AFL: Eagles win thrilling western derby as Tigers extend lead on top
West Coast have won the AFL’s western derby by eight points in a thriller against Fremantle. The Eagles trailed by 20 points at quarter-time, but three goals each to Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy helped lift their side to a 13.11 (89) to 12.9 (81) victory in front of record derby crowd of 56,521 fans.
It was their sixth derby win in a row. Eagles captain Shannon Hurn (30 disposals) and Dockers midfielder Lachie Neale (35 disposals) were tied winners of the Ross Glendinning medal as best afield.
Tensions were frayed between the two clubs earlier in the week when Fremantle threatened to scrap the medal. But a compromise was eventually reached, with the name of a past Dockers great to be added to the medal in time for the round-20 western derby.
Kennedy, whose three goals all came from tight angles, booted the first of the match to become West Coast’s record goalscorer.
The opening term was an intriguing tactical battle, with Fremantle surprisingly coming out on top on the scoreboard despite being forced to defend for long periods. West Coast won the inside-50m battle 17-7. But the Dockers scored from each of their seven entries to take a 27-7 lead into quarter-time.
Darling pulled the Eagles back into the contest with three goals in the second quarter. By halftime, West Coast were in front by eight points, and were 33-14 in winning the inside 50s.
West Coast led by just six points after an even third quarter, and they managed to hold off a spirited Fremantle outfit in the final term.
There was more bad news with Fremantle after the game, with goalsneak Michael Walters facing an extended stint on the sidelines after injuring his left knee. Walters suffered the injury in the first quarter while battling Eagles defender Brad Sheppard for a loose ball, with his knee crashing into the Optus Stadium turf in their duel.
He suffered a PCL injury late last season to the same knee. Walters returned to the field early in the second quarter, but was clearly still affected by the injury and promptly returned to the bench in his final act of the day.
In Melbourne, Richmond reaffirmed their status as masters of pressure, breaking clear of Collingwood to win by 43 points. The Tigers kicked half their goals in the last quarter and stayed top with the 16.17 (113) to 10.10 (70) victory on Sunday at the MCG.
The biggest game between these two rivals since the 1980 grand final attracted a crowd of 72,157.
The margin did no justice to the Magpies, who took it right up to the reigning premiers in a pulsating clash. Tom Phillips was running into an open goal with about 10 minutes left in the last quarter and, had he not slipped, would have reduced the margin to only 13 points.
But Richmond pounced, racing the ball up the other end for a goal. That was the start of a four-goal run that blew out the margin and ensured Richmond’s 12th-straight win at the MCG.
The two teams were coming off short breaks after their Anzac clashes and Collingwood, who lost James Aish in the third term to injury, wilted late.
Richmond youngster Jack Higgins snapped a goal near quartertime and Magpies defender Lynden Dunn cannoned into him as he celebrated. Higgins was given another shot at goal and he converted, giving the Tigers an eight-point lead at the first break.
Collingwood were matching Richmond’s famed manic pressure and they kept pace with the Tigers through the second term, taking an eight-point lead the main break. Richmond thought they had a goal late in the second term, but a score review ruled it was touched.
There was some confusion over the incident, given Collingwood defender Lynden Dunn clearly did not touch the ball until it was over the goal line, but there was speculation it was touched off the boot.
Collingwood lost Aish to a knee injury early in the third term, robbing them of a crucial interchange rotation. But the Magpies kept pressing, taking an eight-point lead, and defender Brayden Maynard even withstood one of Dustin Martin’s trademark “don’t argue” fend-offs. Maynard limped off in the last term with a sore ankle, but played out the match, while Ben Reid was also injured in the final quarter.
Tigers captain Trent Cotchin was prolific in the third quarter with 10 possessions and slowly his team took control. Two goals to Josh Caddy gave Richmond an 11-point lead at the last break. He kicked another at the start of the last term and another two followed for the Tigers, meaning a decisive five-goal run either side of three-quarter time for the reigning premiers.
Collingwood rookie recruit Flynn Appleby, the cousin of golfer Stuart, made his AFL debut as a late replacement for Tom Langdon (managed). Chris Mayne also played his first game for the Magpies since round three last season and worked hard as a defensive forward.
Caddy kicked four, while Jack Riewoldt and Dan Butler booted three each for the Tigers and Cotchin was outstanding, while Collingwood midfielder Adam Treloar backed up from his Anzac Medal with 42 possessions.
Earlier, a flaky Essendon showed they remain a long way from AFL finals contention with coach John Worsfold admitting they resembled “a rabbit in the headlights” at times in their 36-point loss to Melbourne.
The Bombers led at halftime but conceded seven goals to one in Sunday afternoon’s third term on the way to a 16.12 (108) to 10.12 (72) defeat.
It continues a worrying trend for the Bombers, who have been beaten this season in the third quarter of every game. Worsfold couldn’t explain the trend, saying it would be a major focus for the coaching staff.
“In the third quarter, they kept going flat out and we looked like a rabbit in the headlights ... turning the ball over, fumbling, dropping marks,” he said. “We just didn’t cope with the pressure, even though we had for half the game.”
Underrated defender Neville Jetta starred with an outstanding shutdown role on Essendon danger man Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, while Christian Salem (27 disposals) and debutant Charlie Spargo (two goals) also impressed.
Ruckman Max Gawn was quiet in the first half but had a huge third term, slotting two checkside goals and racking up 16 of his 42 hit-outs.
Melbourne’s first victory since round three lifts them back within sight of the top eight and will be a major morale-booster ahead of winnable games against St Kilda, Gold Coast and Carlton.
“I thought our second half resembled the way we want to play,” coach Simon Goodwin said. “I thought our hunt and our pressure and our contested work and clearance work came back, and obviously we started to connect better with the ball.”
Coming off a four-day break from their disappointing Anzac Day loss to Collingwood, Essendon looked by far the better team in the first half, with Andrew McGrath and David Zaharakis using their speed to open up the game. McGrath had 19 disposals up to halftime and Zaharakis 17 but neither stepped up when the game was on the line in the third term.
The Bombers were outscored 12 goals to five in the second half.
Many had expected Essendon to make a big finals push this year but, with the season almost a third of the way through, the Bombers are 14th on the ladder with two wins and four losses. Big-name recruits Jake Stringer (three goals) and Devon Smith (22 disposals, two goals) both played well but Joe Daniher (0.3) was again well down on last season’s All-Australian form.
Melbourne spearhead Jesse
Hogan (two goals) hobbled from the ground in the third quarter after landing heavily on his right ankle but returned to play out the game.