WEST COAST 12.18.90 def NORTH MELBOURNE 13.10.88
WITH only seconds to spare, Nic Naitanui became the showstopper last night, as a thrilling after the siren goal stole the show from North Melbourne.
The win saved the Eagles from another gut-wrenching home ground loss after chalking up a poor 3-2 record this year.
Déjà vu came rushing back for Eagles fans, as the heroics of Leo Barry’s 2005 grand final-saving mark were quickly reversed – this time at the opposite end.
The spectacular pack mark in the dying seconds has only helped to heighten the young Fijian’s star power as a proven match winner.
And Eagles coach John Worsfold agrees.
“I backed him to mark it, and kick a goal. It happened so quick,” he said.
“Just looking at the clock, it was just kick it in long. Nic was the one we were probably thinking might be able to mark it, and somehow he did it.”
Despite the incredible victory, the Eagles’ inaccuracy in front of goal caused them havoc and will need to be addressed.
In a seesaw affair, the Eagles stormed home with a flurry of late goals after the Kangaroos recorded their highest-scoring opening term at Patersons Stadium, kicking 6.1.
The highly anticipated contest between Roos prodigy Majak Daw and Nic Naitanui were shortly lived highlights for fans with Daw subbed out in the third.
Aaron Black and Josh Hill proved unlikely heroes, as dominant displays up forward (3 goals each) gave both sides an upper edge at stages.
Darren Glass also showed resolve in his 250th shutting down goal-sneak and red-hot Coleman Medal chance Lindsay Thomas.
But for the Roos, some disappointing results will continue to plague their mind this week.
Despite pushing stronger sides Hawthorn and West Coast this season, wins only against Port Adelaide, Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs is less than desirable leaving them outside the top 8.
One cannot help but draw comparisons to the Richmond side of 2012 that narrowly missed out on a finals appearance. Has the costly blow already been delivered?
Meanwhile, can the Eagles develop some consistency? At 4-4, the Eagles have had a sluggish start to the season and John Worsfold will be hoping his side can match it with the competition’s best in the coming weeks.
Here are the match highlights as well as the final two minutes of the game:
WEST COAST 3.2 4.9 8.14 12.18 (90)
NORTH MELBOURNE 6.1 7.4 10.6 13.10 (88)
GOALS
West Coast: Hill 3, Kennedy 2, Shuey 2, Cox, Darling, LeCras, Masten, Naitanui
North Melbourne: Black 3, Harvey 2, Wright, Wells, Thompson, Petrie, Cunnington, Daw, Ziebell, Swallow
BEST
West Coast: Glass, Naitanui, Hurn, Priddis, S.Selwood, Gaff
North Melbourne: Harvey, Wells, Black, Cunnington, Mullett, Goldstein
INJURIES
West Coast: Wellingham (left ankle), Schofield (finger)
North Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Brad Sheppard replaced Sharrod Wellingham during the second quarter
North Melbourne: Sam Gibson replaced Majak Daw during the third quarter
Reports: Scott Thompson (North Melbourne) for striking against Matt Rosa (West Coast) in the second quarter.
Umpires: Dalgleish, Nicholls, Meredith
Official crowd: 38,146 at Patersons Stadium
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