The West Coast Eagles had been searching for top gear for several weeks. Occasionally they had found it, only to see the clutch slip and the lever drop back into second.

Against the Bulldogs, however, it was a different story, resulting in close to the most complete performance of the season. It was, at the very least, comparable to the early season victories against GWS and Collingwood.

After a tight, high-pressure contest in the first half, the Eagles kicked into high-octane performance in the third term when they rattled on nine goals, turning a solid 11-point advantage at the main break into a match-winning 49-point lead at the last change.

Effectively the game was over, and the Eagles were on track to elevate inside the top four, at the same time gaining a significant – and much-needed – percentage boost.

At the height of the third quarter onslaught, the Eagles were simply sublime, every element of their game coming together with mesmerising synchronicity.

In the middle of that game-defining 30-minute assault, young Eagles forward Jake Waterman produced a memorable four-minute burst that netted three personal goals from varying methods – a snap around his body and two set shots earned from strong marks.

His impact came in support of veterans Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy who imposed themselves on the game, kicking nine goals between them. With lively small forwards Jamie Cripps, Liam Ryan and Willie Rioli also ubiquitous, the Eagles were ever-threatening when venturing beyond the centre.

Their cause was aided by a strong level of supply generated by a midfield unit that continued its stellar form.

Led by Andrew Gaff, who accumulated 36 possessions in trademark style, and by Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, Dom Sheed and Jack Redden, the Eagles were uncompromising around the contest and did not allow the Bulldogs the time and space that makes them so dangerous.

Defensively, the hosts were also in control, with Jeremy McGovern patrolling the air with great authority alongside skipper Shannon Hurn and veteran Will Schofield, who proved the master of Bulldogs young gun Aaron Naughton.

Brad Sheppard and Liam Duggan were also under notice with Tom Cole, while Lewis Jetta announced his return to the senior team after a one-week suspension with an outstanding exhibition of his kicking skills.

He also won an important ball in the second quarter at half-forward.

While a couple of scrambled attempts by others to clear congestion had failed, he body-lined the ball, putting it in the path of Ryan. It created an important goal to Yeo in what was a team-lifting passage of play.

The only downside in the game was that skipper Hurn sat out the last quarter with hamstring tightness. The club took a conservative approach and he missed the following game against Sydney at the SCG.

Round 11, 2019
Optus Stadium

West Coast Eagles         3.1         7.3         16.5       21.7       133
Western Bulldogs           2.7         4.10       7.10      10.12      72

Goals
West Coast Eagles: Darling 6; Kennedy, Waterman, Ryan 3; Cripps 2; Yeo, Sheed, O Allen, Rioli
Western Bulldogs: Gowers 2; Dunkley, Naughton, Lloyd, Bontempelli, Dale, Liberatore, Suckling, Gardner