Phillip Matera’s enormous value to the West Coast Eagles was again underlined on Saturday when his four goals in a low-scoring contest enabled West Coast to scrape a draw against Geelong at Skilled Stadium.

Matera kicked nearly half West Coast’s score as both teams finished on the identical score of 9.9 (63) apiece – a result which all but seals a finals berth for the Western Australians.

Had it not been for Matera’s heroics in attack, West Coast would have suffered its fourth loss in five matches on Saturday against a Geelong side that came into the game with just six wins for the season.

However the Cats have already shown this season what a tough nut they are to crack on their own turf, having already beaten Port Adelaide by a point at Geelong and pushed Brisbane and Adelaide all the way earlier this season.

And when they kicked the first four goals of the game on Saturday, it appeared as though they would coast to an easy win.

But from the moment West Coast kicked the last two goals of the first term – after failing to even go inside 50 for the first 15 minutes of the game – the away side gradually wore the home side down.

And in a game where goals were hard to come by all day – Matera’s effort to kick one goal in every quarter proved crucial in a result which still gives West Coast a chance of securing a home final in the first week of September.

The Cats had no such constant danger in attack at the other end although centre-half-forward Steve Johnson worked hard.

It was the Cats’ efforts in midfield through Joel Corey and Corey Enright and their ability to shut down some of West Coast’s key playmakers that kept them in front all day.

James Rahilly kept Chris Judd to just five possessions in the first half while Daniel Chick endured a day to forget in attack and Ben Cousins was locked in a tough battle with Cameron Ling.

However with its season slipping away, West Coast finally lifted in the third term to kick three goals to one to trail by just three points at the last change.

But when the impressive Steve Johnson found Matthew McCarthy for the opening goal of the last term – the Cats’ nine point lead looked as though it would be enough.

Enter Matera yet again with his mark and goal from 50 metres at the 11 minute mark putting West Coast back to within three points.

A goal to David Haynes briefly gave them the lead before Gary Ablett – who was well held all day by Phil Read – goaled to put the home side back in front with just over three minutes to play after a great piece of play by McCarthy, who rode a bump from Drew Banfield and fired out a great handball to Ablett.

West Coast trailed by three points at that stage but with Judd finally lifting, it laid siege to the Cats goal in the dying minutes.

Both Chad Fletcher – who was easily the West Coast’s best player all day in a brilliant performance in his first game back after three matches out with a back injury – and then Rowan Jones missed snap shots to make the difference just one point.

And after West Coast was awarded a mark with just 34 seconds left – a decision which enraged the home crowd – it was able to get the ball to Michael Braun, who had one last chance to win the game for West Coast.

But his shot from near 50 metres out on the boundary line hit the post leaving the match a tie – West Coast’s second such result this season after they drew with bottom side the Western Bulldogs at Subiaco earlier this season.

As a result they now effectively have 12 wins for the season but would probably need to beat both Melbourne and Fremantle in the last two rounds if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top four come the end of the home and away season.


GEELONG: 4.4, 6.7, 7.8, 9.9 (63)
WEST COAST: 2.1, 4.3, 7.5, 9.9 (63)

GOALS: Geelong: S.Johnson, McCarthy 2, Corey, Ablett, Chapman, Street, Ling 1. West Coast: Matera 4, Chambers, Chick, Jones, Haynes, Wirrpunda 1.
BEST: Geelong: Corey, Enright, Scarlett, S.Johnson, Harley, Wojcinski, Rahilly. West Coast: Fletcher, Matera, Cousins, Read, Kerr, Chambers, Braun, Jones.
INJURIES: Nil.
CHANGES: Geelong: Milburn (ankle) replaced in selected side by Mooney.
REPORTS: Nil.
UMPIRES: Sheehan, Head, Wenn
CROWD: 19,202 at Skilled Stadium