The Eagles went down fighting at Provident Financial Oval today, with midfield duo Brayden Ainsworth (30 disposals, 11 marks, three tackles) and Hamish Brayshaw (28, eight, five) the best afield in the 16.10 (106) to 5.5 (35) loss.
Returning speedster Jamaine Jones (five marks, five tackles, one goal) and spearhead Jake Waterman (nine marks, four tackles, one goal) must also be commended for their efforts on-field, while Zane Sumich’s work rate was a barometer for the Eagles across the match.
Despite falling to the Falcons by 71 points, the Eagles also saw promising signs from youngster Isiah Winder (21 disposals, eight marks) in his fifth match back from injury, while Jarrod Brander (27 disposals, six marks, one goal) and Josh Rotham (23 disposals, nine marks, one tackle) were consistent across the day.
Unfortunately, it was a rocky start for West Coast with West Perth slotting six unanswered goals and a slew of points while holding the Eagles scoreless for the first quarter.
Jake Waterman was able to break the drought for West Coast in the second, but was the only Eagle to hit the scoreboard by half-time.
In the third term, West Coast cleared the ball through a congested midfield after a classy tap from ruckman Bailey Williams (38 hitouts, three marks, two tackles) and were able to retain possession to move the ball inside forward 50.
However, they were unable to convert the entry, with West Perth’s backs rapidly moving in to turn the ball over and create a speedy play through the corridor which ended in a goal.
But the Eagles’ efforts were not to be thwarted when, moments later, they entered the forward-line and created a scoring opportunity for Sumich, with resulted in a point.
West Perth then attempted to send the ball down the left wing, with West Coast’s Ty Sears able to claim an impressive intercept mark and boot the ball back inside 50.
But the Falcons were able to spoil the entry, leaving both sides scrambling for possession in a heated few minutes.
After battling it out at ground level, the Eagles managed to kick the ball back to developing defender Harry Edwards (12 disposals, five marks, one tackle), but the Falcons were once again able to break the chain of play and dispose of the ball cleanly to rake in their ninth goal of the match.
West Coast responded with another point – this time from captain Hamish Brayshaw – which left the side sitting 60 points down halfway through the third.
The Eagles’ Brandan Young also managed another minor score in quick succession to Brayshaw, with inaccuracy unable to break down the tireless West Perth outfit, who scored their twelfth goal of the match on the third-quarter siren.
After coming into the last term with a 71-point lead, West Perth’s reign of dominance was finally snapped again by Jones, who scored a terrific goal from the 50 metre arc.
Although the Falcons then responded with one of their own, West Coast were again able to send the ball inside 50, with Cooper Nitschke the Eagles’ third goal-scorer of the match.
Brander and Kieran Hug then joined in with one apiece, but it wasn’t enough to combat the in-form Falcons, with the Eagles eventually falling by 71 points in the battle of the birds.
WEST COAST: 0.0 1.0 1.3 5.5 (35)
WEST PERTH: 4.4 7.8 12.8 16.10 (106)
GOALS
West Coast: Waterman, Nitschke, Jones, Brander, Hug
West Perth: Keitel 7, Murray, Riddoch 2, Kernutt, Knott, Pegoraro, Peirce, Todd
BEST
West Coast: Ainsworth, Brayshaw, Brander, Rotham, Jones, Hutchings, Sears
West Perth: Keitel, Shane Nelson, Black, Hobley, Boyes, Guadagnin
