Eagles topple Kangaroos

West Coast 14.11 (95) def. Kangaroos 10.11 (71)

West Coast has continued its unbeaten start to season 2006, overcoming the Kangaroos by 24 points in a taxing battle at Manuka Oval this afternoon.

The Eagles run away with the game in the last half, booting eight goals to two, to celebrate Darren Glass’ 100th game, and Brent Stakers’ 50th.

Despite losing former skipper, Ben Cousins, who pulled out before the game with a hamstring strain and was replaced by Brett Jones, the Eagles were able to overcome a tough contest at the nation’s capital city.

West Coast now join the Western Bulldogs as the only sides to have not suffered a loss in 2006, while the Kangaroos season is in free-fall mode, losing every game since their Round One triumph.

For the Eagles, Adam Hunter was their most potent option up forward, kicking four goals, while Captain Chris Judd collected 21 possessions. Leigh Brown was the standout for the boys from Arden Street, picking up 25 touches and 13 marks.

It was a free-flowing start to the match, with six goals kicked in the opening 11 minutes. However, the remaining minutes of the quarter ensued to be a stagnant battle, with the Kangaroos holding an impressive 10-point lead at quarter time.

Leigh Harding was the only multiple goal kicker in the first term, booting two majors, while, for the Eagles, Staker was best, setting up the first goal, and kicking one of his own.

The Eagles forward structure was almost non-existent in the second quarter, as they struggled to get past Centre Half Forward with any fluency or precision. Their renowned desperation and intensity was lacking and the Kangaroos took advantage of this, extending their lead to 16 points before an Eagles comeback.

Adam Hunter and David Wirrpanda both moved forward to give West Coast some versatility up forward, with immediate results following. A contested mark and goal from Hunter, then a straight set shot from Wirrpanda put them back into the game, before Hunter again marked inside the goal square, and put the Eagles within two points.

In his 250th game, Saverio Rocca gave Daniel Harris a goal on a platter with only one minute remaining in the first half, through a superb tap from a boundary throw in, which in-turn gave the Kangaroos a seven-point lead going into the main break.

The second half could not have started any better for West Coast, as they came within one point, after Daniel Chick drilled a running goal from the pocket.

However, a stalemate for ten minutes followed, until former Eagle, Kasey Green, goaled on the run for the Roos, to reinstate their eight-point lead.

The arm-wrestle continued right throughout the third term, until Wirrpanda and Eagles’ skipper Chris Judd both goaled from set shots, to give the Eagles an eight point lead at the last break.

The last quarter was much like the one before it, as Rocca goaled in the early minutes of the term, before Andrew Embley kicked a goal off the ground from 20 meters out, which broke the deadlock after over ten minutes of ferocious football.

Embley’s luck turned out to be the pivotal point of the match, as the Eagles went on to boot a further three goals for the quarter to run out 24 point victors.

West Coast will be looking to keep up their undefeated run next week, when they face the struggling Brisbane Lions at Subiaco Oval next Saturday night, while the Kangaroos play Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

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