West Coast Eagles stun Gold Coast Suns to give Jarrad Schofield shot at full-time coaching role

Katy Perry isn’t right here till the grand remaining, but it surely didn’t cease Jarrad Schofield who dwelling in a Teenage Dream because the interim coach led a West Coast outfit to a 10-point win over Gold Coast.

That includes seven gamers 20 or youthful, the Eagles snapped a nine-game dropping streak with a 15.7 (97) to 13.9 (87) win at Optus Stadium on Friday night time.

The upset victory all however assured West Coast would keep away from claiming consecutive picket spoons and enhanced Schofield’s declare to guide the Eagles full-time.

Returning co-captain Liam Duggan had the most important say, kicking a late purpose in a tense remaining time period earlier than successful the following clearance that resulted in a Jamie Cripps main to safe the win.

Nobody who watched the conflict would name it a masterclass of soccer ability, however there have been some contests that would depart the hardest of followers wincing.

The battle of the 2 No.1 draftees in West Coast’s Harley Reid (17 disposals, six tackles and 4 clearances) and Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell (30 disposals, 10 tackles and 11 clearances) was on the centre of a wonderful midfield contest.

At occasions Tim Kelly (29 disposals and eight clearances) and Elliot Yeo (26 and 5) had the house aspect on high, however Rowell alongside Noah Anderson (30 and 6) and Sam Flanders (25 and three) would combat again.

Within the ruck, Suns co-captain Jarrod Witts (52 hit-outs and 5 clearances) monstered Bailey Williams, however discovered it more durable to sort out the extra strong Jack Williams (17 disposals and a purpose) on the contest.

And within the coach’s field there have been two former premiership teammates in Schofield and Damien Hardwick, who almost twenty years on from their best achievements as gamers had been going blow for blow.

It began poorly for West Coast with Reid caught holding the ball on the first centre bounce which resulted in a fast purpose to defender-turned-forward Mac Andrew who booted a career-high three targets.

Reid made up for the error rapidly, offering the catalyst in two chains of play that resulted in targets to Oscar Allen (two targets) and Jack Darling inside 90 seconds of one another.

West Coast’s had been on high within the center, however their defence was being sliced aside by the Suns who took 5 marks inside 50 within the first time period alone.

Andrew was the principle man within the absence of King and will’ve had three targets by the primary break if not for a boundary umpiring error that price him late within the time period.

Schofield confronted one in all his earliest teaching exams when he needed to reshuffle the defence on the run when Harry Edwards was taken out of the sport with concussion and King returned to the sector.

Hardwick did his finest to additional stretch the under-sized defence by sending Jack Lukosius ahead to hitch Andrew and King.

It left younger Eagle Reuben Ginbey and Alex Witherden the unenviable job of combating above their dimension alongside Jeremy McGovern.

Gold Coast threatened to run away with the sport when Noah Anderson kicked the primary purpose of the third time period to present the Suns a 23-point lead.