West Coast upset GWS at Spotless Stadium as warning bells sound for Giants amid more injury woes

GWS suffered its third loss of the season and its second in a row on Saturday after West Cost upset the Giants at Spotless Stadium, and the loss has been compounded by injuries to co-captain Phil Davis and Matt de Boer.

Lachie Whitfield after the loss to West Coast. Picture: Getty

THE Orange Tsunami is running out of puff after West Coast inflicted the Giants’ second straight loss with a 25-point win in front of 9,253 at a cold and windy Spotless Stadium.

Jack Darling led the way with four goals as the Eagles made it seven wins on the trot to go provisionally to the top of the ladder.

AS IT HAPPENED: EAGLES UPSET GIANTS AT HOME IN GWS’S SECOND STRAIGHT LOSS

GIANTS V EAGLES: ALL THE STATS AND SUPERCOACH SCORES

Adding to the Giants pain, their massive injury list grew by another two with the in-form Matt de Boer hurting his hamstring in the first half and Phil Davis knocked out by an accidental elbow from Darling.

After a horror performance last week against Geelong, GWS’s workrate improved significantly as it won contested possession 160-151, the tackle count (76-73) and almost broke even in the inside 50 battle (53-55). But their care with the ball was still poor at just 50 per cent.

Lachie Whitfield after the loss to West Coast. Picture: Getty

“Our ball use is hurting us,” Giants coach Leon Cameron said.

“We can’t shy away from that. To win contested ball, out tackle them and but then give them seven goals in the front half, that’s deflating. 50 per cent disposal efficiency isn’t up to AFL standard.”

Worryingly, it was GWS’s best players who were the biggest culprits in giving away goals with Davis, Nick Haynes and Heath Shaw all coughing the ball up at crucial times.

Trainers attend to Phil Davis after he copped a stray elbow to the head from Eagle Jack Darling.

Lachie Whitfield and 200-gamer Callan Ward were the best for GWS both picking up 30 possessions each including 14 and 15 contested respectively.

Whitfield was courageous coming back after lacerating his shin.

Jeremy Cameron worked hard in his first game back from a foot injury and was the Giants only multiple goalkicker.

It was the first time the Eagles have won seven games in a row since 2007 and they did it without Nic Naitanui, Jeremy McGovern, Luke Shuey, Dom Sheed and Lewis Jetta.

Eagles forward Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy proved a handful for the Giants defence. Picture: Phil Hillyard

They had a host of quality performers led by defender Tom Barrass who took a game-high 11 marks including four contested. Andrew Gaff picked up plenty of outside ball with a game-high 32 touches, while Jack Redden (29) and Elliot Yeo (28) did the heavy lifting inside.

They face premiership favourites Richmond at Perth Stadium next week in what could be an early Grand Final preview.

“Everyone dares to dream,” Simpson said of their premiership push.

“We’re not different, we’re not changing our focus at all about what we are about. We’ve got a few early wins which is bloody great but there is no thought about that stuff (premiership).”

WEST COAST 2.5 7.7 10.11 12.14 (86)

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.3 5.8 8.10 8.13 (61)

NEIL CORDY’S BEST

EAGLES: Barrass, Redden, Darling, Gaff, Yeo, Hurn, Waterman, Sheppard.

GIANTS: Whitfield, Ward, Coniglio, Taranto, Hopper.

GOALS

EAGLES: Darling 4, Waterman 3, Kennedy 2, Cripps, Duggan, Rioli.

GIANTS: Cameron 2, Ward, Lloyd, Griffen, Reid, Taranto, Langdon.

INJURIES

GIANTS: De Boer (hamstring), Davis (head), Whitfield (shin)

UMPIRES

Ryan, Fleer, Gavine

CROWD

9253 at Spotless Stadium

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Originally published as West Coast upset GWS at Spotless Stadium as warning bells sound for Giants amid more injury woes