West Coast has found a winning brand, responding to a week of fierce criticism with an impressive 19-point result against GIANTS at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Having battled to implement a new game style through a disastrous 2022 season, the Eagles showed what their best can look like when everything clicks, winning 14.16 (100) to 11.15 (81).
It was just their second win at Optus Stadium since round 19, 2021, having only beaten Essendon at home last season, and reward for fans who have stuck with the club during one of its most trying periods on-field.
It also continued an unbeaten 4-0 run at the venue against the disappointing GIANTS, who took a beating in the midfield and were humbled after their opening round win against Adelaide.
Senior Eagles Tim Kelly (32 disposals and five clearances), Luke Shuey (20 and nine) and Dom Sheed (26 and seven) gave the Eagles an ascendency at the source that served as the bedrock for their win, setting up an intriguing Western Derby next weekend.
Jamaine Jones (27 and 11 inside 50s) repeatedly burst through the middle of the ground to give the team the dare and run it has lacked, while draftee Noah Long found a way to have significant impact with his few touches.
Inclusion Jake Waterman (four goals) and Jamie Cripps (three) benefited in attack and took their chances as the team kicked 100 points for just the third time since round nine, 2021.
The win was set up in the second quarter, when Cripps and Long got the Eagles going, Long twice feeding his teammate for back-to-back goals that launched a run of six unanswered for the home team.
The stoppage dominance of Shuey and Sheed, who shared nine clearances for the quarter, and the class and run of Kelly and Jones were critical as the Eagles controlled the game and field position with double the GIANTS' inside 50s (18-9).
Cripps and Waterman enjoyed the rewards with three goals each, with Cripps' brilliant gather and snap from the boundary a highlight as the Eagles built a 36-point lead late in the quarter.
Jesse Hogan, who had several strong moments in the air for the GIANTS, kicked a late goal that cut the half-time margin to 30 points, but it was all ahead of the GIANTS if they were going to mount a comeback.
The result looked done early in the third when inclusion Waterman launched a terrific set shot from 55m, setting a new career-best mark of four goals that should ensure he gets an extended run in the team.
The GIANTS went on to produce their best period for the game, getting some run back into their game and making the Eagles look tired as they booted three of the last four goals of the term to bring the margin back to 30.
The final term was an arm wrestle, with no goals kicked for the first 15 minutes as West Coast fought to defend its advantage and the GIANTS battled desperately for a breakthrough.
It took recruit Jayden Hunt to gather off the back of a pack and snap a classy goal on his left to seal the game and finally give the Eagles that winning feeling they have desperately missed.
WEST COAST 2.3 10.6 13.10 14.16 (100)
GAINTS 3.4 5.5 8.10 11.15 (81)
GOALS
West Coast: Waterman 4, Cripps 3, Allen 2, Hunt 2, Darling, Kelly, Ryan
GIANTS: Greene 4, Hogan 3, Daniels, Hamilton, Himmelberg, Lloyd
BEST
West Coast: Kelly, Waterman, Jones, Cripps, Sheed, Shuey, McGovern
GIANTS: Coniglio, Greene, Hogan, Green
INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
GIANTS: Jacob Wehr (shoulder)
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Elijah Hewett (replaced Campbell Chesser at three-quarter time)
GIANTS: Conor Stone (replaced Jacob Wehr in the second quarter)
Crowd: 44,649 at Optus Stadium
