By his own admission, Tom Cole has never had much experience in attack, but when he sniffed a chance for a goal against Essendon instinct took over.
Shifted up to a wing from his normal defensive position, the 23-year-old sensed an opportunity in the third term just as the Bombers were threatening, only nine points adrift.
Bolting forward after Liam Ryan made a strong contest on the wing, he then latched onto Jack Darling’s perfectly-weighted pass with a four-grab juggling mark near the goalmouth.
With only a solitary behind to his name in 51 previous games, it was foreign territory for the emerging backman, but he made it look easy, taking in a few deep breaths and going through his routine before snapping a crucial goal.
“I saw ‘Flyin’ (Ryan) made a great contest on the wing and I saw my opportunity and I went,” Cole recalled.
“JD put the ball nicely to advantage and I was lucky enough to take a mark. Then I just tried to act like I was a forward, take my time and take a couple of deep breaths and luckily it went through, but pretty excited.”
It was Cole’s first goal at any level since a 2018 snag in the WAFL, and came after gun defender Brad Sheppard’s much-celebrated two majors this season.
According to Twitter user @WCE_History, Cole’s major in his 52nd match means he sits second on the list of most games for an Eagle before his first six-pointer – behind Eric Mackenzie (78) – however Tom Barrass is still waiting for his first goal after 79 matches.
“We often joke about us backmen who don’t kick many goals,” Cole said.
“Tom Barrass, I don’t know how many games he has played but he still hasn’t kicked a goal so hopefully he can kick one soon and we can get around him.”
The Eagles’ grinding 15-point win over Essendon edged the club closer to a finals berth, but there are big challenges ahead with top-eight contenders the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda looming to finish off a span of five games in 19 days.
“We’re starting to get into a bit of a groove now. It will have been three games in nine days after this one. The boys are figuring out what they need to do to get themselves right,” Cole said.
“I think most of the group is pulling up pretty alright … whether we’re young or old, so hopefully we can continue that going forward.
“I think it’s just boys focusing on their individual recovery and trying to work out what works best for them.
“Trying to get our mind in front of our body is a big thing we’ve spoken about because obviously we don’t get that physical training throughout the week, so we’re just trying to train the brain as best we can and use that going into games.
“Until you put your body through things like this you don’t know what your body can do. Everyone is learning as we go.”
West Coast has lost skipper Luke Shuey after he suffered strains in both hamstrings against the Dons, while Elliot Yeo is also missing from the midfield brigade.
Cole said it would take a collective effort to counter the Bulldogs’ star-studded engine room, led by Marcus Bontempelli and Lachie Hunter.
“It’s a weird season, it’s been different and people have had to play different roles, so just as a team everyone needs to step up and fill that role,” Cole said.
“They’re a good side, they’ve got a good midfield, they like to get their hands on the footy and get it going forward.
“Every game is a tough game and they’re a quality outfit, so we’ll have to be at our best to get the four points.”
