After their finals chances were snuffed out by Richmond the night before, West Coast could have been excused for lowering their heads against the Suns but ended up comfortable winners. With both sides playing their final games of the year the game was an entertaining and free-flowing shootout, with the Eagles blowing the game open with a massive third quarter. Acting captain Josh Kennedy kicked four goals in that term en route to a haul of eight, with good support from Mark LeCras (20 touches and four goals) and Luke Shuey (27 and a goal).
Summary[]
| 1/4 time | 1/2 time | 3/4 time | Final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | 6.3.39 | 9.6.60 | 11.8.74 | 15.9.99 | ||||
| West Coast | 6.2.38 | 9.8.62 | 20.10.130 | 23.13.151 |
Goals: Kennedy 8, LeCras 4, Naitanui 3, Butler, Cripps, Darling, Hill, Lycett, McGinnity, Selwood, Shuey
Best: Kennedy, LeCras, Naitanui, Shuey, Masten
Injuries: Nil.
Reports: Kennedy for striking D.Swallow; Naitanui, Shuey for engaging in melee
Sub: Yeo for Selwood in the third quarter
Milestones: Carter final appearance, Wilson final appearance
Named sides[]
| West Coast | Gold Coast | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B: | 19.Carter | 16.MacKenzie | 44.Bennell | B: | 48.Tape | 16.Thompson | 28.Kolodjashnij |
| HB: | 25.Hurn | 31.Schofield | 26.Butler | HB: | 40.Lemmens | 14.Warnock | 36.Broughton |
| C: | 7.Masten | 11.Priddis | 3.Gaff | C: | 5.Harbrow | 25.Stanley | 26.Shaw |
| HF: | 33.Hill | 17.Kennedy | 35.McGinnity | HF: | 35.Rischitelli | 19.Lynch | 11.Bennell |
| F: | 27.Darling | 20.McGovern | 15.Cripps | F: | 38.Leslie | 27.Cameron | 32.Matera |
| R: | 9.Naitanui | 2.LeCras | 13.Shuey | R: | 12.Day | 1.O'Meara | 10.Prestia |
| I: | 29.Lycett | 30.Wilson | 10.Selwood | I : | 4.Martin | 6.Sexton | 24.Swallow |
| 6.Yeo | 37.Lonergan | ||||||
| E: | 14.Brennan | 4.Sheed | 28.Smith | E: | 3.Sumner | 20.Schade | 39.Herbert |
In: S.Selwood, Yeo, Naitanui, Wilson
Out: Hutchings (hamstring), Brown (foot), Cox (soreness), Sheed
From the papers[]
The West Australian[]
"Whatever West Coast coach Adam Simpson said at halftime initially appeared to prove the difference after an explosive third quarter set up a 52-point AFL win over the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
However, Simpson revealed his match eve address had made the biggest impact on a devastated Eagles side trying to get their head around missing out on the AFL finals.
West Coast kicked a remarkable 11 goals to the Suns' two in the third term to ensure they ended their year with a thumping 23.13 (151) to 15.9 (99) win.
Captain Josh Kennedy kicked eight majors - but was also placed on report for striking David Swallow in the second term - as the Eagles finished the year ninth with an 11-11 record.
Ruckmen Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett dominated on Sunday in the absence of injured 290-game Cox.
And West Coast's defence shut down the Suns - despite the best efforts of youngster Jack Martin (four goals) - to again show it can stand up without retired skipper Glass.
Gold Coast led 6.3 (39) to 6.2 (38) at the first interval and only trailed by two at the main break - 9.8 (62) to 9.6 (60) - before the visitors found another gear."[1]
The Age[]
"This game tasted like a bottle of soft drink left with the cap off overnight: after Richmond's upset of the Sydney Swans left the match a dead rubber, the fizz was gone. So was the physicality. Twelve goals in the first quarter summed it up: both sides seemed to have an eye on the long pre-season ahead.
