Eagles Soar to Stunning Upset Over Port Adelaide in Thriller
In a match that had fans on the edge of their seats, the West Coast Eagles have secured a remarkable two-point victory over Port Adelaide, marking their first consecutive AFL wins in nearly two years. The Eagles, under the guidance of coach Andrew McQualter, staged a dramatic comeback, overcoming a significant 29-point deficit in the second quarter to clinch the win with a final score of 13.14 (92) to 13.12 (90) at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
This triumph is particularly sweet for the Eagles, who had not tasted successive victories since rounds six and seven of the 2024 season. Their win at Adelaide Oval also breaks a drought, with their last victory at the venue dating back to round six, 2022. The loss casts a shadow over Port Adelaide, who now hold a concerning one-win, two-loss record under their new coach Josh Carr. Adding to their woes, key defender Esava Ratugolea sustained a knee injury during the encounter.
Jake Waterman proved to be the star of the show for West Coast, booting an impressive four goals, including a colossal 65-metre set shot in the dying stages of the final quarter. His scoring prowess, finishing with 4.4, was instrumental in the Eagles’ surge. The team also saw valuable contributions from Harley Reid, who notched two majors and a strong 21 disposals, and Bo Allan, who also kicked two goals.
The youthful talent within the Eagles’ lineup was on full display. Number one draft pick Willem Duursma impressed with 20 possessions and a goal, while second-gamer Josh Lindsay contributed 19 touches. Veteran midfielder Tim Kelly was a steadying influence, racking up 23 disposals and playing a crucial role in the team’s resurgence.
For Port Adelaide, Mitch Georgiades and Jack Whitlock were potent attacking threats, both kicking three goals, while Corey Durdin added two majors. However, despite strong performances from acting captain Zak Butters (30 disposals), Kane Farrell (25 disposals), and Jase Burgoyne (21 disposals), the Power ultimately fell short.
The match began with Port Adelaide asserting early dominance. The early afternoon Adelaide time kick-off, a mere 9:30 am in Perth, seemed to catch the Eagles off guard. Port registered the first eight inside 50 entries and kicked four unanswered goals, establishing a commanding 28-point lead by quarter-time, with a late goal from Elliot Yeo for West Coast narrowing the margin to 22.
The Power extended their lead to a game-high 29 points five minutes into the second term after Georgiades slotted his second goal. However, the Eagles showed resilience, fighting back to kick five of the next seven goals, reducing Port’s halftime advantage to a more manageable eight points (8.6 to 7.4).
The third quarter saw Georgiades complete his trio of goals, pushing Port’s lead back out to 14 points. Yet, West Coast responded with vigour. Star recruit Harley Reid ignited the Eagles’ charge, kicking two quick goals to give his side the lead for the first time in the match. Experienced teammates Jake Waterman and Jack Cripps followed suit, extending the Eagles’ advantage to 11 points by three-quarter time (11.10 to 9.11).
The final term commenced with Darcy Byrne-Jones reducing the deficit to five points within the first 35 seconds. However, West Coast steadied, kicking the next two goals. Waterman’s sensational long-range effort then pushed the Eagles’ lead to 18 points. In a tense finish, Port mounted a spirited comeback, kicking three consecutive goals, with Whitlock’s set-shot leaving them just one point behind with less than two minutes remaining.
Despite the late surge from the Power, they were unable to find another scoring opportunity. A late point from Cripps as the siren sounded ultimately sealed the nail-biting victory for the West Coast Eagles, lifting their season record to two wins and one loss.
