For the second time this season the WAFL Eagles have tasted victory, recording a 21-point win over Claremont at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

The back-and-forth contest was met with some severe rainfall in the second and third term, but it didn’t dampen the Eagles’ spirits, who held off the Tigers for the 13.10 (88) v 9.13 (67) win.

Exciting new West Coast ruckman Matt Flynn made his league debut, his first game back from a tendon injury sustained in the pre-season, and he brought an important presence around the ground.

Acting captain Trey Ruscoe opened the scoring for the Eagles early in the first term, before Claremont showed some fight with back-to-back goals through Alec Waterman and Bailey Rogers.

The Tigers were circling the Eagles and winning at the contest, before West Coast found their spark and kicked five unanswered goals to take a 22-point lead into quarter time.

Ethan Sambo kept the ball rolling for the Eagles in the second term, kicking back-to-back majors, one following a pivotal tackle inside 50 in which he was awarded the free kick, and the second on the back of a huge flying pack mark taken 30 metres out from goal.

Ruscoe summoned some magic from the pocket with a crafty soccer goal, his second for the game, and the Eagles eighth-straight, while Claremont were kept goalless for the quarter.

Harry Edwards, Andrew Gaff and Zane Trew were equal-leading possession getters at the main break, with the Eagles holding a significant 36-point lead at the half.

The Tigers flipped the script in the third quarter, their first goal since the first term coming off the boot of Alexander Manuel.

West Coast had no response for Claremont’s onslaught of pressure, the Tigers kicking five unanswered majors and holding the home side goalless, reducing the margin to just eight points going into the final term.

The fourth quarter had shaped up to be a beauty, Loch Rawlinson broke the Eagles’ scoreboard drought with a handy early goal, giving the boys in blue and gold a little breathing room.

Both teams looked sharp, putting their bodies on the line and striving for the victory, Claremont managing to bring the margin back to within just four points.

Clutch back-to-back goals from star Eagles forward Shannon Lucassen gave the Eagles belief, before Tyler Brockman kicked his first goal in his first league game, and his first in the blue and gold, to lock in the win.

Trew starred for the Eagles with a game-high 36 disposals, seven marks and four tackles, while Gaff finished with 34 touches and six inside 50s.

Edwards was huge for West Coast down back, complimented by Jason Gillbee, and Luke Yeo (cousin of West Coast star Elliot Yeo) impressed in his first league game with a team-high eight tackles.   

WEST COAST       6.1     9.2     9.6       13.10 (88)

CLAREMONT       2.3     2.8     7.10      9.13 (67)

GOALS

West Coast: Lucassen 3; Ruscoe, Sambo, Rawlinson 2; Culley, Burgiel, Reid, Brockman. Claremont: Waterman 3; Rogers, Manuel, Delacey, Davis, Elliot, Bolton

BEST

West Coast: Edwards, Trew, Gaff, Culley, Brockman, Yeo. Claremont: Rogers, Eastland, England, Bolton, Elliot, Western