West Coast has claimed the first western derby at Perth Stadium in front of a record crowd

IN AN ironic twist, West Coast and Fremantle have been forced to share the Glendinning Medal, but it was the Eagles who claimed the all-important four points in front of a record crowd.

Shannon Hurn won the Glendinning Medal in a tie.

WEST Coast and Fremantle were forced to share the Glendinning Medal in an ironic postscript to a week of fighting over the future of the western derby’s best-on-ground award.

Eagles captain Shannon Hurn and Dockers midfielder Lachie Neale tied for the medal after West Coast outlasted a dogged Fremantle by eight points at Perth Stadium for their fifth straight win.

Hurn was a dominant presence across half-back with 30 touches while Neale (35 disposals and three score assists) led from the front at the coalface as the bitter rivals engaged in a four-quarter arm wrestle.

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In an absorbing contest to open a new era of western derby rivalry at the Burswood venue, the Eagles appeared to be in the driver’s seat since quarter-time but could never find the killer blow.

The Dockers lost star forward Michael Walters, who again hurt his troublesome left knee, before quarter-time but refused to lie down on a day the mercury hit 31C during the game.

It was the hottest derby on record and the purple-clad crowd of 56,521 – a record for a WA footy match - threatened to reach boiling point before half-time as the free kick count tilted in West Coast’s favour.

Shannon Hurn had 30 disposals for West Coast.

Lachie Neale was Fremantle’s best in the loss to West Coast.

Midfielders Jack Redden, Andrew Gaff and Luke Shuey were influential and the three-way ruck battle was significant.

A terrific tag team of Scott Lycett and Nic Naitanui overwhelmed Aaron Sandilands as the Eagles won the hit-out battle 52-34 and the centre clearances 17-8.

West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy began the day by breaking Peter Sumich’s club goalkicking record of 514.

But the Eagles had looked in some trouble at the first change after the efficient Dockers had scored from all seven of their forward entries to take a 20-point lead to quarter-time.

But Walters’ day was already over and forward Jack Darling spearheaded the Eagles’ charge back into the contest with three goals in the second term.

With Naitanui and Lycett handing Sandilands a rare loss in the hit-out battle, West Coast dominated the Dockers in the contested ball count and kicked four unanswered goals leading into the major break.

Nat Fyfe tries to break Elliot Yeo’s tackle.

The Dockers came again to start the third tern and snatched the lead back and they managed to hold tough as the Eagles repeatedly looked to be stretching them to breaking point.

Hayden Ballantyne earned a clever 50m penalty to kick a crucial goal late in the third stanza in a lifeline for Fremantle.

Eagles midfielder Dom Sheed kicked a stunning goal from the pocket to begin the final term and yet again the Dockers had an answer, as No.2 draft pick Andrew Brayshaw got his first career goal.

A sore skipper Nat Fyfe, who landed heavily from a marking attempt, was sent forward in the dying stages and had two shots on goal but couldn’t convert either.

Fyfe missed a simple set shot from directly in front and then had a long shot on goal touched on the line.

BEST

West Coast: S.Hurn, J.Redden, A.Gaff, S.Lycett, J.McGovern, L.Shuey, J.Darling

Fremantle: L.Neale, N.Fyfe, E.Langdon, D.Mundy, C.Blakely, A.Pearce

VOTES

3. Lachie Neale (Frem)

2. Shannon Hurn (WCE)

1. Jack Redden (WCE)

Originally published as West Coast has claimed the first western derby at Perth Stadium in front of a record crowd