West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has vehemently defended spearhead Jake Waterman after his match-winning shot hit the post in the dying moments of their one-point defeat to North Melbourne.

Waterman’s wayward goalkicking, particularly from set shots, was one of the big talking points headed into the game after he missed two shots in the last term of their six point defeat to Port Adelaide a week earlier.

The 28-year-old was crucial in the 10.14 (74) to 10.13 (73) defeat to the Kangaroos with three vital goals and nine marks, but he missed the final shot on goal for the game with less than a minute left.

It has left Waterman with 31.37 for the season and the Eagles without what would’ve been a fifth win before the bye, having claimed only one win last year.

McQualter said he was “lucky” to have Waterman at his disposal as both a player and example for the Eagles young forwards in Jobe Shanahan and Cooper Duff-Tytler.

“I understand that he gets the last go but I think there’s probably six or eight shots missed throughout that game that were pretty easy shots on goal for both teams,” he said.

“We got lucky a bit early in the game, they missed some early ones as well. So for me personally as a coach, I absolutely love that I have a key forward who is having the most shots in the competition.

“What a treat that is to be able to coach someone like that. I love how Jake’s competing, he’ll be riding the emotion of this. He’s such a proud competitor and we’re just going to support him.

“He’s going to continue to work hard which he always does and he shows the way for our young key forwards. We’ve got an 18-year-old (Duff-Tytler) and a 19-year-old (Shanahan) next to him in that forward line and if they’re seeing him as the example they’re going to be set up for good, long careers.”

Shanahan was also among the Eagles best in an incredible second half. The teenage forward struggled early with only two touches before half time.

The 195cm talent exploded after the main break with nine disposals, eight marks and three goals to nearly steal the Eagles the win.

“For me with Jobe all I say to him all the time is keep competing, keep giving yourself a chance to compete, keep working hard,” McQualter said.

“He’s 19. I thought he probably changed the game in the second half, didn’t he? When he went behind the ball. He took four marks there and then it turned when he went forward. Three marks or so in the forward half as well.

“If Jobe continues to work hard like he is, we’re going to have a serious player for a long time. He’s going to have ups and downs as 19-year-old key forwards do but we’ll just keep working hard and giving him the best chance we can to jump at the ball and show his strengths.”