The West Coast Eagles are on the board in 2022 after delivering a stirring backs-to-the-wall victory over Collingwood at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

Faced with a massive challenge of traveling east without five midfield stars and winless after the opening three rounds, the Eagles had doubters lining up to write their season off.

But an inspired defensive performance – led by backline pillars Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass – gutsy midfield effort and some deadly accuracy in attack got the job done 14.3 (87) to 10.14 (74) in an unforgettably brave performance.

After a tough few weeks, the Eagles celebrated raucously at the final siren, having breathed fresh life back into the campaign hit by injuries and unavailability due to the AFL’s Health and Safety Protocols.

Despite losing the inside 50 count 61-42, the Eagles’ dam wall stood strong and at the other end Josh Kennedy, Willie Rioli (three goals each), Liam Ryan and Jack Darling (two) made the most of their opportunities.

Darling was a towering presence in the closing stages, booting his first goal after finding space where there was none and marking strongly, before holding on in the pocket and converting the sealer – after Jake Waterman had snapped a critical major.

McGovern (22 disposals, eight marks) and Barrass (11, six) were impassable down back, while Liam Duggan’s (19 disposals) poise and Alex Witherden’s (27) skill helped launch numerous rebounds from defence.

But plenty of credit must go to an unheralded midfield missing skipper Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, Tim Kelly, Dom Sheed and Andrew Gaff.

Into the breach stepped Xavier O’Neill (24 disposals), Patrick Naish (23), Connor West (16) and Luke Edwards (15), with the emerging quartet combining with veterans Jack Redden and Nic Naitanui to hold their own against the Pies, who were missing Jordan De Goey and Taylor Adams.

It was an entertaining contest from the outset, with the Eagles up for the fight and both sides taking the game on under the roof.

West Coast drew first blood when Liam Ryan sprinted into the goalsquare and put the exclamation mark on a daring passage of play through the corridor, giving the visitors the perfect start.

With McGovern (three intercept marks) and Barrass (two) ruling the skies down back West Coast grew in confidence and had the better of the opening term, going into the first break up by six points thanks to a late Willie Rioli major from a courageous mark.

It was a morale-boosting opening and the emerging group of midfielders finding their way at AFL level were contributing in the absence of West Coast’s frontline onball brigade.

Momentum continued wearing blue and gold early in the second stanza, with Zac Langdon finishing off a superb piece of ball movement after Luke Foley’s probing diagonal kick finding Ryan, who in turn set up the goal.

Edwards’ first goal in football came from another bullet Ryan pass, and when ex-Tiger Naish joined the club of first-time West Coast goalkickers, the Eagles had answered a run of three-straight goals by Collingwood to reclaim the lead.

The Magpies kept on coming, though, and were particularly dangerous from stoppages, while West Coast did the bulk of its damage on the turnover.

Tension ratcheted up a level when Tom Wilson briefly put the home team ahead moments before half-time, but the Eagles weren’t done with yet.

From the ensuing centre bounce Langdon shook his man and deftly set up Ryan with a touch left foot kick, handing the visitors a two-point edge at the main break.

The third quarter was an arm-wrestle, as first Collingwood got on top through a lift in pressure and held the ball inside 50 (+12 for the quarter). 

But the Pies couldn't make the most of their opportunities and the Eagles hit back late through Rioli and Kennedy to stay within touching distance at the final change, just seven points back.

Champion forward Kennedy’s fourth kick produced his third goal to start the last stanza, and the Eagles were refusing to go away. 

When Darling found space where there was none, marked and converted the Eagles had reclaimed the lead with 13 minutes to play and kicked on for a memorable victory on the road. 

COLLINGWOOD 1.2 6.6 9.10 10.14 (74)
WEST COAST 2.2 7.2 9.3 14.3 (87)

GOALS
Collingwood: Ginnivan 2, Mihocek 2, Henry, Hoskin-Elliott, J.Daicos, Wilson, Cameron, Maynard
West Coast: Kennedy, Rioli 3, Darling, Ryan 2, Langdon, Edwards, Naish, Waterman

BEST
Collingwood: Grundy, N.Daicos, Maynard, J.Daicos, Crisp, Mihocek
West Coast: McGovern, O’Neill, Barrass, Naish, Ryan, Rioli, Witherden

INJURIES
Collingwood: Elliott (shoulder)
West Coast: TBC

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Bianco (replaced Elliott in the fourth quarter)
West Coast: Rotham (replaced Edwards at three-quarter time)

Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium