Glen Quartermain: West Coast Eagles loss to Sydney Swans comes with their dignity still intact

Now that’s how to lose with dignity intact. It might have been the retro jumper that inspired them. It could have been the country air flowing through the Adelaide Hills. The smell of bratwurst and sauerkraut wafting from nearby Hahndorf village. Throw in a couple of Jeremy McGovern’s teeth, seven Harley Reid tackle exits, and the Eagles boiled up a magical metaphorical Mt Barker potion on Saturday that fell about 30 minutes short, give or take, of producing the upset of the season against the Sydney Swans. It wasn’t a ‘W’ and there will be no ticker-tape parade upon return to WA. But after last season’s 171-point loss to Sydney at the SCG, a club record defeat, West Coast will gladly take a 26-point final siren deficit and their highest score of the season away from Gather Round. The Swans did enough at critical stages through the guile and class of leaders Isaac Heeney and Nick Blakey, along with young jets Errol Gulden and Chad Warner, to ease away with the four points, but they had to scratch and claw for it. The Eagles led at half-time on the back of a five goal to two second term, forged by unrelenting pressure, a composed and organised defence marshalled by Jeremy McGovern and Liam Duggan, and tenacious tackling inside 50. Add a dose of Reid magic and the easybeats became an irresistible, dominant force. At least for most of the first three terms. The Eagles’ pressure rating of 216 in the opening term was off the chart in the wake of Duggan’s decision to kick against the wind after winning the toss. They surrendered inside-50s 19-8, lost the clearances 18-7 but trailed by just under two goals through their ability to deny Sydney the corridor and force them wide. West Coast had set a pre-season goal to improve their work at the contest, but they were in this game through their ability to control the uncontested possession, taking 23 marks to Sydney’s 13 in the opening stanza. They maintained the rage in the second term and repeated the rewards with a stiff breeze at their backs, pumping the ball inside 50 11 times more than the Swans. Reid and Elliot Yeo were the chief protagonists and unlike in the opening three rounds, the Eagles capitalised on the scoreboard with five goals to two to turn five points ahead at the major break. It was aggressive. It was confident. Duggan finished with 30 possessions and 698 metres gained, Yeo generated and gave, Jayden Hunt provided run and carry, although his radar was off at times. And there were other little wins. Reid broke seven tackles and got under Sydney’s guard at times. Brady Hough held Tom Papley goalless. They won’t leave without two more injury concerns — Luke Edwards strained a hamstring and Ryan Maric’s rib injury was so serious he was taken to hospital. But all the small wins added up to something. Whatever it is, Adam Simpson should bottle it and guard it carefully as carry on luggage on the plane trip home.