Eagles Make It Two On The Trot
West Coast made it consecutive wins to start the 2011 season when they secured an 18 point win over Port Adelaide at Football Park.
The inaccurate Eagles edged their way to a three goal leading during the first half and maintained their advantage for most of the second half, holding out the home side after they twice closed within a goal during the final term.
Andrew Embley booted four goals to go with 32 disposals in a best afield display, while Josh Kennedy and Luke Shuey each kicked three. Kennedy had the better of Jackson Trengove early to boot his three goals by half time, while Embley and Shuey combined for the Eagles’ last six goals as West Coast became the first team since Collingwood in 2000 to win their first two games after claiming the wooden spoon the year before.
However, it was mixed fortunes for two of the Eagles most injury-prone players.
Daniel Kerr returned for his first game in nearly a year and picked up where he left off, gathering 25 disposals through the middle. Beau Waters, though, was set for a stint on the sidelines after injuring an elbow in one of the plays of the day.
With the Power closing in on the Eagles lead during the third term, and with the run of the play through the middle of the ground, Waters was able to tackle David Rodan, recover to smother a kick off the boot of Jaspar Pittard, before taking possession and finding Andrew Embley free at half forward to roll home a steadying goal.
The Eagles vice-captain missed the entire 2009 campaign after surgery on his left elbow, with the latest injury to his right. While West Coast were optimistic after the match, Waters would remain unavailable to the back end of the season.
Kerr was one of three changes for the Eagles, with Nic Naitanui and Patrick McGinnity both recalled after being late withdrawals the week before. Chris Masten and Mark LeCras were both sidelined with injury, with small forward Ashton Hams dropped.
Port Adelaide made just the one change after they were thrashed by reigning premiers Collingwood in the opening round. Veteran Chad Cornes came into the side in place of injured full forward Jay Schulz.
As they had done the week before, West Coast started strongly, but inaccuracy prevented the visitors from establishing a larger lead. Josh Kennedy and Quinten Lynch kicked truly early in the second term to stretch the Eagles lead to 22 points before Port Adelaide got their foot into the game.
Chad Cornes swung forward to kick the Power’s first for the term, with Robbie Gray kicking a brace to bring the Power back within five points. The Eagles then got on another run with Kennedy booting his third to send the Eagles out to a four goal advantage.
Gray added a third for the term to reduce the Eagles lead to 19 at the main break.
Mark Nicoski kicked from long range inside the opening minute of the second half to stretch the lead to 25, before the Power’s sub stamped his mark on the game. Jason Davenport was injected into the game during the half-time break in place of Dom Cassisi, booting three goals for the quarter as Port Adelaide refused to give up on their chase of the Eagles lead.
Three goals in a row – two to Davenport – had the home side back within nine points, before Waters’ inspirational play through the middle of the ground led to Embley and then Shuey, giving the Eagles breathing space.
Again Port Adelaide came, with Davenport adding his third and Chad Cornes kicking truly.
The Eagles had managed 12 more scoring shots in the first three quarters, but that only equated to a 12 point lead. Travis Boak – who had been well held by Adam Selwood – found the major opening to get the Power within a goal but Luke Shuey was able to answer.
And for each of the Power’s challenges in the final term, the Eagles were able to find the answer with Embley’s fourth in the dying seconds the icing on a fine win.
Eagles coach John Worsfold was pleased with the win, but the victory was the least of what West Coast deserved having controlled large periods of the match. The Eagles finished with 60 more disposals, 18 more contested possessions and 13 more scoring shots.
Worsfold was also content with the return of Kerr through the midfield. “…he (Kerr) was always going to be a certain starter when he was fit enough to be in the side.”
“His attitude about getting back to wanting to play his best footy is great.”
Dean Cox again dominated in the ruck, combining with Naitanui to get the better of Port Adelaide ruckman Dean Brogan. The pair notched 53 hit-outs to Brogan’s 13, although the Eagles weren’t able to translate the hit-out advantage in the stoppages, losing the clearances 33-40.
But with Mitch Brown keeping Justin Westhoff quiet, and the other Port talls unable to exert any influence in the forward half, West Coast were able to set up much of their scoring opportunities with transition football from the back half.
Matt Priddis collected 29 disposals through the centre, while Shuey’s 27 disposal, three-goal effort earned a rising star nomination.
The Eagles’ first win over Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval in nine attempts, since 1998, left them as one of just five teams with two wins from the opening two games of the season.
For Worsfold, the result was an important step as the Eagles continued to build from the bottom. “Obviously for us they’re all important wins.”
“So to come to Port and beat Port here, which has been pretty tough for us since Port’s existence, for this group specifically it’s a very good win for them, but for the club overall to beat Port here has taken a bit of time.”
“We came over here saying we still wanted to win. Just that belief within the group, I think, is a bit stronger.”
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