1. It had been a surreal week and then the extraordinary circumstances around the opening round of the AFL season were amplified further, about 90 minutes before bouncedown against Melbourne. The mental strength required to play under those conditions is mind-blowing, running out to play the first game of the season and the last one for at least nine weeks. To lock in and focus on the match, kudos to both clubs.
2. Nic Naitanui is about 200cm; an imposing figure whose presence in the ruck is a major factor for the Eagles. He wins hitouts, creates opportunities for the Eagles midfield and is imposing in the air. But there are other elements that make Naitanui such an important player in the Eagles structure. That Naitanui equalled the team-high number of 10 contested possessions (with Dom Sheed and Luke Shuey) and was behind only Shuey (8) with seven ground ball gets, paints a broader picture.
3. The highly-anticipated injection of Tim Kelly into the West Coast midfield was worth the wait. Kelly had 19 possessions, five marks and kicked a clutch goal in the third term that was important in the context of the match. He will only grow as he develops a better understanding of those around him.
4. While the injection of Kelly was always going to draw a lot of attention, a couple of established stars showed they still had a thirst for the contest. Luke Shuey and Dom Sheed were both instrumental in the triumph. Shuey, in his first game as captain, lifted when required and was one of the most efficient ball-users on the ground while Sheed worked hard both through the middle and up forward, finishing off his work with two quality goals.
Dommmmmyyyyyy https://t.co/OzcQXKwEKX
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) March 22, 2020
5. Classy tall defender Tom Barrass declared during the build-up to the season that he had rediscovered his love for the game. And he demonstrated that enthusiasm with a polished display deep in defence. In concert with Shannon Hurn, Brad Sheppard, Liam Duggan, Jeremy McGovern, Jackson Nelson and Lewis Jetta, he made the match difficult for the Melbourne forwards who were held to just seven goals.
