Round 9 2021

West Coast v Adelaide
Round 9, 2021

Naitanui dominated the ruck. Photo: aflphotos.com.au

Date

Sun, 16 May 2021 (2.40pm WST)

Venue

Perth Stadium

Attendance

43,427

Result

Won by 30

Score

WCE 16.10.106 - 11.10.76 ADL

Brownlow

3 T.Kelly (WCE)
2 J.Darling (WCE)
1 R.Laird (ADL)

Ladder

7th

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West Coast recorded a solid but uninspiring win over Adelaide, with a five-goal burst by Jack Darling late in the second quarter the highlight and ultimately the difference. The Eagles struggled to shake off the unfancied Crows before Darling's heroics created a 29-point half-time gap which the home side was able to maintain across a dour second half. Tim Kelly again starred with 31 possessions and 11 clearances, and Jamie Cripps had 25 touches and a goal.

Summary

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
West Coast		2.5.17		9.6.60		14.7.91		16.10.106
Adelaide		2.3.15		4.7.31		8.8.56		11.10.76

Goals: Darling 5, Allen, Kennedy 3, Waterman 2, Cripps, Jones, Petruccelle

Best: Darling, Naitanui, Kelly, Kennedy, Redden, Cripps, Witherden, McGovern

Injuries: Nil

Reports: Sheed for striking L.Sholl

Medical subs: (WCE) Langdon, not used; (ADL) McPherson, not used

Jumper: Home, blue shorts

Named sides

	West Coast				Adelaide
B:	28.Cole	37.Barrass	5.Sheppard	B:	8.Kelly	41.Butts	16.Brown
HB:	23.Witherden	20.McGovern	35.Rotham	HB:	33.Smith	39.Doedee	17.Hamill
C:	8.Redden	11.Kelly	2.Waterman	C:	38.Sholl	2.Keays	14.Mackay
HF:	15.Cripps	27.Darling	21.Petruccelle	HF:	26.Schoenberg	32.Fogarty	21.Berry
F:	12.Allen	17.Kennedy	41.Ah Chee	F:	31.Rowe	22.Frampton	23.McAdam
R:	9.Naitanui	4.Sheed	3.Gaff	R:	43.O'Brien	29.Laird	9.Sloane
I:	10.Brander	30.Nelson	31.Jones	I:	37.O'Connor	1.Jones	7.Thilthorpe
	32.Williams				11.Seedsman
E:	7.Langdon	24.O'Neill	29.Foley	E:	36.McPherson	28.Murray	24.Worrall
	42.H.Edwards				34.Himmelberg

In: Barrass, McGovern

Out: Langdon, H.Edwards, Foley (medical sub)

Quarter by quarter

Both sides went in as named. The game was played in fine but coolish conditions.

From the coach

"Yeah, it probably wasn’t our cleanest game, but I thought the way that Adelaide played, you know, we scouted this, the ball intensity was there all day, ended well, and they had certain stages where they were on top. So, we made the most of it through a bit of talent, bit of system, but we think we can play better than that, but we were quite impressed with what Adelaide brought today.

"...It’s great when we have players that can do that (Darling's second quarter), and we’ll take it, because I thought Nic and Tim Kelly were very, very good that quarter as well, so getting him the ball more often is priority number one when he’s in that vein of form, so it was great that he did that, but having to rely on someone to get us back in the game single-handedly, it’s fantastic to have someone like him there, but we’d probably like to do it a bit more evenly if we could.

"...I think we’re still building with what we’re trying to achieve, obviously since Geelong - we had a pretty disappointing four quarters there - we’ve been consistent, and you know, today we’re really happy to get the win, don’t get me wrong. But I think, too many basic skill errors, couple of fumbles here and there, fundamentals. So I think our best was great today, but our worst looked quite vulnerable, so the last couple of weeks that’s been a bit more even, but as I said, Adelaide have got to take a lot of credit for that, they were really good."

From the papers

The West Australian

"With the Eagles trailing the Crows early in the second term after an uninspiring opening, it was Darling – who had just one handball in the opening term – who blew the game open like only he can.

It came with the help of a string of quick centre clearances, in what was the Adelaide defence’s worst nightmare given the marking firepower West Coast had lying in wait.

Darling monstered opponent Tom Doedee for three marks and three goals in four minutes and finished the quarter with two more to make it five for the term.

The Eagles led by 29 points at half-time, and while the Crows got three of the first four majors in the second half, they were never seriously threatened."

WA Today

"Kelly had 24 of his 31 disposals in the first three terms and Naitanui was dominant at the hit-outs with pressure work and set-up kicks. Gaff (30 disposals) roamed across the ground and Kennedy paced himself, kicking his three goals across the quarters and also playing creator as a classy left-foot kick to Jack Petruccelle for a third-term goal showed.

Rory Laird (35 possessions) and Ben Keays (32 possessions) were tireless for the Crows and Shane McAdam (three goals) was a constant menace up forward and in the air, with a flying mark in the first half.

The Crows are still a good side without Walker but the man they call “Tex” unites the group and gives them an X-factor, which was sorely missing on this day.

Darling’s second term was one for the very new record books at Optus Stadium with his haul the most in any quarter at the ground since its opening in 2018."

Reserves

The WAFL has a general bye as a representative side played the SANFL in Adelaide.

Injury list

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

Player		Injury		Expected return
Rioli		Suspension		14 weeks
Winder		Knee		8 weeks
Shuey		Hamstring		TBC (expected 6+ weeks)
Duggan		Knee		5-6 weeks
Yeo		Groin		TBC (expected 4+ weeks)
Vardy		Foot		1-2 weeks
Ryan		Shin		1 week
Hurn		Calf		1 week
Barrass		Shoulder		Test
McGovern		Groin		Test
Venables*		Concussion		Indefinite
Hutchings*		Hamstring		Test

References

https://www.afl.com.au/matches/3081

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2021/011820210516.html