EAGLES RULE THE WEST
WEST Coast and Fremantle were forced to share the Glendinning Medal in an ironic postscript to a week of fighting over the future of the western derby’s best-on-ground award.
Eagles captain Shannon Hurn and Dockers midfielder Lachie Neale tied for the medal after West Coast outlasted a dogged Fremantle by eight points at Perth Stadium for its fifth straight win.
Hurn was a dominant presence across half-back with 30 touches while Neale (35 disposals and three score assists) led from the front at the coalface as the bitter rivals engaged in a four-quarter arm wrestle.
In an absorbing contest to open a new era of western derby rivalry at the Burswood venue, the Eagles appeared to be in the driver’s seat since quarter-time but could never find the killer blow.
The Dockers lost star forward Michael Walters, who again hurt his troublesome left knee, before quarter-time but refused to lie down on a day the mercury hit 31C during the game. It was the hottest derby on record and the purple-clad crowd of 56,521 — a record for a WA footy match — threatened to reach boiling point before halftime as the free-kick count tilted in West Coast’s favour.
Midfielders Jack Redden, Andrew Gaff and Luke Shuey were influential and the threeway ruck battle was significant.
A terrific tag team of Scott Lycett and Nic Naitanui overwhelmed Aaron Sandilands as the Eagles won the hitout battle 52-34 and the centre clearances 17-8.
West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy began the day by breaking Peter Sumich’s club goalkicking record of 514.
But the Eagles had looked in some trouble at the first change after the efficient Dockers had scored from all seven of their forward entries to take a 20-point lead to quarter-time.
But Walters’ day was already over and forward Jack Darling spearheaded the Eagles’ charge back into the contest with three goals in the second term.
The Dockers came again to start the third tern and snatched the lead back, and they managed to hold tough as the Eagles repeatedly looked to be stretching them to breaking point.
Eagles midfielder Dom Sheed kicked a stunning goal from the pocket to begin the final term and, yet again, the Dockers had an answer. But it was the Eagles who held on.