An epic second-half blitz has seen West Coast win their second-straight match for the first time in 596 days by the barest of margins, defeating Port Adelaide by two points on Sunday afternoon.
The groundbreaking win put an end to several unfavourable streaks against their name, coming up trumps as the underdog to win 13.14 (92) over the Power’s 13.12 (90).
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Not since Round 21, 2018 had the Eagles beaten Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, with the visitors also having lost their last 10 games at Adelaide Oval by an average losing margin of 63.6 points heading into the Round 3 match.
It was Jake Waterman up forward who helped turn the match on its head after a slow start, kicking four goals after quarter time to help guide an inexperienced side to a 2-1 record for the first time in five years.
Pick No.1 from the 2025 Draft Willem Duursma wasn’t far off from having a blinder of his own, kicking 1.3 from his 20 disposals to prove himself as a presence all around the ground.
Fellow young gun Jobe Shanahan missed his sole shot on goal for the afternoon, but proved critical in playing a loose man role in the back half late with multiple intercept marks that saved the Eagles on the last line of defence.
For the Power, Mitch Georgiades and Jack Whitlock kicked three of their own, each threatening to tear the game apart early before quieter second halves.
In a sour takeaway from the match for the visitors though, Elliot Yeo’s day finished early at half time after a groin concern that looks set to sideline him once more.
MATCH CENTRE: Power vs Eagles final scores, stats and more
Port Adelaide goalkickers: Georgiades, Whitlock 3, Durdin 2, Lukosius, Watkins, Byrne-Jones, Horne-Francis, Jones
West Coast goalkickers: Waterman 4, Allan, H.Reid 2, Yeo, Graham, Duursma, Cripps, Davis
McQualter praises young sides growth | 07:39
THE 3-2-1…
3. REID ARRIVES TO TOPPLE FAVOURITES IN ADELAIDE OVAL POWER OUTAGE
Who else, but Harley Reid?
He wasn’t West Coast’s most consistent performer in the epic win on foreign territory, but the wunderkind Eagle flipped the match on its head after half time to play a huge part in banking four more premiership points.
After a modest nine disposals in the first half, the 20-year-old kicked two crucial goals in the third term from six disposals — at 100% efficiency — and two marks.
“We’ve mentioned his name all game, and he delivered in that third quarter, didn’t he?” four-time premiership player Shaun Burgoyne said at three-quarter time on Fox Footy.
“He kicked two goals and got the fire started for West Coast in and around the ball. He’s getting amongst it.
“He kicked some really important goals and really got into the Port Adelaide fans; which actually makes him play better.”
The Eagles won the contested possession and inside 50 count during the ‘premiership quarter’, with veteran Tim Kelly also playing a major part on-ball in the absence of the injured Elliot Yeo.
Andrew McQualter’s side came from 29 points down at the start of the second quarter to cause the unlikely upset, just one week on from a five-goal comeback against North Melbourne.
Carr holding belief despite rocky start | 07:39
2. USUAL SUSPECT’S ‘ARCHITECTURAL’ PRESENCE GOES IN VAIN
For those who didn’t catch a glimpse of the Sunday afternoon clash, it will surprise absolutely no one that Zak Butters ran riot on the West Coast midfield.
The stand-in skipper, leading alongside Willem Drew, clocked 16 disposals and 348 metres gained in a strong first-half performance despite close attention from rival Deven Robertson.
“He’s such a good user, and he sets the ball up going forward with the ball. He hits the scoreboard himself at times, but he’s more damaging when his entry kicks are coming,” his former coach Ken Hinkley told Fox Footy at half time.
“His quick hands and ability to play the game is as elite as you will get. Georgiades, who’s the highest-rated player on the ground, gets the benefit of his work.
“When you tag a player like Zak Butters, you actually have to shut down your own game — full stop … if you leave him in space, he’ll rip the game apart”
Four-time premiership player Shaun Burgoyne added: “Zak’s vision (is great). He doesn’t just go in straight lines, he cuts the angles and changes the angle of the ball.
“It makes it so hard for defenders up the field to read what he’s doing. He’s the architect for the Port Adelaide players.”
Tensions between the two competitors reached new heights in the third quarter, with Robertson tackling Butters with somewhat of a slinging motion which saw the Power superstar come off briefly for medical attention.
1. OH NO, YEO: VETERAN’S DAY ENDS EARLY ONCE MORE AFTER FRUSTRATING BLOW
After missing the entire 2025 season through injury, Elliot Yeo’s return to AFL level lasted two and a half games before being interrupted once more by injury.
A strong first half saw the inside midfielder register seven disposals, four tackles and a goal, before a groin issue forced him to the bench at the main break, understandably looking despondent watching on after half time.
His influence was particularly felt in his side’s five-goal second quarter, also registering five inside 50s.
The 32-year-old missed all of last year with ongoing ankle issues, and has only played 20 or more games in a season once (2024) since 2019.
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