West Coast captain Luke Shuey reflects on the free kick in the 2017 elimination final win over Port Adelaide
It’s been three years since Luke Shuey was tackled high by Jared Polec in the dying seconds of the 2017 elimination final. The now West Coast captain reflects on what was going through his mind at the time.
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It was a tackle that still haunts the minds of Port Adelaide supporters three years later.
In the dying stages of the 2017 elimination final, Jared Polec wrapped up Luke Shuey, before the now West Coast captain was struck high by his arm and was subsequently awarded a free kick.
Shuey went back and kicked the goal to send the Eagles to Sydney to face GWS, while the Power were left with their tail between their legs and haven’t appeared in the finals since.
This week on the Dyl and Friends podcast, the 2018 Norm Smith Medallist discussed his thoughts during that moment.
“I was thinking ‘I can’t believe I’ve gotten away with ducking again’,” he said.
“My intention was to never get a free kick there.
“I remember looking up and the runner came out and said ‘mate, there’s five seconds to go, if you kick this we win’ and I said ‘no s***, mate!’
Shuey achieved the ultimate 12 months later as West Coast beat Collingwood in the 2018 decider, but the kick after the siren remains a highlight.
“It was pretty cool … if I take myself out of the situation, just to win the final is cool,” he said.
“We stayed in Adelaide that night, I couldn’t get to sleep.”
However, Shuey said he’s come under criticism for the way he has played footy.
“You’re taught growing up to stay low when you get the ball, and when someone tackles you around your arms, what else are you supposed to do with them?” he said.
“The only people that disagree with that are the millions of people around the country that don’t like the way I play footy.
“I hear it every time we travel interstate, particularly the Port Adelaide games.”
Originally published as West Coast captain Luke Shuey reflects on the free kick in the 2017 elimination final win over Port Adelaide