The West Coast Eagles have added a major scalp to their premiership credentials, defeating the Sydney Swans by 52 points at home.
>>MATCH REPORT: Eagles hammer Swans in top four clash
>>VIDEO: Jetta performs war dance in Swans’ loss
The Eagles kicked the first seven goals of the game unanswered, while the Swans managed only a single major in the first half, coming through Adam Goodes.
The Eagles maintained their dominance in the second half although the Swans had a few good patches, ulimately running out 52-point winners.
West Coast Eagles 15.13.103 def. Sydney Swans 7.9.51
The premiership credentials of the West Coast Eagles and Sydney Swans are on the line when they clash in the match of the round at Domain Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:40pm (AEST).
As much as critics don’t want to believe it, the West Coast Eagles are genuine threat in 2015. They’re second on the ladder at 12-3, have an enormous percentage of 156.5% and have not tasted defeat since the first weekend of June.
Now they come up against one of their ancient rivals in the Sydney Swans in the first meaningful clash between the two clubs for a lengthy period of time.
As ferocious and as even as their rivalry was a decade ago, the Eagles have struggled badly against the Swans since. West Coast’s last triumph over Sydney was way back in 2007, and their past four losses to the Swans have all been at home.
With a potentially new rivalry starting between these clubs, the Eagles will be hell bent on ending that dominant streak.
A week is a very long time in footy, and you can be sure the Swans can’t wait to get back on the park and quell the hysteria that’s plagued them after last week’s dismal display.
The entire back six are too old, the midfielders can’t win a game like they used to, they have no genuine ruckmen, Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett aren’t worth the money.
It’s all been said over the last few days, but the Swans have been no strangers to adversity in the past – so John Longmire will be expecting nothing less than a fiery, backs-to-the-wall effort.
Despite walking away with the four points, West Coast’s win last week came at a cost with Jeremy McGovern set to miss weeks with a hamstring injury. With Eric MacKenzie and Mitch Brown both out for the year already, losing another key defender is something the Eagles could ill afford.
Fraser McInnes would be a likely inclusion to assist the now number one Will Schofield, although the Eagles have put Mark LeCras behind the ball on occasion this season and with Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling firing, may just pop a key forward down back.
Sydney on the other hand copped both literal and metaphorical bruisings from the Hawks last week, with Ted Richards (suspension), Craig Bird (calf) and Kurt Tippett (wrist/hand) all ruled out.
Isaac Heeney is banging down the door with more strong form in the NEAFL, but the Swans will have to make a decision on whether to risk bringing Mike Pyke and/or Ben McGlynn back from injury.
Prediction
Both of these sides have a lot to prove to the footy world. West Coast have been playing great footy all year, but still find themselves excluded from premiership conversations. This is a huge opportunity for them to grab a megaphone and scream their credentials to the critics.
Sydney on the other hand have endured a barrage of criticism after last week’s horror loss, with the Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett deals branded catastrophic failures and their premiership window all of a sudden sealed shut.
With both teams missing key defenders, we should be in for a high-scoring thriller, and with the passionate home crowd behind them look for the Eagles to take the chocolates.
Eagles by 14 points.
WhereIsGene
Guest
Swans flag chances are cooked this year and they have too many irreplaceable oldies soon to hang up the boots to salute again with this group. The AFL will have no choice but to throw their weight behind GWS instead in the search for the next desperately-wanted NSW premiership.
jax
Guest
I think you just played the two best sides in the comp back to back. WC have been applying this sort of pressure every week since R4. Their % and the margins they win by is high for a reason.
Suzi Q
Guest
Could not agree more, wat is going on?
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
The lack of skill, poor decision-making and lack of awareness by the Swans is shockingly bad. What on earth has happened to this team?
jax
Guest
Some will say Tippett and Buddy didn't play and I would say either did WC's best tall defenders in MacKenzie, McGovern and Brown. WC smashed them in CP, couldn't see the Swans winning today even if they played.
