Second Preliminary Final
Saturday, September 22, 1.20pm (local time)
West Coast Eagles v Melbourne, Optus Stadium
First quarter: West Coast Eagles 4.8 (32) to Melbourne 0.3 (3)
West Coast got off to a flyer and dominated the opening term, as turnovers hurt the Demons.
The Eagles registered 12 scores to three, booting 4.8, as Melbourne posted just three behinds.
All three Melbourne behinds came in the first six scores.
West Coast then landed the next nine scores, but kicked 2.7.
At quarter-time, Melbourne trailed by 29 points when the margin could’ve been much greater.
Second quarter: West Coast Eagles 10.9 (69) to Melbourne 0.6 (6)
The Eagles continued to dominate and when Josh Kennedy started the term with two in two minutes, the home side was up by 41 points.
By half-time, West Coast had 10 goals on the board, as Melbourne failed to score a major.
Just three behinds were registered by the Demons for the term – a poster by Clayton Oliver, a kick off the side of the boot by Charlie Spargo and a snap from a set-shot in the pocket by Christian Petracca.
West Coast had 19 scores by half-time – and a 63-point lead – and it would take a Melbourne miracle in the second half to come back.
Kennedy had four by the long change, while Jack Darling and Jamie Cripps had two each for the Eagles.
Three quarter-time: West Coast Eagles 15.10 (100) to Melbourne 5.9 (39)
Melbourne finally got its first major, 43 seconds into the second half, when Clayton Oliver kicked truly.
Although Melbourne started the third term in much better fashion – it kicked four of the first six goals – it still trailed by 50 points at the 15-minute mark.
Jake Melksham kicked two during this period and Mitch Hannan opened his account.
However, when the Eagles kicked three in a row in the latter part of the term, they led by a game-high 67 points.
Joel Smith managed the last goal before three quarter-time time, bringing the deficit back to 61 points.
Final quarter: West Coast Eagles 18.13 (121) d Melbourne 7.13 (55)
Melbourne added the first two goals of the final term – via James Harmes and Sam Weideman – but it was still far too late.
Weideman got the Demons back to a 50-point margin at the 10-minute mark, but when West Coast kicked the next three goals, the home side claimed a 66-point win.
For the Demons, their season came to an end, as the Eagles booked a Grand Final showdown with Collingwood next week.
It was a bitterly disappointing end to an otherwise incredible season by Melbourne – its first finals series since 2006.
Angus Brayshaw had the most disposals for Melbourne with 29.
