Cats kill Eagles as news gets worse for Perth

West Coast fans at home in Perth better find another way to kill time than watching the footy because it’s getting seriously ugly for the Eagles.

The Eagles were absolutely awful.

West Coast fans sitting idle in Perth thinking their weekend couldn’t get any worse after being sent into a snap three-day lockdown better think again.

Those stuck at home hoping the Eagles could lift their spirits with a strong showing against Geelong were left gutted as the Cats ran riot in a staggering 21.10 (136) to 5.9 (39) win at GMHBA Stadium.

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The 97-point defeat was the Eagles’ worst loss since 2009 and biggest loss under coach Adam Simpson.

“We got beaten in every area of the game. It was embarrassing,” Simpson said post-game.

“We got blown away in the second quarter. It was really embarrassing.

“Absolutely no excuses.”

Heading into the game, West Coast was sixth, two spots above Geelong, but didn’t play anything like its position on the ladder.

Making matters worse for the Eagles, they had to deploy their injury substitute when key defender Jeremy McGovern was ruled out with a groin injury.

In his first game for Geelong since moving from GWS in the off-season, Jeremy Cameron bagged three goals while Mitch Duncan finished with four — a monster 60m barrel right on halftime the highlight of his day as he extended the lead to 55 points at the main break.

The shell-shocked Eagles wilted as Geelong booted 11 unanswered goals before halftime, intent on continuing a trend that has seen the Eagles go winless in Geelong for 15 years.

It was more of the same to start the second half, Cameron taking just seconds to nail his third major as Geelong cracked the century mark less than halfway into the third term.

The Eagles managed just one goal in the third quarter as the Cats extended their lead to 87 points, before piling on more pain in the fourth.

Jeremy Cameron arrived with a bang.

‘P*** weak’: Anger and laughter as Eagles wilt

Some footy fans, like radio presenter Sam Wilkinson, could see the funny side of things, saying it was “thoughtful of the Eagles players to quarantine themselves from the Cats”.

Sam Tomlin wrote: “Credit to the Eagles midfield for taking social distancing so seriously.”

Sportsbet added: “Someone tell West Coast they’re allowed to do more than 1 hour of exercise.”

But for others the fury was real.

Garrett Mundy said it was “damning” the “Eagles didn't even bother” as they conceded 10 goals in the second quarter.

“Mentally, collectively, p*** weak. You can’t really excuse it or describe it any other way,” he tweeted.

“I did not expect the Eagles to win this game. Only a fool would. But I wasn’t expecting to be disrespected like this either.”

Broadcaster Adam McGrath described the Eagles as “witches hats”, writing: “Can’t say I expected us to win with all our outs and being at the cattery, but I did expect to see some heart and effort! Surely that’s not too much to ask.”

Eagles fan and football expert Daniel Garb tweeted: “Gee we can go to water sometimes when we’re up against it.”

Seven’s Luke McGarry wrote: “Is there a bigger flat track bully than West Coast? I mean you’d back them any day against any opponent in Perth but away from home they’d struggle to beat the bottom sides.”

Journalist Tim Barrow wrote: “The ridiculous thing is @WestCoastEagles draw is relatively kind in the next two months and could easily be well in the top four heading to July/August. But when your worst is so far off your best, it’s a huge problem.”

Broadcaster Shane McInnes tweeted: “If you came from Perth to watch the @WestCoastEagles, the Covid test on arrival would’ve been more enjoyable than watching this. This is hideous from the Eagles.

“In 10 yrs calling footy for @6prfootball, that was as insipid & heartless performance I’ve seen from the @WestCoastEagles. From quarter time onwards they gave little to nothing.

“A really disheartening performance from a team that should be a premiership contender.”

It was the afternoon from hell for the Eagles.