No Nic Nat, but no worries in West

WEST Coast’s fortitude without Nic Naitanui will face bigger tests in coming weeks, but on the evidence of yesterday’s demolition of the Western Bulldogs, few will be putting a line through the Eagles as title contenders.

With one of the best intercepting backlines in the competition and an efficient and dangerous forward line that should only improve as key pair Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling find their feet after injury layoffs, the Eagles only need to break even in the midfield battle to win most games.

Workmanlike ruck pair Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy are now pivotal and yesterday shared the points with Jordan Roughead and Tom Boyd.

Vardy was recalled in place of Naitanui for just his second senior appearance of the season.

With percentage looming as crucial as the race for top-two and top-four spots heats up, second-placed West Coast’s 54point win at Optus Stadium – 14.16 (100) to 6.10 (46) – not only put a full stop on a depressing week but also enabled them to keep a small but valuable percentage buffer on the chasing pack.