Round 8 2025

West Coast v Melbourne
Round 8, 2025

McGovern was subbed out at half time. Photo: aflphotos.com.au

Date

Sat, 3 May 2025 (5.35pm WST)

Venue

Perth Stadium

Attendance

41,991

Result

Lost by 32

Score

MEL 16.12.108 - 11.10.76 WCE

Brownlow

Ladder

18th

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West Coast squandered an opportunity to get on the board for 2025, falling to Melbourne at home. Despite being smashed in the midfield, the Eagles hit a purple patch late in the second term and went into halftime a goal ahead, but wilted in the third quarter as Melbourne put on seven goals to continue the home fans' ongoing misery. Elijah Hewett continued his promising form with three goals from 15 touches and co-captain Liam Duggan had 18 possessions and a game-high 577 metres gained.

Summary

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
West Coast		0.5.5		4.7.31		6.7.43		11.10.76
Melbourne		2.2.14		3.7.25		10.12.72		16.12.108

Goals: Hewett, Waterman 3, Cripps 2, Brockman, Hunt, J.Williams

Best: Waterman, Ginbey, Hewett, Allan, Maric, Baker

Injuries: McGovern (concussion), A.Reid (ankle), Ginbey (nose)

Subs: (WCE) Cole for McGovern (concussion) at half-time; (MEL) Sharp for Petty (concussion) at half-time

Milestones: Kelly 150th AFL game, Allen 100th game, Allan AFL debut

Jumper: Home, blue shorts

Named sides

	West Coast				Essendon
B:	23.Maric	20.McGovern	3.Baker	B:	17.Bowey	1.May	24.Rivers
HB:	14.Duggan	12.Allen	5.Hunt	HB:	4.McVee	25.McDonald	6.Windsor
C:	19.Hough	11.Kelly	26.Allan	C:	32.Sparrow	7.Viney	20.Lindsay
HF:	16.Owies	2.Waterman	17.Graham	HF:	12.Tholstrup	18.Melksham	15.Langdon
F:	15.Cripps	22.A.Reid	1.Ryan	F:	37.Chandler	31.Fritsch	36.Pickett
R:	25.Flynn	44.Hutchinson	9.H.Reid	R:	11.Gawn	5.Petracca	19.Langford
I:	7.Ginbey	8.Hewett	10.Brockman	I:	3.Salem	9.Spargo	10.Turner
	28.Cole	34.J.Williams			30.Sharp	35.Petty
E:	27.Gross	32.B.Williams	38.Davis	E:	2.Van Rooyen	16.Laurie	22.Howes

In: Kelly, Allan, Brockman

Out: Dewar, Long, Davis

From the papers

The West Australian

"West Coast’s midfielders simply didn’t work hard enough for long enough to match Melbourne’s intensity.

Tim Kelly celebrated his 150th game with only 14 disposals, while defender Brady Hough (12 touches) looked out of place in his new role in the middle of the ground.

Eagles coach Andrew McQualter tried to mix it up, sending in Liam Baker, Liam Ryan and Tyler Brockman at various stages, but Gawn’s influence meant any move he made mattered little.

Melbourne were electric in the first term, dominating at the clearances 12-2 and slicing West Coast’s team defence open with precision kicking."

The Age

"Demons coach Simon Goodwin was understandably frustrated that his team didn’t have the lead at half-time.

They would have grown after watching Jamie Cripps kick the opening goal of the third quarter.

But with McGovern no longer there to fend off Melbourne’s forays forward, the Demons finally cashed in on their clearance dominance, slamming through six goals for the term to take a 29-point lead into the final change.

Gawn, who had 0.7 to his name for the season up until that point, put the icing on the cake with a set shot goal in the final quarter."

Reserves

Round 5 (3 May)

West Coast's reserves won their first game of 2025, knocking off ladder leaders South Fremantle in a massive upset. An Eagles side stacked with AFL-listed players turned the screws on Souths early, holding them goalless until late in the first half as they opened up a commanding lead at half-time. Clay Hall (30 disposals, eight tackles) and Tyrell Dewar (26 disposals, seven marks) were among the young Eagles who put their hand up for a senior recall.

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
South Fremantle		0.3.3		1.5.11		4.8.32		9.12.66
West Coast		1.3.9		7.5.47		9.8.62		12.10.82

Goals: Champion, Livingstone, Shanahan, B.Williams 2, Datson, Edwards-Baldwin, Petruccelle, Rawlinson

Best: Hall, Brock, B.Williams, Dewar, Davis, Sparks

Injuries: Nil

Named side:

	West Coast
B:	33.Bazzo	40.Jamieson	56.Edwards-Baldwin
HB:	51.Sparks	41.Brock	70.Lucassen
C:	43.Dewar	31.Grego	24.Johnston
HF:	37.Champion	21.Petruccelle	13.Long
F:	39.Livingstone	35.Shanahan	30.Barnett
R:	32.B.Williams	29.Hall	27.Gross
I:	50.Datson	38.Davis	61.McCarthy
	36.Rawlinson
E:	64.Mercer	55.Sambo	58.Walsh
	66.L.Yeo

In: Long, Dewar, Davis, Sparks

Out: Allan (AFL), Edwards (ankle), Mercer, L.Yeo

Injury list

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

Player		Injury		Expected return
Sheed		Knee		Season
Yeo		Ankle/knee		TBC
Chesser		Ankle		3-4 weeks
Kelly		Toe		Available		(not on official list)

References

https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/7039