It might’ve been his 25th game at the helm, but West Coast’s 17-point win over North Melbourne felt like the highly-anticipated unveiling of the Andrew McQualter era.
The Eagles snapped a 14-game losing streak and ended a 308-day winless drought with a 17.9 (111) to 15.4 (94) victory over the Kangaroos in front of 47,083 fans at Optus Stadium.
Yet it was the way they won that felt so much more valuable than just the four points they pocketed.
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West Coast’s newest breed of superstars seemingly decided this was their team now, and it was their duty to take it forward.
Yes, veteran Jamie Cripps kicked three goals and senior players in Tim Kelly, Liam Baker, Jack Graham and Elliot Yeo all had big says.
But it was those charged with the future of the club who stood tall against a North Melbourne outfit full of confidence from a big round one win.
Superstar Harley Reid showed the wears of a strong pre-season with a best-on-ground performance, racking up a career-high 30 disposals.
And so did his fellow up and comers. Hamish Davis owned a wing after a strong summer with 18 disposals, while 2024 first-round draftee Bo Allan (17 touches) showed why he was so highly touted.
And then there was second-gamers in Cooper Duff-Tytler (12 disposals and two goals), Willem Duursma (17 disposals and two goals) and Milan Murdock (two goals, 16 disposals and 10 tackles) who all had profound impact in their own ways.
There were alarm bells when, for a second consecutive week, the Eagles conceded seven goals in the first term, finding themselves behind by 30 points early in the second quarter.
Harry Sheezel (40 touches and eight clearances) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (32 and six) were tearing West Coast apart through their outstanding work-rate.
However, the Eagles were the better team through the next three, producing a scintillating eight-goal third term before holding on for their first win since round 10 of last year.
West Coast fans were itching to see their new recruits.
And No.1 draftee Duursma gave them an early look at his immense talent, kicking his first AFL goal within the first two minutes to get them on their feet.
The early optimism quickly dissipated for the vocal and hopeful West Coast faithful as North Melbourne took complete control of the game.
West Coast consistently turned over the footy and the Kangaroos pounced on the mistakes, counter attacking with such ferocity that it forced McQualter to send spearhead Jake Waterman back as a spare defender.
Matt Flynn of the Eagles celebrates a goal. Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
It led to five unanswered goals from the visitors in 13 minutes to get the game firmly on their terms.
The only blemish on North Melbourne’s quarter was a thigh injury to backman Griffin Logue in the opening minutes of the game.
Things got even worse for West Coast when they lost key defender Harry Edwards to a second concussion, copping friendly fire from ruck Matt Flynn minutes before the first break.
Duff-Tytler joined fellow draftee Duursma by nimbly kicking his first AFL goal just before quarter-time to lift the spirits of the local crowd.
When Cam Zurhaar kicked the Kangaroos’ first goal to start the second term, they held a strong five-goal lead and the Eagles looked unable to find another gear.
Edwards’ injury forced Reuben Ginbey to match-up on Larkey – who already had three goals – and like he had on several occasions last year, the Eagle competed above his weight limit.
A series of incredible defensive efforts from Ginbey and then Murdock’s intensity forward of centre seemed to ignite West Coast.
One of the few positives for the Eagles in the opening term was their centre clearance dominance which they were just unable to capitalise on it.
Harley Reid of the Eagles kicks the ball. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos
They had no such trouble in the second term, finding momentum at the stoppages and then hurting the Kangaroos when they made mistakes.
West Coast kicked four unanswered goals to get within a point only for Larkey to take advantage of Ginbey being on the bench to kick his fourth of the first half.
It gave the Kangaroos some breathing room heading into the main break, but the momentum felt well and truly with the home side.
And it proved correct when they came out after half-time like a team possessed, kicking eight goals to two to lead by 30 points at the final break and lay the challenge at North Melbourne’s feet.
Larkey rose to the occasion, kicking two of the first three goals of the final stanza to test the Eagles’ ability to win.
However, the new breed of Eagles held firm.
Spearhead Jake Waterman put a wayward day behind him to kick truly at a vital time, before Murdock snapped the sealer to send the crowd into a frenzy.
And on the final siren pandemonium ensued as 11 players belted out the song for the first time at the club in a big moment early in 2026.
SCOREBOARD
WEST COAST 3.1, 7.6, 15.7, 17.9 (111)
NORTH MELBOURNE 7.1, 9.1, 11.1, 15.4 (94)
Goals – WEST COAST: J Cripps 3 C Duff-Tytler 2 W Duursma 2 M Murdock 2 A Reid 2 J Shanahan 2 E Yeo 2 M Flynn J Waterman. NORTH MELBOURNE: N Larkey 6 P Curtis 2 C Zurhaar 2 L Dovaston J Konstanty L McDonald T Powell F O’Sullivan.
Best – WEST COAST: H Reid R Ginbey J Graham L Baker M Murdock C Duff-Tytler. NORTH MELBOURNE: H Sheezel N Larkey L Davies-Uniacke T Xerri L McDonald T Powell.
Injuries – WEST COAST: H Edwards (concussion). NORTH MELBOURNE: G Logue (thigh).
Umpires: J Prior J Broadbent A Heffernan A Adair. Crowd: 47,083 at Optus Stadium.
