Fremantle could have claimed an enormous 41-point Western Derby win nevertheless it was West Coast who completed the speaking level after a day of absolute damage carnage.
The Eagles had been left with no match gamers on the bench after the likes of Luke Shuey, Jeremy McGovern, Jamie Cripps and Alex Witherden had been all dominated out with damage.
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Shuey, who has a prolonged tender tissue damage historical past, was so pissed off he punched the wall within the dugout as he’s anticipated to overlook no less than a month of soccer.
Whereas a clearly hampered Liam Ryan tried to return within the closing quarter to provide his facet one rotation, it mattered little as Freo pulled away for the win.
The 16.12 (108) to 9.13 (67) result’s exceptional given Jack Darling introduced the Eagles to inside two factors early within the closing quarter.
However with an damage record not often seen within the AFL, the Eagles merely ran out of puff as Fremantle cashed in.
The end result leaves Geelong as the one group within the AFL with no win in 2023 in a rare stat.
The Eagles began strongly in Western Derby 56, with Oscar Allen and Jack Darling kicking 5 objectives between them.
However the match turned bitter because the Eagles suffered what can solely be described as “damage carnage”.
First Luke Shuey limped off – after a finest on floor first quarter. The skipper was so pissed off, he lashed out and punched the dug out wall as he was subbed out with a hamstring damage.
However it solely received worse from there with Campbell Chesser (knee) and Jeremy McGovern (hamstring) following Shuey to the bench.
Whereas Chesser was in a position to return – together with his knee closely strapped – the blows simply stored coming.
Alex Witherden was dominated out with concussion at half time after he bravely copped a knee to the ribs in a marking contest and crashed closely to the turf.
Jamie Cripps was left assisted from the sphere after his ankle received caught below Alex Pearce’s physique in a deal with.
Cripps couldn’t put any weight on his leg in worrying indicators earlier than the devastation continued.
Liam Ryan flew excessive for a mark and crashed closely down. Regardless of being assisted from the sphere, he bravely returned clearly hampered by a leg situation.
The Eagles had no rotations for no less than 5 minutes within the third time period and had been restricted to only one for patches of the ultimate time period earlier than the choice was made to maintain Ryan benched.
“You simply don’t see this many in someday,” commentator Adam Papalia mentioned.
“Did somebody break a mirror or stroll below a ladder?”
It was a powerful efficiency from the Eagles, who endured a dismal 2022 season the place their committment and angle was questioned.
However in opposition to the Dockers on Sunday, the Eagles confirmed the sort of combat their followers have come to count on below coach Adam Simpson.
With no match gamers left on the bench because the likes of senior gamers Shuey, McGovern and Cripps had been dominated out, the Eagles stood tall within the third quarter.
“It’s simply been braveness and persistence,” commentator Dwayne Russell mentioned.
“To lose the standard of gamers and switch it round and be so aggressive in that third quarter is only a phenomenal efficiency.”
Coach Adam Simpson was described as “like a proud father” on the bench as he continued to try to rally his troops, regardless of having no match gamers to name on within the third quarter.
“They had been the dominant facet by a great distance in that quarter,” Fox Footy’s Will Schofield mentioned.
The Eagles – regardless of having no rotations for no less than the final 5 minutes of the third time period – truly gained the quarter 3.5 to Fremantle’s 1.3.
Initially revealed as Freo blitz ‘gutsy’ Eagles as ‘damage carnage’ rocks Western Derby