Stirling Coates
Editor
FULL TIME REPORT West Coast - 15.13 (103) Sydney - 7.9 (51) Huge question marks over the Swans after today's effort. Much can be made of no Ted Richards, Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett, but they got absolutely smashed in the midfield - especially in contested possessions - and that was the only area of ground they had a clean bill of health. GOAL KICKERS Eagles: Darling 3, Kennedy 3, LeCras 2, Sinclair, Hill, Naitanui, Gaff, Priddis, Shuey, Cripps Swans: Heeney 2, B. Jack 2, Shaw, Jetta, Goodes DISPOSAL LEADERS Eagles: Priddids 34, Gaff 32, Masten 27, Wellingham 26 Swans: Kennedy 31, Parker 27, Shaw 26, Lloyd 25 TEAM STATS Disposals: Eagles 417, Swans 367 Contested Possessions: Eagles 173, Swans 128 Tackles: Swans 90, Eagles 63 Inside 50s: Eagles 58, Swans 35 Clearances: Eagles 45, Swans 32
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIREN The siren sounds on a dominant win for the West Coast Eagles. West Coast's premiership credentials have been rubber stamped, while for Sydney their premiership credentials are in tatters and even their top four hopes are now in doubt. WCE - 15.13 (103) SYD - 7.9 (51) FULL TIME
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL EAGLES Nic Naitanui takes a trademark one-on-one mark on Heath Grundy, and while his kick starts well out to the right it bends back beautifully for another Eagles goal. Margin back to 52 points which, in all honesty, probably flatters the Swans. This has been West Coast's match from start to finish. WCE - 15.13 (103) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
West Coast's doubters have officially run out of excuses this afternoon. WCE - 14.13 (97) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 2'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL EAGLES Turnover from Sydney coming out of defense, and Scott Selwood's quick kick drops into the bread basket of Josh Kennedy. Lewis Jetta has started a decent fracas up the ground, meanwhile Kennedy kicks his third. Champion players find away to kick goals even when they're well held, but you've got to feel for Dane Rampe. He's done a superb job today on the Coleman favourite and you can't really pin any of Kennedy's goals on him. WCE - 14.13 (97) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 3'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND EAGLES Scott Selwood hands off to Mark LeCras, but his running shot at goal hits the post. WCE - 13.13 (91) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 5'
Stirling Coates
Editor
West Coast's defensive structures have been impenetrable all game, just about every Sydney kick inside 50 has been to a one-on-two. Adam Simpson has to be the favourite for Coach of the Year. WCE - 13.12 (90) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 6'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND EAGLES Nic Naitanui to Matt Priddis to Josh Kennedy on the lead. The stuff of dreams for West Coast fans. Lining up for his third goal, 45 out on a similar angle - he misses to the near side. WCE - 13.12 (90) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 7'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL EAGLES Luke Shuey's kick inside 50 is pinpoint perfect pass to Callum Sinclair. He's set up a lost of West Coast goals today, so he deserves one, and he gets it. Great kick from the pocket. West Coast officially home and hosed now. WCE - 13.11 (89) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 8'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Sydney have outplayed their opponents this quarter, but while they were probably never a realistic chance, they're quickly running out of time to make inroads. WCE - 12.11 (83) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 10'
Stirling Coates
Editor
West Coast fans starting to get very restless, and some free kicks to Sydney aren't helping. WCE - 12.11 (83) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 11'
Stirling Coates
Editor
West Coast are now the team struggling to get it out of their defensive 50, and when they get the ball in midfield they're being forced to kick long to contests. WCE - 12.11 (83) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 12'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Sydney are playing much more like the team they're known to be this quarter, most likely too little too late but still entertaining viewing. WCE - 12.11 (83) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 14'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND SWANS Brandon Jack tries a long shot, ignoring uncontested options deep forward and misses. His teammates cannot believe it - that goal would have been very interesting. WCE - 12.11 (83) SYD - 7.9 (51) Q4: 15'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND EAGLES Dom Sheed's long shot at goal is off to the left hand side. WCE - 12.11 (83) SYD - 7.8 (50) Q4: 15'