lucca Grego (28) were prolific from defence and provided run and dash all match.
Winder (28 disposals) was superb for the Dogs, while Jake Florenca (26) and Chad Pearson (24) found plenty of the ball.
The Eagles burst from the blocks with the opening goal in seconds after Hewett drove the ball inside 50 and Caleb Datson converted for the perfect start.
South responded through Samuel Otto and Jordan Boullineau before Gross went long and strong from range to restore the Eagles’ edge and reward their territory dominance.
By quarter-time the Eagles had established a handy eight-point lead once Champion showed a clean pair of heels to dribble through a major and Hewett burst forward from stoppage to snap truly.
The home side put the foot down in the second stanza, slamming on five goals – including the last four of the term – to put a 27-point gap on the Bulldogs at the long break.
Tylah William’s stunning left snap running towards the boundary line was a showstopper and Shannon Lucassen – who replaced an ill Harry Schoenberg before the game – nailed a 50m set shot.
Young gun Harper Banfield was mobbed by his teammates when his after the siren shot sailed through for his first WAFL League goal and the Eagles were on the path to a much-needed victory.
West Coast kept the foot on the Dogs’ throats in the third, kicking two majors to six behinds.
A sensational chase-down tackle on Isiah Winder by Joshua Burke caused the Dogs star to miss an open goal and typified the Eagles’ desperation.
When Champion slotted the first of the fourth quarter it sparked something in the Dogs – who kicked five of the next six majors – but the Eagles held on.
With three rounds to play, the WAFL Eagles remain in the hunt for a first finals berth since 2019.
Details
WEST COAST: 4.4 9.8 11.11 15.12 (102)
SOUTH FREMANTLE: 3.2 5.5 5.11 11.17 (83)
GOALS
West Coast: Datson 2, Champion 2, Gross 2, Hewett 2, Owies 2, Kernutt, Williams, Lucassen, Flynn, Banfield
South Fremantle: Winder 4, Boullineau 2, Otto, Drage, Jones, Maynard, Colborne
BEST
West Coast: Flynn, Macrae, Hewett, Gross, Lindsay, Grego
South Fremantle: Winder, Florenca, Pearson, Boullineau, Drage, Blechynden
