The West Coast Eagles are on the board in season 2024, downing Richmond by 39 points in a pulsating performance on Sunday.
Elliot Yeo (27 disposals, two goals) was back to his All-Australian best and Jake Waterman kicked a career-high six majors as the hosts delivered their strongest first half since 2021 on the way to a 16.13 (109) to 10.10 (70) victory at Optus Stadium.
The Eagles looked potentially in for another grim afternoon when they conceded the first four goals, but they dominated thereafter to claim just their sixth win in 54 games.
No.1 draft pick Harley Reid gathered 27 disposals - including 13 touches and four clearances in the third term alone - and had the 47,665-strong crowd swooning with repeated bursts out of traffic and a superb roving goal.
Fellow youngsters Reuben Ginbey and Campbell Chesser also impressed, while Waterman was immense up forward with eight contested marks.
Already without Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper, Dion Prestia, Noah Balta, Dylan Grimes and Tom Lynch, the Tigers suffered another injury blow when Jayden Short was substituted in the second quarter with a calf concern.
Adam Yze's side had started brightly with hometown star Shai Bolton capitalising on excellent team pressure and spread to snare two first-quarter majors.
But Yeo and Tim Kelly (29 disposals) lifted their intensity in the middle and the Eagles began to dominate the stoppages.
The hosts led by 19 points at the main break and their score of 11.2 (68) was their best for an opening half since round 7, 2021.
Bolton and Liam Baker (25 disposals) fought hard for the Tigers, but veteran Dustin Martin had little influence playing mostly forward.
A possible match-up between Martin and the similarly bullocking Reid had been hotly anticipated and the young gun gave the Tigers great a taste of his own signature fend-off when the pair crossed paths in the third term.
Youngster Luke Edwards will miss Saturday's Western Derby against Fremantle under concussion protocols, but the Eagles should welcome back premiership players Dom Sheed and Liam Ryan in coming weeks.
WEST COAST 3.1 11.2 15.8 16.13 (109)
RICHMOND 4.3 7.7 8.8 10.10 (70)
GOALS
West Coast: Waterman 6, Yeo 2, Petruccelle 2, Cripps 2, J.Williams, Reid, Darling, Chesser
Richmond: Bolton 3, Lefau 3, Sonsie, M.Rioli, Martin, Baker
BEST
West Coast: Yeo, Waterman, Kelly, Reid, Duggan, Petruccelle, Hough
Richmond: Bolton, Baker, Lefau, Miller, Vlastuin
INJURIES
West Coast: Edwards (concussion)
Richmond: Short (calf)
LATE CHANGE
West Coast: Callum Jamieson (hamstring) replaced by Alex Witherden
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Ryan Maric, replaced Luke Edwards in the second quarter
Richmond: Tyler Sonsie, replaced Jayden Short in the second quarter
Crowd: 47,665 at Optus Stadium
