Two Eagles hurt in AFL loss to Port

West Coast’s troubled AFL pre-season continued with two key players injured in a 40-point loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday.

Eagles duo Sharrod Wellingham and Xavier Ellis were both hurt, a week after reigning club champion Eric Mackenzie suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Port Adelaide’s Hamish Hartlett was also injured in the Power’s 1.11.14 (89) to 0.7.7 (49) win before 9212 spectators at Norwood Oval in Adelaide.

Wellingham, who endured a tough debut season with the Eagles last year due to poor form and injury, appeared to injure a calf and was an early substitution.

And Ellis grabbed at his left hamstring in the second quarter before limping off, also to be substituted.

Port’s Hartlett hobbled off with a groin injury in the second term.

The injuries came as West Coast were overpowered by Port, who were propelled by best-afield Robbie Gray (28 disposals, three goals), captain Travis Boak (22 possessions), Ollie Wines (18 touches) and Brad Ebert (24 disposals).

West Coast’s Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis was a standout, collecting 26 disposals including seven inside 50s, while Andrew Gaff (22 possessions), Matt Rosa (17 disposals) and Brad Shepherd were prominent.

But the Eagles found the going tough against a Port side whose class was evident early: they booted four goals inside 13 minutes of the game.

The Port blitz was orchestrated by All-Australian Gray, who had 10 disposals in the first quarter.

West Coast didn’t score a goal until the 17th minute but their breakthrough started a flow of four unanswered goals and the Eagles drew level midway through the second stanza.

Port responded to sneak out to a 14-point buffer at halftime and then kicked five goals, including a supergoal to Andrew Moore, to West Coast’s three majors in a decisive last half.

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