A Six-Pack Of IPA (Interesting Points, Allegedly): West Coast Eagles set new AFL record for inside-50 waste

Supply without success No team in the statistical history of the AFL has squandered more chances to kick first-half goals than West Coast’s effort in Bunbury. Champion Data numbers dating back to 1999 show Sunday’s Eagles claimed a new league record for most inside-50s before finally registering a goal, with the WA club converting on their 34th entry. It surpassed the previous such mark of 32, set by Adelaide in a game against the Kangaroos in 2004. West Coast’s 39 inside-50 entries was also a new high for a team kicking just one goal or fewer in a first half, topping Essendon’s 36 from 2012. MOST INSIDE-50s BEFORE FIRST GOAL OF GAME Since 1999. Source: Champion Data Crippa the WA ripper Patrick Cripps returns to his home state to face the Eagles this week – and he’s looking to continue a serious love affair with Optus Stadium. Cripps has polled Brownlow votes in each of his past six matches at the venue, marking the longest streak of any player at a WA stadium since the turn of the century. There’s only four such streaks that have been longer at any venue by any player in that span: Patrick Dangerfield polled in 10 consecutive games at GMHBA Stadium in a 2016-17 purple patch, while Dustin Martin (MCG), Lachie Neale (Gabba) and Jai Newcombe (Launceston) have all racked up eight straight matches in the votes. Drought over North Melbourne’s Griffin Logue will be breathing a sigh of relief after celebrating his return to his home state with a win – and ending the AFL’s longest active personal losing streak. Logue tasted success in his first two matches as a Kangaroo in the opening fortnight of the 2023 season, but had suffered through a whopping 19 consecutive defeats before Sunday’s drought-breaker. The unwanted mantle of owning the longest current losing run now shifts to North Melbourne squad mate Callum Coleman-Jones (16), while West Coast’s Tyrell Dewar and Eagle-turned-Demon Jai Culley have dropped 12 straight. Parker the party pooper If West Coast get the chance to raise the curtain on another WA stadium in the coming years, they’d be wise not to invite Luke Parker. The veteran is the common winning denominator in the opening matches of the two new venues to host a game in this state since the Eagles’ inaugural season. Parker had a game-high 32 disposals and kicked a goal in Sydney’s victory over West Coast in the first-ever game at Optus Stadium in 2018, and was at it again after finishing among North’s best in the triumph in Bunbury. Feeling blue West Coast’s recent form against Carlton has been horrid, with the Eagles in the midst of their worst-ever five-game stretch against an opponent. The Blues have won each of the past five clashes between the clubs by a minimum of 63 points, and an average margin of 75.6 points. In that span, West Coast have averaged 6.8 goals per game, and Charlie Curnow has averaged 6.5 goals per game. Home sweet home Fremantle are enjoying a unique opportunity for a full month at home in the middle of the season - and it’s the first time it’s ever happened for the Dockers in a full-length campaign. Freo will play three games at Optus Stadium in June, the most in a non-COVID month without having to venture anywhere else. The unique 2020 season saw the Dockers play five matches at Optus in a 28-day span, hosting shortened games in WA’s COVID hub.