West Coast will meet Hawthorn in next week’s AFL premiership decider after overcoming an early scare to beat North Melbourne by 25 points in Saturday night’s preliminary final at Domain Stadium.
West Coast’s midfield stars struggled early, with the home side trailing 22-2 at quarter-time against a desperate Kangaroos outfit.
But two quick goals to spearhead Josh Kennedy sparked the Eagles to life, with West Coast dominating after quarter-time to post the 10.20 (80) to 7.13 (55) win in front of 43,080 fans.
The Eagles beat Hawthorn by 32 points in a qualifying final two weeks ago in Perth.
But the Hawks have regained their mojo since that encounter, disposing of Adelaide and Fremantle to reach their fourth straight grand final.
North Melbourne were gutsy on enemy territory, but they ultimately lacked the midfield grunt to match West Coast.
Key forwards Ben Brown, Drew Petrie and Jarrad Waite loomed as potential match-winners for the Kangaroos.
But the trio finished with just one goal between them as Will Schofield, Sharrod Wellingham and Brad Sheppard played masterful roles in defence.
The one big blight for West Coast was their inaccuracy in front of goal – an area they will need to fix up if they are to beat Hawthorn on grand final day.
North Melbourne entered Saturday’s match as rank underdogs, but they made a mockery of that tag in a dominant opening term.
The Kangaroos unlocked the ‘Weagles Web’ defensive system on numerous occasions to slam through three unanswered goals.
Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui tried his best to show some fight, engaging in a fierce wrestle with Scott Thompson along the boundary line.
Kangaroos midfielder Jack Ziebell came up with an ingenious plan to break up the tussle, hopping up from the interchange bench to spray Naitanui with his water bottle.
The stream of water missed its target, but the Kangaroos made it count where it mattered most in the first quarter – on the scoreboard.
West Coast needed a hero to spark them in the second term, and it was Coleman medallist Kennedy who answered the call.
Kennedy was cleaned up by a big Scott Thompson bump as he took a courageous running mark.
And with Thompson also feeling the pain of the hit, Kennedy hopped straight up, played on and kicked truly on the run from 35m out.
Four minutes later, Kennedy bagged his second, helping reduce the deficit to five points by halftime.
North Melbourne forward Ben Brown had two nightmare moments during the second quarter.
First, his wayward handball cost Shaun Higgins what would have been a certain goal.
Then in the dying moments of the half, Brown dropped a regulation mark within scoring range.
But he wasn’t the only player to struggle.
Kangaroos tagger Ben Jacobs restricted Eagles gun Luke Shuey to just five disposals, while All-Australian Andrew Gaff (eight possessions) was kept on a tight leash by Sam Gibson.
West Coast gained control during the second quarter, and they slammed home their advantage in the third as the inside-50s started to pile up.
Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis showed his class by scooping up a ball and kicking truly.
And by the time Shuey burst clear of the pack for a running goal late in the term, West Coast led by 22 points.
North Melbourne needed some early goals in the last quarter to stay in the contest.
Instead, a bad Waite turnover led to a Mark LeCras goal, all but ending the contest.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not really sure how Hardwick constantly escapes scrutiny. The Tigers haven't advanced past the first week of the finals in his 5 years as coach. It looks like the team reached their peak under him in 2013. How many years do their top players have left at their best?
Lroy
Guest
:-)
Don Freo
Guest
Alistair Clarkson. And his behaviour is moral diahorrea.
Really
Guest
" The Tigers are tracking beautifully " . They haven't played off in a GF since 1980 and have a dingbat as a coach ! Hardwick is over zealous, contrived and easily excited . Indeed, is there any coach who speaks as much verbal diarrhea as this bloke ??
Ricky P
Guest
Just put $2K on Hawks 40+, can't wait to collect $10K, easiest money I'll ever make.
Jake the peg
Guest
Hilarious Jax. Just fess up the umpires stitched up North plain and simple. Question for you mate, how much would you be complaining if WCE received the same treatment by the umpires that North did ? Do you think the Eagles would have still won ? Johnno at least knows the Hawks will smash the swans, would anyone want to face the hawks in a prelim ? Don't you DARE compare this WCE mob to 2005/6, DON'T YOU DARE ! That was a team for the ages give me 5 superstars over 15+ pretty goods any day of the week, you disrespect their memory by even suggesting it. As for a dynasty, we all thought that about the young bombers outfit in the early 90's didn't we. And mate, there's no such thing as a win/win when you lose the GF, just ask me I'm an old Collingwood fan !
