Welcome to the Western Watercooler, where we digest the talking points from the weekend’s games – and the highlights, frustrations and silver linings WA footy fans can cling to as the season progresses.
For the second time in as many weeks the Eagles and Dockers were both victorious, and while it’s been foreign in recent years, it’s something we can easily get used to.
However, the Eagles continue to make things hard for themselves, giving away early leads before successfully pulling off a memorable comeback.
Meanwhile, the Dockers flexed their muscle in a third-quarter blitz, breaking free of a Tigers arm-wrestle to cruise to victory.
West Coast Eagles
What went right? Consecutive wins.
It’s been almost two years since the Eagles have sung the song two games in a row.
Arguably the most impressive part of yesterday’s win over Port Adelaide was the number of contributors.
Jake Waterman put aside a pre-game calf complaint to boot four goals including a long-range bomb from the boundary.
Veteran Tim Kelly showed he can still be a vital part of this side, leading the way in clearances.
Harley Reid is a far better version of himself.
Willem Duursma is everything the Eagles thought they’d be getting at pick one and more, while Bo Allan is showing more with every outing and producing in some important moments.
There’s input from youth and experience, culminating in results.
What went wrong? The thought of Elliot Yeo again being sidelined by injury.
Only last week, I was singing the praises of the premiership midfielder and how much better West Coast are for having him out there.
The extent of Yeo’s groin injury is not yet fully known.
Hopefully, it’s more precautionary than serious.
Silver lining: Jobe Shanahan.
Fresh off a Rising Star nomination in round two, the talented teenager took his game to another level when the Eagles needed him.
As Port were surging in the dying minutes, Shanahan was trusted with going behind the ball as the extra man.
He soared over a pack, pulling in a brilliant mark, keeping a cool head to produce a moment well beyond his years.
Shanahan finished with four contested marks, double of any other player on the ground. He saved his best for last.
Fremantle Dockers
What went right? Josh Treacy
On exposed form, the 23 year-old is one of the best forwards in the game.
He’s big, powerful, physical, has a presence both in the air and at ground level and is a reliable shot on goal.
In slippery conditions, Treacy’s marking was a feature.
He grabbed everything which came his way, mostly with one take.
His love affair against Richmond continued, booting four goals, making it 19 majors from his past four outings against the Tigers.
The country Victorian’s standing in the game is growing weekly, which is crazy to think after being taken at pick seven in the 2007 rookie draft.
What went wrong? Poor goal-kicking.
Fremantle booted 25 behinds, their equal most in club history.
In a twist, Justin Longmuir was involved in both games – on Saturday as coach, while back in 2003 against the Bulldogs he was the main culprit, kicking seven behinds without registering a goal.
If the Dockers had converted more of their opportunities against the Tigers, the result could have easily been a three-figure margin.
Silver lining: Reaching triple figures.
For the first time since May 2023, the Dockers have kicked more than 100 points in three consecutive matches.
Being able to score big, and quickly, is crucial in the modern day and capitalising when you have momentum goes a long way to winning games.
Fremantle did this in the third term, turning a six-point, half-time lead into a match-winning 44-point buffer at the final change.
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Paddy Sweeney is a Nine News Perth sports presenter and journalist.From our partners
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
