A number of young and experienced Eagles put themselves in Western Derby selection calculations after steering East Perth to a commanding 37-point win over Perth on Saturday.
Exciting first-year players Brayden Ainsworth, Jarrod Brander and Jack Petruccelle combined with senior figures Fraser McInnes and Will Schofield to help the Royals register an important 21.10 (136) to 15.9 (99) victory over the Demons at Lathlain Park.
Ainsworth, who has been an emergency for West Coast on four occasions this year, had his most productive game in black and blue, amassing 20 disposals, 10 contested possessions, four inside 50s and a goal to boot.
Brander continued his good run of form in front of the big sticks with two goals, but it was Petruccelle who was the surprise packet of the contest.
West Coast’s fifth selection in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft didn’t get a ton of the ball but made the Demons pay with almost every possession.
The 19-year-old Northern Knights product bagged four goals from his nine touches to give East Perth a significant edge over their red and black opponents.
McInnes continued his rich vein of form, collecting 46 hit-outs, 14 disposals and two goals, while Schofield proved to be a steady hand in defence.
The ever-reliable backman amassed 18 disposals, nine half-back rebounds, four rebound 50s and halved seven of his aerial contests.
Saturday’s league contest also featured the return of West Coast’s second pick in the 2017 Draft, Oscar Allen, and off-season trade acquisition Brendon Ah Chee.
Allen spent most of his pre-season in West Coast’s rehabilitation group after arriving at the club with a pre-existing lower limb issue, while Ah Chee missed the club’s first five AFL fixtures due to an ankle injury he sustained during the Eagles’ opening JLT Community Series match in February.
The pair eased their way back into football on limited minutes.
Allen, who played in defence, got his hands on the ball six times and applied seven pressure acts.
Ah Chee collected 17 disposals, 10 contested possessions and effected six clearances and tackles.
Other West Coast-listed players who impacted the contest included key forward Matt Allen (12 disposals, two goals), midfielder Kurt Mutimer (16 disposals, four tackles), on-baller Tarir Bayok (15 disposals, four tackles) and defender Josh Rotham (10 pressure acts, five spoils).
EAST PERTH 8.6 12.7 19.10 21.10 (136)
PERTH 2.3 5.3 9.5 15.9 (99)
GOALS – EAST PERTH: Petruccelle 4; Wellingham 3, Blee, McInnes, Brander, M Allen 2; Hille, McGinnity, Maginness, Ameduri, Ainsworth, Karpany.
PERTH: Cary 3; Edmonds, Leggett 2; Byrne, White, Ninyette, Giobbi, Colledge, Eyres, Scotney, M Jones.
