On March 16, 2025, the Andrew McQualter era for the West Coast Eagles commenced with a staggering blow, as they were defeated by the Gold Coast Suns by 87 points at Optus Stadium. The final score, 20.16 (136) to 7.7 (49), marked the biggest victory in Gold Coast's history, surpassing their previous mark of 86 points. This alarming loss has left fans and analysts questioning the future of the Eagles after they expected significant improvements under their new coach.
McQualter, visibly despondent post-game, expressed his disappointment, stating, "We’re bitterly disappointed. We expected more, unfortunately we didn’t get it right so it’s disappointing." His analysis of the match pointed to the incredible disadvantage the Eagles faced: "When you go minus 40 in the contest, you’re not going to be able to compete," he said, alluding to West Coast's struggled midfield and defense throughout the match.
The Eagles got off to a rocky start, unable to match Gold Coast's intensity on the field as they found themselves outclassed at every turn. It was evident from the first quarter; the Suns led 29-13, having dominated the inside-50 count (23 to 4) and the clearance battle (12 to 4). Jake Waterman and Oscar Allen managed to score early for West Coast, but any hopes of establishing dominance quickly faded as the Suns took control.
Gold Coast's Ben King stood out with six goals, including one spectacular mark believed to be a contender for the mark of the year. Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, and Touk Miller were pivotal, with Anderson registering 36 disposals and nine clearances, Rowell 30 disposals and 10 clearances, and Miller contributing 26 disposals and two goals. Their combined effort left the West Coast midfielders, like Tim Kelly (14 disposals) and Harley Reid (12 disposals), struggling to find their footing throughout the match.
Despite the Eagles' attempts to mount some offense, their midfield seemed overwhelmed, resulting in only one clearance by halftime. The mounting pressure paid off for the Suns as they continued scoring surprising goals, pushing the lead to as much as 45 points by the half.
Compounding the disaster for West Coast were injuries to key players. Jake Waterman was subbed out of the game due to calf tightness he had been managing throughout the week, and he was not the only one facing concerns. Co-captain Liam Duggan left the field with an ankle injury, and forward-turned-wingman Jack Hutchinson also had to sit out most of the final term due to unspecified issues. McQualter conveyed their injuries as precautionary measures, but the fallout was visible, leaving the Eagles painfully thin right when they needed strength most.
West Coast's uphill battle, with the next game against the 2024 premiers Brisbane at the Gabba looming, adds to the urgency for improvement. "It’s probably pretty clear there’s various facets of the game we need to improve on," Matt Owies, Eagles recruit, mentioned after the match. He emphasized focusing on competing at the contest—a clear area of struggle against the Suns.
With only one game behind them, and 22 more still to come, there is hope among the Eagles' supporters—that this massive loss will drive the team to refine their strategies and rebuild their identity. The brutal nature of the defeat, as analyzed by former premiership winner David King, raised questions on whether players were genuinely committed. With statistics showing the Eagles went -25 for contested possessions, -17 for clearances, -23 inside 50s, and -45 points on the scoreboard by the main break, the scrutiny over each individual performance will be intense.
McQualter will be reviewing footage from the match, aiming to identify the key issues needing attention as they gear up for their next challenge. "The beauty of footy... you get opportunity, you go away and watch this tape," he said. With optimism for future performances and the determination to turn around their current state, the Eagles will aim to restore pride and effectiveness, starting with their demanding trip to Brisbane. The upcoming week will be pivotal for West Coast, as they strive to regain traction and prove to their fans they can emerge from this dark opening game of the 2025 season.