Latest news with #AFLDeadly
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Crows beware - Eagles have learnt how to win
West Coast are no longer scared of winning, and coach Andrew McQualter couldn't be prouder. The Eagles posted their first victory of the AFL season on Sunday with a 28-point upset of St Kilda at Optus Stadium. West Coast were a club in mourning entering the match following the tragic death of premiership Eagle Adam Selwood on Saturday at the age of 41. Eagles players channelled their emotions into producing their best pressure performance of the season. West Coast had suffered two-point losses to Essendon and Richmond in recent weeks. But when St Kilda fought back on Sunday to cut a 35-point margin back to 15 points early in the final quarter, West Coast refused to wilt. Jack Graham and Bailey Williams nailed clutch set shots, while Liam Ryan sealed the deal with two goals - one a clever snap from the pocket, and the other an audacious steal. Eagles' fans loved this one 😍#AFLDeadly | #AFLEaglesSaints — AFL (@AFL) May 18, 2025 West Coast still sit last on the ladder with a 1-9 record and remain hot favourites to collect the wooden spoon. But they now know how to win - and McQualter sees that as invaluable. "We've been in winnable positions a couple of times this year and we spoke about it during the week, about leaning into those moments and about not being scared of winning," McQualter said. "Clearly it's been a challenge for us this year, but we thought people owned their moments in the last quarter, which was really important. "I just thought our maturity and some critical moments late for our players ... it's pleasing to see and we will look to reward that during the week." McQualter believes the win will give his team a huge confidence boost. "I think it's massive. I think you have to learn to win," McQualter said. "We want to live in the moments where we have chances to win all the time. "And there's absolutely a skill in being able to win when the game's tight and it's at its most pressure and 50,000 people are screaming at you. "So great reward for our players, and we'll look to fuel that and use what we learned in that last quarter from a winning perspective during the week." It was easily West Coast's best four-quarter effort, with their tackling intensity and attack on the ball proving too much for St Kilda to handle. The Eagles are hopeful star defender Jeremy McGovern (concussion) will be fit to return to take on the Crows in Adelaide on Sunday, but small forward Matt Owies (calf) is set to miss. St Kilda slumped to a 4-6 record following their fifth loss in six matches. And it won't be any easier against high-flying Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. Saints coach Ross Lyon said midfielder Jack Macrae would require scans after sustaining a knee to the back.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Miller all smiles as Suns hold off Hawks in milestone
Touk Miller has kicked two crucial goals in his 200th AFL game as Gold Coast enhanced their credentials further with an eight-point win over Hawthorn. The top-four sides took turns dominating Thursday night's clash in Darwin, the Hawks leading in the final quarter after going behind by 32 points in the second term. But the Suns - chasing a maiden finals appearance - had the answers in a 16.8 (104) to 15.6 (96) win that jumped them ahead of the Hawks into second on the live ladder with a 7-2 record. Miller (22 disposals, eight clearances, two goals) popped up with a major that pushed the lead to eight points late in the final quarter. How crucial could this be from Miller?#AFLSunsHawks — AFL (@AFL) May 15, 2025 Northern Territory product Ben Long (four goals), halfback John Noble (36 disposals) and captain Noah Anderson (35, 12 clearances, one goal) starred as they made it 8-0 at the venue. Anderson led the Suns' first-half assault out of the middle, winning nine clearances to often allow his side direct entry to the forward line. Noble had 22 touches in the first half, his influence from the backline enough for Hawks coach Sam Mitchell to dedicate a man to him. Their impact meant the Suns piled on quick goals, Miller kicking their first, Long bagging a couple and six others getting on the score sheet. Ben Long literally SAT ON TOP 🤯#AFLSunsHawks | #AFLDeadly — AFL (@AFL) May 15, 2025 Sam Flanders and Anderson himself both kicked goals to establish 32-point margins in the second term. But pocket rocket Nick Watson almost single-handedly kept the Hawks in it. He threaded the needle from the pocket, outmarked the taller Wil Powell to kick another and then won a turnover and banged a third home from long-range. Nick Waston is on FIRE 🔥#AFLSunsHawks — AFL (@AFL) May 15, 2025 Jack Ginnivan chimed in and the lead was back to 14 at halftime. Their midfield lifted and it was the Hawks who controlled things in the third term as tempers flared and the pressure lifted. Hawthorn kicked eight of 10 goals either side of halftime to slowly peg back the margin and go ahead seconds before the final break when Blake Hardwick kicked his third. Matt Rowell (29 touches, nine clearances) lifted in the final quarter, his effort at the contest leading to Malcolm Rosas Jnr's runaway goal that put the Suns 15 points clear with 10 minutes to play. The Hawks pressed again Ginnivan making no mistake after being taken high by Nick Holman and kicking truly to make it a two-point game. Miller popped up again though for a crucial second goal before Rowell and Anderson combined to assist Long's fourth. MABIOR CHOL EVERYONE🥶#AFLSunsHawks — AFL (@AFL) May 15, 2025 Chol was brilliant with a one-handed pick-up and cool finish for his third goal that made it a eight-point game with three minutes to play. But, like they did five nights ago against the Western Bulldogs, the Suns showed poise and scramble to hang on.
