1. Another umpire-contact case
West Coast forward Willie Rioli is the latest player under scrutiny for touching a field umpire. Rioli appeared to pat Ray Chamberlain on the hip after conceding a 50m penalty and certain goal to Hawk Blake Hardwick in the second quarter. Rioli made amends with a brilliant snap goal from a pack a few minutes later, his second for the half, and then dragged in a towering contested mark to set up a Mark LeCras goal.
2. And that score review also under the spotlight
Yes, that controversial score review system is again the subject of dispute after a disallowed Hawthorn goal late in the first half. Jack Gunston snapped truly from 30m, but it was switched to a behind after a short review. The only vision shown on TV was inconclusive on whether an Eagle's finger had touched the ball off Gunston's swinging boot, although it must be said that the Hawks forward seemed resigned to being denied the goal.
3. Returning Hawk and his bitter sweet Eagles experiences
You could say West Coast owed one to Hawk ruckman Jon Ceglar. The big man was a late inclusion for his first AFL game since he wrecked a knee against the Eagles in round 22, 2016. Three VFL games convinced the Hawks he was ready to help Ben McEvoy combat Eagles' pair Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett. Teammates swamped Ceglar after he goalled from 35m in the opening term after a superb centred pass from the lively Jarman Impey.
4. Baby, was that a close call
West Coast narrowly avoided another disruption to an Etihad Stadium assignment when defender Jeremy McGovern's wife gave birth to son Hudson during the week. As it was, McGovern flew to Melbourne on Saturday, a day later than the rest of the travelling party. The Eagles needed a new coach on the previous visit to the Docklands, with assistant Jaymie Graham taking over the matchday role in the win against the Western Bulldogs after senior coach Adam Simpson flew home to be with a hospitalised child who has since recovered.
5. Freakish act at a crucial time
No wonder West Coast's Chris Masten put hands on head after a freakish goal at a critical stage of the match. With the contest in the balance Masten, hemmed in beside the boundary line, fired a left foot kick, presumably to teammate Jake Waterman careering towards the goal square. But Waterman stood aside as Masten's low kick slithered through for an unlikely but valuable goal in the duel to wrestle control of the contest in the third quarter.
