Australian Football

Match Report

On Saturday afternoon the ABC cameras headed off to the City Mazda Stadium at Richmond as the Bloods hosted the Eagles. Up until the last match-up in Round 22 last season, neither side could pull off a hat-trick of wins against each other. The Eagles rammed a rocket up the Bloods in that last encounter with their 71-point demolition at Woodville, with West's last win coming in mid-2010 at Richmond.

The Bloods were in the box seat to exact some punishment for that last embarrassment, they started off proceedings with a 4.1 to 2.1 first quarter, a two-goal lead for Westies at the first change. Despite this, the Eagles wouldn't ever be too far behind as the sides traded blows on the scoreboard in the second quarter, both kicked four goals but West's three behinds to one extended their lead to 14 points at the long break. Poor kicking on goal by West could have been the key to the Eagles taking the lead, but anything they came up with would be answered by the Bloods as they continued to go goal-for-goal with the missed shots making up the difference. In the third quarter, West added 3.5 to the visitors' three goals to stretch the advantage to 19 points at the last change. The final quarter wasn't much of a spectacle when it came to scores, but the Bloods ensured their fans went home happy. Both teams scored 1.2, leaving the three quarter-time deficit unchanged as the home side took a 19-point win.

Aaron Fielke was named best for the Bloods, while the Eagles named Luke Jarrad as their best afield.