Round 21 2016

GWS Giants v West Coast
Round 21, 2016

Shuey celebrates one of his goals. Photo: aflphotos.com.au

Date

Sat, 13 August 2016 (4.35pm EST)

Venue

Sydney Showground

Attendance

10,385

Result

Won by 1

Score

WCE 14.13.97 - 14.12.96 GWS

Brownlow

3 L.Shuey (WCE)
2 R.Lobb (GWS)
1 S.Coniglio (GWS)

Ladder

6th

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West Coast recorded a stirring away victory against the highly-fancied Giants to remain in touch with the top four, with Nic Naitanui goalling from a stoppage as time expired to put the Eagles in front by the barest of margins. The two sides had engaged in a torrid tussle throughout the match, with the lead changing hands a number of times before a goal from GWS' Rory Lobb with less than two minutes remaining looked to have handed the Giants their first win against West Coast. The Eagles fought back, with Josh Hill kicking an important point before Naitanui's heroics. Luke Shuey was a clear best afield with 38 possessions, 13 clearances and two vital last-term goals.

Summary

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
GWS Giants		3.3.21		6.7.43		12.10.82		14.12.96
West Coast		1.4.10		5.8.38		8.11.59		14.13.97

Goals: Kennedy 3, LeCras, Naitanui, Priddis, Shuey 2, Hutchings, Sheed, Sheppard

Best: Shuey, Kennedy, Priddis, Gaff, Yeo, Naitanui

Injuries: Lycett (cork)

Reports: Tunbridge for striking A.Kennedy, Tunbridge for rough conduct on A.Kennedy

Milestones: Tunbridge final appearance

Records: GWS Giants highest score vs WCE, WCE lowest score vs GWS Giants

Named sides

	West Coast				GWS Giants
B:	25.Hurn	31.Schofield	5.Sheppard	B:	23.Shaw	29.Williams	19.Haynes
HB:	26.Butler	20.McGovern	12.Wellingham	HB:	24.Patfull	1.Davis	40.A.Kennedy
C:	3.Gaff	11.Priddis	15.Cripps	C:	22.Kelly	3.Coniglio	6.Whitfield
HF:	2.LeCras	27.Darling	7.Masten	HF:	9.Scully	18.Cameron	20.Tomlinson
F:	29.Lycett	17.Kennedy	33.Hill	F:	32.Griffen	37.Lobb	4.Greene
R:	9.Naitanui	34.Hutchings	13.Shuey	R:	41.Mumford	8.Ward	10.Smith
I:	4.Sheed	6.Yeo	32.Tunbridge	I:	12.Patton	17.Johnson	5.Shiel
	37.Barrass				15.M.Kennedy
E:	8.Redden	23.Jetta	30.Nelson	E:	14.Wilson	21.Buntine	36.Stewart

In: Butler

Out: Nelson

Quarter by quarter

Both sides went in as named. The match began under warm and clear skies in front of a smallish Western Sydney crowd.

First quarter

GWS generated an early chance when Jeremy Cameron marked inside 50 but his kick went left and the Eagles quickly transferred play down the other end, where LeCras also missed his set shot. After rare running bounce from Butler through the middle he hit Kennedy on a lead but the Coleman Medal leader also sent his shot wide. Tunbridge forced a turnover in the middle but butchered his handball, following up by winning a holding the ball free. A quick snap by Priddis resulted in the side's third behind. Jonathan Patton took a big contested mark inside 50 and snuck in the game's first goal. GWS went quickly forward again as Wellingham appeared hobbled with an ankle problem. Lycett won the ball in the middle but was tackled and penalised, with the Giants getting an opportunity through Coniglio who pulled his kick left.

After a series of stoppages, GWS finally got out the back of the Eagles zone, resulting in an easy goal to Steve Johnson. West Coast won the next opportunity after Kennedy found LeCras inside 50, but the goalsneak missed again. The Giants worked the ball upfield where Devon Smith goalled with a set shot from right on 50. A quick kick inside 50 by Sheppard found Naitanui, who was finally able to add the Eagles' first goal.

