It was always going to be about the start. About how the West Coast Eagles would respond to a disappointing round 23 defeat to Hawthorn. About how they would quell Essendon’s ‘slingshot’ football.
While there was more than one trick to the way the Bombers played, they were notorious for their rebound from the back half.
They liked to get the footy in their defensive zone and, with run and dare, flick the ball around and launch an offensive.
When the two teams met in round 14, the Eagles stymied the Bombers blitz, applied significant pressure around the contest, won back the football and then counter-attacked. This final would play out in a similar fashion.
The other intriguing element of this match was the return of marquee big man Nic Naitanui after six weeks on the sidelines with a serious ankle injury.
Both Naitanui and the Eagles made important early statements, but not until after the Dons had kicked the opening goal.
Naitanui influenced the centre clearances heavily and, with Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo and Willie Rioli sending the ball inside the forward 50 with purpose, the Eagles quickly responded.
Importantly, key forwards Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling kicked the first two goals for the Eagles.
Essendon had taken a selection punt by bringing back key defender Cale Hooker from injury and retaining Michael Hurley after he had damaged his right shoulder in the previous qualifying game, so making an early statement was poignant.
By quarter time the Eagles had opened up a 21-point lead, with players like Jamie Cripps, Liam Ryan and Andrew Gaff also relishing the pressure of finals football.
At times their football was exhilarating, particularly when Lewis Jetta or Rioli got their hands on the ball and were given the opportunity to display their exquisite skills.
Alongside Naitanui – in concert with Tom Hickey who was playing his first career final – they gave the Eagles first use out of the middle, and succeeded in carrying too much artillery for the Bombers.
Shuey, celebrating his 200th match, grew stronger as the game progressed to vie for best afield honours with Cripps, while Jack Redden again showed a liking for the cauldron of finals football with a quality display at the coalface.
Defensively, the Eagles were also in control, with Brad Sheppard proving the master of Orazio Fantasia and the likes of Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass and Will Schofield producing all of their signature traits.
Hurn was in some doubt after straining a hamstring against Hawthorn a fortnight earlier but showed no signs of discomfort in another commanding performance in the back half. His leadership and organisational skills were important facets as the Eagles kicked off the finals series with a dominant display.
By game’s end, the Eagles had carved out a majestic 55-point victory, Cripps finishing with an imposing four goals. Kennedy also scored four, making his career total with the club an impressive 599 goals to date, with the first semi-final yet to come.
It was then a matter of recovering and seeing who would await them for their next knock-out final. Twenty four hours later it was confirmed as Geelong at the MCG in a Friday night blockbuster.
First elimination final
West Coast Eagles v Essendon
Thursday, September 5
West Coast Eagles 6.4 10.8 13.11 17.14 116
Essendon 3.1 6.2 8.5 9.7 61
Goals
West Coast Eagles: Kennedy, Cripps 4; Ryan 3; Waterman, Darling 2; Rioli, Sheed
Essendon: Snelling, Saad, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2; McGrath, Laverde, Fantasia