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
"This team won’t peak for another 3-5 years so whatever happens this weekend is fine by me as I think we’ll be hanging around for a while. " Don't get your hopes up! Teams peaking over 3-5 years is an aberration due to innocuous and fortuitous events: injuries, sackings, form and player discontent. There are so many variables that are out of a clubs control that "peaking " is well and truly thwarted ! My team Collingwood, after there last flag in 2010 was suppose to herald a dynasty , had the youngest list in league and lots of money, what happened .............normal football dynamics happened !. Besides, seeing your team come from no where is a lot more exciting; not many people had the Eagles contending for the eight let alone flag ! ???
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Thanks Jax. Hope springs eternal. Good luck Saturday.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So it's ok for the Dockers to have 3 of their 22, but 7 is not allowed in Hawthorn's case? If you have any objection wouldn't 0 be acceptable? Or just maybe in a modern game with free agency, players tend to move more. How many players have Hawthorn actively attempted to lure away from other clubs with better offers (like Franklin and Tippett to Sydney)? I'd say none. Players gravitate towards successful clubs and will choose to go there for less. That's always in the case in any sport. The same in most employment.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Haha non careers. Hundred game, premiership winning players and All Australians. One of your best mate.
Wilson
Roar Guru
Oh Wow over a quarter if it was closer to 50/50 I would see your argument but it has no value in this day and age players are Traded or picked up all the time to fill gaps even Freo has 3 in that game and could well have more from other clubs next year. so does that mean that Freo can't Develop players as well or is it a different rule for them.
Don Freo
Guest
27.27% imported!!! More than a quarter. The prosecution rests.
Wilson
Roar Guru
Roughead, Brust, Puopolo, Smith, Hill, Stratton, Suckling, Mitchell, Hodge, Hartung, Schoenmakers, Lewis, Shiels, Rioli, Duryea, Birchall all on the team that won on Friday night. the Argument that Hawks don't/ Can't Develop players in False as 72.73% of the team is One club Players. so yes I think that the Hawks can develop players. and use the one coming in to fix small holes that they may have. The reason we are not like is that no one like a team being at the top for as long as the Hawks have been (tall poppy syndrome) same as when the Lions won 3 in a row some people where sick of them winning.
Don Freo
Guest
Those Brissy players had non careers until they went to Brissy. They were all only bit players at Brissy. Hawthorn do not develop their own. That and their lack of football ethics is why they are not liked. They rank with Geelong but never Brisbane.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Mal Michael played 61 games for Collingwood before the Lions. His first year at the Gabba was 2001. Martin Pike played 141 AFL games before coming to the Lions.His first season at the Gabba was 2001. Lynch was another player that Brisbane picked up from another team. Granted they actually merged with them later, but Lynch left the Lions for the Bears at the end of 93 after playing 120 games as an All-Australian and the Lions Best & Fairest. If Hawthorn merged with the Demons next year would you then say Chip Frawley was Hawthorn developed? Of course not. Blake Caracella played 126 games for Essendon before coming to the Lions. His first season at the Gabba was 2003. Brad Scott played 22 games for Hawthorn before becoming a Lion. The Lions certainly did have another of Brisbane/Fitzroy developed players, but they also added players in. of the 2014 premiership team there were 7 of the 22 that have not played their entire career at Hawthorn. Lake, Gibson, McEvoy, Gunston, Hale, Burgoyne, Spangher. Gibson, McEvoy, Gunston and Spangher had all played less than 100 AFL games when they came to the Hawks. Sydney who they defeated had 6 so it's hardly like they are doing it more than other teams.
jax
Guest
The Tigers improved this year, keep going as there are a lot of really great signs. You guys can finish top 4 next year. Woosha and WC were bundled out in week one of the finals in 02, 03 and 04 before playing Sydney in the 05 and 06 GF's. The Tigers are tracking beautifully.
jax
Guest
Thanks 13th. Enjoy the game and good luck next year. Congratulations on Fyfe's Brownlow, well deserved and a great speech. That drive, down to eartness, leadership and commitment to succeed and the determination to go the extra mile creates champions and great football teams, it also inspires others. He had some good teachers in Lake Grace. Your team is in good hands it seems,
Don Freo
Guest
Lynch too. Who do you think developed them? The Lions?
Don Freo
Guest
Michael and Pyke...yes...but they were just foot soldiers.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Brisbane developed players like Mal Michael, Martin Pyke, Alistair Lynch right?