Eagle Josh Kennedy tussles with Crow Daniel Talia. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow
AT least it's over. West Coast's disastrous 2013 season ended in fitting fashion at Patersons Stadium last night, with the injury-depleted Eagles humbled on the night they had hoped to find something to send off some stalwarts with one last victory.
Instead, the 86-point loss to Adelaide provided a shambolic way for premiership players Andrew Embley and Adam Selwood to exit the game.
| 0.3 (3) | Q1 | 4.4 (28) |
| 3.7 (25) | Q2 | 8.7 (55) |
| 4.8 (32) | Q3 | 15.10 (100) |
| 5.13 (43) | Q4 | 19.15 (129) |
| Simon Tunbridge 2 | Patrick Dangerfield 3 |
| Bradd Dalziell 1 | Mitchell Grigg 3 |
| Ashley Smith 1 | Andy Otten 3 |
| Sharrod Wellingham 1 | Brad Crouch 2 |
| Rory Sloane 2 | |
| Scott Thompson 2 | |
| Nathan van Berlo 1 | |
| Ian Callinan 1 | |
| Brodie Smith 1 | |
| Richard Tambling 1 |
Rated among the premiership favourites before the season, the Eagles have finished 13th after limping to the end of the campaign with a third-consecutive flogging by more than 10 goals.
Veterans Dean Cox and Matt Priddis were among too few who could hold their heads high as West Coast's one-time Subiaco fortress lay in ruins.
Josh Kennedy needed a big bag to overhaul Coleman Medal leader Jarryd Roughead, but it never looked likely as he endured another dirty night.
A first All-Australian guernsey appeared his a month ago, but may yet be in jeopardy after going goalless for a third consecutive game.
While the fans are already thinking about next year, in many respects it was a night about the past for the Eagles, with Embley and Selwood making emotional farewell appearances.
Despite the match being a near sellout, a big portion of West Coast members failed to show to pay tribute to the retiring players.
The crowd of 29,416 was the smallest turnout at an Eagles home since their 2010 wooden spoon season.
The number of people there at the end of the match was even less as, true to form, West Coast fans headed for the exits well before the final siren sounded.
While positives were hard to find for West Coast out on the ground, a look at the players watching on from the stands might have given some cause for optimism for a revival next year.
The club will hope Nic Naitanui, Jack Darling, Mark LeCras, Luke Shuey, Shannon Hurn, Beau Waters, Daniel Kerr, Will Schofield are fit and firing for Round 1 next season.
Eagle Andrew Embley looks on after the final siren. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow
Adelaide's realistic and West Coast's far-fetched hopes of a spot in the final eight were both dashed in the hour before the bounce when Carlton's thrilling one-point triumph over Port Adelaide earned the Blues the last place in the finals.
The Crows must have been dispirited but it didn't show as they established their ascendancy by kicking four goals to none in the opening term.
Embley began forward but saw little of the ball early as the Eagles sabotaged their cause with a series of shoddy turnovers.
West Coast's first goal finally arrived 10 minutes into the second quarter, with some intelligent thinking from ruckman Dean Cox instrumental as he set up a simple finish for defender Ashley Smith.
Embley had the chance to give the crowd the moment they had come for after marking 30m out, but opted elected to snap around the corner rather than kick a drop punt and his limp effort fell short.
Simon Tunbridge's first goal in his second game was something but the Crows extended their margin to five goals at half-time.
Having begun as the substitute, Selwood entered the game in the third quarter to warm applause. In a half-time
interview he said he wouldn't mind getting forward and kicking a goal in his last game.
Instead, he went straight to defence and tried to fight against the tide.
There was a glimpse of the future as well as Tunbridge had his moments. None were better than his second goal mid-way through the third term, which showed off desperation, strength and finesse in equal measure.
Tunbridge was fighting against the tide as the visitors, aided by a strong breeze whipped up at half-time, continued to punish the Eagles.
Adelaide had 21 inside 50s to three as they piled on seven goals to one in the third quarter.
Patrick Dangerfield exploded with three goals for the quarter as the scoreboard became ugly for West Cost yet again.
There was no respite in the final term, as a relentless Crows outfit powered home.
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