WEST Coast has confirmed its premiership credentials with a thumping 52-point over fellow top four contenders the Sydney Swans to remain in second place on the ladder.
The Eagles strangled the undermanned Swans and kept them to their lowest score of the season, winning 15.13 (103) to 7.9 (51) at Domain Stadium.
Gallery: West Coast's win in pictures
The Swans entered the match without the injured Kurt Tippett and they lost Lance Franklin pre-game with back tightness that flared up at training on Friday.
The lack of firepower up forward showed and their defence struggled to contain the free-scoring Eagles as they conceded 100 points for the second week in a row, having not conceded triple figures in the first 15 rounds.
Playing a key forward role in Franklin's absence, Adam Goodes worked tirelessly despite being booed incessantly by the Eagles crowd and youngsters Isaac Heeney and Brandon Jack kicked two goals apiece.
Lewis Jetta was outstanding with 21 touches and a fourth-quarter goal, which he celebrated by performing an indigenous war dance similar to the one Goodes did against Carlton in round nine.
The Eagles dominated in the middle with Matt Priddis gathering 34 disposals and kicking a goal in a best afield performance, while Andrew Gaff was prolific again with 32 touches.
Nic Naitanui starred in the ruck again with 41 hit-outs and a goal, and fellow big man Callum Sinclair was also dominant as the Eagles had 13 more clearances and 45 more contested possessions.
Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy kicked three goals each while Brad Sheppard, Sharrod Wellingham and Shannon Hurn were brilliant in defence.
West Coast set the win up with a blistering opening quarter where it booted five goals and kept the Swans goalless for the second week in a row.
The Swans struggled to get their hands on the ball and failed to take their chances as they managed just five behinds with Sam Reid hitting the post twice.
The second quarter was played almost exclusively in West Coast's half with the Eagles racking up 25 forward half turnovers in the first two quarters.
The Swans' half-time score of 1.6 was their second lowest of the season, just bettering the 1.3 they managed against Fremantle at the same venue.
It was also the Swans' lowest ever half-time score against West Coast as they trailed by 41 points.
The Eagles did not concede an inside 50 for the first 12 minutes of the third term and kicked 3.5 as the margin ballooned out to 64 points.
To the Swans' credit they fought back with late goals to reduce to the margin to 45 points at the final change.
They got to within 32 points, but the Eagles booted the last three goals of the match to round out the comfortable win.
The Swans return home to face the Crows next week as they cling to fourth spot on the ladder, while the Eagles, who are a game clear of third-placed Hawthorn, travel to Gold Coast next week before blockbusters against the Hawks and Fremantle.
WEST COAST 5.0 8.5 12.10 15.13 (103)
SYDNEY SWANS 0.5 1.6 5.7 7.9 (51)
GOALS
West Coast: Darling 3, Kennedy 3, LeCras 2, Gaff, Priddis, Shuey, Cripps, Hill, Sinclair, Naitanui
Sydney Swans: B.Jack 2, Heeney 2, Goodes, Jetta, Shaw
BEST
West Coast: Priddis, Yeo, Gaff, Naitanui, Sinclair, Sheppard
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Shaw, Rampe, Jetta, Parker
INJURIES
West Coast: TBA
Sydney Swans: Franklin (back) replaced in selected side by Brandon Jack
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Scott Selwood replaced Will Schofield at three-quarter time
Sydney: Tom Mitchell replaced Mike Pyke at three-quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Margetts, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 38,760 at the Domain Stadium
