The West Coast Eagles faced off against the Gold Coast Suns at Optus Stadium on March 16, 2025, marking the kickoff of the AFL season.<\/p>
With the pressure on Andrew McQualter during his first game as the Eagles' head coach, the team started the match with high hopes. Bouncedown commenced at 3:10 PM AWST (6:10 PM AEDT), giving fans the thrill of footy after the long off-season. Yet, the Sun proved to be formidable opponents, taking control of the match right from the whistle.
Matt Owies, one of West Coast's major recruits, got the Eagles on the scoreboard early with his first goal. Assisted by Jamie Cripps and Brockman, Owies was able to find the goal unmarked. This moment felt significant, igniting the enthusiasm of the Eagles' supporters but quickly turned sour as Gold Coast responded strongly.
By the end of the third quarter, West Coast trailed with a score of 5.5 (35) against Gold Coast's 14.11 (95). The statistics were telling; Gold Coast dominated with 54 inside 50s to West Coast's mere 23 and garnered 40 clearances compared to the Eagles' 25. The Suns led the contested possessions with a staggering plus 39 advantage. Despite Jack Graham's efforts for West Coast, the team struggled to gain momentum with other key players like Reid and Kelly falling quiet on the field.
Ben Long showcased his skill with what was described as a special goal, slinging the ball from the boundary and sneaking it through for six points. Meanwhile, Matt Flynn, sent down to play full forward, scored after capturing the ball at the stoppages. Throughout the quarter, fatigue set in as players from both sides began cramping up.
Gold Coast's Ben King was also making headlines, taking incredible marks and scoring four goals by the end of the third quarter. Each time West Coast appeared to find their rhythm, King and the Suns would push back, swiftly extending their lead immediately after the Eagles made any score corrections.
Notably missed during the match was the experienced West Coast midfield duo of Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed, which undoubtedly left gaps within the team structure. Their absence meant younger players like Bo Allan and Reuben Ginbey had to step up, but their performance was still developing amid fierce competition for places.
Even with the Eagles struggling, there were brief moments of victory, including Harley Reid scoring from 50 meters, reflecting some glimmers of hope for the squad. Yet, those moments were short-lived against the relentless Suns, who would capitalize almost immediately, finding Touk Miller seamlessly transitioning to score from the 50.
Updating the score yet again, Ben King intercepted the Eagles' ball and converted it easily, extending Gold Coast's lead. It became clear the Eagles were up against not just the Suns' physical skill on the field but their football IQ, with West Coast unable to defend against the turnovers effectively.
The Eagles, now visibly weary and running low on energy, managed to get back on the scoring board with Waterman marking and scoring his second goal—an admirable achievement considering the overall scoreline. This goal broke Gold Coast’s run of nine unanswered scores.
With the game seemingly slipping away, players like Ryan Maric and Jake Waterman provided moments of intensity, but those were not enough to change the overarching narrative of the game. Gold Coast remained swiftly tactical, with Alex Sexton subbing onto the field for Charlie Ballard, who was out due to injury, adding yet another layer of depth to their already solid performance.
Despite the early excitement surrounding the new recruits and the anticipation of the season’s beginning, West Coast faced the grim reality of starting the 2025 season on the wrong foot. The Eagles' future under McQualter’s leadership now looked challenging as they sought to amend their game before heading to future clashes.
Gold Coast, on the other hand, is building momentum, aiming toward the finals with their mix of experienced and young talent bolstered by recent recruitment, including adding Daniel Rioli and John Noble to their list. With aspirations for improvement following last season’s struggles, the Suns displayed the intensity needed to potentially change their course.
With the dust settling on Round 1’s finale, the question lingered: how will West Coast respond as their season progresses? Immediate adjustments seem necessary if they wish to rise from this disappointing opening match.