The Eagles unfurled their premiership flag in perfect style: Via a backflip and a big win over the Giants. It started with the most epic flag unfurling you’ll ever see and ended with a powerful fourth-term scoreboard statement. And sandwiched in the middle was an array of wasteful inside 50 entries from the Giants. As far as premiership flag unfurling parties go, West Coast’s celebration of its 2018 triumph — and game milestones for several star players — couldn’t have gone much more smoothly at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. Stream West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants on KAYO SPORTS. Live & anytime in HD. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly > After a scratchy first term, the Eagles broke away in the second term with six goals to the Giants’ two, setting up a 52-point victory, 16.8 (104) to 7.10 (52). After the game, players from both sides gathered on the win and linked arm-in-arm in a show of solidarity against racism, after Eagles forward Liam Ryan was vilified during the week on social media. It was the perfect, polished response from the Eagles, who were embarrassed by the emerging Brisbane Lions seven days earlier but bounced back in fine style in their first home game of 2019. But on Saturday night, they unfurled their flag — the Eagles mascot backflipped off Optus Stadium’s roof before ziplining his way to the middle of the oval with the flag attached — and ran away with a strong victory in captain Shannon Hurn’s 250th game and Josh Kennedy’s 200th. “They’ve let everybody know that they’re going nowhere and going to get better with some players to come back in,” Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy told Fox Footy. What made the Eagles’ win even more remarkable was how their backline held up amid an onslaught of Giants forward entries. The Giants dominated the inside 50 count all night, with the final tally being 62-47 in their favour. Yet they couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard, booting just seven goals from those entries. Their inefficiency was evident during the second term. From the Giants’ 14 entries for the quarter, they only managed 1.3, while nine others went to the Eagles and the other one created a stoppage. Get the ultimate AFL experience on your phone with the FOX FOOTY App. Download it NOW for FREE on iOS and Android! “They’ve had lots of opportunities and when you’re away from home in front of a 60,000 strong crowd, you must take your opportunities … You can’t win a game of footy when you’re not delivering accurately inside the first half,” Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich told Fox Footy. “It’s the connection. The forwards are not repositioning to allow an easy target or an easy kick coming in. But there are also some terrible decisions from the GWS midfield and half-back line.” Conversely, the chemistry between the Eagles’ on-ball brigade and forward 50 was on song. Oscar Allen and Jack Darling booted seven goals between them and took strong marks in the air. But their dominance was largely due to the delivery from midfielders Luke Shuey and Dom Sheed, who brought their 2018 Grand Final heroics to the flag unfurling celebration. Stephen Coniglio was well held by the Eagles. Source: AAP Sheed had another big game on the stats sheet with 28 touches and a goal, which came from the forward pocket on the right side for a left-footer — sorry Collingwood fans. But Shuey was arguably best on ground, booting two goals from 28 disposals in a powerful display. “When he gets forward he’s so powerful and he just makes something happen. He breaks the lines, but his ability to finish is real class,” former Hawthorn goalkicker Ben Dixon told Fox Footy. Ruck recruit Tom Hickey made up for last week’s quiet display with 20 hit-outs, 18 possessions, and eight marks in his first home match for the Eagles. Without Josh Kelly, Callan Ward and Toby Greene, the Giants’ lack of depth was exposed, especially through the midfield. It didn’t help that star on-baller Stephen Coniglio was well held to 20 touches. Their three leading ball-winners — Lachie Whitfield (33 disposals), Zach Williams (25) and Adam Kennedy (23) — were players that played predominantly off half-back. Tom Cole of the Eagles. Source: Getty Images One move coach Leon Cameron made that had success was Nick Haynes’ switch to the forward line. The gun interceptor looked comfortable in the attacking arc, booting 1.1 from 16 disposals and seven marks. But, ultimately, this was the Eagles’ party — and there were no Giant spoils. Re-live West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants in our live blog below. If you can’t see the blog, tap here!