Match report: Inspired Eagles cause RAC Derby boilover

20 Apr 2024

West Coast Eagles

An inspired West Coast has delivered one of the great upsets in RAC Derby history, blindsiding a stunned Fremantle on Saturday night with a 37-point win.

In a thrilling performance that followed his Rising Star nomination, Harley Reid electrified the Optus Stadium crowd with three goals, 19 disposals and seven clearances, starring alongside Glendinning-Allan medallist Elliot Yeo in his first Derby.

On the back of their magnetic 19-year-old and midfield dynamo Yeo, the Eagles produced their best performance in years and climbed to 14th on the ladder, playing with a ruthless edge to prevail 16.9 (105) to 10.8 (68) in a memorable Derby 58.

Leading by 64 points at the last change, the young team conceded six goals to two in the final term when the win was secured, claiming back-to-back victories for the first time since 2021 and ending the Dockers' five-game winning run in Derbies.

It was a brutal result for the Dockers, who had returned from an extended Adelaide road trip that netted back-to-back losses by a combined 13 points, now slipping to 3-3 after winning their opening three matches of the season.

The Eagles, incredibly, are just one win behind them now on 2-4, with the rejuvenated club looking certain to trouble more teams through 2024 as it builds a contested, high-pressure game style that is suiting its young players.

While Reid, who received six Medal votes, and Yeo (26 disposals, six clearances and a goal) started the fire from the midfield, key forward Jake Waterman remained a hot hand in attack, kicking five goals and taking eight marks to play the crucial role of breaking through Freo's vaunted defence.

Jack Darling also built confidence with two goals to equal West Coast great Peter Sumich on 514 career goals. At the other end of the ground, key defenders Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass were terrific in the air with a combined 20 marks.

While the Eagles refused to get carried away with last week's win against a wounded Richmond, that result delivered a shot of life to the Derby build-up and raised hopes of a competitive crosstown clash.

It clearly did more than that, however, as the Eagles played with belief and flair rarely seen through their rebuild in an opening that saw them pile on seven unanswered goals and race to a 41-point lead halfway through the second term.

Fremantle controlled possession throughout the opening term but missed opportunities, with the Eagles pouncing when they got their chance. A contested mark in the goalsquare to Reid got his game going, with several centre clearances following.

Under pressure, the Dockers went into their shells and started to over-possess the ball in defence or kick long under pressure, playing further into their opponents' hands.

The Eagles gained more belief as the second quarter continued and received a standing ovation at the main break when they were 37 points clear on the back of a committed team performance.

The third term belonged to Reid, who had eight disposals and three clearances but flew above a pack inside 50 to take a classic mark, converting his set shot to give the Eagles a 51-point lead in the signature moment of the Derby.

There was no path back from there for the Dockers, who were humbled in front of a roaring Eagles crowd of 54,473 and face a revived Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium next Saturday night.

Midfielder Nat Fyfe (27 disposals and 13 clearances) fought from the front, while Jordan Clark (24 and six rebounds) tried to give the team run when there was little, but the Dockers had few winners in a Derby shocker.

WEST COAST 4.1 9.4 14.9 16.9 (105)

FREMANTLE 0.3 3.3 4.5 10.8 (68)

GOALS

West Coast: Waterman 5, Reid 3, Darling 2, Chesser, Cripps, Long, Maric, Jack Williams, Yeo

Fremantle: Jackson 2, Sturt 2, Treacy 2, Emmett, Johnson, Sharp, Walters

BEST

West Coast: Yeo, Reid, Waterman, Kelly, Barrass, McGovern, Duggan

Fremantle: Fyfe, Clark, Darcy, Brayshaw, Serong

INJURIES

West Coast: Nil

Fremantle: Amiss (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES