West Coast's Mark LeCras celebrates a goal with Andrew Embley after making an impressive comeback from a serious knee injury. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
Cooling off: LeCras takes a break from the hot conditions. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
WEST Coast star Mark LeCras banished his demons in sensational style last night as the Eagles, Fremantle and Geelong shared the honours in the NAB Cup opener at Patersons Stadium.
LeCras announced his return by nailing a banana goal from the boundary line from the exact spot on the ground where he suffered his knee injury at training one year earlier.
The Eagles easily defeated the Dockers in the mini-derby, 1.4.7 (40) to 0.2.4. (16), to ensure each team recorded a win and a loss on an entertaining night in front of 21,935 fans.
West Coast would have had a perfect record but for the intervention of Cats skipper Joel Selwood in a stunning finish to the opening game.
Selwood was the hero with a nine-point super goal with 13sec remaining, as Geelong came from 21 points down to win 1.6.4 (49) to 1.6.2 (47).
Fremantle impressed in a three-goal win over the Cats in the second match, 0.7.6 (48) to 0.4.6 (30).
Selwood's moment was set up by a savvy Jimmy Bartel, who handballed to his captain outside the 50m arc after taking a mark inside 50 when Geelong was seven points down.
Jack Darling starred with three goals against Geelong, but it was the goal from LeCras that was the feelgood highlight for West Coast.
It was the first anniversary of the day LeCras ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament during a match simulation drill.
Playing without any strapping on his knee in his first game in 17 months, LeCras ran freely and the club will be delighted he got through the game unscathed before sitting out of the second match.
The 26-year-old last played for the Eagles in the 2011 preliminary final loss to the Cats at the MCG in what was his 100th game.
Fremantle forward Chris Mayne looked to have escaped serious injury after a massive scare against the Cats.
Mayne's right ankle was caught under the body of Geelong youngster Joel Hamling as he was tackled over the boundary line.
The incident looked terrible but Mayne was walking in the rooms shortly after the incident. He did not play in the second match against the Eagles.
Hayden Ballantyne was at the centre yet another controversy against Geelong when he was slow to get up following a clash with Steve Johnson.
Ballantyne appeared to cop a blow to the stomach. Replays were inconclusive but did not appear too damning for Johnson and the pair exchanged good-natured banter.
Any suspensions received by players during the pre-season competition must be served during the regular season.
Ballantyne was at the centre of several controversies when the teams played on the same ground in Round 1 last season, receiving a ban for striking Paul Chapman and being punched by Matthew Scarlett.
The highlight of the mini-derby win for West Coast was a massive nine-point roost from superboot Shannon Hurn.
Even more pleasing for the Eagles was the fact young ruckman Scott Lycett set the goal up with a beautiful palm down to Hurn.
Lycett and rookie listed big man Callum Sinclair rotated between the ruck and the forward line for the Eagles in the absence of All-Australian duo Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox.
The pair's form will be closely monitored during the NAB Cup because Cox will require a ruck partner if Naitanui does not recover from his groin surgery in time for Round 1.
Coach John Worsfold would have been thrilled with a passage of play during the Eagles-Cats match that saw both shine, with Sinclair winning a dominant ruck hitout before Lycett took a strong mark on the lead.
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