'Phenomenal' Liam Ryan mark sparks West Coast Eagles comeback over Melbourne
Yet another stunning Mark of the Year contender from high flying West Coast Eagles forward Liam Ryan has sparked the Eagles in the fourth quarter against Melbourne.
With the match hanging well and truly in the balance, Ryan flew in from the side of the contest to take a towering mark over Demons ruckman Max Gawn to give the Eagles the lead for good in a six-goal final term.
The mark capped off a dominant fourth quarter for the Eagles who came into the final term trailing the gallant Demons by 13 points before running out 13. 7. (85) to 9. 15. (69) winners at Optus Stadium.
Following the Eagles’ win, Ryan’s teammate Elliot Yeo said he had threatened to take a big mark all night.
Ryan's stunning fourth-quarter grab left Demons ruckman Max Gawn floored in the goal square AAP
“Huge mark,” Yeo told Seven.
“It felt like all day he was about to clunk one but he was just a little bit off. To sit on Max Gawn’s head like that especially with the game on the line as well was absolutely phenomenal.”
Former St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt described Ryan’s play in the lead-up to the mark as a great feat of athleticism.
“We always celebrate the extraordinary feats and that is a great piece of athletic running, of high-marking, of skill, of execution,” he told Fox Footy.
Yeo was outstanding all night for the Eagles, finishing with 26 disposals and 16 tackles AAP
The win was a crucial one for the reigning premiers who have struggled to match the heights of last season with patchy early season form.
Returning to the scene of their horror preliminary final performance, the Demons gave a much better account of themselves, led by Gawn who dominated Nathan Vardy and Tom Hickey in the ruck with 56 hitouts.
Eagles skipper Shannon Hurn was the best on ground for his team, finishing with 32 disposals and 13 marks, while Yeo added 26 disposals and 16 tackles and Josh Kennedy kicked four goals.
However, despite the win, the Eagles will be sweating over the Match Review after veteran Lewis Jetta pinned the arms of Tim Smith and slammed his head into the turf in a dangerous tackle in the final term.
Melbourne are struggling at 3-6, but can be heartened by their best performance of the season.
The Demons won the inside 50m count 62-47, contested possessions 158-141, and the clearances 39-33.
But their wayward goalkicking came back to haunt them.
- With AAP
