David King reveals the seven big moments that shaped the 2018 Grand Final

JEREMY McGovern risked losing a Grand Final to win it and his final intercept mark for the season was a thing of beauty. DAVID KING reveals his seven big moments from the Grand Final.

Josh Kennedy tackles Tyson Goldsack. Picture: David Caird

IT was the Grand Final we’d hoped to witness — an arm wrestle for 100 of the 120 minutes.

It was always going to be decided by which team could capitalise on their moments and West Coast had its nose in front at the post. Just.

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1. THE START

ALL Collingwood. West Coast’s Josh Kennedy took the first mark of the match, but for the next 20 minutes looked tentative. Shannon Hurn was uncharacteristically out-marked one-on-one by Taylor Adams and dropped a mark he would take nine out of 10 times.

Jordan De Goey made them look like kids tackling a man and Jaidyn Stephenson showed a clean pair of heels and absolutely no fear.

Collingwood led by five goals 25 minutes into the match. Surely it’s over.

Jaidyn Stephenson runs away from Tom Cole to kick a goal in the first quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

2. MIDFIELD WAR

COLLINGWOOD was well on top with clearances and contested ball early, but the Eagles fought their way back via Luke Shuey’s hardness. The efforts of Dom Sheed cannot be understated. Dom would amass a season-high eight clearances as the West Coast midfield crew were never going to cough up 60 points from clearances like Richmond did last week. They only allowed 16 points.

Nathan Vardy was huge late in the game and Scott Lycett versus Brodie Grundy was riveting and super physical. Taylor Adams was relentless all game, but the collective of the West Coast would stand tall when it mattered most — late.

Scott Lycett battles with Brodie Grundy in the ruck. Picture: Michael Klein

When the game was frantic early the Magpies stepped through poor Eagles tackling and appeared too strong, too aggressive and they physically confronted the Eagles. When the game slowed via uncontested marking, the issue dissipated.

Therein lies the genius of Adam Simpson’s coaching.

3. SLOW AND STEADY?

THE Eagles patient kick-mark ball movement wore down the Magpies and allowed the game to continue at a speed that suited coach Adam Simpson. There were early errors exiting the defensive half and the Pies made them pay, but from quarter-time onwards West Coast’s game plan was extremely effective and ultimately became the reason they’d win. And 104 marks was Simpson’s plan as the Eagles refused to concede defensive half scores to Collingwood, coughing up only four goals for the game.

What a performance by the back six.

4. STEELE TAG

MARK Hutchings and Steele Sidebottom resumed hostilities and Steele was clamped early, but so too was Elliot Yeo as Levi Greenwood accepted the challenge. Sidebottom’s handballing would create scoring but only 14 disposals for the day was a massive influence on the result.

Eagles defender Will Schofield spoils Steele Sidebottom. Picture: Michael Klein

5. ONE-MAN WALL

MASON Cox and Brody Mihocek versus Jeremy “One-Man Wall” McGovern.

Mihocek’s work rate was terrific. Intercepting in forward and defensive halves early and Cox looked like the matchwinner midway through the fourth quarter, but McGovern and Tom Barrass took 10 intercept marks between them and that was the difference in the end.

The Eagles would prove impenetrable across the wings, taking 17 intercept marks to the Pies 10 in a small-margin game where a territorial advantage is everything.

The game lived in the forward half of the Eagles for long periods of the second half, but the inaccurate Eagles would let the Magpies off the hook.

6. THE TYSON FIGHT

JOSH Kennedy loomed large early and would finish with three goals and two behinds, complemented by his five marks inside the forward 50. Tyson appeared physically spent late in quarters and Kennedy would swoop. A great battle between two warriors, but Kennedy takes the victory.

Time-on was a massive problem for the Magpies, allowing the West Coast six goals compared to two for Collingwood. A significant advantage in a five-point result.

Luke Shuey, Dom Sheed and Shannon Hurn were destructive late in quarters.

7. BIG MOMENTS

JEREMY McGovern’s final intercept mark for the season was a thing of beauty. He left Jordan De Goey unopposed in the goalsquare to create the opportunity and then delivered a bullet pass for the Eagles to go forward at speed. The most courageous act on the field without doubt.

Risking losing a Grand Final to win it is the biggest gamble in football. What a player.

Willie Rioli’s goal, Liam Ryan’s mark and Luke Shuey’s snaps were acts of brilliance, but they pale into insignificance by comparison to the crunch time Dom Sheed’s set shot at goal with two minutes left to play.

Jeremy McGovern big mark in the dying stages won West Coast the flag. Picture: Mark Stewart

If Sheed misses, they lose. If he kicks it, the West Coast can defend for their lives after trailing for 105 minutes of this last-man-standing Grand Final.

Jack Darling parked all negative thoughts at halftime and marked everything in sight for the next 30 minutes of football. It had to be seen to be believed. Darling was the conduit between the defence and the Eagles attack, while taking marks in the third term. It was inspiring.

De Goey showed the football world why he’ll be the best big-game performer for years to come.

Snapping goals from the boundary, driving the ball through the big sticks from outside 50m as he desperately tried to carry his team to victory.

You beauty … Adam Simpson is a premiership coach.