For a few years now, the West Coast Eagles and Sydney Swans have played for the HMAS Sydney II Trophy.
It was instigated after that vessel was discovered off the Western Australian coast, and given that Sydney was its home port, it made sense for these teams to play for that trophy and honour those seamen who perished.
The HMAS Sydney II was found in 2008 off the mid-west coast and in honour of the 645 personnel who perished on board, the Swans and Eagles have been playing for the trophy ever since. Sadly, it has spent precious little time in the west.
Swans will be breathing fire: Simpson
The magnificent rivalry between West Coast and Sydney, which was established in the mid 2000s, included consecutive grand final appearances and a string of single-digit margins, is fast fading into the distant past as the Swans continue their dominance over the Eagles.
On this occasion, Sydney came to Perth as the form team of the competition, sitting on top of the ladder and in irresistible touch. They left with their ladder position – and their reputation – intact.
West Coast would need everything to go right, but nothing did. Starting with the weather.
The physically mature Swans love it tight and tough, and with shocking, wintry conditions prevailing from the outset, they enjoyed the contest and held sway throughout.
There was little between the two teams all night, but the Swans found another gear in the last term and waltzed away with a 28-point victory. It was another one of those matches where the Eagles were ‘in’ the game, but not quite polished enough to get the result.
Luke Parker, Adam Goodes (three goals) and Ben McGlynn proved the difference, but West Coast had their stars as well.
Acting captain Eric Mackenzie continued the trend of the rotational skipper producing a quality performance when he was the master of Lance Franklin. The Swans star was keen to engage in hand-to-hand combat and Mackenzie was more than willing to oblige.
Mackenzie won the majority of those battles and consistently repelled Sydney attacking moves.
Through the midfield, Matt Priddis was nothing short of exceptional, while Andrew Gaff Luke Shuey, Mark Hutchings and Matt Rosa showed a capacity to win the hard ball. And on a tough night for forwards, Jack Darling was good defensively, despite kicking just the solitary goal.
LAST TIME
Round 16: Sunday, July 6 – Patersons Stadium
Sydney 3.4 5.12 7.14 10.19 (79)
West Coast Eagles 2.2 4.5 6.7 7.9 (51)
Goals: Sydney – Goodes 3; McGlynn, Parker 2; Rampe, Franklin, S Reid. West Coast Eagles – Kennedy 2; Cripps, Darling, Shuey, Priddis, Lycett.
Attendance: 25,076
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 45 Won: 19 Lost: 26
LAST FIVE TIMES
R16, 2014, Sydney 10.19 (79) d West Coast 7.9 (51) at Subiaco Oval
R17, 2013, Sydney 17.11 (113) d West Coast 11.13 (79) at Subiaco Oval
R16, 2012, Sydney 18.13 (121) d West Coast 10.9 (69) at Subiaco Oval
R3, 2011, Sydney 15.11 (101) d West Coast 13.10 (88) at Subiaco Oval
R5, 2010, Sydney 17.13 (115) d West Coast 9.9 (63) at the SCG
