Eagles fans were asked to wear gold crowns to Paterson Stadium to celebrate "the King" Dean Cox's final home game. The six-time All Australian announced he would be retiring at season's end ahead the round 18 match against Richmond, but the fans were robbed of seeing Cox in that game after Ty Vickery knocked him out. There were fears this night might end in a similar manner when Cox copped a knock to the head during the second quarter but the veteran got back to his feet reasonably quickly. There were huge cheers for Cox every time he went near the football, which amounted to a lot of applause as the big man racked up 15 disposals, six marks and 19 hit outs. The Eagles games record holder has played 159 matches at Patersons Stadium in his stellar career, with the Eagles winning 97 of them.
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2. Tall for a small
Eagles coach Adam Simpson has wrestled with the three-ruck policy all year. The Eagles had won just one of the five games when Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett have all played this year. On Thursday, Simpson named three ruckmen for the third game in a row, however, when the final teams were named there were only two ruckmen on the Eagles' team sheet. Nic Naitanui was withdrawn with Achilles soreness and Adam Carter, a 179cm running defender, replaced him. The Eagles look far more balanced with just the two ruckmen in the line-up given the size they possess in both defence and attack.
3. Fitzpatrick's fabulous finish
There were few highlights for the Demons on Saturday night but Jack Fitzpatrick's running goal was worthy of note. The 200cm giant hasn't played for Melbourne since round three, after playing the first three games of the season. He didn't kick a goal in those three appearances but he bagged two on Saturday night, including a brilliant goal on the run in the second term. He was set-up by a 25m handball from Jeremy Howe. The handpass found Fitzpatrick, without the big-man breaking stride as he ran towards the pocket. Instead of kicking on his left foot as he arced to his left he decided to go with the unconventional checkside on the right boot and split the middle.
4. Lies, damned lies and statistics
Coaches talk regularly about the importance of winning the contested ball battle and Adam Simpson has made that a priority for his Eagles team over the latter part of the season. Yet in a dominant 11-goal win the Eagles were convincingly beaten by the Demons in the contested ball count. Melbourne won that count by 13, and had 23 more possessions overall. West Coast only had three more clearances for the match but the clear differential was in the inside-50s. The Eagles had 53 to 31 for the match and the dominance showed on the scoreboard. The key stats don't always tell the story - the only one that matters is the final score.
5. Priceless percentage
With Adelaide losing to North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, the stars continue to align for West Coast to play finals. If the Eagles win next weekend against Gold Coast, Collingwood lose to Hawthorn, Richmond lose to the Sydney Swans and Adelaide beat St Kilda then West Coast, Adelaide, Collingwood and Richmond will all finish on 11 wins and eighth spot in the finals will be decided by percentage. At the start of round 22 Adelaide's percentage was 0.16 better than West Coast's, but after Crows' loss and the Eagles' 66-point win West Coast is four per cent clear. It could have been more but Melbourne won the last quarter at Patersons Stadium kicking three goals to two.
Bernie Vince was one of few positives for Melbourne. AFL Media
