The signs were there last week when the unloved, unfancied West Coast Eagles, at the bottom of the ladder in this, their annus horribilis, pushed Geelong most of the way. And here they were there again, at Optus Stadium against Essendon.

For the first time in 26 matches, the Eagles cracked 100 points to break through, for just their second win of the season, breaking a nine-game losing streak. Spearhead Josh Kennedy kicked five goals, the last of them sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

With players back, they’re looking a bit more like their old selves. True, they lost Jeremy McGovern and Dom Sheed to fresh injuries during the week, but Tim Kelly and Liam Ryan returned. Elliott Yeo, pushed to a half-back line, was again influential.

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