The West Coast Eagles produced a stunning 37-point victory against Port Adelaide after another quality performance at Optus Stadium tonight.

Just how sweet the victory turns out to be will depend upon a scan for captain Luke Shuey who appeared to strain a hamstring late in the last quarter.

After missing the first two rounds with a hamstring strain it would be a sour note on which to end an evening where the Eagles dominated and Shuey was in the thick of it.

After establishing a nine goal lead at half-time, it was always going to be difficult to sustain the effort and Port Adelaide, being a quality outfit, were never going to be satisfied with their output in the first two quarters.

The final result flattered the Power to some extent, with a goal after the siren to Robbie Gray bringing them inside the 40-point deficit for the first time since the middle stages of the second quarter.

With Shuey, Nic Naitanui, Andrew Gaff – who returned to his very best – and Tim Kelly setting up the game, the Eagles were never really in serious trouble after the middle stages of the opening quarter.

In addition to those midfield stars, veteran forward Josh Kennedy was again exceptional with a four-goal haul and cohorts Jack Darling and Oscar Allen were also influential. The decision to use Allen as the support ruckman to Naitainui proved a winner as the Eagles covered the ground brilliantly.

West Coast produced a sublime first half, dominating every aspect of the game and that could be traced directly back to midfield ascendancy.

The old firm of Naitanui and Shuey enjoyed a wonderful reunion and in conjunction with Kelly, Dom Sheed and Gaff, ensured there was a steady flow of opportunities.

Naitanui seemed determined to remind his former teammate Scott Lycett that he was the master and produced some delicate touch and brutal clearance work to keep the ball rolling in the West Coast direction.

With such a strong and consistent level of supply the Eagles were always dangerous, leading the inside 50 count 32 to 19 at the half and that translated to a 52-point advantage. The forwards took nine marks inside the arc compared to Port’s one, with Kennedy, Darling and Allen imposing themselves on the contest.

At ground level, Jamie Cripps was ubiquitous and kicked a goal of the year contender in the second quarter, while Liam Ryan made entry for the aerial award when standing on the shoulders of Port’s Darcy Byrne-Jones .

Peripheral Eagles Jarrod Brander (14 possessions and a great snap), Jamaine Jones and Jack Petruccelle were big contributors, but Shuey, with 17 touches and Naitanui were outstanding in that blistering first half statement.

The Eagles dominated the clearances 23-13 and that resulted in a 59 percent efficiency rate for the half inside the attacking zone.

At the same time the defence was resolute, Tom Barrass and Jeremy McGovern dominant in the air, Shannon Hurn and Brad Sheppard guiding their team safely out of the danger zone time and again.

The Eagles had laid a strong foundation and it was then a matter of consolidating.

Details
West Coast Eagles            5.4          10.7        13.8        16.12     108
Port Adelaide                     1.1          2.3         6.3         11.5          71

Goals – West Coast Eagles: Kennedy 4; Darling 3; Cripps, Ryan 2; Allen, Brander, Kelly, Sheed, Petruccelle. Port Adelaide: Marshall, Gray 3; Georgiades, Fantasia 2; Drew.
Best – West Coast Eagles: Gaff, Naitanui, Shuey, Kennedy, Kelly, Barrass, McGovern.

Port Adelaide: Amon, Houston, Butters, Rozee, Dursma, Marshall.
Injuries – West Coast Eagles: Shuey (leg)

Crowd: 42,090