1. Sometimes you don’t really know what you’re capable of producing until the heat goes on. And the temperature was on again in the backline against Port. The Power boasts some dangerous forwards through Justin Westhoff, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard and Robbie Gray. The defence held up all night, restricting Port to just 10 goals in a terrific performance. Sharrod Wellingham, Brad Sheppard, Sam Butler, Jamie Bennell, Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern and Will Schofield have been terrific all season, but particularly in the last fortnight.
2. The West Coast midfield has had its knockers in recent times, but it is developing into a quality unit. Chris Masten has stepped up to plate in the last 18 months and is starting to earn due recognition for his output. Elliot Yeo is going to be an outstanding midfielder and, with Mark LeCras playing a bit more through the middle, Matt Priddis is getting the support he needs.
The sky's the limit for the Eagles: Schofield
3. About 18 months ago at the draft, the West Coast brains trust took a calculated decision to trade pick #6 for picks 11 and 28. The rationale was that the Eagles would still get one of their primary draft targets, through WA 18s captain Dom Sheed, but could use selection #28 to satisfy Brisbane’s demands to release Elliot Yeo. That is starting to look like an inspired decision with Sheed in terrific form in the midfield and Yeo producing some eye-catching displays in the cauldron in the last fortnight.
4. There is no substitute for class and Luke Shuey showed that with a silky performance through the midfield against Port. He was exceptional around the stoppages, but worked hard all night and finished off his game with two telling goals – the last one being the sealer at about the 32-minute mark of the last quarter.
Sealer Shuey can't take credit
5. Team improvement generally needs to come from the second-tier players. And a number of those players who have stepped up are responsible for elevating West Coast to a 4-2 win-loss ratio after six rounds. Jamie Cripps, Dom Sheed, Elliot Yeo, Brad Sheppard, Fraser, McInnes, Jeremy McGovern and draftees Liam Duggan and Jackson Nelson have certainly played their part in the club’s impressive start to the season.
