The West Coast Eagles have run over the Collingwood Magpies to take a 16-point victory and book in a home preliminary final at Optus Stadium.
After a hot first few minutes, the Eagles held onto the ball and kept it in their forward half; a goal to Nathan Vardy out of the ruck and two in a row to Liam Ryan had West Coast off to the start they desired.
In the second quarter Collingwood worked overtime to bring the ball to ground and create a manic game of football, allowing them to get back into the game and at halftime find themselves in front by three points.
It was a high scoring first half of footy that had fans excited; the second half was set up to be thrilling and that it was.
An inaccurate start to the third term slowed the scoring, but two Collingwood goals and just one to West Coast’s Josh Kennedy meant the Magpies took a 10-point lead into the final change.
The game was poised for a big final term and the 59,585-strong crowd became highly influential in getting the home side up.
Tall forwards Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter, before Jordan de Goey reclaimed the lead for the Magpies.
The Eagles kicked the final three goals of the game to complete a 26-point turnaround: Lewis Jetta intercepted on the Eagles forward 50 arc and goaled, Jack Darling marked inside 50 and kicked truly, before Jack Redden extended the margin after the siren.
Jeremy McGovern took seven marks, including four intercepts, in the first quarter, but was drawn away from the ball by the Collingwood forwards – particularly Chris Mayne – and was unable to dominate in the final three quarters.
Elliott Yeo (36 disposals, 24 contested, 9 tackles), Jack Redden (32 disposals, 12 marks, 1 goal) and Dom Sheed (27 disposals, 7 clearances, 1 goal) worked hard in the midfield for the Eagles.
West Coast’s tall forwards were quiet and fumbled in the first three quarters, but when the game was in the balance Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling stepped up, took some strong marks and kicked two goals each for the game.
It was all Brodie Grundy in the ruck, he had 48 hit outs to Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy’s combined 28. However, his influence wasn’t capitalised on at ground level; Steele Sidebottom was tagged out of the game in the second half by Mark Hutchings and the rest of the Magpies’ midfield couldn’t lift their side straight through to a preliminary final.
Eagle Brad Sheppard went down in the first term with a high hamstring injury. The underrated defender was chasing Jordan de Goey when he pulled up hurt, immediately clutching at his hamstring and heading off the field.
It didn’t look great and could see him sit on the sidelines with Nic Naitanui and Andrew Gaff for the rest of the finals.
West Coast now have the week off, before hosting the winner of Hawthorn vs Melbourne in a preliminary final. They are just one win away from a grand final berth, an incredible effort considering where many experts had them sitting at the beginning of the year.
Next up for Collingwood, is a clash with the GWS Giants at the MCG next Saturday. The Giants were firing in their Derby with Sydney on Saturday afternoon, rolling the Swans and shifting into another gear in the finals’ series.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Thanks very much Nigel. For what it's worth mate I will be cheering the Eagles on if you make the GF against Richmond! I thought our game Sat night was a finals classic, it's the simpleton comments of some in here that put you off. (like claiming Taylor Adams milked the clock 45 seconds into the last qtr) . I've never been one to rub a loser's nose in it after a big finals win. I recall a very loud mouthed Saints fan sitting near me in the 2010 GF. He was screaming abuse at all the Pies players, fans, Eddie, you name it....anyway as the replay GF went on and the result was beyond doubt, I looked over and he was in tears. A 45 year old bloke in tears. Did I go rub his nose in it? No. I was just so deliriously happy to win that's all I cared about. I bumped into him as my sons and I headed downstairs to get near the celebrations and just said "bad luck mate, you'll be back next year". They weren't of course and haven't been since so you just got to take your memories when you can get them.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Your midfield lift in the last quarter Nigel was admirable and I acknowledge you were a rotation down. My point is that these other Eagles fans claiming the Pies were so badly coached and played so badly only are admitting their own side wasn't much better as you won it in the last 5 minutes and led well at quarter time. I actually used to really like the Eagles until I started reading Matti6x6 comments in here. Only takes one nuff nuff to put you off.
Nigel Dias
Guest
Peter mate, would love a pies V Eagles GF would have awesome given no one gave us a chance at the start of the year. All the best V the giants
Nigel Dias
Guest
Peter I respect you mate but we had one less rotation on the bench you should have run over us? With your start studded midfield
WCE
Roar Rookie
my Geelong friend is livid that Vardy is doing so well at West Coast , I just smile
User
Roar Rookie
Nice effort in trying to justify bucks poor effort, purposely putting lynch in a difficult situation with the club he was still contracted with is unprofessional to be kind and it makes me happy knowing wce wouldn't ever be so $tup1d. Again that awesome one line by Brad Scott really revealed so much, thankfully north Melbourne aren't $tup1d enough to do a Buckley.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Yeah the key words in your post above are "by all reports" the media never get it wrong of course....if Lynch makes a decision based on that we wouldn't want him regardless. IMO Lynch is like Darcy Moore, get on board or we quickly move on. Steven May would be great to get if we can and fills a spot while Scharenberg and Dunn recover from ACL's. Goldsack will get at least another year based on his excellent job on JK. He is the heart and soul of the club and to do what he did 6 months after an ACL is phenomenal.
User
Roar Rookie
When did I say that certain ex players are great pillars of society? Geez newsflash Pete I enjoy them playing footy I don't have to worship them as ppl. you seemed to miss the point Pete, when it comes to player movement through trade or fa wce play their cards close and certainly don't send simmo to a tv spot and say he's met with a possible high profile recruit mid season. By all reports lynch was quite unhappy and likely that bucks decision to be Mr open drove him into Richmond's arms. If you process things before going uppity do da you'll see what I was stating was quite clear.
User
Roar Rookie
Not really, very odd to be disturbed by two adults deeply in love expressing it in the most natural of ways Pete, you are a strange little man I must say.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
No Matti Eagles are a club who never have any issues with their ex players , they have all remained pillars of society. No dirty linen aired in public ever.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
It’s the fact you need and choose to mention it that is extremely disturbing.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Ran over Don? 5 minutes to go pies still led by 2 and were never more than 10 ahead. In fact Eagles led by the biggest margin first quarter. How is that overrun?
User
Roar Rookie
Lol your such a sheep, wait and see Pete because wce aren't a club who airs their moves in public, doing that can anger a player and drive them into Richmond's arms.
User
Roar Rookie
Not really to much information just a little home truth that your opinion of means diddly squat, if you find fact I make love to my wife a squirmy icky to much info comment I will say I'm happy to not live your dull life.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Listening to Brad Scott this morning Gaff is already being fitted for a Kangaroos jumper.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
You are unlikely to ever have that problem, TTF. Don't listen to my opinion on Sidey, ask around, look around than admit you are wrong, pretty simple really.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
A bit too much information there thanks Matti. The Roar has lost its editing comments function and unfortunately for all in here you too lack a self-edit function.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Not sure what it's got to do with Carlton but anyway, doesn't change the fact that he doesn't like the hard ball.
User
Roar Rookie
Well I breathe ok, make love to my wife, enjoy the laughter of my children and the respect of family, friends and my greater community then. I'll get by not being concerned by those who don't matter, cute you think you do though.
User
Roar Rookie
Oh geez sorry you meant the tackle where degoey threw the ball out. Called dropping the ball mate and has been a free for longer than my life. Where is the praise for a sub 30 gamer who toweled the Collingwood golden boy degoey Pete? Dad passed away 2days out from the season opener and yet you wouldn't even know what Tommy Cole has been through this year and the strength the young man has shown.