Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) has pulled off an emotional 28-point win over Euro-Yroke (St Kilda) on Sunday evening, ending an 11-game losing streak to give them their first win of 2025.
The Eagles led at every change at Optus Stadium, and were able to match it with the visitors’ flurry of final quarter goals, the final score reading 16.12 (108) to the Saints’ 12.8 (80).
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It was a very well-rounded victory from the home side, with a plethora of contributors around the ground. Jake Waterman, Oscar Allen, Liam Ryan, Harley Reid and Bailey Williams all kicked two goals each, while Brady Hough
It rounds off a heart-breaking last 36 hours, after the sudden passing of 187-game Eagle Adam Selwood. The 41-year-old was a part of West Coast’s 2005 premiership side, and was listed at the club at the back end of his career alongside the likes of current players Jeremy McGovern, Jamie Cripps and Elliot Yeo.
Andrew McQualter’s first win at Waalitj Marawar has unsurprisingly ended a long run of unwanted records. The victory is their first since Round 22 of last year against North Melbourne down in Hobart.
The Eagles also registered their biggest victory in almost exactly a year, while also clocking up their highest score since Round 5 last year (109 vs. Richmond).
Jack Higgins once again starred for the Saints, kicking five goals to sit outright second in the Coleman Medal race with 28 majors for the season — second only to Gold Coast’s Ben King who is a goal clear.
THE 3-2-1… (with Catherine Healey at Optus Stadium)
3. WEST COAST FINALLY BREAK THROUGH
It’s been 281 days since West Coast celebrated an AFL win.
But that drought ended on Sunday when an emotion-charged Eagles outfit found the fight that’s been sorely missing for 2025.
Just one week after the side went remarkably close to that breakthrough win against Richmond at the MCG, the Eagles used their home crowd advantage to fire.
For the first time this season, West Coast won back to back quarters in the opening half and their run only continued to grow from there.
By the final change, the Eagles had scored 24 points from turnover in promising signs for coach Andrew McQualter.
“It talks for how well West Coast are tackling and pressuring,” Fox Footy’s Matthew Pavlich said.
“They had seven more tackles (in the third term).
“Yes, St Kilda have been fumbly… (but) it’s a big advantage.”
Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson was impressed with West Coast’s pressure rating for the match which sat well above the 180 mark.
“They are sitting at 188 pressure – which is really good, above AFL standard,” he said.
“They’ve brought perceived pressure as well.”
The day had plenty of highlights for Eagles fans, including seeing co-captain Oscar Allen finally return to his more favoured forward role, while Brady Hough nabbed his first AFL goal and Harley Reid provided a spark.
The final quarter simply became a celebration for Eagles fans as they secured that first win of 2025.
“They’re starved – trust me I know what it feels like in starvation corner for a few years,” Simpson said of the Eagles fans who were on their feet.
West Coast finished with 59 inside 50s – well above their season average of just 44, and scored 6.3 from stoppage in great signs.
“We spoke pre-game about the West Coast identity … clearances haven’t been dominant, but they’ve been competitive,” Simpson said.
“It hasn’t been a mauling in the middle and if they keep that up, they’ll win some more games this year.”
It’s the Eagles first win over St Kilda since Rd 19, 2021.
2. TOUCHING TRIBUTE FOR FALLEN TEAMMATE
It was always going to be an emotion-charged Optus Stadium on Sunday following the tragic death of premiership Eagle Adam Selwood.
Players lined up for a moment’s silence pre-game in honour of the late club favourite, with former teammate Jamie Cripps the most emotional.
And it didn’t take long for Cripps to find a way to salute his former teammate and coach when he snapped truly in the first term.
Cripps celebrated with teammates after pointing to the sky and then patted his black armband in tribute to Selwood.
“Emotional scenes after a tragic 24 hours – a goal that means more than most,” Adam Papalia said.
“You can see what it means to him as well – great goal and great tribute,” Matthew Pavlich added.
“It’s been a heavy 24 hours for everyone, in particular for Crippa who played with and got coached by him (Selwood),” ex-Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.
Cripps and Selwood were Eagles teammates back in 2013, before the late premiership player coached at the club.
West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen used his post-game chat with Fox Footy to urge anyone struggling with mental health to reach out for support.
“I know it’s great to win a game of footy, but we’ve lost a legend of our club and I just want to send all our love and support to the Selwood family,” he said.
“Mental health is such a massive thing in society at the moment.
“I struggled with me own mental battles this year.
“I’ve been so fortunate to have such a great support crew around me, to have my back throughout everything we’ve gone through.
“I just urge anyone out there who is struggling with anything, please reach out – helplines, friends, reach out to each other because we’re heartbroken.
“We just want to offer all the love and support we can to the Selwood family at this time.”
1. WHERE HAS THE SAINTS’ FORM GONE?
St Kilda’s season is slowly slipping away – despite starting 2025 with three wins in four games.
Since that 17-point triumph over the Power, the Saints have now sunk to five losses in their past six games; with that lone win coming against a woeful Fremantle outfit at Marvel Stadium.
Losses to GWS, the Bulldogs and Brisbane in consecutive weeks appeared to sap the Saints’ confidence.
Now defeats to Carlton and the Eagles have left many questioning where this club sits under Ross Lyon.
“Only 33 inside 50s and only scoring off a third which is well below AFL standard,” Matthew Pavlich said of the Saints at three quarter time.
“Not getting supply and not actually connecting either.
“That’s the issue for them.”
Premiership Adam Simpson said clearance work was a problem for the visitors.
“They are winning them, but not getting the inside to out look. A lot of it is surge kick, dump kick,” he lamented.
Only Jack Higgins showed some fight for the Saints in attack as he finished with five goals.
“The Saints will be asking themselves the question – where do you want to finish?” Simpson asked.
“13th is not a great spot to finish.”
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