Wounded Tigers reeled in by slow-starting EaglesBy Michael Ramsey
AAP
15 April 2024WEST COAST 3.1 11.2 15.8 16.13 (109)
RICHMOND 4.3 7.7 8.8 10.10 (70)
GOALS
West Coast: Waterman 6, Yeo 2, Petruccelle 2, Cripps 2, J.Williams, Reid, Darling, Chesser
Richmond: Bolton 3, Lefau 3, Sonsie, M.Rioli, Martin, Baker
BEST
West Coast: Yeo, Waterman, Kelly, Reid, Duggan, Petruccelle
Richmond: Bolton, Baker, Graham, Miller, Vlastuin
INJURIES
West Coast: Edwards (concussion)
Richmond: Short (calf)
LATE CHANGE
West Coast: Callum Jamieson (hamstring) replaced by Alex Witherden
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Ryan Maric, replaced Luke Edwards in the second quarter
Richmond: Tyler Sonsie, replaced Jayden Short in the second quarter
Crowd: 47,665 at Optus Stadium
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West Coast claimed its first win of the season with a 16.13 (109) to 10.10 (70) victory over Richmond at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Adam Yze's side had started brightly with hometown star Shai Bolton capitalising on excellent team pressure and spread to snare two first-quarter majors.
The Tigers started the game on fire, kicking the first four goals, but the Eagles answered with three in the last five minutes of the opening term to be eight points down at quarter-time.
When play resumed it was all West Coast as the home side slotted eight goals for the term and took a 19-point lead into the long break.
It was a case of the old and the new doing the work for the Eagles, with Harley Reid leading by example as he threw himself into every contest early, and Elliot Yeo turning back the clock to have 17 disposals, eight clearances and a goal in the first half.
The third term was more of the same with the ball living down West Coast's end, seeing a 42-point buffer at the final break, a margin the Tigers reduced slightly but never looked like threatening.
Jake Waterman was a massive target for the Eagles midfielders to kick to, finishing with a career-high six goals.
If there was anything for Richmond fans to take away it was the continued exposure its young players got at the highest level, as well as a nice three-goal performance from Mykelti Lefau.
Bolton and Liam Baker (25 disposals) also fought hard for the Tigers.
However, there was also a downside beyond the scoreboard, with Jayden Short subbed out early with a calf complaint.
There's been a bit of talk about Nick Vlastuin's marking prowess this season, but it's all been of the intercept variety, not the spectacular.
However, the triple-premiership defender changed the perception somewhat on Sunday, taking a massive hanger in the first quarter as everything was going right for the Tigers.
Unfortunately for Richmond the day turned sour from that point on.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1108990/slow-starting-eagles-go-wild-over-wounded-tigers
