RECAP: West Coast Eagles cop 87-point drubbing at the hands of Gold Coast Suns to open season 2025
Footy’s back in WA for the first time in 2025!
Follow all the action as West Coast look to get the Andrew McQualter era off to a strong start against Gold Coast, with bouncedown set for 3.10pm WA time at Optus Stadium.
King takes a sittt
Edwards is caught under the ball in the goal square.
Ben King just hangs back and then launches off his shoulders to take a hanger in the goal square.
He has four.
Ryan Maric is on with Jake Waternab subbed off with a calf issue.
WC 4.5 (29) GS 13.9 (87)
A goal for Harley Reid
West Coast actually do well to lock the ball in their forward half.
They eventually force the turnover and Reid shows some class to bang one in from 50.
A nice moment for an otherwise tough day.
The scoreboard is no longer showing inside the ground don’t know if that’s a choice or technical difficulties. You be the judge.
The Suns immediately win the next centre clearance and find Touk Miller who runs into 50 and kicks a goal.
WC 4.5 (29) 11.9 (75)
Ben King has three
McGovern kicks short out of defence but the umpire says it’s not 15 and the Eagles are caught cold.
The rush kick is intercepted and Ben King takes a strong mark directly in front to convert.
WCE 3.5 (23) GS 11.9 (75)
Waterman breaks the drought
West Coast finally execute their plan going quickly off half back.
Waterman gets on a lead to take an uncontested mark and converts for his second goal.
It’s the Eagles’ first major since the ninth minute of the first quarter and breaks a run of nine straight for the Suns.
WCE 3.5 (23) GC 10.8 (68)
Too easy for the Suns
They lock the ball in the forward half and West Coast aren’t going to win a stoppage today by the looks of it.
A scrappy kick squirrels away but finds Will Graham who takes an unctonested mark.
WC 2.5 (17) GCS 10.8 (68)
Suns make their sub
Charlie Ballard is off with a knee injury and Alex Sexton has come on for the second half.
Damien Hardwick speaks
“Our contest work was really really strong,” he says.
“The Eagles lifted to their credit and we just have to make sure we’re consistent around the contest.”
West Coast have one centre clearance for the whole game.
Half Time West Coast 2.4 (16) Gold Coast 9.7 (61)
Welcome to Eagles coaching Andrew McQaulter.
They were marginally better in that quarter with flashes of their attacking game but their were some bad misses in front of goal.
But Gold Coast has been free to do as they wish when they have the ball slicing up the Eagles defence.
Jarrod Witts is dominating the Eagles again with 32 hitouts and three clearances. For comparison Matt Flynn has seven.
Matt Rowell and Nah Anderson have 10 clearances between them and 19 disposals each.
Not much to write home about for the Eagles. Dewar has been ok on the wing and Ginbey has tried hard.
Harley Reid has been quiet. Can they salvage something from this game?
Suns piling on the pain
Forward half turnover and Ben Long takes an uncontested mark inside 50.
All to easy for the Suns and the West Coast defence already look out on their feet.
The lead is 45 points.
WC 2.3 (15) GC 9.6 (60)
Six straight for the Suns
Baker gives away a holding free kick.
Jeremy McGovern is caught between two defenders and then slips over as Ben Long takes an uncontested mark.
West Coast have not taken a mark this quarter.
WC 2.3 (15) GC 8.5 (53)
