Skipper cops his whack
Hurn takes elbow to eye in defending the Eagles’ charge
WEST Coast captain Shannon Hurn experienced some vision issues yesterday but they had nothing to do with AFL premiership high jinks or a hangover.
Hurn’s badly bruised and swollen left eye has closed over, a product of an errant elbow he copped in a marking contest in the thrilling fourth quarter of the Grand Final.
“It’s blown up a bit today. Looks a bit s---, but that’s OK,” he said.
The shiner, the fact Hurn suffered it when the premiership was on the line and his succinct diagnosis are WHAT goes through a defender’s head when there is five points difference in the dying moments of a grand final and you’re in charge of minding a 211cm key forward?
“Get it (the ball) away from me is what I was thinking. I wanted no part of it,” premiership winning West Coast defender Tom Barrass admitted that’s what he was thinking as he stood symbolic of the no-nonsense skipper.
The defender’s role in the Eagles’ fourth premiership, achieved with a five- point victory over Collingwood, has been largely understated outside the club.
He would not have it any other way.
But coach Adam Simpson was quick to highlight Hurn’s development as a leader this season.
“He’s grown into his own with his leadership . . . he’s grown to another level,” Simpson said. “He’s probably relaxed a tiny bit.” Hurn, who helped marshal the Eagles’ defence after they conceded the opening five goals, opened up next to Collingwood big man Mason Cox during the final moments in Saturday’s thrilling win.
Barrass’ reaction to the situation late in the game undersells the job he did on the towering American.
For the first half Cox had just one disposal, a ground kick. That was despite Collingwood looking ferocious in attack, especially in the first quarter.
Barrass was one of the unsung heroes in Saturday’s premiership win, containing about the tweak in his approach to captaincy.
“The main thing I think you learn is you always think that things need to be done a certain way,” the 31year-old said. “You realise that’s not right. Footy isn’t a perfect game and I think that sort of mindset has just helped over a period of time.”
Hurn’s first season in charge was 2015, when West Coast suffered a big loss to Hawthorn in the Grand Final.
“You get experiences. Every time you play a game you just get better and better. It’s fantastic,” the defender said when asked about the lessons learned from that loss.
The All-Australian backman has Cox who had the week before ripped Richmond’s backline led by Alex Rance to pieces.
“You have got to get your positioning right beforehand. Once the ball is there to be attacked you have to go at it as hard as you can,” Barrass said.
“One of my strengths as a defender is meeting (the ball) at its highest point, so it was a good matchup.
“It was about engaging him a little bit … he is a quality player.” already reinforced to the side what brought them to this summit.
“The mateship and the way we want to play footy for each other. That’s probably what really stood out and we had to do that yesterday,” he said. “Now it’s just about enjoying what we’re doing, being respectful and making sure we can have another opportunity to have another go.”
Simpson was full of praise for Hurn.
“He’s a man’s man. He’s the type of bloke you want to play under,” he said. “The team reflects him . . . what they stand for off field. The mateship and brotherhood they’ve got.”
Cox caught fire for periods during the second half, kicking two crucial goals and taking a number of big marks as the Magpies regained momentum.
The American was at his intimidating best during that period, staring down the West Coast defenders each time he bagged a goal.
“It was about remaining calm. I’m not too much of an aggressive bloke and I’m not too quick-witted either,” Barrass said.
“I don’t get caught up in things like that, verbal wars. I just try and stay calm, reset and play on my man.”
Under the grand final heat, the 22-year-old stood tall as West Coast’s backline soaked up the pressure.
“I think it’s just about staying on task. We have had some tight victories and a couple of tight losses,” he said.
“You learn from those games and as an experience it’s great to get through to a grand final.”