ROUND 22

Sunday, August 19, 1.20pm (local time)

West Coast Eagles v Melbourne, Optus Stadium

First quarter: Melbourne 4.4 (28) to West Coast Eagles 3.0 (18)

Melbourne started brilliantly, registering 4.2 to zip by the 18-minute mark.

Two inclusions – Mitch Hannan and Sam Weideman – kicked the opening two goals, while James Harmes and Tom McDonald followed up to give Melbourne a 26-point lead.

By this stage, the Demons had 13 inside 50s to two and were controlling play, while the Eagles also had their concerns when Jack Darling headed to the rooms after being tackled by Oscar McDonald.

West Coast landed its first via Willie Rioli at the 19-minute mark and when Chris Masten and Brendon Ah Chee kicked truly in time-on, the Eagles cut the margin to 10 points at quarter-time.

In fact, the Demons could’ve been further in front, after posting eight scores to three by the first break, but it was still a promising start by the red and blue.

Second quarter: Melbourne 7.6 (48) to West Coast Eagles 5.4 (34)

It was goal-for-goal in the second term, with Melbourne adding three majors and West Coast kicking two.

The Eagles peppered the big sticks early, but managed three behinds, before Angus Brayshaw opened the second quarter at the 10-minute mark.

Aaron vandenBerg booted his first midway through the term and when Nathan Jones kicked the final goal of the term in time-on, Melbourne took a 14-point advantage into half-time.

Harmes had 17 touches – the most by the long break – while Dom Tyson had 15 disposals. For the Eagles, Dom Sheed had 16 possessions.

It was all set-up for a fascinating second half, with Melbourne in a strong position.

Third quarter: Melbourne 12.8 (80) to West Coast Eagles 11.6 (72)

Melbourne started the second half in impressive fashion, posting the first two majors.  

Jake Melksham got the first and T.McDonald landed his second to put the Demons up by 27 points at the five-minute mark.  

But when Nathan Vardy kicked West Coast’s first for the term, it was the start of four in a row by the home side, and it put the Eagles within two points.  

However, Melbourne answered the challenge, kicking three of the next four goals – including two from Hannan and one from T.McDonald, giving them both three goals by the final change.

The Demons got back out to a 14-point lead, but when Daniel Venables secured West Coast’s sixth goal for the term, the margin was eight points at the final break.

Final quarter: Melbourne 16.12 (108) d West Coast Eagles 14.7 (91)

Like the third term, Melksham kicked the first for the term, giving him his second major, to put the Demons in front by 14 points.

But there was a sense of déjà vu when the Eagles landed consecutive goals, booting three in succession. Mark LeCras’ major at the 18-minute mark put West Coast in front for the first time of the match.

However, the Demons composed to kick the final three goals of the match, with Melksham landing two in that period to finish with four majors. Dean Kent also kicked his first.

Harmes finished with 28 disposals and as Yeo had 31 for the Eagles.

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