AFL: West Coast have been on a dramatic slide since winning two of their first three games to start 2026 but will hope to turn things around against GWS.
After a fighting second half against Melbourne at Marvel last week the Eagles, who have adopted the name Waalitij Marawar for Sir Doug Nicholls Round, will hope a better start can give them a chance at victory.
Aaron Cadman and Jake Stringer strike imposing figures up forward for the visitors but West Coast won’t have to tackle Jesse Hogan with their undermanned defence.
They will also desperately hope co-captains Liam Baker and Liam Duggan find some form to lead the youngsters like Josh Lindsay and Willem Duursma who have started their careers with promise.
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Fonti’s first
Young West Aussie Joe Fonti has his first goal for GWS after four of the worst minutes of AFL football you will ever see.
Murdock gave away duel 50-metre penalties, believed to be for something he said, before players fell, slipped, mis-kicked and generally struggled to look professional.
Fonti’s goal was very good whipped in from the boundary after a kick went out-on-the-full.
WCE 61, GWS 70
3QT: West Coast 60, Greater Western Sydney 64
The Giants came out swinging after a poor second term and grabbed the lead back straight away.
However, the Eagles showed great maturity to respond and not let them kick away at any point.
They even had the better of the last seven minutes with Williams clunking a strong mark and converting from the square.
GWS put the clamps on Reid but Kelly and Yeo are still firing while Champion and Murdock have shown good moments.
Bazzo has been strong down back with Ginbey and Young is having his best game as an Eagle with a looser role.
Duursma has been quiet but picked up some touches as the sides tired in a good sign for his fitness.
Holding
Both teams are trying to throw punches with the Giants winning the territory battle.
However, the margin is standing firm at 10 points.
Reid has only had a few touches in this term while Yeo has moved to the backline as a quarter back.
WCE 54, GWS 64
Small moments
Stringer gives the Giants a 10-point lead and the visitors are showing some of their class.
This one comes off the back of Champion delaying a simple, quick handball and then getting caught holding the ball.
West Coast need to get their sharp movement and pressure back.
WCE 52, GWS 62
Maiden major!
Harvey Johnston gets his first AFL goal.
He threw himself into the forward contest and wins the free kick.
The youngster takes the set shot quickly and slams it home.
Bailey Williams is having a game in the ruck. He got them that goal with his aggressiveness in the middle.
WCE 52, GWS 44
Giant start
Gruzewski has the first of the term for the Giants after slipping out the back.
The Eagles were nearly away on a break but Waterman’s tap forward slipped off the side of his hand and straight to Oliver.
He then gets another as the visitors win the next clearance.
WCE 46, GWS 44
HT: West Coast 46, Greater Western Sydney 32
The second quarter belonged to the Eagles and Harley Reid.
The young gun made a poor error late but he has driven them into the lead.
He has 19 touches (14 in the second term), three clearances and two majors through the first half and meant business from the start.
Clayton Oliver was sensational in the first term but they put some work into him and he slowed right down.
Williams leads the hitouts with 19 and started to find some to advantage as well.
The Eagles are running at 77.7 per cent disposal efficiency which makes all the difference alongside their superb pressure.
The real question is can they keep doing it for four quarters because the Giants will respond with force.
Best patch
This is the best sustained patch of play the Eagles have produced since their round two win over North Melbourne.
It was the end of the first and start of the second quarters that hurt them last week but they have answered the call today.
Their pressure is up and the Giants midfield can’t get the footy.
Reid grabs a second after a free kick that came after he missed the highlight-reel major.
WCE 40, GWS 26
Turnovers
West Coast force another turnover, this time from the kick in by Davis, and Waterman gives the home side a buffer.
The big forward looks aweful from the set shot but his snap was on point.
WCE 27, GWS 19
In front!
Out of nowhere the Eagles are in front!
Shanahan squeezes one through from the set shot and the Eagles are up and about for the fight.
They are getting their ball movement rolling with handballs and for once their effort is making up for the errors.
They are also winning the ground contest in this quarter.
The crowd is smaller than normal but they are getting loud.
WCE 20, GWS 19
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