West Coast Eagles defeat North Melbourne as Sam Mitchell, Drew Petrie impress

WEST Coast were brilliant especially after half-time but the Kangaroos did themselves no favours with woeful kicking for goal, writes Gilbert Gardiner.

Drew Petrie kicks his first goal for West Coast.

IT was the game Drew Petrie never thought he would play.

And it could have been over inside the first six minutes, as the former Shinboner stood doubled over on the goal-line, clutching his left paw.

The cheers from adoring North Melbourne fans which greeted Petrie, 34, onto Etihad Stadium quickly evaporated as the 316-game Kangaroo signalled to the Eagles bench for help.

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Petrie courageously would not be denied, returning to play out the game despite confirmation of a broken hand.

With Petrie largely ineffective, the Eagles ruck duties were left to Nathan Vardy and he did not disappoint.

Despite giving up size and experience against All-Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein, the luckless former Geelong big man served it up on a platter to an Eagles midfield loaded with class.

Drew Petrie kicks his first goal as a West Coast Eagle.

Not surprisingly, the Kangaroos won the hit-out (51-29) and clearance (39-35) counts, but the Eagles were more damaging.

Limited only to pinch-hitting in the ruck, Petrie bobbed up forward in the last quarter and was rewarded for a tackle within range.

This was nothing like the set shot taken by Travis Cloke last Friday night.

No hollers and boos, just cheers and applause for a Kangaroo-turned-Eagle who still bleeds blue and white.

Petrie did not disappoint, splitting the middle from outside 50, raising his right arm in celebration as Eagles flocked.

Sam Mitchell was impressive in his first game as an Eagle.

The 43-point margin did neither team justice.

The Eagles were brilliant in spits and spurts and especially after half-time, while the Kangaroos did themselves no favours with woeful kicking for goal.

Enigmatic Kangaroo Jarrad Waite finished with a deplorable 1.7, while seven other Kangaroos registered behinds in the wasteful season-opener.

Up the other end, damaging Eagles duo Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras could not miss.

Kennedy opened his Coleman Medal defence with seven majors, while LeCras slotted four goals including three in an electric third quarter.

Jarrad Waite had a shocker in front of goal for North Melbourne.

Brownlow medallists Sam Mitchell and Matt Priddis starred around the stoppages, while Andrew Gaff and Luke Shuey sliced and diced the Kangaroos on the outside.

After indulging in an arm-wrestle for two quarters, the Eagles needed only 11 minutes in the third term to wrest control of the game.

Kennedy and LeCras sparked the onslaught with three of five quick-fire goals to drive a dagger through Shinboner hearts.

All Australian Eagle Jeremy McGovern could come under scrutiny after rattling Jarrad Waite with a high bone-jarring bump in the third quarter.

Waite took the free kick, before running off the ground and straight into the rooms.

The wasteful forward returned to play out the game with his left shoulder heavily strapped.

Originally published as West Coast Eagles defeat North Melbourne as Sam Mitchell, Drew Petrie impress