Eagle Josh Hill celebrates the last goal of the game, to take the margin out to 70 points. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
Eagle Darren Glass has eyes for the ball as he marks in defence. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
WEST Coast finally recorded its first home win of the season, with the Eagles rediscovering their ability to kick straight as they punished the Western Bulldogs in a 70-point drubbing at Patersons Stadium.
Plucky against powerhouse Geelong last week, there was less to admire yesterday as the Bulldogs crashed to the 16th loss in their past 17 games.
Supply wasn't the problem but finding reliable goal avenues was as the visitors had no answer to an army of West Coast forward threats, lead by Jack Darling who kicked all five of his goals in the opening half.
Bulldogs spearhead Liam Jones, who has twice kicked bags of four this season, took several impressive grabs opposed to Eagles defender Eric Mackenzie but his only goal came with the game well and truly over midway through the last quarter.
Most of the attention of the home crowd was on returning pair Nic Naitanui and Sharrod Wellingham, who were both playing for the first time this season.
Wellingham, who suffered a serious ankle injury in a trampoline accident 11 weeks ago, was a solid contributor in his first game since crossing from Collingwood in the off-season.
Bulldog Matthew Boyd gets a handball away despite the efforts of Eagle Dean Cox. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
Naitanui entered the game to rapturous applause mid-way through the third quarter, having started as the substitute, and wasted little time impressing with some deft ruckwork.
Having lost the centre clearances 12-5 in the first half, the Eagles fared noticeably better in the centre square battle from the time Naitanui was injected, while Dean Cox celebrated the return of his All-Australian ruck partner by kicking four goals.
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West Coast's hopes of finishing in the top four were all but extinguished after spraying a total of 17.42 in losses to Carlton and Port Adelaide over the past fortnight.
Eagle Matthew Priddis is tackled by Bulldog Tom Liberatore Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
When Cox landed a stunning 50m set shot from the boundary line just two minutes into the match, the crowd sensed the tide might be turning.
Cox, who kicked two majors in the opening stanza, was lucky to avoid serious injury when Bulldogs ruckman Mark Austin collected him with a knee to the face in the centre circle late in the first quarter.
Adam Cooney had 17 disposals in the first half and underlined the class he adds to the Bulldogs' engine room with a brilliant snap from deep in the forward pocket midway through the second term.
The Western Bulldogs leave the field after the loss. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
Darling kicked three goals in the second quarter to make it five by half time as West Coast built a 32-point advantage by the major break.
The home side's lead came despite the Dogs squaring the inside 50 count and leading the tallies for clearances and contested possessions.
Two goals in the space of five minutes to Clay Smith interrupted a run of six goals to the Eagles in the third quarter as they took a comfortable 52-point lead to three quarter time.
Eagle Matthew Priddis is tackled by Bulldog Tom Liberatore Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
Josh Kennedy, goalless at half-time, picked up where Darling left off and kicked all four of his in the second half, while Cox kicked his fourth major after taking a strong mark in the goalsquare early in the final term.
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