Preliminary Final 2018

West Coast v Melbourne
Preliminary Final, 2018

Vardy in action. Photo: aflphotos.com.au

Date

Sat, 22 Sept 2018 (1.20pm WST)

Venue

Perth Stadium

Attendance

59,608

Result

Won by 66

Score

WCE 18.13.121 - 7.13.55

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West Coast cruised through to the club's seventh Grand Final appearance, blowing the Demons away with a crushing first half before moving into preservation mode in the second. The Eagles held Melbourne goalless to half-time and went into the long break with an insurmountable 63 point lead. Jamie Cripps kicked three goals from 24 possessions and Jack Redden had a team-high 31 touches.

Summary

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
West Coast		4.8.32		10.9.69		15.10.100		18.13.121
Melbourne		0.3.3		0.6.6		5.9.39		7.13.55

Goals: Kennedy 4, Cripps, Darling, LeCras 3, Hutchings, Redden, Rioli, Ryan, Venables

Best: Kennedy, Redden, Cripps, Hurn, McGovern, Sheed, LeCras

Injuries: McGovern (corked hip), Shuey (ankle)

Reports: McGovern for misconduct against J.Viney

Milestones: Barrass 50th game

Named sides

	West Coast				Melbourne
B:	25.Hurn	37.Barrass	31.Schofield	B:	39.Jetta	28.O.McDonald	6.Lewis
HB:	28.Cole	20.McGovern	23.Jetta	HB:	3.Salem	17.Frost	14.Hibberd
C:	4.Sheed	13.Shuey	7.Masten	C:	19.Hannan	2.Jones	10.Brayshaw
HF:	2.LeCras	27.Darling	34.Hutchings	HF:	18.Melksham	25.T.McDonald	4.Harmes
F:	44.Rioli	17.Kennedy	15.Cripps	F:	22.Vandenberg	26.Weideman	30.Neal-Bullen
R:	29.Lycett	6.Yeo	8.Redden	R:	11.Gawn	13.Oliver	7.Viney
I:	1.Ryan	14.Duggan	18.Venables	I:	5.Petracca	9.Spargo	21.Tyson
	19.Vardy				44.J.Smith
E:	12.O.Allen	30.Nelson	33.Ainsworth	E:	24.Kennedy-Harris	29.Hunt	31.Fritsch
	41.Ah Chee				38.T.Smith

In: Schofield

Out: Sheppard (hamstring)

Quarter by quarter

Both sides went in as named. The game was played in sunny and warm conditions.

From the papers

The West Australian

"It was a dream start for West Coast and it got better and better throughout the first half. Though they would have liked to have converted more accurately than 4.8 in the first quarter, any worries failing to convert opportunities would soon dissipate as the Eagles kept creating more.

Mark LeCras, who finished with three goals, and Liam Ryan also had goals disallowed amid the early carnage, as the Eagles’ pressure allowed them to feast on a string of forward-half turnovers.

This looked a lot like stage fright from Melbourne, whose entire team were playing in their first preliminary final apart from Jordan Lewis, who brought a stack of big-game experience from Hawthorn. And he wasn’t blameless early either.

If the first quarter set the tone, the second ended the contest and with it a shell-shocked Melbourne’s season."

The Age

"The Demons had every chance to add some scoreboard pressure in the opening 11 minutes, but missed all three of their shots.

The Eagles' four opening-term goals all came from Melbourne turnovers and 10 of their 18 came from poor Demon disposals. Melbourne’s most experienced finals performer, Jordan Lewis, handballed to Kennedy 15m from goal to gift the spearhead the first goal of the game.

After those initial Melbourne missed opportunities, the Eagles had the next 14 scoring shots, kicking 7.8 with them.

Few sides lose if they are allowed to kick the first 10 goals of the game."

East Perth report

Reserves Grand Final (23 Sept 2018)

East Perth's reserves went down to Subiaco. Callan England, the only AFL listed player in action, kicked a goal.

Subiaco won the senior premiership, with former rookie Rowen Powell featuring in the win.

Injury list

In the leadup to the match the following players were listed as injured or unavailable:

Player		Injury		Expected return
MacKenzie		Toe		Season
Naitanui		Knee		Season
Gaff		Suspension		Season
Sheppard		Hamstring		Season
Olango*		Hamstring		Season
Burrows*		Ankle		TBC		(not on official list)

References

http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2018/26/wce-v-melb

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2018/111820180922.html