<doc-sep>Josh Smith will make his West Coast debut against Greater Western Sydney at Optus Stadium on Saturday night as Josh Kennedy returns for his 200th match for the club. The 25-year-old, who played 32 games at Collingwood before getting an AFL lifeline at the Eagles, was rewarded for a strong pre-season. Young forwards Jake Waterman and Jarrod Brander were both axed in the wake of West Coast’s horror 44-point round one loss to Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night. It’s not too late to sign up for tipping and Pick 7 fantasy! There’s great weekly cash prizes and the automatic chance to win a Mazda BT-50... Register to play The Game tipping and fantasy today! Kennedy was included for his first game of the season after battling a foot injury during the off-season. He is one of three milestone men, with midfielder Chris Masten reaching his 200th game and captain Shannon Hurn playing his 250th. Brander is one of four emergencies alongside Francis Watson, Jackson Nelson and Brendon Ah Chee. GWS have also made two changes, with Harry Perryman (punctured lung) and livewire Toby Greene (calf) out injured. Matt Buntine and Nick Haynes come into the side, with star midfielder Josh Kelly (hip/knee) not getting up in a huge boost for the Eagles. The ladder-leading Giants are coming off a confidence-boosting 72-point thrashing of Essendon at home on Sunday. West Coast Eagles round two team FB: S. Hurn, T. Barrass, T. Cole HB: B. Sheppard, J. McGovern, L. Jetta C: C. Masten, E. Yeo, D. Venables HF: M. Hutchings, J. Darling, J. Redden FF: L. Ryan, J. Kennedy, O. Allen FOL: N. Vardy, D. Sheed, L. Shuey INT: L. Duggan, T. Hickey, J. Petruccelle, J. Smith EMG: J. Brander, F. Watson, J. Nelson, B. Ah Chee In: J. Kennedy, J. Smith Out: J. Waterman (omitted), J. Brander (omitted)<doc-sep>
You can’t keep a champion team down for long. That’s the opinion of GWS Giants assistant coach Lenny Hayes, who says “everyone” is expecting West Coast to bounce back from their disappointing round one showing at Optus Stadium tonight. The Eagles copped a 44-point thrashing at the hands of Brisbane to start their premiership in shaky fashion at the Gabba last Saturday night. It’s not too late to sign up for tipping and Pick 7 fantasy! There’s great weekly cash prizes and the automatic chance to win a Mazda BT-50... Register to play The Game tipping and fantasy today! There’s plenty of extra motivation for the reigning champs in their first home game of the season, with captain Shannon Hurn (250 games) and fellow stalwarts Josh Kennedy and Chris Masten (both 200) celebrating milestones. The premiership flag will also be unveiled pre-game, with Hayes not underestimating the significance of the match. “It’s going to be a massive challenge, we understand the significance of the night for their footy club, so we’re expecting the Eagles to come out and be really hard to play against which they normally are over here so it’s going to be a good battle,” Hayes said. “They’re the premiers for a reason, they’re a pretty damn good side and there’s match-ups that are great everywhere. “I’m sure West Coast, with what they’re got (tonight) with the unfurling of the flag and a couple of milestones, they’ll be up for it.” Camera Icon Nick Haynes will bolster the Giants line-up. Credit: Getty Images The St Kilda great felt the return of dual Coleman medallist Kennedy will give West Coast a significant lift, despite an interrupted pre-season due to a foot injury and shoulder surgery. “He’s a great player, he’s probably the premier key forward in the competition,” Hayes said. “When you’ve got him and Darling and the resting ruck, they’re quite a formidable outfit up there. “He’s going to give them a big lift, but we’ll back in our defenders and the way that we play team defence to be able to combat that.” On the fitness of star duo Josh Kelly (hip/knee) and Toby Greene (calf), Hayes said Kelly was the closer of the two to getting up for the Perth trip. “Toby probably not so much but we expects he’s a chance for next week,” Hayes said. “Josh probably just needs the one more week so we’re hopeful he’ll come in, he’s had a really good training block over the last three or four weeks.” Defenders Matt Buntine and Nick Haynes come into the side to help combat Kennedy’s inclusion, with Harry Perryman (punctured lung) and livewire Greene out injured.