NewsBite

‘They should be embarrassed’: AFL world horrified as Eagles hit shocking new low

The footy world could barely believe what it saw on Friday as a hapless West Coast succumbed and their year from hell got even worse.

The Eagles have hit a new low. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
The Eagles have hit a new low. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

West Coast’s season is in tatters after suffering another huge defeat on Friday night.

The Eagles — who have been battered by injuries and Covid-19 in 2022 — lost to Richmond in a 109-point shellacking in Perth.

Stream every match of every round of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Josh Kennedy kicked his 700th goal but that was the only bright spot for the home side, who went down 25.15 (165) to 8.8 (56).

The Eagles now sit bottom of the ladder with just one win from seven games, conceding a whopping 760 points in the process.

Richmond scored 76 points from turnovers in the first half alone — the most points from turnovers any AFL side has ever registered before the halftime siren.

In a bloodbath first quarter, the Tigers kicked seven goals to one and it only got worse from there.

The footy world was equal parts sad, equal parts horrified at what West Coast dished up.

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd told 3AW the Eagles’ first quarter was “as bad as I have seen” while legend Leigh Matthews added: “It’s just sad in a way that an AFL team looks in this state a third of the way into the season.”

Triple premiership-winner Jonathan Brown was scathing of the Eagles.

“They’ve given up, it’s been embarrassing,” he told Fox Footy. “I’ve never seen good senior players fumble as they have tonight.

“The effort has just been horrific across the board – they should be embarrassed.”

Where to now for West Coast? (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Where to now for West Coast? (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said: “Richmond come up against West Coast and need a fill. That’s the embarrassing thing for the Eagles — they’re the team that other teams are looking at saying, ‘This is where we’ll get our start’.

“I don’t think they’ve been a lower ebb these Eagles.

“Seven goals to one quarter; absolutely smashed this hapless West Coast Eagles team.

“We asked this week: What have you got to find within yourself? Well, there was nothing.

“The turnovers were of an under-16s level — that’s how bad it was that first quarter.”

Ex-Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was another who weighed in on the horror show.

“There’s a real train crash focus on what we’re seeing from West Coast,” he told Fox Footy. “They are playing terrible footy at the moment.

“There’s no system in there – Richmond are just feasting on that.”

The Eagles are in all sorts. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The Eagles are in all sorts. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Eagles coach Adam Simpson knows it’s a long road ahead before the club becomes a genuine contender again.

“We’re on a path, there’s going to be a little bit of pain,” Simpson said. “We’re disappointed for our fans and members who came and watched us tonight.

“We have obviously deviated a fair bit from three years ago. No one wants to be in the situation that we’re in right now but we are. This hasn’t been just tonight. It’s been here for most of the year.

“Regardless of what’s happened we are in a period of transition, no doubt.

“We’re clearly not at the level at the moment. There are so many areas to fix. It’s going to take time.

“Unfortunately tonight we butchered the ball. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/they-should-be-embarrassed-afl-world-horrified-as-eagles-hit-shocking-new-low/news-story/239222bab2f43e79b9351b615337dd25