The West Coast Eagles and Collingwood Magpies played out an instant classic on Saturday night, but it was the Eagles who won the right to a home preliminary final. Here’s my five talking points from the match.
Late Lewis Jetta proves to be just on time
It’s one of those funny little stories that may just go down in football folklore.
Lewis Jetta was nearly late to West Coast’s most important game of the year so far, getting stuck in traffic on his way to the ground.
Jetta made the game, and as it turned out, kicked his first goal of the season at the perfect time.
Late in the match, he put one through reminiscent of his dazzling 2012 campaign with the Sydney Swans to move West Coast ahead and prompt a Cristiano Ronaldo-style celebration.
Once again, the Eagles are our finals saviour
Last year the first week of finals proved to be a relatively straightforward set of games up until the final match of the round, when West Coast defeated Port Adelaide in an all-time classic.
In 2018 it was much the same thing across the first three games of the round, and once again a game featuring the West Coast Eagles proved to be our saviour.
This match was by far the best one of the opening week of finals, heart-in-mouth stuff right up until the final minutes.
Collingwood fans will be understandably devastated to have let a winnable match – and the chances of a week off before an MCG prelim – slip, but would find it hard to deny that it was a great game.
Tall forwards prove telling for West Coast
At a time where playing smaller forward lines is all the rage, the West Coast Eagles are a bit different from most of this year’s finals sides.
In Josh J Kennedy and Jack Darling they have a forward line pairing who would probably be just as comfortable playing ten or twenty years ago as they are now.
Collingwood’s mid-sized forwardline has been impressive all season and proved to be so again in finals, but it was the Eagles’ big lads who proved most crucial.
Kennedy was a little wayward kicking 2.4 but his marking power had a significant impact on the game, while Darling kicked the sealer late in the piece.
Betts rule gets a test on the big stage
In 2013 the AFL was quick to change its rules after a pre-season match saw Eddie Betts denied a goal because the umpire proved to be an obstruction.
The new rule allows umpires to make a judgement call on what would have happened had they not obstructed the ball’s movement when relevant to the outcome of a scoring shot.
So far as I’m aware, last night was the first time the rule has actually needed to be dug up since it was changed, when the goal umpire accidentally prevented the ball from striking the post.
Under the old rules it would’ve been play on and West Coast could have gone on to score a goal – instead, it was ruled a behind.
A controversial talking point to be sure if – as looked likely for a while – the Eagles had lost in a narrow one.
Instead, it turned out to be just a funny quirk of the game. Whew.
Pies bold selection calls pay off – or did they?
I was pretty stunned to see Tyson Goldsack named to play for Collingwood this week given he’s only recently returned through the VFL and had little impact there.
Adam Treloar was something of a surprise to see named as well – albeit a more mild one.
As it turned out though, both players were able to give Collingwood quality service.
Goldsack may not have racked up the possessions, but his defensive efforts were A-grade, and he more than justified his inclusion.
Treloar didn’t play his absolute best football, but 24 possessions and six clearances was a statline you’d have to be happy with.
Given that Pies let the last three goals of the game slip, there’s a question to be asked of whether the inclusion of three players lacking match fitness (as Jeremy Howe also returned) cost them the game.
Maybe it did – but they might well not have been in a match-winning position to start with if they had gone in without them.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I disagree Chris, you take your flags when and how you can get them. Look at the Doggies frees in 2016. Good luck to them, got a flag. Look at Richmond last year. Cotchin shouldn't have played and they got the umps vote too...does it lessen the memory or take a shine off the cup? Of course not. A flag is a flag even if you scrap and bite and almost cheat your way to one. Once the siren is blown anything else is just hot air. If the Pies can beat GWS which is no mean feat in itself, I don't care if the free kick count against the Tigers is 28-2 to us, the wind changes direction in our favour each quarter and Dusty, Cotch, Jack and the diver Rance are all subbed off by quarter time. Who cares. A win is a win and a flag is a flag.
Chris
Guest
Going down honourably is of no interest to me because everybody will say we weren't good enough. So, here's the deal: We either lose ingloriously so that all the Collingwood haters can knock us from pillar to post or we beat both GWS and Richmond and stick it up the AFL. Any other result simply won't do!
Chris
Guest
Basically, it suits the AFL to dump Collingwood out of ther finals and get a Richmond Vs. Melbourne Grand Final. That result will be contrived by whatever means possible. Now, should Collingwood and WCE do the unthinkable and land themselves in the Grand Final that would be high treason from the men in white and the hierarchy of this "great" spectacle would go violently or destructively frenzied, wild, crazed, deranged and psychotic as if they were serial killers on a mission to self-destruct!:
User
Roar Rookie
What did Sen have to say about it Pete? Or fox or the tabloids? Fact suddenly it is a issue that affected the result is the last gasp of a dying argument you are putting forward
User
Roar Rookie
Well as I was aware the less intelligent would claim umpire bias and when numbers where quoted it would be the old what wasn't paid/were they where payed sh#+ sandwich I'm not surprised that's your response.
User
Roar Rookie
You are not even able to comprehend, for me this isn't debating it's conversation with an obvious dullard
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Such shallow, poor thinking to purely look at free kick numbers and not where, when and how they are paid.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I agree James. Watched the last quarter again and three times an Eagles player was tackled and literally dropped the ball....result 0 frees. They turned the momentum of the game these umpires as much as Hoskin Elliott hitting the post twice in the third. (Pies would have been 4 goals up).
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Damning evidence there.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Thanks for subscribing to The Scribe TTF
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Chris you know that saying if you pay peanuts......you're wasting your time engaging with certain posters who appear to be paid in just the empty shells.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Oh yes Matti, sheer cunning move from Tay, there's a thing called blowing time on you may not have heard of but don't let that little insignificant AFL law get in the way of your bed time story.
User
Roar Rookie
Yep because jk and darling never got man handled hey Chris
Tricky
Guest
Did 6pr really say that? Or were they reporting that from a neutral standpoint? The 1st I've heard of Varcoe being booed in that game. I don't believe he was.
Jason
Roar Rookie
Obvious choice and has the pace to play the attacking running defender that Shep Did.
Shar
Guest
Yeah that’s why both coaches gave Yeo points for best on ground - 10 pts equal top for best player of the finals Elliott Yeo is a superstar you all know it and you would all love to have him
Chris
Guest
It doesn't matter how many free kicks you get, it's when and where you get them! Besides, not being given any when your men are manhandled in a contest doesn't auger well, either. Typical bias and bloody-minded attitudes!
Confused
Guest
Both teams played attacking attractive football. It was the best game of the year. Gives you hope that the ugly pressure scrums that works so well for Richmond may not be the future.
Sausage Sizzle Sam
Guest
Schoey steps in, he's a solid replacement, riding some form now!
BBQ BILL
Guest
Nothing worse than bad sportsmanship, sour grapes and sore losers! What a great contest by both sides! WCE minus NN, Gaff and Sheppard, a man down on the bench, still get up and snatch a win convincingly in last quarter! Welcome To the Thunderdome=two teams enter, one team leaves! Commiserations to Pies, Up the Mighty Coasters!!