Beating Port my finest win: Simpson
Adam Simpson hopes his finest moment as West Coast coach is a watershed for his AFL club.
Simpson’s Eagles are perched in second spot on the ladder after they stunned Port Adelaide with an upset 10-point victory on Sunday.
“It’s the best win I have been a part of since I have been at the club,” said second-year coach Simpson of a tenacious 11.12 (78) to 10.8 (68) away triumph.
The Eagles were in danger of losing touch with Port, who led by 17 points at halftime.
But West Coast kicked seven of the last 10 goals of the game for a stirring victory.
“It’s probably just the next step of, hopefully, the evolution as a side and what we stand for,” Simpson said.
“Good clubs have a distinct brand and we are still working on ours. Hopefully today was a step towards that.
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“That second half and the way the players stood up, how we went about it – and then the last 10 minutes when we were under siege, I thought our backs really stood up as well.
“We are really starting to see some development and excitement with our kids coming through.”
Simpson said the Eagles’ punt paid on playing spearhead Josh Kennedy despite an elbow injury paid off, with Kennedy collecting 14 possessions, kicking a goal and setting up two others.
West Coast were brilliantly served by a senior core of Mark LeCras (28 disposals), Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis (31 touches) and Chris Masten (30 possessions).
Basking in the Eagles’ ruck dominance, the trio provided plenty of drive into a forward line featuring two-goal cameos from Josh Hill, Jamie Cripps and Luke Shuey, who slotted his brace in the final term.
Port, now with three wins and three losses, were overly reliant on brilliant utility Robbie Gray, who gathered 25 disposals and kicked three majors.
Midfielders Hamish Hartlett (25 touches) and Brad Ebert (23 disposals) were prominent and Chad Wingard roamed far and wide in an influential two-goal, 20-possession game.
But Port coach Ken Hinkley said his side paid the price for a tardy approach.
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“We didn’t get up again for a contest that we should have,” Hinkley said.
“The boys haven’t been able to consistently back it up over the journey.”
AFL Round Six snapshot
THEY SAID IT: “I hear bookies markets and people were writing different stories for us at the start of the year. The stories change externally from week-to-week. We don’t get caught in that yo-yo … it’s round six, I think it actually means nothing.” Unbeaten Fremantle coach Ross Lyon.
STATS THAT MATTER: Six. The number of victories for the undefeated Dockers, who have winnable fixtures against the Bulldogs, North, Adelaide and Richmond in the next four weeks.
MAN OF THE ROUND: Greater Western Sydney forward Jeremy Cameron booted an equal career-best seven goals to sink Hawthorn.
TALKING POINT: Might they be Giants? Greater Western Sydney sit in lofty company with four wins and two losses after upsetting benchmarks Hawthorn. Can they, and Cameron, sustain it?
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Essendon’s Michael Baguley was reported for rough conduct against Fremantle’s Michael Barlow.
KEY INJURIES: Clay Smith (knee), Isaac Heeney (knee), Dan Hannebery (ankle), Joel Selwood (hand), Ben Griffiths (concussion), Shane Savage (concussion), Rory Sloane (cheek), Chris Dawes (calf), David Zaharakis (ankle).
UNDER PRESSURE: A spotlight will continue to be trained on Carlton and coach Mick Malthouse after losing to Brisbane. And new Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade, still with just one win, isn’t sitting much prettier.
– AAP
