The West Coast Eagles have defeated the Essendon Bombers by 55 points at Optus Stadium in a Thursday night elimination final.
It really was West Coast from the word go tonight. The Bombers kept up for about 15 minutes, before the Eagles scored four of the last five goals in the opening term to take an early 21-point lead.
This was extended to five goals as West Coast continued their dominance at the start of the second quarter.
Essendon had a more positive patch closing in on half-time, but were unable to make any real inroads on the margin.
Despite a more competitive third term, in which the Bombers cleaned up their disposal, the Eagles still scored an extra goal over Essendon to extend the lead to 36-points.
Then the flood gates opened.
Liam Ryan’s third and Jamie Cripps’ fourth goal sealed a comprehensive victory in a three-goals-to-one final term.
With that, season 2019 is done for the Bombers, who showed very little in the sudden death match in the west.
Dyson Heppell, under an injury cloud, picked up 31 disposals, while young Andy McGrath had 30 disposals and a goal in a desperate and composed finals performance.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Will Snelling scored two goals each, the latter – a mid-season draftee – was up and about in an otherwise dismal first half.
There were plenty of contributors for the Eagles; in his 200th AFL game, Luke Shuey picked up 34 disposals and eight clearances, while Andrew Gaff also had 34 disposals and Jack Redden 29.
Jamie Cripps and Josh Kennedy kicked four goals each and Liam Ryan kicked three.
There could be a few interesting calls at match review, with both Nic Naitanui and Zach Merrett reported by the umpire for an altercation in which Merrett pulled Naitanui’s hair and Naitanui sent Merrett into the fence.
Naitanui’s return was huge, playing an influential role in limited game time. Will he be available at selection next week? A fine is a more likely outcome here.
Jackson Nelson went off after a head knock in the final term and did not return to the game.
Mitch Brown sat off the second half for the Bombers with a calf injury.
Next up, West Coast will face the loser of tomorrow night’s qualifying final between the Geelong Cats and the Collingwood Magpies.
It will be a big month of travel, but the Eagles are a force in this finals series. With the personnel back in the team, just a few things need to be tidied and West Coast could be in line for back-to-back premierships.
West Coast 17.14.116
Essendon 9.7.61
Seymorebutts
Guest
Thats the beauty of them livestreaming the WAFL games, we get to see the next generation of players....Rotham looks nice and solid, he will be a good defender in years to come. Young Brayshaw should be in the senior side next year, he gets plenty of ball , always looks like he has time and uses the ball cleanly...and the left footed South Australian should get a look as well. He covers a heap of ground..one minute hes attempting the spoil in the back pocket, 15 seconds later hes giving of an assist for a shot on goal at the other end, its phenomenal how much territory they cover these days.
Seeymorebutts
Guest
and they had just played on a wet MCG with one day less recovery... that all adds up...
Gee
Roar Rookie
Nic Nat has nothing to worry about. Stars get the Hall/Cotchin "discount" during finals. Good to see Kennedy have a good game.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
He played 60 minutes and did what had to be done. Your most apparent bias is called 'anchoring'. Look it up. Shame the Pies won; it would have been great to knock you over once more just for old times' sake
Jack A
Guest
Because WC were off, and the Hawks were on, it happens to all teams. Schofield out and an underdone Duggan was a poor selection choice.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Did you see NicNat giving silver service in that game?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Then why did the hawks spank them?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Wouldn’t be booking the hotel too far in advance. Bad omen
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Pies had 11 more shots
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Nothing to do with the pies just think you shouldn’t get carried away by belting an injury ravaged bombers
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
It’s more his fitness I have a query on Doc
Jack A
Guest
Last time NN did his ankle in the 1st quarter. I’m surprised that he even made it to the 3rd quarter. NN missed the next few months of footy after that game. Nothing to boast about, NN was given Grundy a lesson in the 1st quarter before his ankle injury.
Flyinghigh
Guest
You quickly forget that a depleted Essendon pushed Collingwood to the limit 2 weeks ago.
hayboy
Roar Rookie
3 weeks of travel might be premature thinking. Possibly only playing in Melb from now on so do they fly back and fourth to Melbourne or set up camp there?
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
He ran down a man faster than Grundy. Clocked at 31.7 km/hr,no less. If you care to take off your black and white blinkers,you would have seen some superior tapwork, mighty tackles and slick forward play by a player at least Grundy's equal. But if you just see Essendon as an inferior opponent without regard for the Eagles' excellence,I can't help you with your cognitive biases.
Aiden
Roar Rookie
How r u today
Gerry
Roar Rookie
You can only beat what’s put in front of you remember that old cliche!?
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Hey Pete you want to be sure your Pies do the business tonight before you start slating the opposition. We won’t get ahead of ourselves so please do the same.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Spot on Peter, if Collingwood lose tonight, NN wont be able to run with Grundy, said a bit earlier I can't see West Coast beating Collingwood or Geelong TBH. Essendon have been very ordinary for most of the past month and a half.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I believe West Coast won't beat either Collingwood or Geelong next week, their form all year has been very up and down, they just belted a team whose form the past 5 weeks had been terrible. People quickly forget this bombers team only beat Gold Coast by 10 points, lost to the Bulldogs by 104 points and even got flogged by Port for 59 points. So a 55 points to the Eagles in Perth was pretty normal. Collingwod and Geelong will both know not to give the Eagles backmen easy uncontested marks, everyone knows once the ball hits the deck in the Eagles backline are worst in the league for points condeded, so both these team wont be playing dumb Essendon footy.