- Mar 25, 2003
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http://eagles.newman-knights.com/index.php?newsid=29
Eagles Smalls Stand Tall in Derby Win
The West Coast Eagles have won their 14th Western Derby from the 17 clashes between themselves and the Fremantle Dockers. This derby had a familiar tune about it as the Eagles systematically dismantled the Dockers simply by having more numbers at the ball and more players contributing to a performance, particularly in the first half when West Coast won the match.
The Eagles led by 30 points at half time, 8.9 (57) to 4.3 (27), before eventually winning the match 16.12 (108) to 10.13 (73), although Fremantle gave them a big scare getting within 9 points midway through the third term. Although statistics never paint a true picture in football, one telling stat which can not be ignored is the 18 Eagles players who had 5 or more touches in the first half of football, compared to just 8 Dockers players having 5 or more touches in that half of footy. A team simply can’t be competitive with so few players getting their hands of the ball.
Michael Gardiner proved that he is currently the form Ruckman of the competition, once again dominating the opposing Ruckman. This time it was Troy Simmonds and Matthew Pavlich the men sent to the cleaners. Gardiner helped himself to 24 hit outs, as well 15 disposals and 4 marks, and was rewarded with the Glendinning Medal for the best player on the field.
Despite another top performance from Gardiner, the most pleasing performance from an Eagles fans point of view would have to have been Daniel Chick’s efforts in taking Matthew Pavlich out of the match when he was playing as a midfielder. Chick exposed Pavlich’s lack of speed, and displayed too much agility for the 192 cm defender turn midfielder. Although he did let “Super Pav” rack up 18 touches, he was no where near as menacing as he has been, and Chick’s 16 touches were more damaging, setting up four goals in the process.
Another pleasing aspect of the game for the Eagles was the return of the little dog Phil Read, who played his first game in two seasons due to knee problems. Read racked up 17 disposals and looked as if he hadn’t missed a game, getting right into the thick of things within minutes of coming onto the field.
Trent Croad kicked the first goal of the match for the Dockers when a Trent Carroll kick was turned over leaving Carroll a good 20 metres away from his man, however this was the first and last time the Dockers were to see the lead. Ashley Sampi, who played the best game so far of his career, kicked the Eagles first soon after when he ran through 2 Dockers players before slotting a goal from the boundary line 40 metres out from goal. Judd goaled on the run just minutes later to hand West Coast a lead, which was never overcome.
West Coast defence remained solid for the rest of the quarter, allowing just one more goal to go through while the forwards took advantage of their opportunities to take a 5.4 (34) – 2.1 (13) lead into the first break, with Sampi kicking 2 goals, while Fletcher (11 touches) and Judd (10 touches) were the main game breakers in the midfield.
Once again Fremantle kicked the first goal of the term, through the experienced Troy Cook, but three Eagles goals in a matter of minutes, including a sensational pick up and snap on the left from the 2 metres tall Dean Cox, saw the Eagles lead balloon out to 34 points, and the Western Derby was threatened to be hijacked by the Eagles midfield, who had a major advantage in the centre breaks.
The remainder of the quarter was one of the more frustrating periods for the Eagles, always threatening the goals, however only being rewarded with the 3 behinds, while Clive Waterhouse was gifted a Dockers goal when Embley turned the ball in defence. Eventually the teams went to the main break at 8.9 (57) to 4.3 (27) in favour of West Coast.
Whatever was said at half-time, it was clear which team came out ready to play, with Fremantle going straight into attack only to be denied by a great Kasey Green tackle on Troy Cook just metres from the goal line. However it wasn’t too long before the Dockers kicked their first goal, with Eagles skipper Ben Cousins turning the ball over going into attack, leaving the outer wing vulnerable. Koops received the ball and went untouched into the Dockers attack and finding Medhurst who marked and goal.
Fremantle continued to plug away and eventually the margin was reduced to just nine points when Haselby slotted a goal from a free kick. The Eagles finally stemmed the flow when Read marked and goaled from 50 metres out, before Haynes goaled from 52 metres and Sampi kicked his fourth to restore the margin back to 27 points, which it remained at three quarter time.
When Fletcher kicked his third goal early on in the last quarter the margin was out to 37 points, and it could well have ended up as a 60-plus margin, however to Fremantle’s credit they stuck to their guns, and didn’t let that happen, eventually finishing the match 35 points behind the Eagles.
