West Coast Eagles bounced back after last week's shocking loss to Essendon and returned to top spot by beating St Kilda by 30 points at Subiaco Oval.
Questions were asked after the Eagles' capitulation against the Bombers at Docklands, but a week on John Worsfold's men had the answers, winning 18.13 (121) to 13.13 (91).
"St Kilda was in pretty good form and obviously a tough side to crack, so in the end we're pretty happy with the win," Eagles midfielder Andrew Gaff told Grandstand.
The Saints were as bad early on Sunday as they were good last week in beating Carlton.
"We came out lethargic in the first quarter," Saints midfielder Farren Ray said.
"They outworked us all day, especially the first half, and then we were never going to win.
"We were playing catch-up footy all day."
Things started going wrong early in the piece for Scott Watters' side, when Rhys Stanley pulled up with a hamstring injury late in the first quarter.
This left the Saints' already-depleted ruck stocks under further strain, with Justin Koschitzke forced to go solo for three quarters against Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.
"[With] Rhys going down early with his hamstring, Kossy [Justin Koschitzke] pinch-hits in the ruck so he and Jason Blake did a bit in the ruck there," Ray said.
"But lacking that one on the bench really makes a difference, especially on a big ground against a quality side like West Coast."
Cox kicked five goals for the match for the first time in his AFL career, and Naitanui continued to fly high, taking a number of spectacular marks in attack and defence.
The second half saw St Kilda pressure the Eagles into errors, and braces of goals to Jamie Cripps and Ahmed Saad brought the Saints back into the contest.
The home crowd at Subiaco began to get nervous, as St Kilda brought the margin back to 15 points.
Gaff said the Saints' surge after half-time should not have been allowed to happen.
"It was definitely a bit concerning," he admitted.
"We pride ourselves on playing four good quarters and definitely the third wasn't up to standard.
"So we'll look at that during the week and hopefully make amends next week against Freo."
Injuries have plagued the club but Gaff said the Eagles' success is testament to how well they can adapt as a unit.
"I think we struggled with Nic Nat out and Pridda [midfielder Matthew Priddis] last weekend and this week," he said.
"But we've obviously stepped up a bit in his absence and everyone's shared the load, which is the most promising thing.
"We're not going to have a full-strength side every week so that's definitely an important side of our make-up."
In the end, a tiring St Kilda could not quite catch the Eagles, and final quarter goals to Patrick McGinnity, Luke Shuey and Naitanui were enough to keep West Coast clear for the win.
Nick Riewoldt did his best to lift his team over the line, kicking four goals for the match.
Eagles: 18.13 (121) - Cox 5, Waters 2, Shuey 2, Naitanui 2, Hill, Gaff, Lynch, Darling, Sheppard, Schofield, McGinnity.
Saints: 13.13 (91) - Riewoldt 4, Cripps 2, Saad, Gilbert, Milne, Armitage, Milera, Steven, Dal Santo.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, subiaco-6008, australia, wa First posted May 20, 2012 19:34:05
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