The West Coast Eagles produced one of the great comebacks in recent history when they clawed their way to a pulsating five-point victory against North Melbourne at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena.

Trailing by as much as 35 points in the third term the Eagles stormed home to win 15.12 (102) to 14.13, kicking the last four goals of the match to claim an epic triumph.

That four-goal blitz was part of a thrilling seven-goal quarter as the Eagles ramped up the intensity and ensured the Roos were under constant pressure.

Today, the Eagles backed up after a thrilling come-from-behind win against Gold Coast last week.

The triumph over North – the first victory on the road for the Eagles since a seven-point upset in round 23 last year against the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium – was the result of an irresistible burst in the closing minutes.

When key forward Oscar Allen kicked his fourth goal from a set shot the Eagles drew the margin back to seven points. They then won the centre clearance and when Jamie Cripps dribbled it through from the square West Coast trailed by a point with 61 seconds remaining.

Again the Eagles surged forward from the centre stoppage and veteran Andrew Gaff, who had been subbed into the game in the third term, took a courageous mark just inside the 50 metre arc.

He took the set a shot which dropped short and co-captain Allen pounced on the loose ball and snapped his fifth to put his side five points clear with 18 seconds remaining.

The Roos won a free kick after the bounce and pumped it towards their forward arc but their last ditch effort to salvage the game was interrupted by the final siren.

While Allen was the hero with a remarkable second half, the victory was set up by the work of another club veteran Jeremy McGovern who held Nick Larkey to just one goal for the game.

McGovern intercepted consistently through the game and along with Brady Hough, Reuben Ginbey and Jayden Hunt repelled many North forays forward.

Elliot Yeo, who also kicked two important goals in the run to the line, bullocked his way into the contest while Tim Kelly and Ryan Maric were also influential.

Details
West Coast Eagles         3.3         3.8         8.9         15.12    (102)
North Melbourne            4.2         7.6         10.10    14.13      (97)

Goals – West Coast Eagles: Allen 5; Cripps 3; Yeo 2; Waterman, Dewar, Darling, Trew, J Williams.

North Melbourne: Curtis 3; Sheezel, Powell, Teakle 2; Ford, Larkey, Pink, Hansen, Shiels.

Best – West Coast Eagles: McGovern, Allen, Hough, Yeo, Cripps, Maric.

North Melbourne: Sheezel, Xerri, McKerfcher, Curtis, Davies-Uniacke, Powell.

Crowd: TBC at Blundstone Arena.