West Coast Eagles beaten by Sydney Swans in final game of the season at Optus StadiumMitchell WoodcockThe West AustralianSat, 23 August 2025 8:20PMCommentsCommentsEmail Mitchell Woodcock
West Coast’s 67-point defeat to Sydney mirrored their season overall — it had effort but lacked the polish and star power to meet the standard.
Andrew McQualter made history in his first year as coach as the Eagles became the first club in VFL/AFL history to lose 22 games in a season.
And their 18.10 (118) to 7.9 (51) defeat to the Swans at Optus Stadium on Saturday night was their 13th consecutive defeat — the second biggest losing streak in their history.
For a half the Eagles looked capable of causing an upset, leading at the first two breaks before the Swans’ class came to the fore as they kicked 13 goals to one in the second half.
It ended a horror year that will have them claim the dubious mantle of wooden spooners for the third time.
The positive for McQualter and his team heading into the summer is it can only get better from here.
Several of their star players watched from the stands, while they were able to unveil 10 debutants and find some players for the future.
Unfortunately, they will be left wit the taste of defeat lingering for the next seven months before they get their chance to change their fortunes as a big pre-season looms.
The Swans’ star power was simply too much for the Eagles to handle as Errol Gulden (34 disposals and two goals), Callum Mills (29 disposals) and Isaac Heeney (26 disposals and 10 clearances) found another gear to carry them to victory.
Up forward Tom Papley booted three goals and West Australian Jack Buller also kicked a career-high three majors, while in the ruck Brodie Grundy struggled for an impact around the ground but did his All-Australian claims no harm with 50 hit-outs.
For the Eagles there were positives they could take into the summer.
First-year forward Jobe Shanahan continued to show his immense potential with three goals, while Clay Hall finished with 17 clearances from six disposals.
Tim Kelly continued his late season form with 24 disposals, while recruits Jack Graham (26 disposals, seven clearances and nine tackles) and Liam Baker (26 touches) put in strong four-quarter efforts.
The Eagles exploded out of the blocks, applying relentless pressure and attacking the game with reckless intent.
And it caught the Swans completely off guard as they struggled to not only defend but break through against an Eagles team that came out with purpose.
Bailey Williams kicked the first goal within a minute before the Jamie Cripps ran around the back of ruckman Matt Flynn to boot a second.
When the Eagles counterattacked off half-back it opened the chance for Shanahan and the home side shot out to a three-goal lead after 10 minutes.
West Coast were on track to hold a team goalless in a quarter for just the third time until a late turnover resulted in a Hayden McLean goal after the siren.
It didn’t spare the Swans from a good spray from coach Dean Cox, who was clearly not happy with their first-quarter efforts.
Cox got the desired result as the Swans came out all guns blazing in the second term, matching the Eagles’ intensity and getting on top at the stoppages to level the scores.
To their credit, West Coast rose to the challenge and lifted on the back of mid-season draftee Jacob Newton kicking the first goal of his career.
West Coast fans were left with their hearts in their mouths when third-year defender Reuben Ginbey was left in agony on the turf after his shin collided with the head of Flynn.
After a brief time getting treatment, Ginbey came back out but was struggling with the injury and was subbed out just before half-time.
It became a see-sawing contest with neither side able to gain the ascendency for too long as the Eagles led by seven points heading into the main break.
The hope of a second win for the season quickly faded in the third term as the Swans upped the ante while the Eagles’ early intensity faded.
Come the final term it became party time for the Swans, who piled on seven goals to one to blow the margin out and end the Eagles season.
SCOREBOARD
SYDNEY 1.1, 5.5, 11.7, 18.10 (118)
WEST COAST 3.2, 6.6, 6.7, 7.9 (51)
Goals – SYDNEY: J Buller 3 T Papley 3 N Blakey 2 E Gulden 2 W Hayward 2 H McLean 2 J Rowbottom 2 I Heeney Ch Warner. WEST COAST: J Shanahan 3 J Cripps M Flynn J Newton B Williams.
Best – SYDNEY: E Gulden T Papley I Heeney C Mills T McCartin N Blakey. WEST COAST: J Graham M Flynn L Baker J Shanahan T Kelly T McCarthy C Hall.
Injuries – WEST COAST: R Ginbey (leg).
Umpires: N Jankovskis J Howard P Rebeschini P Bailes. Crowd: 36,029 at Optus Stadium.
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