West Coast sits ominously in the top four for the first time since Round 4 after a dominant 61-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
The reigning premiers blew the Bulldogs away with a nine-goal third quarter to claim their fifth consecutive win, 21.7 (133) to 10.12 (72).
On point: The Eagles celebrate another major, off the boot of Dom Sheed (left).Credit:AAP
It was not only their biggest score for the season so far, but also their biggest winning margin.
Most of the Eagles forwards took their chance to hit the scoreboard multiple times, Jack Darling filling his bag with six goals, as Andrew Gaff led the midfield with 36 touches.
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It was three goals in as many minutes from Jake Waterman just before three-quarter-time though that blew the margin out to 49 points and snuffed out any chance of a Bulldogs victory.
The Dogs had led by six points, seven minutes into the second quarter after Aaron Naughton marked and kicked their third goal.
Tails up: Aaron Naughton (centre) puts the Dogs ahead early during the round 11 clash against the Eagles at Optus Stadium in Perth.Credit:AAP
But the Eagles kicked four goals in nine minutes before the end of the second term to lead by 11 points at the main break. And that was just a glimpse of what was to come.
West Coast added 9.2 to 3.0 in the third term – and the game was done.
Josh Kennedy kicked the first of those nine just 48 seconds into the term to notch his third.
Darling had his third goal two minutes later and his fourth not too long after that.
Strike force: Josh Kennedy congratulates Jack Darling (right) on booting another major for the Eagles.Credit:AAP
Missed the start
The Bulldogs have played catch up in most games this season, but Sunday was one of their best starts in 2019.
They had won only one first term in their previous 10 games, which was against the Sydney Swans in Round 1.
Against the Eagles, they should have been in front handsomely at the end of the first quarter.
Dishing it up: Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli kicks under pressure from Andrew Gaff.Credit:AAP
The Bulldogs had more of the ball in their forward line than West Coast and as a result had nine scoring shots to the Eagles four.
But scores were level at 3.1 (Eagles) to 2.7 (Dogs).
At the same venue in Round 6, the Bulldogs also wasted their chances, kicking 1.6 to Fremantles 4.1 in the final quarter in a 19 point Dockers win.
When opportunity knocks
But half-time, the Bulldogs should also have led. But they trailed by 11 points and it wasnt all due to good play by West Coast.
The four goals the Eagles kicked in the 10 minutes before the main break to take the lead and extend it, could have been prevented.
Tim English gave away a free kick to Darling in a boundary throw-in which allowed the home side to hit the lead.
First-gamer Ryan Gardner, who joined the Bulldogs during the week via the mid-season rookie draft, missed his chance to kick his first AFL goal five minutes later, from close range.
Elliot Yeo didnt miss one minute later though to put the Eagles 11 points up.
Two minutes after that, Jason Johannisen chose not to take possession of the ball in the centre of the ground and tapped it straight to Willie Rioli instead,
The resulting goal to Jamie Cripps (his second) ended a telling period of play for the Bulldogs.
Gardner did kick that first goal, but it was late in the last term when the margin was beyond 10 goals.
Eagles finals march
West Coast have turned a 3-3 start into 8-3, needing probably only three more wins to confirm a fifth consecutive finals appearance.Read More – Source
West Coast sits ominously in the top four for the first time since Round 4 after a dominant 61-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
The reigning premiers blew the Bulldogs away with a nine-goal third quarter to claim their fifth consecutive win, 21.7 (133) to 10.12 (72).
On point: The Eagles celebrate another major, off the boot of Dom Sheed (left).Credit:AAP
It was not only their biggest score for the season so far, but also their biggest winning margin.
Most of the Eagles forwards took their chance to hit the scoreboard multiple times, Jack Darling filling his bag with six goals, as Andrew Gaff led the midfield with 36 touches.
Advertisement
It was three goals in as many minutes from Jake Waterman just before three-quarter-time though that blew the margin out to 49 points and snuffed out any chance of a Bulldogs victory.
The Dogs had led by six points, seven minutes into the second quarter after Aaron Naughton marked and kicked their third goal.
Tails up: Aaron Naughton (centre) puts the Dogs ahead early during the round 11 clash against the Eagles at Optus Stadium in Perth.Credit:AAP
But the Eagles kicked four goals in nine minutes before the end of the second term to lead by 11 points at the main break. And that was just a glimpse of what was to come.
West Coast added 9.2 to 3.0 in the third term – and the game was done.
Josh Kennedy kicked the first of those nine just 48 seconds into the term to notch his third.
Darling had his third goal two minutes later and his fourth not too long after that.
Strike force: Josh Kennedy congratulates Jack Darling (right) on booting another major for the Eagles.Credit:AAP
Missed the start
The Bulldogs have played catch up in most games this season, but Sunday was one of their best starts in 2019.
They had won only one first term in their previous 10 games, which was against the Sydney Swans in Round 1.
Against the Eagles, they should have been in front handsomely at the end of the first quarter.
Dishing it up: Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli kicks under pressure from Andrew Gaff.Credit:AAP
The Bulldogs had more of the ball in their forward line than West Coast and as a result had nine scoring shots to the Eagles four.
But scores were level at 3.1 (Eagles) to 2.7 (Dogs).
At the same venue in Round 6, the Bulldogs also wasted their chances, kicking 1.6 to Fremantles 4.1 in the final quarter in a 19 point Dockers win.
When opportunity knocks
But half-time, the Bulldogs should also have led. But they trailed by 11 points and it wasnt all due to good play by West Coast.
The four goals the Eagles kicked in the 10 minutes before the main break to take the lead and extend it, could have been prevented.
Tim English gave away a free kick to Darling in a boundary throw-in which allowed the home side to hit the lead.
First-gamer Ryan Gardner, who joined the Bulldogs during the week via the mid-season rookie draft, missed his chance to kick his first AFL goal five minutes later, from close range.
Elliot Yeo didnt miss one minute later though to put the Eagles 11 points up.
Two minutes after that, Jason Johannisen chose not to take possession of the ball in the centre of the ground and tapped it straight to Willie Rioli instead,
The resulting goal to Jamie Cripps (his second) ended a telling period of play for the Bulldogs.
Gardner did kick that first goal, but it was late in the last term when the margin was beyond 10 goals.
Eagles finals march
West Coast have turned a 3-3 start into 8-3, needing probably only three more wins to confirm a fifth consecutive finals appearance.Read More – Source
