1. The West might finally be West Coast's
The Eagles delivered a bold ad campaign at the start of the year proclaiming 'The West is ours'. The Dockers did not like that at all, given they'd won the previous five Derbies and they added a sixth in a row in round three just to prove a point. But The West might finally be the Eagles' again after an outstanding win in the face of enormous personnel challenges on Sunday. They now lead the overall head-to-head count 22-20 after the Dockers threatened to break even with a win on Sunday. Josh Hill won the Ross Glendinning Medal after gathering 20 disposals and kicking four goals.
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2. The Dockers get a taste of their own first-term medicine
Fremantle has been dominant in first quarters this season. The Dockers blew away the Eagles in the round three Derby, kicking nine goals to zero in the first term. But on Sunday, the Eagles gave the Dockers a taste of their own medicine with a blistering opening term, kicking seven goals to one. It was only the second time the Dockers have conceded more than four goals in a first term all year. It was also the first time since 1999 the Dockers have conceded seven goals in the opening term of a Derby. Freo's quarter-time score of 1.3 (9) was its lowest in a Derby since round nine, 2012.
3. Silvagni could face a lengthy suspension
The Dockers lost key defender Zac Dawson to a needless suspension three weeks ago and they are now set to be without Alex Silvagni after the key defender was reported for a crude act in the second quarter. Silvagni ran past Eagles forward Jamie Cripps 70m off the ball and raised his elbow, appearing to hit Cripps in the jaw. Cripps was helped from the ground in obvious pain and was subbed out for 20 minutes under the concussion rule. Cripps passed the concussion tests and returned to start the second half, which might help Silvagni's cause. But it is unlikely the Match Review Panel will take a kind view of the incident given the clear-cut video evidence that is available.
Watch the incident that saw Silvagni go into the umpires' book for striking #AFLFreoEagles http://t.co/XnhuB2tRF6
— AFL (@AFL) August 16, 2015
4. Another key Eagle goes down
The Eagles lost Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown at the start of the year and yet they have piled up the wins with ease. Then Jeremy McGovern gets injured twice and they still keep winning. On Sunday, Will Schofield was subbed out of the game mid-way through the third term and had ice applied to his lower left hamstring. The Eagles still managed to hold on to win the game despite conceding nine goals in the second half without Schofield.
5. Barlow's rare bad day
Michael Barlow has been a star in Western Derbies over the years. He won the Ross Glendinning Medal in his first Derby in 2010 and has won three. Only Paul Hasleby has won more. Barlow has been ultra consistent across his career, averaging 25 disposals in his 107 matches prior to Sunday. But he had just four touches through two-and-a-half quarters on Sunday and he was subbed out of the game for Hayden Crozier in the third term on form. It is the first time in his career he has not registered 10 possessions or more in a match.