1. You don't know Jack
Jack Darling has taken the baton from Josh Kennedy as West Coast’s most dangerous forward. The 25-year-old slotted six goals, clunked 15 marks – six contested – and ran star key defender Alex Rance off his feet in a best-on-ground performance. Darling’s fitness and speed off the mark are becoming hallmarks of his game, while his hands are as assured as they have ever been. Darling now has 28 goals for the year – three less than League leader Ben Brown – and gets the opposition’s best defender most weeks. Not bad for a player who was maligned by fans less than a year ago.
2. Martin is still a little dusty
It’s cruel Dustin Martin should be judged on the lofty heights he set last year, but as it stands the reigning Brownlow medallist has been underwhelming in 2018. Against West Coast, Martin (26 disposals, 17 contested possessions and eight clearances) was among his team’s best and showed flashes of brilliance without taking the game by the scruff of the neck. The 27-year-old seemed cramped for space – manned tightly by Mark Hutchings – and didn’t break the lines the way he usually does. A point emphasised when the explosive midfielder was caught with ball in hand several times throughout the afternoon. He’s certainly not performing badly, but Richmond needs Martin at his best to win another flag.
3. West Coast is the real deal
It’s beyond time we recognise West Coast’s premiership credentials. The Eagles are as clinical a team in the League at the moment and made Richmond pay for running the gauntlet. Whenever the Tigers rolled the dice and attacked through the corridor, West Coast had a chain of players poised for the rebound. Adam Simpson’s men scored regularly from turnovers and looked unaffected by Richmond’s famed forward pressure – barring a manic second quarter. The Tigers rolled through a whole playbook of tactics but couldn’t break through the Eagles’ web nor shake their accuracy by foot. Besides the round one aberration against the Swans, it’s hard to know who else will beat them at Optus Stadium this year. If West Coast finishes top two, look out.
4. The J-curve
In a match boasting so many attractive facets, the topic of goalkicking inefficiency reared its ugly head again. Jason Castagna missed a golden opportunity late in the second quarter with a regulation set shot from 40m on a 45-degree angle. Instead of going back and slotting a kick he would’ve nailed hundreds of times in training, Castagna lined up at right angles, attempted a snap from a couple of steps and failed to make the distance. The Eagles' dead-eye Josh Kennedy became the second culprit early in the third term from a similar spot and sprayed his kick so far right it failed to score. Jack Riewoldt followed suit in the fourth term with a hooked effort from 25m. All three players typically execute the drop punt well. Why they chose an alternative method is something only they can explain.
EAGLES GO TOP Full match coverage and stats
5. Yeo is the Eagles’ barometer
When Elliot Yeo left the field in the first term after twisting his knee in a tackle by Josh Caddy, Richmond gained the upper hand and dominated. Within 20 minutes of his return in the second quarter, West Coast reasserted itself and never looked back. Yeo’s impact was telling in several different roles. The star utility was lethal at centre clearances, provided a nice target down the line and nullified Dustin Martin’s influence when sent to him. And even when he looked troubled by his right knee, the 24-year-old willed himself to run from contest to contest.
