Match

West Coast Eagles vs Port Adelaide

Commentary / 05 May 2018

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Optus Stadium for the West Coast Eagles v Port Adelaide Round 7 clash.

59:33

Outs for Eagles: D.Sheed, L.Jetta

59:34

Ins for Eagles: J.Nelson, M.Hutchings

59:35

Outs for Power: C.Wingard, T.Clurey

59:36

Ins for Power: J.Pittard, P.Ryder

59:40

Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.

00:00

West Coast are the best transition team from defence so far in 2018. The Eagles have the highest kick-to-handball ratio in the league (1.86) and the best scoring rate from possession chains launched within defensive 50 (14.1 per cent).

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

02:31

Eagles Interchange - Luke Shuey and is possibly out for the game.

05:05

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Mark LeCras)

05:16

West Coast open the scoring following repeat entries inside forward 50. The Eagles have had the ball inside its forward half for 75 per cent of the opening minutes, launching their first goal from their third forward half intercept.

06:17

SCORE GOAL - Power (Jared Polec)

07:13

Port Adelaide has made a strong start around the stoppages, winning four of the first six clearances of the match. In his return, Patrick Ryder has won six hit outs so far, in comparison to just one by Nic Naitanui.

09:18

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)

12:23

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Rushed)

13:34

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

13:51

West Coast's second goal has been launched from the kick in following the Port Adelaide rushed behind. This is only the second goal launched from kick ins for the Eagles this season.

16:09

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)

16:12

Danger signs for Port Adelaide here at Optus Stadium with West Coast enjoying 82 per cent of the quarter inside its forward half to date. The Power is yet to transition any of its eight possession chains launched from defensive 50 into the forward 50.

22:33

SCORE GOAL - Power (Sam Gray)

27:29

Port Adelaide has settled in the past ten minutes, close to getting the game back on even terms. The Power have recorded six forward 50 entries in this time, in comparison to just two by the Eagles.

30:10

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)

30:17

Jack Darling has put the Eagles two goals up late in the quarter with a brilliant solo effort, following up his tackle with the goal. Darling has had a solid quarter, with four marks (three contested) and involvements in four of the five Eagles' scores.

31:27

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

31:37

The Eagles take a 12-point lead to the first change, set up by a dominance in field position. West Coast was able to set up via winning six of the seven centre clearances for the quarter, in turn spending 74 per cent of the term inside its forward half.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:56

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)

02:54

All-time West Coast leading goal kicker Kennedy has his second for the game, marking also the second goal launched by Shannon Hurn this time from a midfield intercept. The Eagles have won five more midfield intercepts than the Power.

06:25

SCORE GOAL - Power (Aidyn Johnson)

07:04

In his seventh senior game Aidyn Johnson has hit back for Port Adelaide, kicking his fourth career goal. Both sides have a goal each this quarter, even though the Eagles have managed more than doubled the disposals of the Power.

10:12

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)

10:46

Darling and Kennedy are providing a strong marking duo in the forward line for the Eagles. Darling has now taken four contested marks, the second-highest tally of any player before half time this year (behind Tom Bellchambers for Essendon earlier today).

11:49

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

14:48

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jake Waterman)

16:05

West Coast's midfield is starting to get on top of Port Adelaide, with 21 more disposals, 12 more marks and seven more intercepts in the midfield zone. Five of the Eagles' seven goals have been launched from the midfield zone.

17:34

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Charlie Dixon)

18:48

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)

25:48

West Coast has been awarded 17 free kicks, considerably more than Port Adelaide with just six. The Eagles have won five free kicks for holding the man and another four for holding the ball.

27:00

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Willie Rioli)

29:34

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)

29:40

Two ground ball gets for Willie Rioli inside forward 50 within minutes have led to goals to himself and Petruccelle (his career first). The Eagles have won eight ground ball gets inside forward 50, compared to just two for the Power for the half.

