In his highly-anticipated return to Perth, Junior Rioli gave West Coast fans something to remember him by with a couple of first-half goals against his old club.
But the Eagles showed they have come a long way from last year’s horror two-win season and should comfortably rise up the ladder if their list stays this healthy.
They prevailed by eight points at Mineral Resources Park in Friday’s unofficial pre-season clash against Port Adelaide, but more importantly got through unscathed.
Boos rang out among the Eagles’ faithful as Rioli, who successfully requested a trade to Port Adelaide during the off-season which left West Coast “bitterly disappointed”, strolled in for the easiest of goals early in the second quarter.
The trimmed-down Eagles premiership goalsneak, who embraced former forward-line teammate Liam Ryan and skipper Luke Shuey among others pre-match, was quiet in the opening term before coming to life with two majors before half-time.
Rioli showed he still had plenty of respect at his former club post-game, sharing in warm embraces with coach Adam Simpson and a number of West Coast players.
A year after his – and his team’s – season came crashing down with a serious calf injury in the corresponding practice match against Fremantle at the same venue, midfield bull Elliot Yeo showed that he’s primed to return to his brilliant best.
The two-time club champion started in the guts with stints across half-back where he caught former teammate Rioli holding the ball with a crunching tackle and produced an important defensive smother close to goals.
He also won plenty of clearances during his bursts in the engine room.
With all-time leading goal-kicker Josh Kennedy retired and Jack Darling sidelined with an ankle injury, young gun Oscar Allen got a taste of what he future may look like by leading the forward-line.
After not playing at all last year because of an ankle issue, Allen showed plenty and was a real presence in attack during an entertaining battle with intercept-marking machine Aliir Aliir.
If not for a bit of rust with his goal-kicking, the 23-year-old would’ve ended up with a bag instead of 2.2 in the first three quarters.
He grew in confidence with two third-quarter goals and looks set for a big year.
Defender Tom Cole (ankle), prized 2021 draftee Campbell Chesser (foot) were a couple of other welcome sightings after not playing at all last year, while premiership hero Dom Sheed (ankle) also made a promising return from his one-game 2022 campaign.
Chesser, who went down in the same game as Yeo and Sheed last year, played three-and-a-bit quarters, mixing his time between the wing and inside midfield, and got through unscathed before running laps with defender Liam Duggan on the far oval.
High-flying forward Liam Ryan had two first-quarter goal assists and provided his usual X-factor before getting on the scoreboard himself in the second.
Jayden Hunt played his first game since joining as a free agent from Melbourne in the off-season and impressed in a split half-back/wing role.
Hunt provided the line-breaking speed West Coast have been lacking in recent years, used it well by foot and appears a lock for round one.
He kicked a brilliant goal on the run midway through the final term to show his class in front of the sticks.
Callum Jamieson and Bailey Williams both got the chance to spearhead the Eagles’ ruck division in the absence of superstar Nic Naitanui, who was managed because of Achilles soreness.
Williams got first crack against Port’s veteran ruck Scott Lycett, a 2018 Eagles flag winner, but Jamieson probably had more of an impact than his teammate as he puts his hand up to partner Naitanui in the season proper.
Captain Luke Shuey was managed but is expected to return against Adelaide in next Friday’s practice match at Lathlain after getting through a strong 90-minute session pre-game, while Darling remains touch and go to face North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on March 18.
Top draft pick Reuben Ginbey didn’t play because of a minor toe issue, but his fellow first-round pick from WA Elijah Hewett got a taste of the engine-room late after sitting out the first three quarters.
Big-bodied mid Hewett kicked a beautiful goal out of congestion in the dying minutes, snapping it on his right foot at full speed, among a few nice moments from the Swan Districts product.
Defender Harry Edwards, forward Jake Waterman, midfielder Xavier O’Neill and livewire Jack Petruccelle, who made his return from an ankle injury and kicked a classy goal late, also got a run after half-time.
Ex-Port skipper Travis Boak came off second best after clashing with defender Jeremy McGovern across half-back early in the second quarter, requiring the assistance of two trainers to come off looking dazed and not returning as he was assessed.
For Port Adelaide, former No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis was outstanding in the midfield and one of his new team’s best after causing controversy by leaving North Melbourne after one year.
SCOREBOARD
WEST COAST 2.1, 6.3, 9.3, 13.6 (84)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.5, 6.8, 8.9, 11.10 (76)
GOALS – West Coast: O Allen 2 T Kelly 2 A Gaff J Culley L Ryan G Clark C West J Hunt J Petruccelle E Hewett J Waterman. Port Adelaide: O Fantasia 2 J Rioli 2 S Powell-Pepper 2 J McEntee 2 C Rozee T Marshall D Visentini.
BEST – West Coast: L Ryan E Yeo O Allen J Hunt T Kelly J McGovern D Sheed. Port Adelaide: J Horne-Francis S Powell-Pepper S Lycett C Rozee.
INJURIES – West Coast: Nil. Port Adelaide: T Boak (back).
UMPIRES – J Power, L Houssen, J Dalgleish, E Tee
CROWD: About 2000 at Mineral Resources Park
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