Eagles skipper tips Cats for AFL premiers

James Podsiadly of Geelong celebrates kicking a goal against The West Coast Eagles during their second Preliminary Final AFL game at the MCG in Melbourne, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. Geelong won the game by 48 points, 17-15,117 to 10-9,69. (AAP Image/Martin Philbey)

THE Eagles were under siege as the Cats launched 66 inside-50 attacking raids to West Coast’s 47 in Geelong’s 17.15 (117) to 10.9 (69) victory over the Eagles in the second AFL preliminary final, at the MCG.

“I’d probably put Geelong as favourites. But the way Collingwood fought through (on Friday night to beat Hawthorn), it’s going to be a great grand final,” Darren Glass told AAP.

Glass said while the Eagles had made a remarkable recovery from last year’s wooden spooners to finishing in the top four in 2011, the manner of Saturday’s defeat simply wasn’t acceptable.

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“We lacked a bit of intensity and effort and certainly their ball use going forward was a lot better than ours,” the two-time All-Australian said.

“It has left a sour taste in the mouth. Sometimes it’s that feeling that drives you forward the next year.

“No one at the club is satisfied with what this year brought. We thought we could have put in a better performance today.”

Glass said the Eagles were confident of being in a position to challenge for the club’s fourth flag in 2012.

“We were clearly well short of the top two or three teams. It’s a good reality check,” said Glass, 30.

“But I think the list still has plenty of upside.

“If you go back and look at the improvement from individuals and the team then next year we should be looking to take the next step.

“We expect to be more equipped for the finals next season. Younger players, older players they’re going to learn a lot from this finals series and the areas of their games they need to work on.”

The Eagles were upset winners over Geelong by eight points in round 16 at Patersons Stadium but Glass said the Cats were simply too good in the heat of a knockout final.

“The boys have taken on every challenge this year and at halftime we laid the challenge down, but we just couldn’t respond,” Glass said of Geelong’s seven-goals-to-two performance in the third term.

West Coast outscored the home side three goals to two in the final quarter but it was a hollow victory.

“We’re well short. We’ll be pretty keen to work hard over the summer,” Glass said.

“It was a tough day (in defence). The ball was coming in pretty hard.”

Beau Waters, 25, showed he had the stomach for finals football with a 38-possession game under intense pressure including 11 rebound-50s out of defence.