The scoreboard in West Coast's 17-point win over Carlton will tell a story that the Eagles limped to a win against the 17th-placed side at Domain Stadium on Saturday night.
But the Eagles made better use of difficult conditions to win their 11th game of the season and push back into the top eight.
More AFL Real Footy Videos
- Video duration
- 01:28
West Coast escape against Carlton
West Coast escape against Carlton
Josh Kennedy bagged six as the Eagles kept their finals hopes alive with a 100-83 victory at home.
Up Next
Eagles' epic after-the-siren win
- Video duration
- 00:43
- Video duration
- 00:43
Eagles' epic after-the-siren win
Eagles' epic after-the-siren win
It all came down to one kick to see who would make it through to play the GWS Giants at Spotless.
Up Next
AFL plays of the finals: week 01
- Video duration
- 02:14
- Video duration
- 02:14
AFL plays of the finals: week 01
AFL plays of the finals: week 01
The crow McGovern flies high, Martin and Cochin end Richmond's finals gloom, Sydney teach Essendon a lesson and the Port/West Coast elimination final ends in a draw before Luke Shuey steps up.
Up Next
Tigers steamroll Cats to defy tawdry history
- Video duration
- 01:32
- Video duration
- 01:32
Tigers steamroll Cats to defy tawdry ...
Tigers steamroll Cats to defy tawdry history
Richmond claim their first final's victory in 16 years wearing down a tired Geelong 91-40.
Up Next
Cats dramatically claw back before the break
- Video duration
- 00:33
- Video duration
- 00:33
Cats dramatically claw back before the ...
Cats dramatically claw back before the break
Geelong took their time to warm up against Richmond, but defied a sluggish first half with two late goals.
Up Next
Swans turnaround about action, not talk
- Video duration
- 00:18
- Video duration
- 00:18
Swans turnaround about action, not talk
Swans turnaround about action, not talk
Tom Papley gives insights on why the Sydney Swans are among the Premiership favourites despite their 0-6 start to the season.
Up Next
FootyFix: Will Dusty deliver finals redemption for the Tigers?
- Video duration
- 06:10
- Video duration
- 06:10
FootyFix: Will Dusty deliver finals ...
FootyFix: Will Dusty deliver finals redemption for the Tigers?
Ahead of arguably the best weekend of footy in the AFL calendar, Sam McClure previews all the action of week one of the finals.
Up Next
McGovern produces magnificent mark
- Video duration
- 00:36
- Video duration
- 00:36
McGovern produces magnificent mark
McGovern produces magnificent mark
Adelaide Crows Mitch McGovern kept the crowd on their feet with some spectacular athleticism against GWS Giants.
West Coast escape against Carlton
Josh Kennedy bagged six as the Eagles kept their finals hopes alive with a 100-83 victory at home.
The wind was tough to negotiate in Perth. It was strong and pushed consistently one way. A Jeremy McGovern shot from well inside the centre square in the final term missed the mark, but easily cleared the fence.
The Blues failed to kick a goal against the gale during the second quarter. They managed three into it in a tight final term, including two terrific goals from the boot of Levi Casboult, but it was a classic case of too little, too late.
West Coast's opening term, when they booted four goals without the breeze, set up their night and the win. They led by three points at the opening change.
They backed it up with five to nil in the second term to lead by 31 points at the main break.
Carlton was again competitive, but lost their eighth consecutive game.
With Brisbane beating Gold Coast, they are now only percentage ahead of the Lions and claiming another wooden spoon. The Blues have games against Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans left to play.
If they can reproduce the Saturday's third term when they kicked 6.2 for the quarter, their best for the season, they may avoid finishing last.
Carlton took the lead late in that final term on the back of that effort, but being level going in to the final quarter was not anywhere near good enough.
In the ninth minute of the final term, Josh Kennedy kicked the first goal of the quarter to give his side an eight-point lead.
It was his fifth.
Watching Kennedy kick six goals in a win over Carlton would still hurt many Blues supporters.
Kennedy hasn't worn the navy blue jumper since 2007 and Carlton gained another Brownlow medallist (Chris Judd) in the trade. But as their own forwards failed to make the most of their opportunities on Saturday night, the Eagles spearhead proved the difference.
Born-again key defender Liam Jones started well against him, keeping him touchless in the opening term. And he probably didn't do too much wrong all night.
But the reigning two-time Coleman medallist had three goals next to his name by half-time.
West Coast kicked nine goals to the Blues three in the opening half. But Carlton had seen much more of the ball inside their forward line than their hosts (32-17).
At game's end, they still held a 55-46 advantage. Marc Murphy and Jed Lamb kicked the first two goals of the game and Bryce Gibbs added another before quarter-time.
But key forward targets Casboult and Jack Silvagni couldn't get their hands on the ball in the first half.
At the other end, Jamie Cripps (three goals in the opening term) and Jack Darling (one) made the most of their limited chances.
Kennedy's haul would have him favoured now to win a third consecutive Coleman Medal. He started the weekend two goals behind Essendon's Joe Daniher and the same margin ahead of Sydney's Lance Franklin.
He ends it one goal in front of Daniher with 60. In the five games since returning from an ankle/Achilles injury he has kicked 26.
The win has West Coast starting Sunday in seventh spot.
They have alternated wins and losses for nine weeks since the bye. But they are going to need to beat GWS and/or Adelaide in the remaining two rounds to stay there. The 11 wins they now have has not been enough to play finals since the competition expanded to 18 teams in 2012.