Round 18 Match Report

Perth have broken a fifteen game losing streak following a comprehensive victory over the last placed West Coast Eagles at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday evening. The Demons avoided the wooded spoon having run out 47-point winners in the end as they took advantage of an inexperienced Eagles side that only had three AFL-listed players in action.

Most of the damage was done inside the first half as the Demons held their opponents scoreless in the first quarter, before having consecutive five goal leads at half time and three-quarter time respectively. Harry Quartermaine continued to show plenty of upside kicking three goals, as did dynamic small forward Simon Hayward who also bobbed up to kick three critical goals on the night.

Despite a better third term from the Eagles, the Demons finished where they left off to pile on another five majors in the last quarter to ensure victory was sealed under lights. Regan Clarke further strengthened his credentials for a potential best and fairest with 32 disposals and 10 inside 50s, while Haydn Busher did a fantastic job of shutting down the Eagles forwards every time the ball would come in, finishing with 24 disposals and a whopping 14 marks. In more positive news, 18-year-old Baxter Philip didn’t take long to make an impact on league debut kicking a long-range set shot goal in the opening quarter to which his teammates celebrated immensely by.

The Demons will take a lot of confidence out of the performance as they prepare to travel to Leederville Oval on Saturday to play Subiaco who sit just one position clear of them on the ladder.