Asthe new year begins, afl.com.au has counted down the 10 most memorable quartersfrom 2007. Each afternoon, we've unveiled a new selection from this collectionof tight finishes, dominant displays and incredible solo efforts. Today, wereveal our selection of the very best quarter of 2007.
No.1:West Coast v Essendon, round 22, Subiaco, fourth quarter
IFJAMES HIRD and Scott Lucas aren't joint public enemy No.1 with West Coast fans,they should be.
Hird,the peerless master of the game who had so often thwarted and cruelled WestCoast's victory hopes, and Lucas, the enigmatic forward capable of turning agame of his own boot, combined to knock West Coast out of a top-two finish anddeny them a home fixture in the first week of the 2007 finals.
Thehosts headed into the game knowing they needed a decent win to give them achance of taking second place on the ladder ahead of Port Adelaide, whose gamestarted immediately after theirs.
Andat the final break, that's exactly what looked like happening, with West Coastahead by 44 points.
Butthen Hird, in his final game, had a word to the Bombers during the break andasked them for one final special memory.
Lucaswas clearly listening.
Twogoals to the big forward in the first five minutes, then a break where DavidWirrpanda kicked one for West Coast, were followed by another three from theBomber forward in the next four-and-a-bit minutes and the gap was back to 20points. Angus Monfries kicked Essendon's next before Lucas booted anothercouple to make the margin just two points.
Withseven majors for the term, no one could believe he missed the opportunity toput his side in front for the first time in the match, leaving the door openfor Brent Staker to seal it for the home side with his first.
Thejackets waved as Hird and Kevin Sheedy left the ground and the game, but Lucashad indeed given his former skipper a special memory.
WESTCOAST 5.1 12.2 19.4 21.6 (132)
ESSENDON 2.3 5.6 11.8 19.10 (124)
Goals
West Coast: R Jones 3, M Morton 3, M LeCras 2, M Seaby 2, D Chick 2, B Cousins2, B Staker 2, D Wirrpanda 2, D Cox, Q Lynch, T Stenglein. Essendon: S Lucas 8,J Winderlich 3, J Neagle, M McVeigh, M Lloyd, J Hird, C Heffernan, K Bradley, BStanton, A Monfries.
Best
West Coast: R Jones, A Hunter, T Stenglein, B Cousins, D Cox. Essendon: SLucas, J Hird, D Peverill, A McPhee, A Lovett.
Injuries:West Coast: A Selwood (calf) replaced in selected side by M Morton, MPriddis (corked thigh). Essendon: P Ryder (leg) replaced in selected side by DHille.
Reports:Nil.
Umpires:M Head, S Meredith, S Jeffery.
