Pies survive 'nasty wake-up call' as 'inspired' Eagles cop 'ludicrous ...

Ladder leaders Collingwood survived an unexpected fright from bottom-placed West Coast on Saturday, ultimately pulling away late to record a strong win over the Eagles, who were again hit hard by injury.

After trailing by 43 points in the second term, the Eagles slammed on six of the next seven goals to get within 14 points of the Magpies late in the third term, only for Craig McRae’s side to pull away in the final quarter thanks to six unanswered majors.

But the 63-point win came at a cost for both teams, with the Eagles losing Tom Barrass (quad — late out), Shannon Hurn (hamstring), Connor West (knee) and Elijah Hewett (concussion) — the latter injury a result of a bump from Jordan De Goey, who now faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines. Will Hoskin-Elliott and Beau McCreery also limped off for the Magpies during the game.

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QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT

The Eagles were dealt a late blow, with key defender Tom Barrass a late withdrawal to a quad injury and replaced by Elijah Hewett. Greg Clark (Eagles) and Oleg Markov (Magpies) were named the starting subs.

And minutes after the opening bounce, the Eagles were hit with another injury, with Connor West coming from the ground for assessment on his left leg after copping some friendly fire. West was soon subbed out of the game and replaced by Clark.

Despite its personnel issues, West Coast dominated clearances early, winning 12 of the first 13. But that dominance wasn’t converted onto the scoreboard, with Collingwood kicking the first four goals of the game to lead by 24 points at quarter-time.

But the big story of the first quarter came just before the siren, with Pies star Jordan De Goey laying a bump on Elijah Hewett that will certainly draw scrutiny from the Match Review Officer.

“That’s trouble for Jordan De Goey … if you decide to bump and make contact above the shoulders,” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said.

Hewett was ruled out of the game due to concussion, while Eagles skipper Shannon Hurn was also placed in cotton wool after suffering another hamstring issue.

“It’s the same old story for West Coast: More and more injury carnage,” Fox Footy’s Adam Papalia said.

Hawks legend Jason Dunstall added: “Something has to give, don’t they? They’ve got to change the water in West Coast, surely. What’s going on? This is ludicrous.”

Meanwhile, the Pies continued to pile on the pain, skipping out to a 43-point lead as Mason Cox got his second goal.

“It was always going to be challenging top v bottom, but it’s unfolding in an ugly manner,” Dees champion Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.

But the Eagles hit back in breathtaking fashion, with goals to Xavier O’Neill, Oscar Allen and Dom Sheed swinging the momentum of the game.

“Credit where it’s due: This looked like it was heading towards something unpalatable for the Eagles … but they’ve found a way to kick four of the last five goals. It’s a mighty effort with only two players on the bench,” Lyon said.

Jake Waterman had a chance to cut the margin even more on the half-time siren, only to kick the ball into the man on the mark from his set-shot, meaning Collingwood held a 24-point lead at half-time.

The Eagles continued their comeback in the third term, with Allen booting his third goal and Kelly adding another to cut the margin to 15 points.

“They’re feeling the pinch, the Pies,” Papalia said.

Dunstall added: “I’ve just loved the way they’re competing, West Coast … This has been an inspired effort.”

But the Pies steadied to hit back late, kicking three of the last four goals of the quarter to lead by 26 points at the final change.

“They’ve gathered themselves like a good side,” Lyon said. “They’ve been under all sorts of pressure, but found a way to kick three of the last four goals … they’ll breathe a sigh of relief.”

Despite Magpies star Will Hoskin-Elliott limping off with an injury, the Magpies kicked away as Ash Johnson booted two goals and Nick Daicos added another to put the result beyond doubt. 

“It’s a great response from the Pies,” Lyon said.

“They’ve been tested in a manner we didn’t think they would and they responded in the manner we thought they, if they ever had to, would.”

Dunstall added: “Sometimes you can get a nasty wake-up call and they got that in the third term. But they responded.”

THE 3-2-1 …

3. PIES OVERCOME ‘NASTY WAKE-UP CALL’ TO RUN EAGLES RAGGED

The ladder-leading Magpies were expected to walk away with victory over last placed West Coast, but instead they got dragged into a dogfight as both sides traded blows.

