The Soaring

Recap
Well it was one of those media circus type events, but in the footy game that fit in between press conferences, flashing cameras, interview after interview and yet more presentations, we won. Just.

West Coast Eagles 5.1 12.2 19.4 21.6 132
Essendon 2.3 5.6 11.8 19.10 124

Top Five

1. Lesser lights, please stand up
And I think they did, more or less. This was an unbalanced side in my opinion - too many flankers and not enough on-ballers. It didn’t help that Priddis only played half a game and Selwood was a late withdrawal. This resulted in some interesting centre-square combinations with the likes of Chick, LeCras, RoJo sharing time in the middle with the stalwarts like Fletcher, Cousins and Stenglein.

The forward line was a mixed bag too. Lynch was well held by Michael but when we went long and direct we reaped the benefits with a number of goals being scored right on the line or from the square. It was good to see. Morton did well to kick three goals as did RoJo and a number of others bobbed up with 2 each.

2. Rowan Jones
Fine game by RoJo. In the absence of some senior players he really stood up and performed. Mind you I think he usually does (although not every one agrees). He worked well up the ground and into the midfield and his workrate can not be faulted. He will present and lead when others simply don’t.

It was great to see his work capped off with 3 telling goals to give him the stellar return of 12 goals 5 for the year. And you’ve go to love how he celebrates those goals. Nothing. It’s just all in a days work.

3. Getting Over Run
The home final went begging when we were well and truly over run in the last quarter. If we’d held our lead of 8 goals + we’d probably be hosting Port this week. We’re not and that’s life.

I put the fadeout down to three things:
1. Scott Lucas going off his head in front of goal. He was superb and as unstoppable as you’ll see a forward at Subiaco.
2. The loss of Priddis. He is our midfield grunt without Kerr and Judd and we didn’t win the ball after half time. This put pressure on us, to which Essendon’s confidence rose.
3. No Hansen at CHF. He continually presents and without him we revert to the handballing plan A to get the ball from half back to half forward. With a depleting running brigade it’s a killer of a tactic.

4. C’mon it is Essendon after all
Maybe it’s all the soppy Diana tributes that are flowing but I found the gushing over Sheedy and Hird just a little bit too much for me. Don’t get me wrong. Both have contributed a lot to the game, both have the games utmost respect, but showing a Hird highlight video at Subiaco after we’ve played them and including the Dome game winner and in the crowd celebration - from ALL angles - was pushing it I would’ve thought.

Sheedy’s been a mongrel for years pulling shady trick after shady trick to stick it up us and Hird saves his brilliant best for us time and again.

I’m sure the AFL and public at large would’ve appreciated the sentiments shown Sheedy and Hird - it’s just for the Eagles sake I don’t want to see our prickly edge against Essendon softened because you know it will come back and bite us!

5. Bring on the Finals
We need some of our A-graders back to win this week and it looks like we might get Embley and Selwood back in. We would be hoping Priddis is right to go because without Kerr and Judd in the midfield we are very underpowered in there.

I hate Port so lets hope we rise to the occasion and stifle their home ground advantage with some vintage Eagles footy.

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