Jeremy McGovern: Adam Selwood immortalised the best qualities of what it meant to be a West Coast Eagle
Jeremy McGovern: Adam Selwood immortalised the best qualities of what it meant to be a West Coast Eagle
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West Australian
10-08-2025
- West Australian
West Coast Eagles fall short of all-time upset, push Adelaide to the brink in season-best performance
In a season to forget West Coast produced one of the most memorable performances in recent years to push ladder-leaders Adelaide to the brink in a heartbreaking nine-point defeat. A young Eagles outfit were charged with celebrating the careers of retirees Jeremy McGovern and skipper Liam Duggan, who was playing his 200th game. And while they were unable to walk away with the victory, losing 13.9 (87) to 12.6 (78) at Optus Stadium on Sunday afternoon, they showed incredible fight to give the premiership favourites a genuine scare. A week after a frustrated coach Andrew McQualter lamented his team's inability to play to the standards they set for themselves, the bottom-placed Eagles brought a relentless pressure which they can build on in the future. West Coast kicked five unanswered goals from late in the first term until early in the third to lead by 17 points early in the penultimate term and four points at the final break to have the 32,845 fans dreaming of an upset for the ages. Adelaide put their foot down in the last quarter with four goals to two to hand West Coast a 20th defeat for the third time in four seasons. McQualter decided to reshuffle his team after a tough few weeks. Brady Hough returned to defence to go against Alex Neal-Bullen, while impressive mid-season draftee Tom McCarthy started at the first centre bounce. And there was plenty of positives for the struggling Eagles in a game many predicted to be a one-sided affair. First-year forward Jobe Shanahan showed he's got a bright future with a career-high three goals in only his seventh game. McCarthy thrived in the midfield to record a game-high 29 disposals, combining with Tim Kelly (25 disposals, five tackles, 10 clearances and a goal) and Elijah Hewett (19 disposals and five score involvements) who were outstanding. Down back Reuben Ginbey continues to put himself in the frame for a maiden John Worsfold Medal in just his third season, restricting Adelaide monster Riley Thilthorpe to only three goals. However, the Crows proved too strong in the long run, as skipper Jordan Dawson (26 disposals, 11 inside 50s and 14 tackles) and star Izak Rankine (23 disposals, six clearances and a goal) carried them over the line. It started well for the Eagles when got their run and gun style working through the corridor which resulted in a goal to Campbell Chesser. Adelaide hit back with consecutive goals through James Peatling and Dawson, but the Eagles were up for the fight, attacking with pace and ferocity. The Crows showed their maturity to absorb the early pressure and break it open from the centre clearances, with their dominance starting to give them an advantage on the scoreboard. West Coast's efficiency going forward ensured they were still within reach at the first break, scoring four times from only five inside 50s. Remarkably, the Eagles started to get on top at the stoppages and set up so well behind the ball they were able to lock the ball in their front half. West Coast would kick the only three goals for the second quarter to take the most unlikely of six-point leads heading into half-time. Anyone thinking the Eagles were going to be satisfied with one strong half against the top side were quickly corrected as draftee Hamish Davis kicked the first goal of his career. Shanahan kicked his third soon after and an upset for the ages was on the cards as they led by 17 points. Duggan then decided to stamp his authority on the game with a big bump on Thilthorpe that left the Adelaide power forward in a lot of neck pain and might have the former in trouble with the match review officer. Adelaide regained the lead on the back of their dominance at the clearances and threatened to finally storm away from a brave West Coast. Yet the home side were not going to give up without a fight as Liam Ryan (three goals) kicked consecutive goals before the final break to regain the advantage on the scoreboard and keep the parochial crowd involved in the contest. Kelly then kicked the opening goal of the final term in unconvincing circumstances to once again give hope of an incredible win. Mercurial Crow Rankine turned it on after the main break, racking up 20 disposals and kicking the goal to regain the lead in the final term after touching it only three times in the first half. Thilthorpe then put the dagger through the heart, kicking a goal from outside 50 to put Adelaide a game clear on top of the table with only two rounds to go. ADELAIDE 5.2, 5.4, 9.6, 13.9 (87) WEST COAST 3.1, 6.4, 10.4, 12.6 (78) Goals – ADELAIDE: L Pedlar 3 R Thilthorpe 3 J Dawson B Keays D Fogarty J Peatling I Rankine J Soligo Z Taylor. WEST COAST: L Ryan 3 J Shanahan 3 L Baker T Brockman C Chesser J Cripps H Davis T Kelly. Best – ADELAIDE: J Dawson J Soligo I Rankine L Pedlar R Laird M Keane. WEST COAST: T Kelly R Ginbey J Shanahan T McCarthy B Hough L Ryan. Injuries – ADELAIDE: J Peatling (corked thigh). Umpires: J Power B Wallace M Young J Fry. Crowd: 32,845 at Optus Stadium.
West Australian
10-08-2025
- West Australian
Three-word analysis of every West Coast Eagle as they push ladder leading Adelaide all the way
Three-word analysis of every West Coast Eagle as they push ladder leading Adelaide all the way
The Australian
07-08-2025
- The Australian
Top sports doctor reveals concerning concussion timeline for Aussie codes
One of Australia's leading sports doctors suspects combating the full extent of concussion remains 'years and years' away. Dr Peter Harcourt was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on Thursday after 40 years of medical service. He oversaw seven Olympic Games and spent time in the AFL and at Basketball Australia tackling the biggest medical hurdles. Harcourt says concussion remains one of the top challenges in world sport and while Australia's football codes have made progress, 'there's still a long way to go'. 'Concussion is the big one at the moment and I think sport is making some pretty big progress,' Harcourt said. 'Certainly, you can see that in the way the game is being played in AFL and in NRL and other competitions like that. 'I think understanding exactly the full depth of it and the mechanisms of it, prevention, the treatment, there's still a long way to go. 'This is going to take years and years to pull it apart and understand what the risks are and how you actually combat that.' Dr Peter Harcourt AM was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on Thursday at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair Several AFL players, including premiership stars Jeremy McGovern and Angus Brayshaw, have been medically retired due to concussion in recent seasons. Cronulla Sharks co-captain Dane Finucane also last year retired following advice from medical professionals. Harcourt said the awareness of long-term damage had prompted players and sporting clubs to change the narrative around head knocks. 'There's no holding back organisations these days in terms of tackling something that is really critical for the welfare of their athletes,' he said. 'The way we managed it 40 years ago was it was a self-limiting condition that would fully resolve – that's the way you thought about it. 'These days obviously you don't because you're worried about the long-term risks associated with that sort of trauma. 'I think the culture in the player groups has changed in that they will come forward and tell you when they're not well. 'There's been a lot of awareness. I'm not saying that it wouldn't happen (hiding concussions), but I think it's much less than what might've happened 10-15 years ago.' Tyler Lewis Sports reporter Tyler Lewis is a sports reporter based in Melbourne's south east. @tmlew_ Tyler Lewis
