Brandan Parfitt has given West Coast a stark reminder of what they missed out on in the mid-season draft, tearing them in a 38-point Perth win.
Parfitt had been heavily linked to the Eagles for most of the year but ultimately the Geelong premiership player was overlooked for a second chance in the AFL.
The midfielder ensured they would get a good look at what they turned down, dominating a strong Eagles outfit in a 14.14 (98) to 9.6 (60) victory at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.
Parfitt’s outing was arguably his season’s best, finishing with 29 disposals – including 20 at half-time – as well as eight clearances, six tackles and a goal.
Fellow former Cat turned Perth co-captain Charlie Constable was also influential with 40 clearances, 13 disposals, six tackles and a goal.
The pair were a class above in a scrappy match which Perth broke open in a dynamic third term, kicking six goals to one.
West Coast came with elite pressure early and Perth were struggling to handle it, coughing up turnovers and making critical errors.
Perth kicked the opener through Austin Davis, but it was all one-way traffic for much of the first term as West Coast kept the ball in their half.
Eagles mid-season draftee Tom McCarthy got his teammates inspired with a long-range goal – his first at his new club – to go with nine first-quarter disposals.
West Coast rookie Malakai Champion caught a Perth defender holding the ball dead in front to give them a 10-point lead at the first break.
Clarke steadied the Demons in the second term, beating Eagles backman Rhett Bazzo on several occasions to kick consecutive goals to grab momentum.
The Demons took control of the match in a comprehensive third term, using their run and over-lap handball to widen the ground and out the Eagles’ defence under immense pressure.
Perth could’ve been further in front had they not been so unselfish at times, costing themselves in front of goals.
The Eagles threatened a comeback in the final term when they kicked the first two goals of the final term.
Young Demons forward Lochlan Paton put the result beyond doubt with his second goal to give Perth bragging rights as the game opened up with players tiring.
SCOREBOARD
PERTH 1.4, 5.6, 11.7, 14.14 (98)
WEST COAST 3.2, 4.4, 5.6, 9.6 (60)
Goals – PERTH: L Paton 3 A Clarke 2 C Constable A Davis Z Derksen J Edwards A Luers M Randall B Parfitt T Thorne R Wills. WEST COAST: J Petruccelle 2 M Champion H Davis C Livingstone S Lucassen T McCarthy J Newton B Williams.
Best – PERTH: C Constable B Parfitt R Wills N Cachard J Edwards L Paton. WEST COAST: C Hall H Johnston T Gross T McCarthy J Shanahan H Sparks.
Injuries – WEST COAST: E Sambo and O Kerr replaced in the selected side by C Hall and B Williams (AFL).
Umpires: C Snadden G Simmonds N Bevan D Cox. Crowd: About 1200 at Mineral Resources Park.
