Dockers snatch comeback win over Eagles - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Dockers snatch comeback win over Eagles

By Justin Chadwick 07/03/2009 11:55:28 PM Comments (0)

Fremantle came from 25 points down late in the final quarter to snatch a thrilling five-point western derby victory over West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

The Eagles appeared to have the game in the bag after Mark LeCras' fifth goal gave West Coast a 106-81 lead at the 25-minute mark of the final quarter.

But the Dockers came home in a hurry, slamming through the final five goals of the match, three of which were kicked by Ryan Crowley, to steal a 17.9 (111) to 16.10 (106) triumph in front of 20,002 fans.

However, the controversial rushed behind rule will come under scrutiny after West Coast defender Brett Jones was penalised for punching through Rhys Palmer's shot on goal, gifting Crowley a six-pointer that closed the margin to one point.

Under the new law, defenders are allowed to rush a behind if it's a spoil.

Crowley finished the match with four goals while Kepler Bradley kicked three.

Palmer was influential through the midfield and also chipped in with two goals, while Roger Hayden, Daniel Gilmore, David Mundy and Byron Schammer also impressed.

Ben McKinley and LeCras booted five goals apiece for the Eagles while Mitch Brown quelled Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich and Matt Spangher also put in an eye-catching performance.

Eagles tagger Adam Selwood faces a nervous wait after he was reported in the second quarter for striking Fremantle's Clayton Hinkley.

Hinkley grabbed his face after Selwood swung his left arm across the Docker's body, although Hinkley appeared fine after a free kick was awarded.

West Coast looked dangerous in their forward 50 whenever they breached the Dockers' zone, but getting it in there proved tricky early on.

Daniel Kerr was flattened by Hayden midway through the opening term but the Eagles midfielder shook off the hit to help his side to a slender 26-22 lead at quarter-time.

The Eagles took a one-point lead into halftime but pulled away from the Dockers after the break as LeCras came to life.

The 22-year-old goalsneak kicked two third-quarter goals, while McKinley added two of his own for the term to give West Coast a 13-point advantage entering the final change.

The Eagles surged to a 25-point lead late in the final quarter but just as the game looked done and dusted the Dockers stormed home and stole the win.

"I need to get clarification on it for sure because from what we've been told we would have assumed it was a rushed behind," Eagles coach John Worsfold said of the rushed behind rule after the match.

"I think that's going to be one for the whole competition, everyone will be looking at that and shown that and we'll find out whether that's a free kick or whether that's not, that's what we'd like to know."

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said an analysis on the decision would help clarify the rule for future reference.

"That's the best part, it's happened in a close game, in a practice game and the AFL in time can sort it out and work out whether they need to press ahead with it or not," Harvey said.

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