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Ryan likes his sport played efficiently, effectively and elegantly, like a Nic Naitanui hit out to advantage. Always searching for an interesting angle, Ryan loves nothing more than digging deep into the play and searching for the signal others miss in the noise. You can follow Ryan here (@RyanBuckland7).
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Q3 – 4m – The Eagles break out of their back half with a Jeremy McGovern contested mark on the wing. But the entry kick misses the mark and we’ve got a couple of repeat stoppages on West Coast’s left forward wing.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 8.7 (55)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q3 – 1m – Melbourne gets a bit of a break in the context of the game, with Jake Melksham kicking a low set shot from just inside 50. Eagles will want to get a bit more from centre bounces in the second half.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 8.6 (54)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Half time – We’re back on deck. Jeremy McGovern starting at notional centre half forward as the umpire messes up the centre bounce.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 7.6 (48)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Half time – A delicately poised game, and the players on both sides look absolutely stuffed. It’s a 14 point lead to Melbourne. I’ll be back for the second half shortly.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 7.6 (48)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 – 28m – The Eagles look to have an overlap on the right hand wing but an excellent open field tackle from Neville Jetta on Willie Rioli shuts it down. He follows that up with another excellent one on one spoil and the ball is on the West Coast left forward wing.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 7.6 (48)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 – 25m – West Coast turns the ball over exiting on the kick out. Michael Hibberd kicks long back inside 50 and Sam Weideman floats across for the mark. However, he sprays the kick wide and misses everything. West Coast looks to exit quickly but breaks down again, this time on its right wing and we have a boundary throw in.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 7.6 (48)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 – 22m – Gawn to Oliver to Petracca. How I wish that was Naitanui to Gaff to Kennedy. Petracca appears to be a little short on the kick and we have a score review. Looked a behind from where I was.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 7.5 (47)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 – 21m – Heads up play from Jake Melksham on a deep entry. He gathers the ball in the pocket but instead of going for goal kicks the ball to an unmarked Nathan Jones who is 30 metres out dead in front. The captain kicks the goal and Melbourne is back out by 13 points.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 7.5 (47)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 -20m – A terrible kick out from Lewis Jetta puts Luke Shuey under pressure (again). Melbourne swarms but the shot misses left. The second attempt at an exit is much more effective and we’re back between the arcs.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 6.5 (41)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 -17m – Willie Rioli almost kicks a stunner after roving a pack inside 50, but just can’t get the right bend on the ball. It hits the post. And on the exit Melbourne once again breaks down as the Eagles did in the first quarter.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 6.4 (40)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 -16m – And an equally quick strike back from West Coast! Liam Ryan kicks the goal after initially overrunning a ground ball at the top of the goal square. He navigates his way through three Melbourne players and snaps the six pointer.
West Coast: 5.3 (33)
Melbourne: 6.4 (40)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 -15m – A quick strike back from the Dees! A free kick after the centre bounce, Christian Petracca stewards the ground ball out of the pack of players, gets it to Aaron Vandenberg, who snaps the goal. Despite its dominance West Coast still trails by 13 points.
West Coast: 4.3 (27)
Melbourne: 6.4 (40)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 -13m – Jamie Cripps lands very heavily on his neck in a marking contest but fortunately he’s not too badly hurt. The umpire pays a free kick but I’m not sure it was there – it was a one on one contest and Cripps happened to get a little higher than the Melbourne player. As it is Cripps takes the shot and kicks a goal.
West Coast: 4.3 (27)
Melbourne: 5.4 (34)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
That’s Jake Melksham obviously…
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 – 10m – Melbourne breaks off half back with an incisive kick from Jack Melksham. Some short cross-groudn kicks culminate in an Angus Brayshaw mark just inside 50 and he strikes it true. A goal against the play you’d have to say.
West Coast: 3.3 (21)
Melbourne: 5.4 (34)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 – 7m – West Coast have all the play to start the second quarter, but they haven’t yet fully capitalised on it. It’s a pretty similar circumstance to Q1, just with the teams reversed. Melbourne slows the play down but Shannon Hurn takes an intercept mark as they attempt to move forward.
West Coast: 3.3 (21)
Melbourne: 4.4 (28)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 – 4m – Another turnover around the centre from Melbourne – this time from an errant Angus Brayshaw handball – and the Eagles waltz back into their half. The Eagles could’ve raffled it but the mark inside 50 is taken by Elliot Yeo. However, he misses.
West Coast: 3.3 (21)
Melbourne: 4.4 (28)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 – 3m – This time its Melbourne who can’t exit effectively from the West Coast forward line. Lewis Jetta executes a deft one-two with Luke Shuey and gets the ball to Nathan Vardy. He misses. Jeremy McGovern has been swung forward following Jack Darling’s concussion.
West Coast: 3.2 (20)
Melbourne: 4.4 (28)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q2 – 1m – We’ve just received word Jack Darling is done for the day with concussion. Willie Rioli squirts forward from a stoppage but can’t make it count
West Coast: 3.1 (19)
Melbourne: 4.4 (28)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Quarter time – A chap from Champion Data just handed me the stats through Q1, and it’s telling. Contested possessions: 54-30 Melbourne’s way. That’s a paddling.
West Coast: 3.0 (18)
Melbourne: 4.4 (28)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Quarter time – A really interesting game so far. Melbourne has certainly done its homework, closing down West Coast’s attacking lanes and not allowing them to switch the play as they like. It means they’ve been able to close the Eagles down when the ball is live, and their handball game has come to the fore. Still, by the end of the quarter West Coast had managed to settle themselves down and break to the open side effectively. It’s delicately poised this one.
West Coast: 3.0 (18)
Melbourne: 4.4 (28)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Quarter time – Normal programming has resumed. A turnover on exit leads to a Max Gawn entry pass, which floats by everyone. Lewis Jetta picks up the ball and hands it to Luke Shuey in a 4v1. Holding the ball. James Harmes just misses, and it’s Melbourne by ten points at quarter time.
West Coast: 3.0 (18)
Melbourne: 4.4 (28)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q1 – 27m – And they hit back again. Brendon Ah Chee takes a contested mark on the right hand West Coast forward 50 following a kick from Willie Rioli. The Eagles have three in a row.
West Coast: 3.0 (18)
Melbourne: 4.3 (27)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q1 – 26m – West Coast manages to exit Melbourne’s defensive half through a Nathan Vardy contested mark. After some scrappy play the ball gets on the deck inside West Coast’s 50, and Chris Masten jumps out the back for an uncontested shot at goal. He hits it, and the margin is 15 points.
West Coast: 2.0 (12)
Melbourne: 4.3 (27)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog
Q3 – 6m – Melbourne looked to have a clean break from the half back line with a disorganised West Coastt back line, but Tom Barrass catches Jake Melksham holding the ball. However the Eagles make a hash of the possession and Melbourne gets a shot at goal through Tom McDonald. He kicks the goal and Melbourne is now up by 27 points. That’s going to be tough to chase down.
West Coast: 5.4 (34)
Melbourne: 9.7 (61)
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons: AFL live scores, blog