Shuey hero in upset
WEST Coast’s Luke Shuey has kicked a goal after the siren to defeat Port Adelaide by two points in an extra-time AFL elimination final epic.
Shuey instantly entered finals folklore with a cool conversion from 40 metres to deliver the Eagles a 12.6 (78) to 10.16 (76) win last night at Adelaide Oval.
Scores were locked 60-60 at the end of regulation time.
And the Power appeared over the line when they surged 13 points ahead in the 10 extra minutes.
But Eagle Josh Kennedy scored two clutch goals as the visitors snuck within two points, before Shuey’s lastgasp heroics.
The midfielder was given a deserved free kick when Port’s Jared Polec tackled him high and, as he lined up, the siren went.
From a testing distance and 45-degree angle, Shuey kicked truly to knock the Power out of the finals.
West Coast advance to an away semi-final next Saturday night against Greater Western Sydney, after Friday night’s Geelong-Sydney semi at the MCG. And the esteemed careers of Sam Mitchell, Matt Priddis and Drew Petrie extend another week. All were valuable in the upset win.
The Eagles make the perfect start — by 10 minutes into the second term, Jack Darling had three goals and they were 31 points up.
But Port were kept in the hunt by Charlie Dixon, who kicked his side’s initial three goals, and the home side reduced their deficit to 11 points at halftime. Both sides refused to crack in a brutal third term - the only goal was scored by Port’s Chad Wingard and the Eagles led by three points at three-quarter time.
In a frantic final term, a point to Travis Boak made it 60-60, setting up the extratime drama.
Scores were locked at 60-60 at the end of regulation time at Adelaide Oval. The loser is eliminated from the finals and the winner will meet Greater Western Sydney in a semifinal next weekend.