Eagles flying high as Pies count cost
WEST Coast re-emerged as a leading premiership threat on Sunday night, slicing through Collingwood’s vaunted defence to win by 66 points in a ruthless performance at Optus Stadium.
The injury-hit Magpies conceded their highest score of the season, giving up an early 20-point lead before losing 18.3 (111) to 6.9 (45) as the Eagles burst into the top four.
West Coast made their move in a scintillating third quarter, kicking six unanswered goals as their star-studded midfield made short work of the Magpies’ onball brigade, which was missing captain
Scott Pendlebury, who suffered calf tightness minutes before the first bounce.
West Coast produced their best football this season on the back of champion forward Josh Kennedy (pictured), who booted an AFL season-high seven goals, ruckman Nic Naitanui, and star recruit Tim Kelly (30 disposals and six clearances).
It was a reality check for the Magpies, whose only goal for the second half came with two minutes to play.
Collingwood are a selfproclaimed defence-first team, averaging 43 points against this season and holding Geelong (35) and Hawthorn (27) to season-low scores respectively in the past fortnight.
They had no answer for the Eagles’ clean and quick ball-movement on Sunday, however, which saw Kennedy impose himself with five goals before three-quarter time, eventually taking his season tally to 18.
The two-time Coleman medallist, opposed to Jordan Roughead, was kicking with confidence and marked everything that came his way in a best-onground performance.
In a season lacking dominant key forwards, he reminded the competition of the value a star big man can provide in attack.
AFL captains Luke Shuey, Nat Fyfe and Joel Selwood have all missed matches during the Perth hub due to injury, and on Sunday it was Scott Pendlebury’s turn.
The Collingwood skipper headed to the rooms five minutes before the bounce with a trainer and left deputy Taylor Adams to take the coin toss and address the players. Moments later, emergency Atu Bosenavulagi was warming up in the rooms.
The late drama was a result of quad tightness, with the Magpies taking a cautious approach with their skipper.