The Soaring

In Summary

WEST COAST EAGLES 1.4 7.5 10.10 14.13 (97)
ADELAIDE 0.3 1.7 4.12 5.17 (47)

It’s a couple of days after the event, but that was one of the best wins I’ve witnessed we’ve had in a long time. Admittedly, it was just the second win we’ve had in all of 2008 but the fact remains there was plenty to be impressed by in this victory. A 50 point margin over a top 4 side and the West Coast Eagles first win since March.

The contrast between the last two second quarters we’ve played on this ground couldn’t be more pronounced. Against Carlton prior to the bye we were as woeful as could be - shocking turnovers, easy Carlton goals, 50 metre penalties, the team was falling apart.

Fast forward three weeks and it seems the injection of some more youth, some positional changes and intelligent match-ups, some tweaks to the game plan and all of a sudden we are purring like a fine tuned motor car, if not the Lamborghinis of old.

We were, however, fierce and strong in the contest. We were unrelenting in our pressure across the field. We were courageous when we needed to be and smart when it was required in moving the ball up field. We were direct, straight and dangerous in putting the ball in deep and often. We worked for one another and played with belief for FOUR full quarters. And wasn’t it sweet to watch!

It all came together with the first goal of that second quarter when some fast ball movement had the ball moved from the D50 into the forward line where Josh Kennedy took a strong contested grab, and duly went back and slotted it with a beautiful kick from 50 metres out. It was some of the sweetest footy I’ve watched in a long time. And I take it as a sign of things to come.

Ebert had a breakout game in this one - 28 possessions and 10 marks 6 tackles - and more importantly showed he has what it takes to become a well rounded midfielder as he did his work in close and out wide. Masten was solid again in the midst of the action. Schofield, Kennedy and McKinley were all solid in their roles. First gamers Houlihan and Wilkes exceeded all expectations and proved they belong. Wilkes had the ball 15 times and shut down Kurt Tippett, whilst Houlihan had it 20 times and showed exceptional dash.

Special mention too to the total blanket jobs of Brett Jones on Burton and Adam Selwood on McLeod, limiting both match winners to just 5 and 8 possessions respectively. Incredible jobs.

But the real revelation came from the older stages. Fletcher has turned back the clock to 2004 and was damaging across the midfield, Braun hunted the ball and competed with relentless tenancity, Stenglein shut out various Adelaide forwards playing off halfback and Embley was in my opinion best of ground with an exceptional game of attacking defence.

Embley had 29 possessions, 11 marks and 2 goals and provided his traditional dash down the wings, but this time he did from half back whilst qwelling the influence of the dangerous Tyson Edwards. It was outstanding game - when he first works back hard, contests in the D50 in the air and on the ground and THEN pushes forward, he is at his most lethal.

What was also of note in this game was how straight we played. Adelaide play an interesting 2 + 2 + 2 zone between the 50s. It means dinky kicks in that area are a target for being picked off and any run through that area is easily “netted” by two or three opposition players.

What we did well was switch play, but not from one wing to the other. Rather from one wing to the centre of the ground, or at least not the opposite boundary line. A number of times as the ball came forward there was a chance to go the extra handball out wide or the extra lateral kick. On almost all occasions we resisted the temptation and went to a leading target or LONG to the goal square.

The long ball in particular worked well. You have to admit, the fans love it. What can compare to a player roosting a 70 metre bomb on the defence’s heads? Quinten Lynch has been quiet in front of goal of late, but it is as a back up ruckman I think he is showing real value. He is strong around packs, has good skills around the ground, but most importantly he is a good old fashioned flood buster with his strong roosts inside 50. In fact, he is 4th in the AFL for inside 50s and with the likes of Kennedy, Staker, McKinley and Wirra competing down there it makes sense we give them the very best chance to get it on the board.

Next week is a different challenge all together; Collingwood at the ‘G. Not impossible by any means, but another step up from the Subi Oval against a team that history says hates that venue. However it goes I can’t wait.