They may be ostensibly batting for fourth spot but there is plenty of distance between a sputtering Geelong and a rampant Fremantle. Never write off the great Cats, and possibly the Pies, but it is looking more and more likely that the top four is pretty well decided. Hawthorn, Sydney, Freo and Port Adelaide look a step above the rest.
2. Finals take flight from Eagles
West Coast’s season started with plenty of promise and it was brave against Fremantle, but finals football seems irrelevant now. Saturday's was the fifth game of the year where the Eagles have had more scores than their opponents and yet lost. They are now two games outside the eight with eight games to play, however, the real issue is the future. They definitely have some quality on the list but losing Mitch Brown, probably for most of next year, with a knee injury and Darren Glass to retirement, leaves holes in defence. And the midfield depth and kicking quality are other areas to work on. They do look like they're going to have a terrific forward line though.
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3. False dawn
Closely-marked Luke Shuey must have thought his Christmases had all come at once when dogged tagger Ryan Crowley left the field just two minutes into the game after copping an accidental boot in the head from Sharrod Wellingham on the outer wing. Crowley had a decent sort of cut on his head, but unfortunately for Shuey was soon back and annoying the hell out of the Eagles playmaker. Shuey copped his fair share of "Crowley tactics" but emerged with credit with 21 possessions, a great running goal and four clearances.
4. Where to for Cox?
Rumours swirled around Subiaco that West Coast games record holder Dean Cox was set to announce his retirement after the Western Derby. There was nothing pre-game and Nic Naitanui started as the No.1 ruckman for the Eagles, but Cox was soon into the action and gathered eight possessions in the first half. However, like the rest of his team he ran out of puff after the long break. He'd been rested for the previous two matches and ended with 15 disposals, 15 hit-outs and five marks.
5. Milestone men
Out-of-contract Docker David Mundy played his 200th game in purple but captain Matthew Pavlich tossed the coin, while Shannon Hurn was captain of the Eagles for the first time and didn't toss the coin. Hurn left that honour to Matt Rosa, playing his 150th game. Lee Spurr was playing his 50th but didn't even get close to the coin.
3. False dawn
Closely-marked Luke Shuey must have thought his Christmases had all come at once when dogged tagger Ryan Crowley left the field just two minutes into the game after copping an accidental boot in the head from Sharrod Wellingham on the outer wing. Crowley had a decent sort of cut on his head, but unfortunately for Shuey was soon back and annoying the hell out of the Eagles playmaker. Shuey copped his fair share of "Crowley tactics" but emerged with credit with 21 possessions, a great running goal and four clearances.
4. Where to for Cox?
Rumours swirled around Subiaco that West Coast games record holder Dean Cox was set to announce his retirement after the Western Derby. There was nothing pre-game and Nic Naitanui started as the No.1 ruckman for the Eagles, but Cox was soon into the action and gathered eight possessions in the first half. However, like the rest of his team he ran out of puff after the long break. He'd been rested for the previous two matches and ended with 15 disposals, 15 hit-outs and five marks.
5. Milestone men
Out-of-contract Docker David Mundy played his 200th game in purple but captain Matthew Pavlich tossed the coin, while Shannon Hurn was captain of the Eagles for the first time and didn't toss the coin. Hurn left that honour to Matt Rosa, playing his 150th game. Lee Spurr was playing his 50th but didn't even get close to the coin.
With Ryan Crowley off the field there were plenty more Dockers to tackle Luke Shuey. Picture: AFL Media
