West Coast proves too good for Geelong in JLT Series clash
The JLT Series is about more than just match fitness this year. It is also about getting used to nine new rules. And it didn’t take long for confusion to hit between the Eagles and Cats.
2 min read
March 1, 2019 - 3:18PM
This year’s JLT Series is about more than just match fitness. Players and officials are also getting used to nine off-season rule changes.
And with so much change in the air, it didn’t take long for confusion to hit during West Coast’s 32 point win over Geelong on Friday night.
Late in the opening term, the Eagles were awarded a free kick out of the middle of the ground and players immediately sprinted off.
Even after a free kick has been paid, all players must remain in the 6-6-6 format until the kick has been taken. While the umpires called the players back and got everyone in order, the match was delayed for close to a minute.
“We don’t want 40 seconds of this. Maybe they will get better and quicker at it but we don’t want this in our game,” AFL great Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy.
When the kick was eventually taken, Eagle Oscar Allen clunked a one on one mark, cashing in on the 6-6-6 enforcement.
“That is exactly what every AFL official was hoping to see when they put this rule in place,” Lyon said.
“They went back to six on six which meant it was one on one inside 50, there wasn’t anyone in front of Oscar Allen without an opponent at least.
“He gets a run and jump at it and takes a big hanger.”
Dom Sheed was a standout for the Eagles on Friday. Picture: Getty Images
SHEED DOMINATES FOR EAGLES
Grand final hero Dom Sheed produced the goods again for West Coast who overcame a third-quarter scare to topple the Cats.
Geelong led by seven points late in the third quarter after booting three- straight goals.
But West Coast kicked the next five - including two to forward Jack Darling - to secure the 15.9 (99) to 8.17 (65) win in front of 6028 fans.
Sheed, who kicked the winning goal against Collingwood in last year’s grand final, finished with 39 disposals, seven clearances and a goal to be best afield.
Darling finished with five goals and 10 marks, while young spearhead Oscar Allen kicked three.
Andrew Gaff tallied 27 disposals in his first match for the Eagles since breaking the jaw of young Docker Andrew Brayshaw in round 20 last year.
The Eagles were also able to get valuable game time into Jeremy McGovern (ribs) and Elliot Yeo (toe) after their interrupted pre-seasons.
TOUGH START FOR HARRY TAYLOR
It was a brutal start to the 2019 season for Harry Taylor, who didn’t even get through the first quarter of the first JLT match.
Taylor copped a nasty knee to the head from West Coast ruckman Nathan Vardy.
He immediately fell to the ground before slowly making his way off the field.
Taylor took no further part in the match, with the Cats not willing to risk the veteran doing any more damage.
Andrew Gaff won plenty of ball in his return. Picture: Getty Images
NEW YEAR, SAME GAFF
Andrew Gaff was making up for lost time in his first taste of footy since his brutal punch to Andrew Brayshaw’s face.
The midfielder can’t play in an official AFL match until Round 3 while he serves the rest of his whopping eight match suspension.
However, Gaff is allowed to do as much damage in the JLT Series as he likes. And he did just that.
The midfield machine was the leading disposal winner on the ground at half-time, topping the likes of Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield.
Recap all the action from tonight’s clash in our blog below.
Updates
Grand final hero Dom Sheed has produced the goods again for West Coast who have overcome a third-quarter scare to beat Geelong by 34 points in their AFL pre- season clash at Perth’s Leederville Oval.
The Cats led by seven points late in Friday’s third quarter after booting three- straight goals.
But West Coast kicked the next five – including two to forward Jack Darling – to secure the 15.9 (99) to 8.17 (65) win in front of 6028 fans. Sheed, who kicked the winning goal against Collingwood in last year’s grand final, finished with 39 disposals, seven clearances and a goal to be best afield.
Liam Twomey
That’s all for our live coverage. Thanks for joining us.
Liam Twomey
Patrick Dangerfield – 28 disposals
Jordan Clark – 20 disposals
Andrew Gaff – 27 disposals
Dom Sheed – 39 disposals, one goal
Eagles 99 def Cats 65 – FT
Liam Twomey
Grand final hero Dom Sheed has produced the goods again for West Coast who have overcome a third-quarter scare to beat Geelong by 34 points in their AFL pre- season clash at Perth’s Leederville Oval.
The Cats led by seven points late in Friday’s third quarter after booting three- straight goals.
But West Coast kicked the next five – including two to forward Jack Darling – to secure the 15.9 (99) to 8.17 (65) win in front of 6028 fans. Sheed, who kicked the winning goal against Collingwood in last year’s grand final, finished with 39 disposals, seven clearances and a goal to be best afield.
Is the 100-goal season back on the agenda?
Liam Twomey
It’s only been two practice matches, but the impact of 6-6-6 is already telling, according to Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson. The retired champion believes the rule changes mean the 100-goal season for an individual forward is back on the agenda. No forward has pulled off the stunning triple figure season since Lance Franklin in 2007. “You get the sense 100 goals is back on the radar again,” Johnson said. He went on to explain that the increased space created by the new rules would allow the young key forwards in the competition to cash in with some big bags.
EAGLES 93 v CATS 65
EAGLES 79 v CATS 57
The pressure has gone up a little in this final term and the Eagles are cashing in. West Coast has booted three quick goals and all of a sudden the lead is 22 points. While it is only the JLT Series, it is always better to walk off the ground with a win than a loss. Look for both teams to try and execute their systems in the final 10 minutes here.
The pressure has gone up a little in this final term and the Eagles are cashing in. West Coast has booted three quick goals and all of a sudden the lead is 22 points. While it is only the JLT Series, it is always better to walk off the ground with a win than a loss. Look for both teams to try and execute their systems in the final 10 minutes here.
The JLT Series is about more than just match fitness this year. It is also about getting used to nine new rules. And tonight, we’ve had our first moment of confusion. Late in the opening term, the Eagles were awarded a free kick out of the middle of the ground and players immediately sprinted off. However, that is against the rules. Even after a free kick has been paid, all players must remain in the 6-6-6 format until the kick is taken. The game was delayed for more than 30 seconds. “We don’t want 40 seconds of this. Maybe they will get better and quicker at it but we don’t want this in our game,” AFL great Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy. When the kick was eventually taken, Eagle Oscar Allen clunked a one on one mark, cashing in on the 6-6-6 enforcement. “That is exactly what every AFL official was hoping to see when they put this rule in place,” Lyon said. “They went back to six on six which meant it was one on one inside 50, there wasn’t anyone in front of Oscar Allen without an opponent at least. “He gets a run and jump at it and takes a big hanger.”
SuperCoach watch Jordan Clark – 16 disposals Tom Atkins – 8 disposals Oscar Allen – 8 disposals, two goals Tom Hickey – 14 hitouts
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