THERE weren't too many highlights for West Coast in the opening quarter as the Cats motored away to an early lead.

But as the clock ticked into red time and the Cats pressed forward again, Nic Naitanui had a 'Leo Barry' moment and bravely leapt in front of the pack inside the Eagles' defensive 50.

He won the ball, but was left crumpled on the turf after James Podsiadly crashed into him. He was in pain but he had halted the Cats' opportunity to score their fifth goal.

The Eagles started the second quarter well with the first two goals that cut the margin back to 10 points. The Cats woke up and booted the next two through Tom Hawkins and Joel Selwood. But the most eye-catching major of the term was still to come, when first-year forward Jack Darling found himself with the ball in his hands in the centre square.

The 19-year-old loaded up and booted the ball long from 60m out, and it fell in behind the pack of players that had gathered on the goal line for the Eagles' third of the quarter.

Later, it was Naitanui again, showing incredible ball control to kick an amazing goal.