Australian Football

Match Report

Two weeks ago West Coast was given little to no hope of playing finals football. The Eagles were coming off a disappointing loss at home to Richmond and limping towards the end of the season. But an upset win over Adelaide in Adelaide last week gave the Eagles an injection of enthusiasm and they carried that through into Sunday's home game against Collingwood with gusto, powering away from the Magpies in the second half to win by 10 goals to move to within one game of a place in the top eight.

The Eagles dominated much of the game, jumping out to a 28-point quarter-time lead with a six-goal first term, and then withstanding a good second quarter from Collingwood, the Pies kicking five goals to three to move within 17 points at the ing break. With Jack Darling and Scott Lycett proving a handful in front of goal, the Eagles went on the rampage in the second half of the match. kicking six goals to one in the third quarter and then four goals to two in the last term to win in a canter by 60 points.

Leading the charge for the winners were Matt Priddis (42 disposals and seven tackles), Sam Butler (14 marks, 32 touches) and Luke Shuey (31 possessions and seven tackles). For the vanquished, Dayne Beams (35 possessions and six marks), Jamie Elliott (nine tackles, seven marks) and captain Scott Pendlebury (31 disposals and five marks) all put in strong four-quarter efforts.

With three games remaining the Eagles are still at relatively long odds to make the eight but a good percentage and victories against Essendon, Melbourne and Gold Coast could still see them sneak into the action in September. By contrast the Magpies are limping towards the end of the year but are nevertheless a chance to climb back into the eight. Their final three home and away games are against Brisbane, GWS and Hawthorn.

GOALS
West Coast: Lycett, Darling 4; Kennedy 3; Naitanui 2; Shuey, Cripps, Cox, Hill, Brown, Priddis
Collingwood: Kennedy 2; Beams, Sidebottom, Broomhead, Reid, Dwyer, White, Elliott, Cloke

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
West Coast: Priddis, Butler, Shuey, Gaff, Darling, Mackenzie, Masten
Collingwood: Beams, Pendlebury, Elliott, Sidebottom, Reid

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
West Coast: Priddis, Butler, Shuey, Gaff, Cox, Mackenzie, Darling, Lycett
Collingwood: Beams, Elliott, Pendlebury, Sidebottom

INJURIES
West Coast: Ellis (shoulder)
Collingwood: Dwyer (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Dom Sheed replaced Xavier Ellis at quarter-time
Collingwood: Clinton Young replaced Sam Dwyer during the third quarter

UMPIRES: Farmer, Schmitt, Hay

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Gerard Healy, Jason Dunstall, David King