Yet it was Collingwood who found the fight to run away with the win against an Eagles side who were down to just two players on the bench for the entire second half.

West Coast got within 13 points in the third term, but from there the Magpies‘ talent shone as they put the foot down to seal their 11th win in 12 matches this season.

“It’s a great response from the Pies,” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said.

“They’ve been tested in a manner we didn’t think they would and they responded in the manner we thought they, if they ever had to, would.”

Jason Dunstall added: “Sometimes you can get a nasty wake-up call and they got that in the third term. But they responded.”

Dunstall said the Magpies had been “forced” into finding a response to West Coast’s fightback – but that would only hold the side in good stead moving on to face Melbourne next weekend.

“They challenged Collingwood to reproduce their best,” Lyon said.

The Magpies found avenues to goal they haven’t relied on this season in great signs for coach Craig McRae, with Ash Johnson, Bobby Hill and Nick Daicos all kicking three apiece.

2. EAGLES VETERAN SHOWS FORM THAT’S BEEN MISSING

Elliot Yeo is a dual West Coast best and fairest and a dual All-Australian. But he’s been restricted to just 30 games since the end of the 2019 amid a horror injury stretch.

Against Collingwood on Saturday, Yeo reminded the competition of just how damaging he can be, finishing with 26 disposals, 16 contested possessions, seven clearances and seven inside 50s.

“He is playing an inspired game Elliot Yeo,” Fox Footy’s Jason Dunstall praised.

“He’s turned the game.”

Garry Lyon said Yeo’s form was a timely boost for a West Coast side crying out for someone to find form.

“This is just a reminder at one stage he was in the best handful of players in the competition,” he said.

Yeo was the key figure to West Coast’s third quarter fightback, with 12 disposals for the term – six of those contested. He also had four inside 50s as he showed his trademark gut busting run that West Coast have been missing.

Even Collingwood assistant coach Justin Leppitsch admitted Yeo had torn his side apart.

“Their stoppage stuff is killing us. They are scoring from that,” he said on Fox Footy.

“They’ve been really tough in there.

“We did talk about a tag that quarter to be perfectly honest, they were going that well.”

Lyon said Yeo’s form would be the biggest positive Eagles fans would take from the match.

“It would be so heartwarming for the West Coast faithful to see him play in the manner he did,” he said.

“He had a real mindset about him.”

1. EAGLES FINALLY FIND SOME FIGHT

It’s been a horror season for West Coast, with injury cruelling any hopes of victories early this year.

But the Eagles finally gave their fans something to cheer about after a goalless opening term, when they found their fight to really take it up to the ladder leading Magpies.

They kicked five of six goals across the second and third terms in a fightback that got the 41,000 fans up and about at Optus Stadium.

Not only did the Eagles match it with the Pies in the second quarter, they also dominated the disposal (+25), inside 50 (+9) and contested possession (+8) counts.

Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said the Eagles “had their best 20 minutes of the year”.

“They’re playing against the best team in the competition right now and they’ve kicked four of the last five goals,” Lyon told Fox Footy.

“They did it on the back of a group of experienced players who’ve been to the top before and been experiencing the lows of footy – and it would appear to me they’ve said ‘enough is enough’.

“It was led by Elliot Yeo, Dom Sheed and Oscar Allen and they got their nose back in the contest.”

Hawks legend Jason Dunstall added: “We were all getting a little concerned this would all be a touch one-sided and for a moment it was a 40-plus margin in favour of Collingwood. But that back-half of that second term gives them something to take into half-time.”

When Allen and Tim Kelly got the first two goals of the third term to reduce the margin to just 13 points, the commentators continued their praise.

“He (coach Adam Simpson) would be swelling up inside with some pride. They’ve been hard to play against, they’re getting on the move at stoppage, hard to defend,” Lyon said.

“There’s just a bit of belief and confidence that has come back into the group.

“It’s an incredible turnaround.

“This is as much momentum as they’ve had in the season perhaps, and against quality opposition.

“They’ve turned the clock back a few of these Eagles.”

Dunstall said the crowd really helped West Coast continue their charge.

“Haven’t the West Coast fans been crying out for a charge like this,“ he said.

“I’ve just loved the way they’re competing, West Coast … This has been an inspired effort.”

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