AFL Live Updates: West Coast Eagles hunt first win against North Melbourne at Optus Stadium
AFL: West Coast’s clash with North Melbourne has been labelled winnable, but they will need to be sharp after the Kangaroos touched up Port last week.
Liam Baker, Harry Edwards and Tim Kelly all return for the Eagles’ home opener while Willem and Zane Duursma will meet for the first time as AFL rivals.
The last eight games between these two teams have been decided by 15 points or less and the battle of the rebuilds promises a good contest again today.
Follow all the action with our live blog.
MATCH REPORT
It might’ve been his 25th game at the helm, but West Coast’s 17-point win over North Melbourne felt like the highly-anticipated unveiling of the Andrew McQualter era.
Long lap
Every Eagle is still out on the field making sure they lap up the fans after that win.
It took 11 games for West Coast to grab their only victory last season against St Kilda.
Surely, it feels a little better this time around?
Archer Reid, Tom McCarthy, Jobe Shanahan, Hamish Davis, Bo Allan, Jacob Newton, Cooper Duff-Tytler, Willem Duursma and Milan Murdock all mark their maiden AFL victory and will be hoping for plenty more.
“Dog eat dog”
Reid wasn’t too bothered with the Comben hit, playing it off as part of the contest but cheekily saying he was at least on the other end of it.
He also claimed it’s a “dog-eat-dog” environment in the AFL.
FT: West Coast 111, North Melbourne 94
The Eagles snap a 14-game losing streak and hand nine players their first-ever AFL victory!
They promised much before the season and showed some of it today as the fans belt out the song as it rings around Optus for the first time in 308 days.
Reid cracks the 30 disposal mark in a huge game for the youngster who showed real leadership in the final term to keep things calm as North threw themselves at West Coast.
Robertson had 26 disposals along with four tackles and four clearances.
Sheezel had 40 in a losing cause and was sensational in the last quarter.
Two minutes left
West Coast fans are chanting “Eagles” with their team edging closer to victory.
WCE 111, NM 94
One goes back
West Coast have put an extra player behind the ball as they start to slow things down with a mark-kick game.
Baker has limped to the bench with an ankle concern after a smothering player fell across his leg.
WCE 111, NM 94
Turnover!
Shanahan has gone back and took a great saving mark only to turn it over with a dangerous kick.
Konstanty spears it home and the margin is 19 points.
WCE 111, NM 94
Tense
The Eagles are owning the territory but just can’t score.
Until North nearly escaped and Young came up clutch!
He stops the chaos ball and gets a calming kick away.
The ball gets forward to Yeo who puts it inside 50 with Murdock cleans up the spill and snaps one from 35!
WCE 111, NM 88
Steadier
When the Eagles needed it most, Waterman stands up and gets his first.
The kick coming in was poor from Duggan but Waterman was in front and got to the drop of the ball.
He slots the set shot and it gives the young Eagles a chance to take a breath and calm down.
On the down side, Cripps has come to the bench to get his shoulder checked.
WCE 104, NM 87
Six!
Larkey beats two defenders to take a mark in the pocket and slots his sixth.
Ginbey has been huge but North are getting too many looks forward.
The Eagles thought they had a goal through Waterman but a free kick rubbed it out.
WCE 98, NM 87
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