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Efficient Eagles do a job on Saints

West Coast extended their best winning streak under Adam Simpson to five matches with a 53-point victory over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium today.

A quick-fire start gave the Eagles an early advantage, but they were forced to repel a genuine challenge from the Saints during the second and third quarters.

West Coast were too good in the end, pulling clear to register a 20.11 (131) to 12.6 (78) win.

But it may have come at a cost, with in-form midfielder Elliot Yeo likely to come under scrutiny for high contact that forced Jimmy Webster off the field under the blood rule during the second quarter.

Webster returned to the field soon after but was substituted out of the match at half-time with concussion stemming from a separate incident where he collided with a teammate.

Josh Hill and Kennedy, who booted four goals apiece, leave the St Kilda defence in a heap. Pic: Getty Images

The positives far outweighed the negatives for free-scoring West Coast, who racked up a third straight interstate win following victories over Brisbane and Port Adelaide on recent road trips.

Simpson was happy with the way the Eagles responsed after they were challenged during the middle period of the match.

“I’m really pleased that we got the win, but we were obviously disappointed in the second quarter,” Simpson said.

“We knew they wouldn’t go away, the Saints, and we scouted their ‘spirit’ a little bit.

“They’re a team that’s young and exciting and they put some real pressure on us in that second quarter and we didn’t stand up to it.

“It was pretty evident their pressure increased and we didn’t find a way to handle it, but I thought we responded pretty well in the second half and we put our foot down towards the end of the game.”

Kennedy and Brad Sheppard embrace. Pic: Getty Images

The Eagles set the tone for the first quarter against St Kilda in the opening minute, with Kennedy booting the first goal of the match.

The visitors piled on 7.3 (45) – their best first-quarter score of the season – to lead by 37 points at quarter-time.

But St Kilda looked a different side in the second quarter and fought their way into the contest on the back of a vastly improved work rate.

The Saints laid 33 tackles to 11 in the second term and ran hard to gather 45 handball receives to 23, adding five goals to chop the margin to 12 points at the main break.

Leigh Montagna returned from a hamstring injury and played a key role in the fight-back, racking up 22 first-half disposals.

Nic Naitanui takes command. Pic: Getty Images


St Kilda twice got back to within seven points, but both times West Coast steadied.

Montagna didn’t have a touch in the third term and the Eagles pulled clear after being challenged.

Goals to Yeo, Kennedy and Josh Hill in time-on gave the visitors breathing space and they put the foot down in the final term.

West Coast had 10 different goal kickers and racked up a triple-figure score for the fifth time this season, maintaining their status as the highest scoring team in the competition.

Scott Selwood returned from a six-week stint on the sidelines with an ankle injury and was used the substitute.

He was brought into the game at the expense of Jamie Bennell during the third quarter and finished with nine disposals and four tackles in a positive sign.

Matt Priddis gives the Eagles momentum. Pic: Getty Images

Prolific midfielders Matt Priddis (31 possessions), Andrew Gaff (33) and Luke Shuey (28) for all effective for the Eagles, as was youngster Liam Duggan, who continued his improvement with 23 touches.

Kennedy and Hill kicked four goals each, while Yeo and Cripps finished with three apiece.

Jack Steven was St Kilda’s best with 36 possessions and 12 tackles.

Simpson, in his second year as West Coast coach, has led his side to an impressive, if unexpected, start to the season despite having to overcome the loss of several key players to injury.

The Eagles are unbeaten since their derby defeat to Fremantle in round three and sit comfortably inside the top four with a 6-2 record.

West Coast are now in a position to extend their positive start to the season, with winnable matches over the next month in the lead-up to the mid-year break.

They meet Geelong at Domain Stadium on Sunday before games against North Melbourne (Hobart), Essendon (home) and Richmond (MCG) before the bye.

The Eagles celebrate their win. Piuc: Getty Images

SCOREBOARD

WEST COAST 7.3 8.4 15.6 20.11 (131)

ST KILDA 1.2 6.4 10.5 12.6 (78)

GOALS – WEST COAST: J Kennedy, J Hill 4; E Yeo, J Cripps 3; C Sinclair, L Shuey, B Sheppard, M Priddis, F McInnes, M LeCras. ST KILDA: M Weller, J Sinclair, J Bruce 2; E Templeton, A Schneider, S Savage, D Roberton, J Newnes, T Membrey.

BEST – WEST COAST: M Priddis, A Gaff, L Shuey, J McGovern, L Duggan, N Naitanui. ST KILDA: J Steven, D Armitage, L Montagna, A Schneider, J Billings, M Weller.

INJURIES – WEST COAST: M Hutchings (back soreness) replaced in selected side by J Nelson. ST KILDA: J Webster (concussion), S Fisher (hamstring).

UMPIRES: N Foot, C Kamolins, J Armstrong.

CROWD: 23,598 at Etihad Stadium.