From the coach

"Apologies for my voice, I was losing it in the last minute or two there getting carried away in the box. I’m really proud of our players. The game was up for grabs for most of the night. We were probably fighting with our backs against the wall a little bit for most of the night. To be in front at the right time, given it was reasonably close, I’m really proud that they were tougher for longer today. They found a way. Some individuals really stood up and never gave up. Six day break, top four side, interstate; hopefully we’ve answered a couple of questions there, but now we’ve got to back it up. There’s another six-day break coming into the Hawks.

"...The last two minutes, I think we did some really good, mature things and we did some sloppy things. We actually trained the last two minutes scenario during the week; it’s one thing we did. I thought there were some moments there where we probably let ourselves down. But when it really counted I thought Nic and Luke Shuey in particular - I don’t know what he had in the last, it must have been 14 or 15 possessions and two goals and I don’t know how many tackles he had – they really stood up and led from the front.

"...We took the game on. We just took it on. We’ve got some strategies that we go to when we want to throw caution to the wind. The players have done it before, but to do it in a situation like tonight it’s really pleasing that they got through. Look, it could have gone the other way pretty easily. It would have been a different conversation had it not been for that last kick of the day. As much as we are excited, we have also got a bit of work to do."

From the papers

The West Australian

"There was a brief period before half-time when GWS looked as if they might run away with the game, opening up a four-goal lead before being pegged back.

A 10-minute offensive blitz by the Giants at the end of the third quarter put another wedge between the sides.

West Coast had led a hard-fought tussle by seven points when the Giants suddenly found another gear, slamming on five straight goals to grab control.

The Eagles would not lead again until Naitanui’s last-ditch heroics. Their first challenge during the final term was halted by a six-minute stoppage when Adam Kennedy was knocked out in a Simon Tunbridge tackle."

The Age

"Naitanui's heroics handed the Eagles a one-point win in a see-sawing contest at Spotless Stadium, a game GWS looked to have wrapped up less than two minutes earlier when backup ruckman Rory Lobb kicked his fourth to put the home side in front.

But like they had done all afternoon, the Eagles kept coming and forced the sixth and final lead change just as the siren blared, sparking wild celebrations from West Coast coach Adam Simpson.

With eight seconds on the clock, Naitanui rucked and then roved a throw-in before slamming the Sherrin on his left boot to kick one of the most memorable goals of his career. Naitanui had been on the bench with just five minutes left in the game, but Simpson made sure to throw his star man on when it counted."

Herald-Sun

"The match looked like it was in GWS’ grip when Rory Lobb kicked his fourth goal with just over a minute left after a Chris Masten turnover.

But West Coast found a way forward and Naitanui did the rest with his remarkable snap.

The win maintains the Eagles’ perfect record against the Giants, which now stands at five wins from five games.

It also gives them a priceless win on the road after losing five away from home so far this season."

East Perth report

Round 21 (6 August)

East Perth dropped out of the top five after losing to co-tenants Subiaco at Leederville. Lewis Jetta pressed his claim for a recall with 24 possessions and Jonathan Giles had 2 hitouts and two goals.

Appearing for East Perth: Adamson, Brophy, Brown, Cole, Colledge, Giles, Jetta, Karpany, Lamb, MacKenzie, McGinnity, McInnes, Partington, Redden.
Reserves: Allen, Bennell, Snadden.

Injury list

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

Player		Injury		Expected duration
Ellis		Calf		Season
Duggan		Calf		1 week
Mutimer		Hamstring		1 week
McInnes		Hamstring		Test
Butler		Groin		Test
Wellingham		Ankle		Available
McGinnity		Finger		Available
Lucas*		Knee		Season
Waterman*		Glandular fever		Indefinite

References

http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2016/21/gws-v-wce

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2016/182120160813.html