Eagles see off defiant Dees

West Coast 13.19 (97)  def.  Melbourne 11. 9 (75)

A four-goal last quarter has seen West Coast hold off a defiant Melbourne by 22 points at Subiaco this evening.

With the Eagles holding a slender one-point advantage at the final break, Daniel Kerr came out and blitzed the Demons with dazzling work in front of goal and in setting up teammates.

He kicked the first of the term, only for Clint Bartram to reply for the visitors. But that would be the end of the gallant Melbourne resistance, and West Coast slammed on the next three through Daniel Chick, Ashley Hansen and Brent Staker to run out less comfortable winners than the final scoreline suggests.

Kerr finished with two goals and 23 disposals, with Ben Cousins also picking up 23 possession while his body copped a battering. Dean Cox won the ruck with 21 hit-outs and he also got 14 touches.

For the Dees, Russell Robertson caused all kind of grief for the hosts with four goals, with Brad Green picking up 23 touches and Brock McLean 22.

Melbourne shot out of the blocks early with the first three goals – and the first six scoring shots – to shock and silence the home crowd. But West Coast hit back with the next seven scoring shots, but only one goal.

In fact, despite Melbourne only scoring one point after their opening flurry, and the Eagles having three more scoring shots for the term, the visitors held a two-point lead at the first break.

Chris Judd opened the second term with a classic burst goal to take the lead for the hosts, but the Eagles squandered three more chances in succession to pull away from the plucky Demons, and when Melbourne had their opportunity they took it through Travis Johnstone, who brought the scores level.

The Eagles got two in a row thanks to a dodgy free kick to Dean Cox and Ashley Hansen’s effort to take the lead out to 11 points, but Robertson kicked his third with 30 seconds left in the half to draw the margin back to five points at half-time.

Brent Staker kicked the first goal of the third stanza to restore the Eagles’ 11-point lead, but Byron Pickett and then Brad Green responded immediately to give the Dees the lead.

Unlike the first half, which saw a lot of opportunities wasted, the third term saw a lot of goals come from both sides. They booted four goals apiece for the remainder of the term, with Daniel Kerr’s point before the three-quarter-time siren the only difference between the two sides at the last change.

But West Coast held their nerve in the last term to break away and claim the four points, with the ladder leaders’ only worry being captain Judd who appeared to limp off with a hamstring injury.

Next week sees West Coast travel to Skilled Stadium to face Geelong on Saturday afternoon while Melbourne takes on St Kilda at the MCG on Sunday.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!