Lalor Injury Cloud as Eagles Soar Against Tigers
Richmond’s number one pick, Sam Lalor was walked off the ground in the hands of trainers on Monday morning.
In the final five minutes of the trial game, Sam Lalor went in the rooms. It appeared to be a head knock received in a marking contest, and he was later placed in concussion protocols.
It was a shame for the pick one, who’s no-nonsense approach saw him winning plenty of the football, as he finished the day with two goals.
He wasn’t the only injury concern either, with Hugo Ralphsmith limping off with what looked like a hamstring concern.
Injury wasn’t the Tigers only concern, as they were defeated heavily by the Eagles at Mineral Resources Park, winning 10.2.62 to 4.2.26.
Aside from Lalor, other new faces included Jasper Alger and Thomas Sims for Richmond.
For West Coast, top draftee Bo Allan, and the untapped Archer Reid were on display.
The Eagles had James Van Es, Jack Henderson, and Sandy Brock lining up as potential SSP signings. With two spots available on their list, one will, inevitably, miss out on an AFL chance.
There is certainly a yellow and black flavor out west this year, with former Tigers’ Liam Baker and Jack Graham on show for the blue and goal.
Matt Owies was also looking to impress in his first game since crossing from the Blues.
It was Owies who released Elijah Hewett to kick the first goal of the game, his turning snap going through the middle as both teams adjusted to the tempers of a new season.
West Coast were looking to use the long wide kicks in the first quarter, as Andrew McQualter looked to lean on his previous experience as a defensive coach.
Richmond were also using a slower style of play, and this lead to Lalor’s first goal to close out the first period.
The number one pick had the football delivered to him, from there he was able to convert easily. It looked as many suspected, that the adjustment for Lalor would be no problem.
However, both teams’ skill level was letting them down to quarter time, so after a tight first quarter, West Coast adjusted, and moved the ball quicker.
This adjustment paid off, goals through Tyler Brockman and Noah Long were the first in a chain of eight uninterrupted.
Minutes later, Tyrell Dewar unloaded a bomb from 55 off a Jack Graham clearance.
Co-captain Oscar Allen kicked two goals in the second, his involvement met with large applause from the Eagles faithful.
By this point, Richmond was offering no disruptions to the Eagles flight path. West Coast were able to catch the Tigers on the break and transition the football from the back flanks into their forward 50 with ease, when the Eagles went quick, they looked very good.
It was stark difference from the first term.
Brockman then took over the stage, as the third period started, he kicked the Eagles eight and ninth goal, but by then the game was all over.
The Tigers did get a reprieve through Oliver Hayes-Brown and Lalor, Ryhan Mansell to make the scoreboard more respectable.
West Coast now travel to Bunbury to take on the Roos two Saturday’s from now, while the Tigers take on Collingwood next Wednesday back in Melbourne.
Eagles: 1.0 7.2 10.2.62
Tigers: 1.1 1.1 4.2.26
Goalkickers:
Eagles:
Brockman, (3), Allen, (2), Dewar, Hewett, Long, Petrucelle, Owies
Tigers:
Lalor, (2), Hayes-Brown, Mansell
Best:
Eagles:
O. Allen, T. Brockman, T. Dewar
Tigers:
J. Blight, T. Dow, S. Lalor