West Coast has started the season 3-1 for the third year in a row after defeating Gold Coast 21.13 (139) to 9.5 (59) in a dominant display in front of 51,744 fans at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
After a quick start to the Eagles, the Suns gathered and were back in the contest at the first break, but then the home team grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck with an eight-goal-to-one second quarter effectively ending the contest.
Returning star Josh Kennedy kicked five goals in his first game for the season, while fellow West Coast forward Marc LeCras snagged two in his 200th game.
Gold Coast captain Tom Lynch lifted after being tied down by Dockers defender Alex Pearce, booting three goals with little support, while high-priced recruit Lachie Weller played his most productive game for the club since crossing from Fremantle.
WA product David Swallow (29 disposals, one goal) and ex-Crow Jarryd Lyons (26) tried hard in the face of the Eagles' onslaught, and Aaron Hall (26) was much-improved after being tagged out of the Freo defeat.
Gold Coast gave a yelp in the third quarter, which the Suns won by four points after trailing by 54 at the long break, but overall their response to last week's underwhelming defeat was not up to scratch.
After spending the past week on enemy territory having sold a 'home' game to Fremantle, the Suns would be desperate to get home and forget a terrible trip west.
Dew has plenty of thinking to do, with the Suns lacking the hard edge they want to become renowned for and slumping to a 2-2 record ahead of next weekend's QClash.
MEDICAL ROOM
West Coast: After copping an early corkie last week against Geelong, tough defender Brad Sheppard suffered more pain to the same quad and needed strapping after hobbling around in the opening term. Luke Shuey limped to the bench late in the first term but returned to play out the game. Jack Redden came to the interchange limping in the third term but returned, while Daniel Venables continued the carnage after being helped from the ground with a right ankle issue. His injury looked the worst of the lot after he was caught in an awkward position in a tackle.
Gold Coast: Ben Ainsworth came from the field with a blood nose in the first quarter after a high hit in a marking contest and was in the wars later after copping a heavy bump from Mark LeCras in the third term. Tom Lynch hurt his left ankle in the third quarter and came from the field for treatment but returned before the final change.
NEXT UP
The Eagles head to the MCG – where they have won only once in the last six attempts - to take on Carlton on Saturday, while the homeless Suns at least get to return to their home state for the clash with the Lions at the Gabba on Sunday.
WEST COAST 4.4 12.8 15.12 21.13 (139)
GOLD COAST 3.1 4.2 8.4 9.5 (59)
GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 5, Cripps 4, Darling 3, LeCras 2, Rioli 2, Masten 2, Waterman, Venables, Lycett.
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Young 2, Sexton, Fiorini, Swallow, Martin.
BEST
West Coast: Yeo, McGovern, Cripps, Duggan, Gaff, Masten, Darling.
Gold Coast: Swallow, Harbrow, Fiorini, Martin, Weller, Lynch.
INJURIES
West Coast: Venables (ankle)
Gold Coast: Ainsworth (concussion)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, O’Gorman, Fleer.
Official crowd: 51,774 at Optus Stadium
