RECAP: Oscar Allen’s four goals keeps West Coast Eagles in fight against Geelong
West Coast were 100 points behind at halftime the last time they faced Geelong, but trailed by just 11 at three-quarter time before falling to defeat.
Draftee Bo Allan returned to the team for his second AFL game and started as the sub while Archer Reid filled the gaping hole left by the injured Jake Waterman.
Harry Edwards was set for a date with the red-hot Jeremy Cameron but Reuben Ginbey ended up with the task and performed admirably.
Recap all the action from our blog.
Light the fire!
Hewett has the first goal of the last and it came in style.
Reid took a great clunk on the wing and got it forward but a smart Archer Reid ruck tap found Hewett on the burst.
He straighten, broke a tackle and snapped a goal!
WCE 64, GEE 70
THREE-QUARTER TIME: West Coast 58, Geelong 69
The Eagles are hanging in there and we have a game with a quarter to play!
They had the best of the third term after the Cats kicked the first two of the half.
Smith had just four disposals in the term as Hough blunts his efforts.
Baker is coming into his own.
He has been brave in defence and bold on the exit to set up a number of good forward thrusts.
Hutchinson had a term to forget with poor kicking turnovers but veterans Allen and Ryan are getting around the young boys to keep them in the fight.
No team was able to score in the final 12 minutes of the quarter.
Deep breaths
The Eagles are blowing with their chaos game taking plenty of energy but it is landing solid blows on the Cats who are a touch stunned.
Edwards and Brock are standing tall in defence and Ginbey has had the better of Cameron since quarter time.
West Coast lead the clearances by two and have laid 39 tackles.
WCE 58, GEE 69
No. 4!
Just when the Eagles needed an answer Reid lifted and won a clearance.
He ended up taking a set shot from 60 metres as well but fell short.
However, a turnover through the corridor from Smith on the way out opens the door for West Coast and they find Allen for his fourth.
WCE 52, GEE 69
Blowing out
The Cats get two in a row off the back of turnovers and a bad centre bounce from the umpire.
The Eagles must respond and go forward.
WCE 44, GEE 69
They’re back
Archer Reid and Liam Ryan have both come back onto the field.
Ryan has his left calf strapped.
Also, Andrew McQualter is coaching from the bench tonight.
WCE 44, GEE 57
Fitness test
Archer Reid is doing a quick fitness test while Bo Allan looks to warm up.
Liam Ryan is also under a cloud.
WCE 44, GEE 55
WAFL watch
For those who missed it yesterday Clay Hall had 30 disposals and two goals for the Eagles as mid-season draftee Tom McCarthy debuted.
Read how Hall says the young Eagles are changing the club’s culture.
HALFTIME: West Coast 44, Geelong 55
The Eagles came alive in the second half of that quarter!
They kicked three of the last four goals and missed three other shots that could have had them in front.
West Coast’s pressure went through the roof and Geelong began to panic coming out of defence.
Reid and Kelly sparked the turnaround out of the middle while Allen has three goals and was a whisker away from four.
Smith is still dominating with 24 disposals and five clearances.
Kelly has 13 disposals while Duggan and Baker have matched him.
Harley up and about!
The Eagles are starting to land a few blows.
Edwards killed a contest just outside the Geelong 50 and the ball fell to Brock who sprinted out of the blocks.
He gave the one-two to Reid who blazed into the 50.
Oscar Allen nearly reeled in a one-handed ripper but the Cats defender who cleaned the spill missed his handball.
Reid bounced, punching through a quick goal off two steps.
WCE 37, GEE 49
