Not only did they kick three goals between them, but their pressure in the attacking half was instrumental in so many more positive forward thrusts.
2. Chris Masten is developing into a front-line midfielder. He has been an important part of the West Coast structure for some time now, but there is no question he has taken his game to another level this season. A couple of times, when forced to push back and cover, he was caught one-out deep in defence with Melbourne opponents and was able to bring the ball to ground, used his speed to break away and provided strong rebound.
3. The mark of any coaching group is the capacity to extract the best out of the playing group. Adam Simpson and his coaching staff have a number of players who have enjoyed the best year of their careers in 2014. Andrew Gaff is probably the best example, racking up another 29 possessions, many of them contested, in another terrific display against the Dees. Others to have shone this year include Masten, Jeremy McGovern, Mitch Brown, Will Schofield and youngsters like Mark Hutchings and Scott Lycett. Even veteran Sam Butler has rewound the clock with some wonderful performances in the last month.
4. When the ball movement is clean and slick inside the forward 50, West Coast boasts an attacking array of talent capable of making the best defence shudder. Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras and Jack Darling kicked 11 goals between them and were strong focal points, but Cripps and Hill also chimed in, while Gaff and Luke Shuey pushed forward and hit the scoreboard. Within that group is a neat mix of elite skill by foot, an uncanny ability to read the play and some brute strength and marking power.
5. The target for West Coast, as expressed by coach Adam Simpson, all season has been about improvement. It has been evident for all to see in the performances in each of the games to date, with only one blowout (Geelong in round four). And mathematically, that equation manifested itself with the Eagles winning their 10th game of the season against Melbourne. An 11th victory against Gold Coast next Sunday is likely to push the club back into finals action and the excitement is palpable within the club.
