Blog log from R8 of 2024: West Coast vs Essendon

Redman gathers a touched rebound kick by Tim Kelly and lets fly off a few steps from 45m on a slight angle but misses to the left. (Q1 1:13)
Merrett snaps wide from a stoppage on the HFF. (Q1 2:36)
Merrett holds Petruccelle without the footy at half back, quick pass to Cripps on the flank 40m out whose set shot stays to the right. (Q1 5:57)
Guelfi roves a Bailey Williams ruck tap in the pocket but hits the post from 20m. (Q1 12:58)
Cox rides a tackle on outer wing after a ball up to feed Perkins who hits the lead of Wright 45m out in the corridor for the first goal, belatedly. (Q1 13:57)
Yeo bursts away from the next centre bounce and goes long for Waterman to mark in front of Laverde 25m out on a slight angle for his first goal. (Q1 15:37)
Langford marks a Durham pass 40m out in the corridor, nothing McGovern could do there. He converts. (Q1 18:42)
Langford beats Witherden to take a contested grab 45m out on the flank but misses. (Q1 21:42)
Sheed’s dump rebound kick is straight to his opponent Duursma, who quickly goes back inside 50 to Stringer 40m out on the flank… who raps the near left post. (Q1 24:37)
Waterman marks on a hard lead in front of Laverde from a Cripps pass just inside 50m on the flank, he’s in hot form and he roosts this one for a big goal! (Q2 1:06)
Gresham is pinged for high contact on Reid to start an attack around outer wing, Yeo marks 40m out on a slight angle and puts West Coast in front with his first goal. (Q2 5:18)
Perkins catches Darling HTB at half forward and passes to the lead of Langford at the hotspot for another lead-changing goal, his second. (Q2 7:03)
Wright beats McGovern to mark a Gresham kick to 20m out in front, McGovern looked around for support from Barrass who hadn’t gone. 2MP goals. (Q2 9:23)
McGrath is second tackler on Chesser at a stoppage 40m out in front but is pinged for contact over the shoulder, Chesser misses. (Q2 13:09)
Stringer roves a Durham kick to Wright in the pocket and screws through the goal from 25m. (Q2 15:39)
Durham snaps high and accurately from a stoppage on the HFF after fumbling and kicking from near the hotspot. (Q2 18:44)
Guelfi marks a Parish kick over McGovern to 25m on a slight angle but shoots to the right. (Q2 20:24)
Long kicks long from the HFF to the top of the square where Jack Williams marks in front of two Don defenders for his first goal of the evening. (Q2 23:04)
Bailey Williams roves in defence but kicks straight to Gresham on outer wing, quick pass to Merrett at the hotspot for the turnover goal. (Q2 27:04)
Waterman marks a Yeo pass on the HFF but misses. (Q3 0:46)
A 50m penalty against Goldstein for a late challenge gifts Bailey Williams a goal from 30m on a slight angle. (Q3 4:17)
Merrett sails through a nice finish off a step from 20m in the pocket after Langford bounces a handball wide from the hotspot. (Q3 9:31)
Yeo spoils a Redman rebound kick to allow Jack Williams to pass inside 50 for Long 40m out on a slight angle, who misses. (Q3 14:13)
Mad scramble in the Eagle goalsquare after Reid forces Duursma to cough up, Jake Kelly tries to rush but it’s Chesser who throws a boot at it for the opportunist goal! (Q3 15:46)
Waterman dives for a Cripps ball to 45m on the flank, juggles, fumbles but is paid the mark. His set shot is to the opposite pocket, Jack Williams mark and goal! (Q3 19:01)
Darling goals from the top of the square to bring the margin back within a kick after a free kick for a hold by McKay. (Q3 21:47)
Merrett receives from Jones and bounces through a sensational Daicos special from the pocket 15m out just before Hough arrives to rush it! (Q3 23:22)
Cripps has three or four targets to pick from on a fast break started by McGovern, he chooses Jack Williams 30m out on the flank who misses to the right. (Q3 26:42)
Merrett runs free to the pocket, shares it with Perkins who centres for Duursma 20m out, Hough arrives late to give away 50 and ensure the goal. (Q3 29:12)
Durham drops Tim Kelly after disposal in the centre, downfield free to Darling 45m out in front who converts. Eagles in with a shot. (Q4 1:03)
Hough is pinged for a hold on Stringer at a ball up 20m out in front but the Package hits the post with a relatively easy set shot. Home crowd loved that one. (Q4 3:38)
Merrett runs through the centre but chooses a wide pass to Gresham, the ex-Saint spots up the lead of Langford 45m out on the flank who bangs through the big goal! (Q4 10:03)
Waterman beats Jake Kelly to mark a long Tim Kelly kick near the behind line for his third goal. It’s not quite Salmon vs Ablett snr, but it’s a decent shoot out! (Q4 15:04)
Waterman juggles another contested mark over Laverde 20m out in the pocket but the kick is reversed for a melee! (Q4 17:12)
Cripps was the culprit on that huge play, not the sort of thing you need from a senior player. (Q4 17:58)
Free kick against McGovern for a hold on Langford at a marking contest 45m out on the flank, soft as butter. Footy gods push it wide left. (Q4 24:33)
Guelfi flies in from half back to catch Edwards HTB as he shaped to shoot, saving a score and probably ensuring the win. (Q4 27:09)
Series of stoppages deep in attack for West Coast, Bailey Williams taps down to Jack Williams who snaps past Laverde in the square for the goal! (Q4 29:05)
1:03 to go and a straight kick in it now. All three results possible. (Q4 29:34)
Tim Kelly out of the middle to the hotspot, big pack forms but McGrath clears to the wing where Merrett marks and tries to ice the game with 30 seconds left… (Q4 30:34)
Johnston roves on the last line to start a rebound up the guts, siren sounds with a pack forming at CHF for West Coast, loud boos ring around the arena, Don fans wave scarves! (Q4 31:12)