![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n
As exciting as Andrew McQualter\u2019s second win as head coach at the Eagles is, the contest is a damning reality check for Alastair Clarkson\u2019s side, who have the world of expectation on them this season after so many seasons at the bottom sector of the ladder.<\/p>\n
Nick Larkey\u2019s six goals weren\u2019t enough to drag the visitors across the line in hot Perth conditions, as a whopping seven players kicked two or more goals for the Eagles \u2014 inclusive of first-year young guns Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler.<\/p>\n
There was no obvious, standout performance for West Coast at Optus Stadium in their team-orientated win, though 274-game veteran Jamie Cripps was instrumental with three goals at crucial points throughout his side\u2019s resurgence. <\/p>\n
McQualter\u2019s side had lost five of their last seven games against North Melbourne heading into the clash, with their Round 2 win hopefully the beginning of a new era.<\/p>\n
West Coast goalkickers: Cripps 3, A.Reid, Duff-Tytler, W.Duursma, Shanahan, Yeo, Murdock 2, Flynn, Waterman<\/p>\n
North Melbourne goalkickers: Larkey 6, Zurhaar, Curtis 2, Powell, O\u2019Sullivan, Dovaston, McDonald, Konstanty<\/p>\n
THE 3-2-1… (with Catherine Healey at Optus Stadium)<\/p>\n
3. FROM \u2018NOT AT AFL LEVEL\u2019 TO ENDING 308-DAY DROUGHT<\/p>\n
West Coast\u2019s 308-day win drought is officially over.<\/p>\n
But they did it the hard way \u2013 battling back from 30 points down to claim just their 12th win in more than four seasons.<\/p>\n
The Eagles were awful from the opening bounce on Sunday as they coughed up North Melbourne\u2019s best ever quarter at Optus Stadium.<\/p>\n
Turnovers cruelled Andrew McQualter\u2019s men, with four-time premiership winner Jordan Lewis labelling the skills \u201cnot at AFL level\u201d.<\/p>\n
Five of North\u2019s seven goals in that opening term came directly from Eagle turnovers.<\/p>\n
But everything changed the moment West Coast went back into the rooms at quarter time \u2013 opting to get out of the 28C heat and make the most of the AFL\u2019s heat policy.<\/p>\n
While North Melbourne opted to stay out, the Eagles made the most of their break to come out firing in the second term.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest, we got parts of the game we wanted to right,\u201d McQualter said at quarter time.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur pressure was strong\u2026 we just give away turnovers. Unforced errors which turn into scores for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just spoke to our boys to calm down around that. Trust the skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
Four goals to two \u2013 which could have been greater if not for Harley Reid\u2019s poster and touched goal only worth two behinds \u2013 gave the Eagles plenty of hope heading into half time down by just seven points.<\/p>\n
And they made their move in the third term \u2013 racking up their highest ever quarter under McQualter and their equal-best eight-goal haul since early 2023.<\/p>\n
From 30 points down, the Eagles headed for home with their own 30-point buffer in stunning scenes.<\/p>\n
Elliot Yeo slotted the near impossible from the boundary after the three-quarter time siren as the Optus Stadium crowd erupted.<\/p>\n
Harley Reid was knocked down \u2013 as he had been multiple times during the day.<\/p>\n
But Fox Footy\u2019s experts still liked what they were seeing from the young Eagle.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been in everything \u2013 he\u2019s had a bit of lip, he\u2019s been physical,\u201d Jordan Lewis praised.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe lives on the edge \u2013 but I think that\u2019s certainly where he plays his best football.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhysicality is a big part of his game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to take the good with the bad with Harley Reid,\u201d Nick Dal Santo added.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll give away a few \u2013 but the ones he earns himself are worth their weight in gold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reid\u2019s error in the final quarter opened the door for the Roos \u2013 who cashed on in the 50m penalty.<\/p>\n
But still the youngster threw himself into every contest to help lift West Coast to a rare victory.<\/p>\n
2. COACH\u2019S BRUTAL TRUTH AS ROOS STALL<\/p>\n
Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson was riding a seven-goal high at quarter time as his side burst out of the blocks.<\/p>\n
The Roos were at their damaging best as West Coast were made to pay time and time again for their costly turnovers.<\/p>\n
But once the Eagles skills lifted, the Roos didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
And Clarkson didn\u2019t like what he was seeing.<\/p>\n
\u201cGee, we withstood an onslaught there for about 15 minutes in the middle of that quarter,\u201d he told Fox Footy at half time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey just won the ball around the contest and made us look second rate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to try and fix that up \u2013 if we don\u2019t we\u2019re going to be in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that contest work didn\u2019t improve in the third term as West Coast landed eight damaging blows.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been the ground ball game dominated by West Coast in quarters two and three,\u201d Jordan Lewis lamented.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn and around the stoppage, (North Melbourne) need to become more aggressive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shocking statistics showed that since quarter time (and through to almost three quarter time), West Coast had a whopping 244 metres gained by handball.<\/p>\n
North Melbourne in comparison? Just 24m.<\/p>\n
Yes, 10 times worse!<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a massive swing in this game,\u201d Adam Papalia said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust can\u2019t get any overlap run,\u201d Lewis said.<\/p>\n
North\u2019s cause wasn\u2019t helped by confirmation Griffin Logue\u2019s day was done in the first term with a thigh complaint.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you know they\u2019re out, they\u2019re out. You just worry about it during the week,\u201d Clarkson said in that half-time chat.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s made it a little bit of a challenge for us \u2013 we\u2019ve just got to persevere.\u201d<\/p>\n
1.SAFETY FIRST? EAGLE\u2019S WORRYING OUTCOME<\/p>\n
When Harry Edwards copped a nasty knock from friendly fire, it was clear the defender was struggling.<\/p>\n
The man who hit him, Matt Flynn, immediately gestured to the bench as Edwards stayed down on the Optus Stadium turf.<\/p>\n
But instead of stopping play, North Melbourne were allowed to kick inside 50 \u2013 while Edwards was lame on the 50m arc.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was in immediate distress,\u201d Adam Papalia said on Fox Footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cEdwards has gone down just collecting his breath.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow is that obvious to everyone else, yet they restart the game?\u201d Jordan Lewis added.<\/p>\n
Edwards initially tried to push the doctor away \u2013 as he did with his earlier concussion suffered in the pre-season loss to Port Adelaide.<\/p>\n
But eventually made his way to the bench where he was ruled out of the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe pushed away the doctor the first time. Now the decision\u2019s out of his hands,\u201d Nick Dal Santo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHope he\u2019s ok, but you\u2019re spot on \u2013 this is the one that no risk taken.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop the game. Remove the injured player or the player under duress which he is.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen these situations happen \u2013 health comes first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Papalia said it was a worrying outcome for Edwards who has only just returned from the concussion protocols.<\/p>\n