30:43

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

30:53

West Coast enjoys its largest half time lead against Port Adelaide since 2013 following a dominant second quarter. The Eagles won six more clearances, recorded 40 more disposals with two fewer turnovers, and generated eight more forward 50 entries.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

03:47

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)

04:47

The Eagles have won 13 more clearances than the Power, set up by the ruck dominance of Naitanui and Lycett with a combined 30 hit outs with 11 to advantage. West Coast have outscored Port Adelaide by 13 points from stoppages.

06:14

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)

07:08

West Coast's forward line mix looks ominous as Josh Kennedy kicks his fourth goal. Kennedy now has 13 goals from just four games this season.

11:02

SCORE GOAL - Power (Aidyn Johnson)

11:18

It's been a long time between drinks for Port Adelaide, finally kicking its fourth goal and second straight to Aidyn Johnson. Prior to this passage of play, the Power only recorded two ineffective kicks within forward 50 in about 35 minutes of play.

14:14

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Redden)

14:33

Jack Redden has been one of the most important cogs within the West Coast midfield, with a goal to go with his five clearances (and four at the centre bounce). Prior to this game Redden had won 12 centre clearances for the year, the most of any Eagle.

19:02

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Willie Rioli)

20:23

William Rioli is putting together one of his best games in his first season, already with 13 disposals, two goals and three score assists. Prior to this match he had kicked three goals and averaged 11 disposals per game this season.

20:37

SCORE GOAL - Power (Jack Watts)

22:24

SCORE GOAL - Power (Sam Gray)

23:20

When all looked lost, Port Adelaide has managed two quick goals while preventing West Coast from touching the ball. Both of the Power's goals were launched from centre clearances, with Polec delivering inside 50 on both occasions.

24:38

SCORE GOAL - Power (Riley Bonner)

24:56

In the past five minutes Port Adelaide have won all three centre clearances, recording every disposal except two. Robbie Gray has won two centre clearances in this time and now has four for the match.

27:49

SCORE GOAL - Power (Charlie Dixon)

27:56

That's four goals in eight minutes for Port Adelaide, doubling its goal tally after only four in almost three quarters prior. The Power have been in possession for 43 per cent more of this period than the Eagles, in turn with all seven forward 50 entries

29:17

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

32:57

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

33:07

West Coast looked to be running away to a comfortable victory until Port Adelaide managed four consecutive goals within time-on to retain hope. The Power recorded 31 more disposals and seven more forward 50 entries than the Eagles in 'red time'.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:10

When West Coast hosted Port Adelaide in Round 16 last season, scores were level at three-quarter time. The Power managed to kick eight goals and outscore the Eagles by 32 points in the final term - exactly equal to the three-quarter time deficit today.

00:57

SCORE GOAL - Power (Steven Motlop)

01:36

Port Adelaide has cut the margin to under five goals for the first time since half way through the second term. The Power midfield is certainly starting to click into gear, with eight of their nine goals launched from the midfield zone.

04:06

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Charlie Dixon)

07:34

Since West Coast made it a 55-point lead in the 20th minute of the third quarter, only three Eagles players have recorded more four disposals or more. In comparison, the Power have 13 players with at least four disposals.

09:46

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Mark Hutchings)

10:16

West Coast steadies with its third major for the match launched from defensive 50. In this game the Eagles are right on their season averages of a forward 50 entry from 25 per cent and a score from 14 per cent of defensive 50 launches.

12:10

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Rushed)

14:24

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)

14:56

That's now four goals generated from end-to-end play beginning in defensive 50 for West Coast. The Eagles have scored 25 points from 29 possession chains from defensive 50, compared to just one point from 34 such chains for the Power.

20:38

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)

20:42

Jack Darling has taken a career-high six contested marks, all within the forward half. This is also equal to the highest by any player in a game this year. Darling has now has taken 19 contested marks this season, more than any other player.

23:56

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Travis Boak)

24:40

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Rushed)

26:29

SCORE BEHIND - Power (Charlie Dixon)

27:56

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)

28:05

The siren has sounded to end Q4.

28:15

West Coast has won its sixth straight match following a comprehensive seven-goal win over Port Adelaide. Andrew Gaff led all comers with 35 disposals, along with three clearances and three intercepts.