West Coast came from behind to beat Melbourne on Friday night, but the defending premiers lost most of the key stats.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson concedes his team are still playing below their best despite scratching together three straight AFL wins.
The Eagles came from 19 points down in the third quarter against Melbourne to post a 16-point win at Optus Stadium on Friday night.
Liam Ryan’s spectacular mark late in the match will keep the highlights reel buzzing for some time to come.
But Simpson couldn’t help but scratch his head after the match when looking at the stats.
West Coast lost the inside 50s (62-47), contested possessions (158-141), hitouts (59-20) and clearances (39-33), yet somehow escaped with the 13.7 (85) to 9.15 (69) win.
Melbourne’s inaccuracy allowed West Coast to stay within striking distance for most of the match, and they made the most of it with seven of the last eight goals.
The Eagles have struggled to produce an adequate amount of inside 50s this season, and Simpson is well aware his team need to improve dramatically to have a chance of defending their flag.
“The facts are the numbers probably don’t stack up, and that’s been the case for most of the year,” Simpson said.
“Our supply has gone down. We are working really hard to get that right. If we can win in the meantime, that’s great.
“I think we’re still a little bit inconsistent.
“We’re not playing at our best, teams are shutting us down, we’re not helping ourselves as well.
“We haven’t quite hit a four-quarter performance, but we’re winning. That’s the pleasing part.
“We’re 6-3 and hopefully setting up a really good platform for the second half of the season.”
Ryan leapt into Demons ruckman Max Gawn to take a mark-of-the-year contender with just nine minutes remaining in the match.
The ensuing goal gave West Coast a lead they never relinquished.
Simpson heaped praise on Ryan, whose defensive aspects and work ethic have improved dramatically this season.
“That was a spectacular mark, we’ll take that. But the work he’s doing off the ball is really pleasing as well,” Simpson said.
“He runs like a 24, 25-year-old mature age high half-forward.
“He’s learning from one of the comp’s better high half forward in Jamie Cripps in how he runs. And he’s bought in.”
Eagles defender Lewis Jetta faces a nervous wait after his strong tackle concussed Tim Smith.
Smith’s arms were pinned in the tackle, leaving him with no way to protect his head from hitting the turf.
Young Eagles forward Daniel Venables is in doubt for next week’s clash with the Crows in Adelaide after being knocked out in a marking contest.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
It's amazing that sides are building their strategy around one player and he's not even in their side. Sure Melbourne were more inaccurate than the Eagles, but WCE missed some sitters as well. Darling's best and worst are probably further apart than most, but oppositions still can't put their third defender on him. Also, when will umpires start paying Kennedy frees for being blocked by players who are more than 5 metres from the ball as in Rule 15.4.5(e) and who prevent him from leading to the ball when they have no intention of contesting themselves? Hawkins has the same problem. Not playing great football for now.Rioli,9 possessions and two goals first game back in 70 minutes game time. Yeo, season high tackle count,Hurn in career-best form, Cripps still under-rated. They played a man down for three quarters, then Melbourne lost Neal-Bullen and Frost. Melbourne should have won. If the Eagles bring that last quarter intensity next week to Adelaide, who will be exhausted after their long flight back and their loss and another four points is there for the grabbing
User
Roar Rookie
Nicely edited to get tone you wanted from the presser, are wce winning? Well a 6/3 record indicates yes, has it been pretty at times well no, do you just need to bank wins at this time of year as the blokes who had limited pre season or no pre season get fully fit? Yes. We will be there when it counts not sending blokes to early surgeries as that's what wce do.
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
Eagles still not getting any love. They were down a rotation after Venables got knocked out...if any other club wins in those circumstances everyone says what a gritty win it was. I think its time to throw the Guv up forward...Let him play CHF and do the ruckwork in the forward line.....give Oscar Allen a key defensive position along with Will Schofield ..unless Baras is fit then put Will on a flank..hes too good to be playing WAFL... and shift Jack to the flank to play the third tall role Waterman played early last year. Re the ruck, McCinnes has been serviceable every time he has played, so no harm giving him another run either. I think its just their balance is not quite thereATM... Josh Smith or another midfielder sould come in to give some extra run in the midfield. Sides are running hard and playing on at all costs...and lowering the eyes to prevent intercepts which is a clever thing to do.... but..and its a big but... there is a fatigue penalty associated with that game style... mistakes creep in , players begin to miss targets by hand and foot..tall guys dont get any shorter when the legs get tired. Next weeks game is the season defining one for my mind... Crows and Eagles are both going to be fighting for that 4th spot by round 24... I think you can start to pencil in who ever gets the points next week for that spot.
IAP
Guest
McGovern was unsighted in the first 3 quarters. He only got near it when Melbourne started bombing into the forward line where he was filling the hole like he normally does. Melbourne would have won if they had have kicked straight. They tore West Coast apart but couldn’t finish the job. Other teams will copy the quick ball movement tactic now.
IAP
Guest
He played poorly because he is a spud.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Yeo, hurn, ryan and gov were just superb, Yeo's tackling was simply brilliant. I recon either Ainsworth or Ah chee in next week for Venables and if Jetta is given a week Nelson should come in
Cat
Roar Guru
Reminding me a lot of Geelong circa 2010 who stumbled through the season playing patchy and thinking they could just 'flick the switch' at the end.
Klompy
Guest
Can Jack Darling please take himself off the ground if he plays poorly next week against Adelaide? Give Darling a break in the Eagles Reserves. Is Darling injured. If he is then why is he playing? Or is really in poor form and does need time in the reserves? He is a surpreme and talented sportsman. It is just very disappointing the way he is playing. He is letting himself down and the team.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
McGovern and Hurn were sensational in the last 1/4 the two best in the competition. The Eagles are way off there best for some reason, but it is early days and apart from the Cats every other team is all over the shop, so i would suggest they will only get better. You have to feel for the dees they were undermanned and threw away easy shots on goal. Even though the free kick count was even the dees copped some shockers at vital times in the last 1/4 which added to there woes.