Shuey brushes off free kick squabble
WEST Coast matchwinner Luke Shuey has deflected debate about his free kick in last night’s epic elimination final win over Port Adelaide as “irrelevant” as the Eagles turn their attention to Saturday night’s semi- final against the Giants.
After being awarded a free kick for a high tackle from Jared Polec with just 17 seconds left on the clock, Shuey goaled after the siren following extra time to give the Eagles a thrilling twopoint win over the Power at Adelaide Oval.
But the match- defining play has inevitably turned the microscope on the free kick and whether Shuey slid into the tackle.
Asked today if he ducked into the tackle, Shuey did not want to buy into the debate, saying the team was already focused on their next assignment at Spotless Stadium against the Giants.
“I just wanted to give you blokes something to talk about,” Shuey said on Channel 9.
“That’s for you blokes to decide. It’s irrelevant to us, we’re worried about moving on to GWS this week.”
Shuey described the extra- time period as intense, but admits he was immediately hit by the enormity of the situation when he lined up for his matchwinning shot at goal.
“It was obviously pretty intense going into overtime for the first time in my career and most of the boys I think and certainly one we won’t forget,” Shuey said.
“The actual circumstances and the outcome probably didn’t hit me until after I kicked the goal.
“I’ve watched on over the last few years and seen guys kick goals after the siren, or miss goals, and always wondered what it would be like to be in that situation so it was nice to experience it, I guess.”
After just creeping into the finals, and pulling off a great escape against the Power, the Eagles will now fight to extend their September run against the Giants, who are coming off a heavy qualifying final loss to Adelaide.
Their survival has raised the question as to whether the Eagles would consider bringing back ruckman Nic Naitanui, who has not played this season after injuring his ACL last year.
“I think the 22 players that played last night will be pushing for it,” Shuey said.
“Who knows what the next few weeks hold, but if he does get up, he’ll be important for us. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Shuey paid tribute to the role Eagles’ veterans Drew Petrie, Sam Mitchell and Matt Pridis, all played in the win.
“It’s that time of the year where the experienced boys tend to play pretty well,” Shuey said.