WEST COAST                     7.4      11.8    15.11  24.18   (162)
NORTH MELBOURNE        0.3      2.8      8.10    9.12     (66) 

In one of the most complete performances of the season West Coast dismantled a very dissapointing North Melbourne side by in the second elimination final.

In scenes reminiscent of Fremantle’s win of the night before the Eagles put on a clinic. They blitzed the Kangaroos, building a 43 point lead at quarter time effectively ending the game early.

West Coast were unstoppable all day, they ran on top of the ground and sliced through any North resistance with ease. The reoccurring image of the day was that of a Eagles player bounding down the wing in endless space and delivering a perfect pass into the forward line.

They beat North Melbourne in every facet of the game, the most significant of which was the midfield. Naitanui and Cox in his 250th game were dominant in the ruck while the foot soldiers including Kerr and Selwood were so good the Roos just couldn’t get their hands on the ball.

North Melbourne will be left wondering how? After such a good second half of the season they were a chance of causing an upset but to serve up a performance such as that is embarrassing.

With so many great performances it is hard to single out a single best player but West Coast had many nominees. Andrew Embley was back at his Norm Smith winning best with 4 goals, 22 disposals and 11 inside 50’s and plenty of run.

Both ruckman monstered Goldstein both in the air and around the ground while Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy had field days king four goals each.

As for North few could put their hand up and say they broke even.  Andrew Swallow was excellent in the midfield, he battled hard all day gathering 31 disposals. Ziebell was also in the same boat , putting his body on the line for 30 possessions 18 contested. Matt Campbell was the most productive forward with 3 goals.

The destructive opening quarter contained 7 Eagles goals to none. Their run and spread combined with accurate disposal left North with no answer.

In the second it was only after West Coast kinked the first two goals before North Started showing any form of resistance. Campbell kicked their first halfway through 15 minutes into the quarter. The story of the quarter was an injury to Beau Waters who hurt his foot and looks like missing next week.

After half time the Kangaroos began to make an indent on the scoreboard kicking 6 goals.  West Coast also managed 4 goals and it was clear that North struggled to get those goals while every one of West Coast’s came with ease.

In the last quarter the Eagles went into party mode evient by the resulting mexican waves in the crowd. Kennedy. Lynch and Kerr all kicked straight in the 9 goal last quarter even Naitanui and Cox kicked goals as they rested forward.

West Coast will now go on to face Collingwood at the MCG on Friday Night.

GOALS
West Coast: Darling 4, Embley 4, Kennedy 4, Lynch 3, Hill, Mackenzie, Shuey, McGinnity, Masten, Cox, Naitanui, Hurn, Kerr
North Melbourne: Campbell 3, Harvey 3, Hansen, Cunnington, Petrie

BEST
West Coast: Darling, Embley, Naitanui, Kerr, Cox, S. Selwood, Butler, Hurn
North Melbourne: Swallow, Ziebell, Campbell, Cunnington, Thompson

INJURIES
West Coast: Beau Waters (right foot)
North Melbourne: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Beau Waters replaced by Jacob Brennan in the second quarter
North Melbourne: Robbie Tarrant replaced by Kieran Harper in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, McBurney, Jeffery

Official crowd: 41,790 at Patersons Stadium