Quarter-time: West Coast Eagles 0.3.5 (23) to Melbourne 0.2.2 (14)
Melbourne got the first one on the board via Angus Brayshaw and it could’ve been two in a row for the red and blue had Jake Spencer’s set-shot converted from a fine contested mark.
Mark LeCras opened proceedings for the home side at the nine-minute mark and when Nathan Vardy followed up moments later, West Coast hit the front.
Jesse Hogan landed Melbourne’s only other goal for the term at the 19-minute mark, as Josh Kennedy secured West Coast’s third in time-on.
Kennedy had the chance to land his second after the quarter-time siren, having intercepted Dom Tyson’s kick across goal.
But Kennedy’s shot resulted in a behind, giving the Eagles a nine-point lead at quarter-time.
Second quarter: West Coast Eagles 0.7.5 (47) to Melbourne 0.6.3 (39)
The second term was a goal-for-goal affair, as both teams managed four majors each.
Big Jake Spencer booted two majors for Melbourne, as Hogan added his second for the match. Co-captain Nathan Jones also chipped in with one.
For the Eagles, Kennedy added two more to have three by half-time, as LeCras managed his second and Matt Priddis booted one in time-on.
At half-time, the Eagles led by eight points.
Clayton Oliver was excellent in the first half, gaining 20 disposals and eight contested possessions. Jordan Lewis had 14 touches and his former teammate Sam Mitchell was West Coast’s leading possession winner with 16.
Third quarter: West Coast Eagles 0.12.8 (80) to Melbourne 0.8.5 (53)
West Coast took control in the third term, booting five goals to two.
Jack Darling opened the second half and kicked another later in the term.
And when Spencer landed his third for the night, at the nine-minute mark, Melbourne was down by just 10 points.
But four in succession by the home side gave West Coast a 33-point lead in time-on.
Christian Salem booted Melbourne’s second for the term at the 29-minute mark, reducing the deficit to 27 points at three quarter-time.
Final quarter: West Coast Eagles 0.14.11 (95) d Melbourne 1.9.7 (70)
Melbourne needed to start the last term strongly to remain in contention.
And it started positively when new co-captain Jack Viney kicked the opening goal and Jayden Hunt followed up with a fantastic super goal – putting on the afterburners to produce a stunning running major.
With the margin reduced to 11 points at the six-minute mark, it was game on.
But the next goal didn’t come until the 20-minute mark, which was Vardy’s second for the night.
And when Kennedy secured his fifth major deep in time-on, the Eagles had secured victory by 25 points.