Josh Kennedy says he was encouraged by West Coast’s ability to overcome some adversity and grind out a win against a determined Melbourne outfit in Alice Springs on Sunday.
The Eagles shot out of the blocks at Traeger Park, booting five goals to the Demons' one in the opening term.
But Simon Goodwin’s men mounted an inspired comeback in the second term, kicking six majors to West Coast’s three to whittle the difference down to just one point at half-time.
Melbourne edged ahead at the beginning of the third term and looked set to run away with the game, but West Coast upped its contested game, arrested momentum and registered a hard fought 13-point win in the red centre.
Kennedy said it was a big win in the context of the season given there was just five games remaining in the home and away campaign.
“We kind of let it go in that second and third quarter, but for the boys to fight back towards the end and get the win was pretty good, because it sets us up for the back end of the year,” he told 6PR’s breakfast program this morning.
“There’s only five games to go and it’s so tight. We want to finish as high as we can.
“Every game is going to count and we can’t let any slip (during) this last part of the year.”
Kennedy and the entire team revelled in the Alice Springs environment, which he said reminded him of playing country football in Northampton.
“It was amazing. It was good to get up there,” he said.
“Obviously our training session the day before was pretty packed out and then obviously the game, there was a lot of noise and a lot of West Coast supporters, which was really good.
“It was great to see everyone out at the game. It was like being back home in the country playing. It was fantastic.”