1. You don’t win a Coleman Medal by accident and Josh Kennedy clearly enjoyed an outstanding season to win the mantle as the competition’s leading goal-kicker. But he is so much more than the bloke who merely finishes the work of a midfield supplying him with opportunities. Like captain Shannon Hurn, the West Coast spearhead imposed himself on this game from the outset. The vice-captain took four contested marks in the first six minutes and his work rate was phenomenal. He is the antithesis of the old fashioned full- forward, but nine marks and three goals was a great contribution from 16 touches.
2. With seven of West Coast’s starting 22 having never played finals football, there was a question mark over how the team would cope with the rise of intensity. It was answered swiftly, with an outstanding opening term. Hawthorn led by a point at the first change, but the sense was that West Coast won the quarter. The Hawks had first use of a strong breeze and West Coast certainly measured up in the pressure stakes. Some of those players who were exposed to finals for the first time – Dom Sheed, Mark Hutchings, Brad Sheppard, Elliot Yeo and Jamie Cripps – relished the heat of that first term.
3. Jeremy McGovern’s season has been recognised across the competition and was affirmed during the week when he was named in the 40-man all-Australian squad. He has quickly built a reputation as a man who reads the game instinctively and is one of the best intercept marks in the competition. But he’s tough too! After copping another hit on a sore shoulder, he went to the rooms in the first quarter to receive treatment, resumed at quarter-time and continued to contribute although at times in obvious discomfort.
4. West Coast has spoken of team defence consistently all season and there has rarely been a better example of that system at work than against the Hawks. The club that has won the last two premierships is the most dangerous offensive team in the competition, but to three-quarter time, the Eagles held them to just four goals. The Hawks, as champion teams do, responded with five goals in the last term, but trailing by 50 points at the last change they were never likely to reel in the Eagles.
5. West Coast did not get the chance to rest players in the last couple of games, because there were high stakes in every qualifying game in the run home. So they will relish the opportunity to ease the workload this week. There are a number of sore players who will benefit from the break, but it also means that the club can take a conservative approach to the recovery of key midfielders Matt Priddis and Chris Masten. Priddis was a late omission with a low-grade quad strain, while Masten missed the game with hamstring strain. They will both be ready for the preliminary final.
