Eagles get 'great lesson' in costly quarter, Blue praised for key role

Eagles Get 'Great Lesson' in Costly Quarter, Blue Praised for Key Role

The West Coast Eagles were left to reflect on a disappointing third quarter that proved decisive in their elimination final against the Carlton Blues. After matching their opponents early, the Eagles were swept aside as Carlton surged with six unanswered goals following halftime.

Pearce Points to Physicality

Coach Daisy Pearce highlighted the physical intensity of the Blues as a major factor in the 41-point loss played out in wet and difficult conditions at Ikon Park.

"I just thought they lifted their physicality and intensity," Pearce said. "For a 15-minute period or so, we just got knocked off the ball a little too easily. That's finals footy, and it'll be a great lesson for us moving forward."

Lessons and Next Steps

Pearce emphasized that the experience, though painful, will serve as an important step in the club’s growth. She noted that the team plans to reassess and focus on areas that can yield greater improvement next season.

"We’ll go back to the drawing board and narrow in on the areas that can give us real progress next year. Building more strength and improving conditioning in our fundamentals will be key. There’s just more work ahead of us," she said.

Finding Meaning in Defeat

The coach closed her remarks with an encouraging message about perseverance and perspective.

"That was the message coming into today. When you finally achieve success, these tough moments make it even more rewarding. You’ve got to face losses like today to truly grow from them."

Author’s Summary

Despite a tough elimination loss, Pearce sees the defeat as a crucial learning experience, reinforcing the team’s resolve to strengthen and return more prepared next season.

Australian Football League — 2025-11-08