But the Eagles found a pulse,levelling the scores at half-time with a four-goal run to get their home crowd involved for one of the few times this season. A behind to put them in front early in the third quarter was greeted with cheers.
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But the Eagles were unlucky to lose McGovern,after a collision with Cameron had him gasping for air and clutching his ribs late in the second term.
McGovern was sent to hospital for scans on what looks to be broken or fractured ribs.
“You go to hospital,they’re probably broken,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.
“He’s had plenty of knocks over his time and he’s pretty brave. He plays hurt all the time. So for him not to get up,he’s pretty sore.
“A lot of guys play with broken or fractured ribs. He’s done it plenty of times before,but it looked like a pretty bad one.”
The Eagles lost a little shape behind the ball after that,which the Cats exploited in a third-quarter burst.
They swiftly opened up another four-goal lead,Stengle again prominent,turning Tom Barrass inside-out on a wing to help set up Isaac Smith,and kicking his third goal shortly after from a tight angle.
Jamie Cripps kept the Eagles in touch with a late third-quarter goal,but it was a margin they were unable to breach,despite having the better of Geelong for much of the last quarter,at least in territory.
It was a valiant effort,but the Cats had more guns and more class when it counted. It wasn’t their most convincing win of the season,but they’ll take the four points happily,as they consolidate their hold on yet another top four finish.
Goals
West Coast Eagles: Waterman 2,Kennedy 2,Cripps 2,Rioli,Petruccelle,West.
Geelong: Stengle 3,Hawkins 3,Menegola 2,Close,Cameron,Smith,Duncan.
Best
West Coast Eagles: Waterman,Gaff,Redden,Barrass,Cripps,Yeo.
Geelong: Stengle,Guthrie,Selwood,Cameron,Menegola,Tuohy.
Injuries
West Coast Eagles: McGovern (ribs).
Geelong: Nil.