It was open, fast, and highly entertaining in its own way, but it lacked gravitas. After half-time, the Suns' gaze shifted again, not to pre-season but their end-of-season trip, and gave up 11 goals in the third quarter. It was an ignominious end to a campaign that had promised so much until Gary Ablett wrecked his shoulder in round 16."[2]
The Herald Sun[]
"It was the ‘Josh Kennedy Show’ at Metricon Stadium as West Coast thrashed the lacklustre Gold Coast by 52 points on the AFL’s Meaningless Sunday.
The Eagles came to the tourist strip hell-bent on beating the Suns and qualifying for the finals but Richmond’s shock win over Sydney last night shattered their September dreams.
It made today’s clash meaningless in terms of the top eight but Kennedy did his best to inject some interest into the match as he single-handedly put the Suns to the sword with the listless home side already on holidays in the second half.
The Eagles led by just two points after a free-wheeling first half when both sides went through the motions defensively.
Twelve goals were kicked in the first quarter alone as the breakneck speed of the game led to both teams having 38 rotations on the interchange bench."[3]
AFL.com.au[]
Michael Whiting
"Despite having their slim finals hopes dashed the previous day by Richmond's upset win over the Sydney Swans, the Eagles racked up their 11th win of the season with a 23.13 (151) to 15.9 (99) victory.
They led by just two points at half-time, but slammed on 11 third quarter goals – four to Kennedy - to blow the game open.
In a game light on for defensive pressure, Kennedy towelled up helpless Suns full-back Rory Thompson for the second time this season.
He was near unstoppable on the lead, and with silver service from a midfield under very little pressure, was able to better his tally of seven kicked against the same opponent in round 13.
Mark LeCras added four goals and Nic Naitanui an equal career-high three as his partnership in the ruck with Scott Lycett started strongly in the first game of the post-Dean Cox era."
East Perth report[]
Round 23 (30 August)
With just four Eagles listed players in the lineup, East Perth gave up a big early lead to Claremont but fought back, only to go down by 7 points. Fraser McInnes was reported after a collision that left Tiger Brenden Abbott concussed.
Appearing for East Perth: Brennan, Main, McInnes, Sinclair
Semi-Final (8 September)
East Perth overcame Subiaco with relative ease, running out winners 13.12.90 to 7.16.58. Former Lion Dom Sheed was East Perth's best player with 25 possessions and a goal, and veteran Sam Butler racked up 30 touches.
Appearing for East Perth: Brennan, Butler, Carter, Colledge, Hill, McGinnity, McInnes, Sheed, Sinclair, Smith, Wilson
Injury list[]
In the lead-up to the match the following players were listed as injured or unavailable:
| Player | Injury | Expected duration | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waters | Shoulder | Season | (on LTI 17/4/14, replaced on list by Sinclair) | |||
| Barrass | Groin | Season | ||||
| Rosa | Pectoral | Season | ||||
| Wellingham | Lateral meniscus | Season | ||||
| Karpany | Shoulder | Season | ||||
| Sheppard | Ankle | Season | ||||
| Ellis | AC joint | Test | ||||
| Selwood | Ankle | Test | ||||
| Yeo | Hand | Test | ||||
| Naitanui | Achilles | Test | ||||
| Powell | Shoulder | Season | ||||
| Newman | Jail | Season | ||||
| Maginness | Ankle | Unknown | (rookies not officially listed) |
References[]
http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2014/182020140831.html
http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2014/23/gc-v-wce
- ↑ AAP/Laine Clarke, The West Australian (31 August 2014), "Eagles fly high after finals hiccup": https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/afl/a/24858779/eagles-fly-high-after-finals-hiccup/
- ↑ Andrew Stafford, The Age (31 August 2014), "Josh Kennedy show inspires Eagles to victory over Suns": http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/josh-kennedy-show-inspires-eagles-to-victory-over-suns-20140831-10anlm.html
- ↑ Greg Davis, Herald Sun (31 AUgust 2014), "Josh Kennedy and Eagles firepower proves too much as West Coast belts SUns in Round 23 dead rubber": http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/josh-kennedy-and-eagles-firepower-proves-too-much-as-west-coast-belts-suns-in-round-23-dead-rubber/story-fni5ezdm-1227042909899
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