AFL: A month after lowly Essendon shocked GWS, can West Coast do the same against the Giants to half their nine-game losing run?
The Eagles will be desperate to salute in what is their final road game of the year, but Adam Kingsley’s side is still an outside chance of sneaking into a wildcard spot.
Stay across the latest here, with play to begin at 11.40am WA time.
3QT: Greater Western Sydney 87, West Coast 40
The scoreboard really sums up the Eagles’ efforts.
The visitors had 5.1 at quarter time and have managed just nine behinds since.
On the flip side, the Giants have gone from 5.2 to 13.7.
It’s not even been glaring skill errors that have been an issue for West Coast today, it’s just a lack of will to run with the Giants in transition.
Everytime they have applied pressure they’ve been rewarded with repeat 50s, it just has not happened much.
Reid is fighting hard through a tag with 23 disposals, seven clearances and six tackles with Kelly and Graham behind him.
ICYMI
Shanahan took a great mark on the wing but the Eagles were unable to follow his lead.
Pressure pays
Jack Williams hits the post but the Eagles finally found some forward line pressure and were rewarded with a very gettable set shot.
They laid four tackles and forced a dumped exit for the turnover.
The miss will hurt though.
GWS 72, WCE 38
Danger
Greene had a shot at his fourth and his 450th AFL major but missed.
The Eagles have started the term with little pressure again with Herbert trying to follow Greene around a bit.
Maybe a huge grab from Shanahan can inspire something!
GWS 71, WCE 36
HT: Greater Western Sydney 70, West Coast 36
The Eagles have reverted to their efforts of old as the Giants kicked seven straight goals.
They are not chasing the ball carrier or attempting to follow loose players to cut them off.
The Giants are not playing lights out footy, they are just trying harder than the Eagles.
Kelly and Reid are still playing well in the middle and have a dozen clearances between them but there’s not much else to get excited about.
Whitfield and Ash had big quarters with the Eagles not picking up players on the outside.
Running away
The Eagles need to stop the bleeding.
They are coming second to the ball and the Giants are putting them to the sword.
Greene nails the 50m set shot for his second major of the day and the lead is getting out of hand with five goals in a row to the home side.
GWS 56, WCE 34
4.11
Cooper Duff-Tytler has some work to do on his goalkicking.
He shows a lot of promise as a ruck-forward but if he can’t finish off his hard work with majors he will find himself in the reserves.
He has kicked four goals 11 this season.
The goals are really drying up here.
GWS 38, WCE 32
QT: Greater Western Sydney 32, West Coast 31
It’s clear to see neither of these two teams have much to play for but we are getting an entertaining game.
There was 10 goals kicked for the quarter, including Toby Greene getting one with just seconds left on the clock.
Kelly and Reid lead the disposal count with Clayton Oliver chasing them up.
Both forward lines are also working well with far too much space being afforded.
Huge hit
McCarthy has worn a huge bump to spoil a mark and went down hard.
He copped a bit of a head knock and will need a concussion test.
However, the spoil allowed the Eagles to get to the other end and see Baker slot a fifth team goal for the quarter to take the lead back after the Giants got rolling through their big forwards.
GWS 26, WCE 31
Radar on
The Eagles have finally found their goalkicking radar, and it’s been hiding in Western Sydney!
They have kicked four straight goals after conceding first blood to the Giants.
Cole and Murdock have slotted the last two.
GWS 8, WCE 24
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