Elijah Hewett, Elliot Yeo and Liam Ryan had been among the many Eagles‘ main lights in Friday’s match sim win over Port, writes MARK DUFFIELD.
This was a mild reminder from West Coast teen Elijah Hewett that he, too, may be within the dialog for spherical one after sliding from high 5 competition on the 2022 nationwide draft to be West Coast’s second choose late within the first spherical.
After seemingly falling behind fellow kids Reuben Ginbey, Noah Lengthy and Campbell Chesser within the race to win spherical one spots, a contemporary Hewett was injected into West Coast’s midfield within the ultimate time period of a decent battle towards Port Adelaide. A objective and good clearance helped his workforce to a 13.6 (84) to 11.10 (76) win within the first 4 quarters of match simulation when the 2 groups had their finest on the market.
A superb objective from Jake Waterman then completed it and the Eagles, who misplaced three gamers for the season within the corresponding match this time final 12 months, walked away a a lot happier membership from their first 2023 hit out.
Elliot Yeo was the driving pressure in midfield however, if this was any indication, then changing champion ahead Josh Kennedy may not be the hardest factor the Eagles must do in 2023.
With small ahead Liam Ryan in glowing kind and Oscar Allen returning to provide them goal within the air, West Coast had been productive sufficient when the ball hit their ahead line.
The way it went in and the way usually it will get in may be an even bigger difficulty.
West Coast’s midfield appears to be like okay when Yeo will get to work in there. However for chunks of the match Port’s mids, with Jason Horne-Francis spectacular, held sway and a number of other occasions threatened to steal vital leads within the recreation.
Port will monitor the health of Travis Boak anxiously. Boak was despatched for scans on a again harm after touchdown closely in a marking contest with Jeremy McGovern.
Right here is how the important thing Eagles fared.
Liam Ryan: Had three objective assists by half time – one a superb kick to arrange Andrew Gaff then a intelligent win and provides to Jai Culley. Kicked one for himself within the second and appears in nice kind.
Jake Waterman: Got here on late and kicked the sealer from deep within the pocket.
Andrew Gaff: Labored his wing laborious and pushes again to assist defenders. Wants to supply extra counter assault.
Elliot Yeo: Sturdy. bullocking work and was West Coast’s finest within the midfield. Bought higher when the sport went on the road.
Sam Petrevski-Seton: Goes to must do extra subsequent week to be within the spherical one combine as a small ahead. Good third time period contact did arrange a Kelly objective.
Callum Jamieson: Competed laborious, took an enormous third time period mark in defence however lacked polish a few occasions.
Bailey Williams: Did a few actually good issues however drops focus. Took a powerful mark however then allowed Aliir Aliir to stream from defence to arrange a objective.
Tim Kelly: He appears to be like slimmer, kicked a second quarter objective and one other within the third however Port’s midfield had the higher of the primary half.
Shannon Hurn: Held up fairly properly in defence and gave the Eagles some bounce when he had the possibility.
Tom Barrass: Good tussle with Todd Marshall because the deepest defender. Held his personal.
Jeremy McGovern: Beneath siege in first time period however defended assertively within the second and appears very match.
Liam Duggan: Typical Duggan recreation. Labored laborious and competed. Kicked a pleasant third quarter objective on the run.
Oscar Allen: Took an amazing first quarter mark and a snap simply bounced the mistaken means. He led and competed properly, kicked a 3rd time period objective and this was one thing to construct on.
Tom Cole: Will add some steadiness to the Eagles defence however he had a bit to take care of at occasions.
Jai Culley: Good first quarter objective after good work from Ryan however received a bit reactive at occasions – ready for one thing to occur then chasing it.
Dom Sheed: Bought his share of midfield touches with out being very damaging. Seems a bit rusty after a 12 months off.
Brady Hough: Got here on within the ultimate time period. Bobbed up with a pleasant mark behind the ball in defence.
Xavier O’Neill: Got here into the sport at half time and had an affect within the final including some zip to the Eagles engine room.
Jamie Cripps: Labored laborious – discovered himself up the bottom a good bit with the Port mids on high.
Josh Rotham: Injected at half time to exchange veteran Shannon Hurn. Used the ball properly to arrange counter assaults.
Jayden Hunt: Good when the sport was scorching within the opening time period. The Eagles will like his sprint and mature physique.
Noah Lengthy: Had a few good touches after which light.
Connor West: He can win the ball and steps into the clear properly however his ball use lets him down.
Campbell Chesser: Good first quarter blind flip to get away from site visitors and received via chunk of recreation time.
Greg Clark: Kicked a pleasant second quarter objective. Was a prepared labored on his wing however appears to be like a step quick.
Alex Witherden: If he has a little bit of area he can get artistic however defenders aren’t all the time answerable for the area he has.
Elijah Hewett: Got here on within the final time period. Regarded full of life across the ball, kicked a superb objective and gave the Eagles a pleasant inside fifty after shrugging off a deal with.
Harry Edwards: Got here on within the third time period and defended steadily.
