Round 5 2020

West Coast v Sydney
Round 5, 2020

Redden in action. Photo: aflphotos.com.au

Date

Sat, 4 July 2020 (1.45pm EST)

Venue

Carrara Stadium

Attendance

2,238

Result

Won by 34

Score

WCE 11.11.77 - 6.7.43 SYD

Brownlow

3 E.Yeo (WCE)
2 O.Allen (WCE)
1 N.Naitanui (WCE)

Ladder

15th

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West Coast overcame poor form, a late fixture change and the early loss of skipper Luke Shuey to record a comfortable win over Sydney on the Gold Coast and take a step towards getting their season back on track. With Sydney missing their regular ruckmen, the Eagles took advantage of a dominant display by Nic Naitanui to control the midfield, kicking away in the second half to run out 34-point victors. Dom Sheed led the way with 24 disposals and recalled youngster Oscar Allen kicked a career-high three goals, while Naitanui recorded 39 hitouts.

Summary

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
West Coast		3.1.19		5.4.34		8.9.57		11.11.77
Sydney		3.3.21		4.5.29		5.6.36		6.7.43

Goals: Allen 3, Cripps, Darling, Waterman 2, Ryan, Sheed

Best: Yeo, Naitanui, Sheed, Allen, Waterman, Sheppard

Injuries: Shuey (hamstring), Jones (hamstring)

Reports: Redden for striking J.Kennedy

Jumper: Indigenous, blue shorts

Named sides

	West Coast				Sydney
B:	25.Hurn	37.Barrass	14.Duggan	B:	14.Mills	24.Rampe	43.Melican
HB:	30.Nelson	20.McGovern	5.Sheppard	HB:	44.Lloyd	36.Aliir	34.Dawson
C:	3.Gaff	11.Kelly	4.Sheed	C:	7.Cunningham	26.Parker	13.Florent
HF:	15.Cripps	27.Darling	8.Redden	HF:	5.Heeney	22.Blakey	9.Hayward
F:	1.Ryan	17.Kennedy	41.Ah Chee	F:	25.Ronke	11.Papley	15.Gray
R:	9.Naitanui	6.Yeo	13.Shuey	R:	41.McLean	12.Kennedy	8.Rowbottom
I:	12.Allen	28.Cole	47.Jones	I:	29.Hewett	27.McInerney	38.O'Riordan
	2.Waterman				4.Clarke
E:	33.Ainsworth	35.Rotham	42.Edwards	E:	42.Fox	16.Foot	1.Warner
	32.Williams				28.Taylor

In: McGovern, Waterman, Allen, Nelson

Out: Schofield (suspension), Brander (hip), Hickey, Jetta

Quarter by quarter

Both sides went in as named. The match was played in fine and sunny conditions.

From the coach

"Yeah, it was good (to break the losing streak). Obviously we've been missing that (feeling) for three weeks. Good intensity, pressure on the game, field position through the contest, all the basic stuff that it's where the game is at the moment. We probably didn't adjust ... well, we didn't adjust. Effort overall was there. I thought our younger players who we brought in were really important for the spirit and passion for the game. Jakey Waterman, Oscar Allen, Jones, Duggan, Nelson, Cole, that’s a glimpse of hopefully our future as we keep transitioning. Tim Kelly and the younger crew coming through I thought they all played their part today, which is really important for us.

"...One thing you do when you've got a dominant ruck (against you) is you know you're going to lose the hit-out and you can plan around that. Sydney are pros and they did it really well, particularly Kennedy. Eventually the boys worked it out and I thought we had some pretty good presence from centre bounce clearances. That's been the one positive for most of the year. I think we've been OK from centre bounce clearances, we just haven't had any result from them.

"I don't know what he had for minutes but Nic is an important player for us. It's always a balance between shorter minutes and intensity, or longer minutes and perhaps a bit more consistent dominance. With Oscar second-rucking, Oscar kicking three (goals) was really important for us as well, so I thought he played his part. We've been searching a bit for that continuity (in the ruck), so hopefully Nic can keep holding up his end. He's been exceptional up here, every game he is trying his hardest."

From the papers

The West Australian

"Up against part-timer Aliir Aliir, Eagles superstar Nic Naitanui had a field day in the ruck, notching 39 hitouts to Aliir’s five.

Midfielder Elliot Yeo shrugged off his indifferent form in recent weeks to stand tall in the absence of Shuey, picking up 21 disposals, 12 of them contested.

There was also impressive efforts by the Eagles’ generation next with Oscar Allen kicking three goals while Jake Waterman booted two majors including a 55m drop punt after the first quarter siren which gave West Coast a big boost.

Jack Darling and Jamie Cripps also found some form with two goals each to leave Simpson relieved after the match."

The Age

"Sydney tried to play with dash and dare early in the game, playing on when possible and using the ball through the corridor to maximise their attacks. The Swans had three of the first four goals on the board, but it was their risk taking through the middle that saw them turn the ball over and cough up a goal to Jake Waterman on the quarter-time siren.

The Eagles talls proved a handful for Sydney, with Oscar Allen (three goals), Waterman (two) and Jack Darling (two) sharing in the spoils. Swans tall McLean was their only multiple goal kicker with two majors, while Melican ended the day on the sidelines with a groin injury."

Reserves

West Coast's squad played a scratch match against Gold Coast at Carrara.

Appearing for West Coast: Brayshaw, Cameron, Edwards, Foley, Hickey, Jamieson, Johnson, X.O'Neill, Petruccelle, Reid, Rotham, Schofield, Treacy, Vardy, Watson, Williams.

Injury list

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

Player		Injury		Expected return
Venables		Concussion		Season		(placed on inactive list 4/3/20)
Rioli		Suspension		Indefinite
Hutchings		IT band		4 weeks
Schofield		Suspension		1 week
McGovern		Ankle		Test
Johnson		Shoulder		Test
Jamieson		Shoulder		Available
M.O'Neill*		Back		Indefinite

References

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2020/161820200704.html

https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2779#match-report