This match could be viewed as a crucial “away” win for the Eagles, however John Worsfold and his men won’t be content until they can win outside of Western Australia, and particularly in Melbourne. Next week is a great chance to do just that, as they come up against an out of form Melbourne Demons, and also have the chance to move into the top 2 on the ladder.
http://eagles.newman-knights.com/index.php?newsid=29
Eagles Smalls Stand Tall in Derby Win
The West Coast Eagles have won their 14th Western Derby from the 17 clashes between themselves and the Fremantle Dockers. This derby had a familiar tune about it as the Eagles systematically dismantled the Dockers simply by having more numbers at the ball and more players contributing to a performance, particularly in the first half when West Coast won the match.
The Eagles led by 30 points at half time, 8.9 (57) to 4.3 (27), before eventually winning the match 16.12 (108) to 10.13 (73), although Fremantle gave them a big scare getting within 9 points midway through the third term. Although statistics never paint a true picture in football, one telling stat which can not be ignored is the 18 Eagles players who had 5 or more touches in the first half of football, compared to just 8 Dockers players having 5 or more touches in that half of footy. A team simply can’t be competitive with so few players getting their hands of the ball.
Michael Gardiner proved that he is currently the form Ruckman of the competition, once again dominating the opposing Ruckman. This time it was Troy Simmonds and Matthew Pavlich the men sent to the cleaners. Gardiner helped himself to 24 hit outs, as well 15 disposals and 4 marks, and was rewarded with the Glendinning Medal for the best player on the field.
Despite another top performance from Gardiner, the most pleasing performance from an Eagles fans point of view would have to have been Daniel Chick’s efforts in taking Matthew Pavlich out of the match when he was playing as a midfielder. Chick exposed Pavlich’s lack of speed, and displayed too much agility for the 192 cm defender turn midfielder. Although he did let “Super Pav” rack up 18 touches, he was no where near as menacing as he has been, and Chick’s 16 touches were more damaging, setting up four goals in the process.
Another pleasing aspect of the game for the Eagles was the return of the little dog Phil Read, who played his first game in two seasons due to knee problems. Read racked up 17 disposals and looked as if he hadn’t missed a game, getting right into the thick of things within minutes of coming onto the field.
Trent Croad kicked the first goal of the match for the Dockers when a Trent Carroll kick was turned over leaving Carroll a good 20 metres away from his man, however this was the first and last time the Dockers were to see the lead. Ashley Sampi, who played the best game so far of his career, kicked the Eagles first soon after when he ran through 2 Dockers players before slotting a goal from the boundary line 40 metres out from goal. Judd goaled on the run just minutes later to hand West Coast a lead, which was never overcome.
West Coast defence remained solid for the rest of the quarter, allowing just one more goal to go through while the forwards took advantage of their opportunities to take a 5.4 (34) – 2.1 (13) lead into the first break, with Sampi kicking 2 goals, while Fletcher (11 touches) and Judd (10 touches) were the main game breakers in the midfield.
Once again Fremantle kicked the first goal of the term, through the experienced Troy Cook, but three Eagles goals in a matter of minutes, including a sensational pick up and snap on the left from the 2 metres tall Dean Cox, saw the Eagles lead balloon out to 34 points, and the Western Derby was threatened to be hijacked by the Eagles midfield, who had a major advantage in the centre breaks.
The remainder of the quarter was one of the more frustrating periods for the Eagles, always threatening the goals, however only being rewarded with the 3 behinds, while Clive Waterhouse was gifted a Dockers goal when Embley turned the ball in defence. Eventually the teams went to the main break at 8.9 (57) to 4.3 (27) in favour of West Coast.
Whatever was said at half-time, it was clear which team came out ready to play, with Fremantle going straight into attack only to be denied by a great Kasey Green tackle on Troy Cook just metres from the goal line. However it wasn’t too long before the Dockers kicked their first goal, with Eagles skipper Ben Cousins turning the ball over going into attack, leaving the outer wing vulnerable. Koops received the ball and went untouched into the Dockers attack and finding Medhurst who marked and goal.
Fremantle continued to plug away and eventually the margin was reduced to just nine points when Haselby slotted a goal from a free kick. The Eagles finally stemmed the flow when Read marked and goaled from 50 metres out, before Haynes goaled from 52 metres and Sampi kicked his fourth to restore the margin back to 27 points, which it remained at three quarter time.
When Fletcher kicked his third goal early on in the last quarter the margin was out to 37 points, and it could well have ended up as a 60-plus margin, however to Fremantle’s credit they stuck to their guns, and didn’t let that happen, eventually finishing the match 35 points behind the Eagles.
This match could be viewed as a crucial “away” win for the Eagles, however John Worsfold and his men won’t be content until they can win outside of Western Australia, and particularly in Melbourne. Next week is a great chance to do just that, as they come up against an out of form Melbourne Demons, and also have the chance to move into the top 2 on the ladder.
