Butters sizzles as slick Port overpower Eagles

“(Sunday’s performance) gives everyone confidence in the pre-season.

“We had a really good pre-season, we got most of the players on the field but there are a lot of clubs saying the same thing.”

West Coast, who are currently without injured senior players such as Liam Duggan, Jack Graham, Tim Kelly, Brandon Starcevich and Reuben Ginbey, lost key defender Harry Edwards to concussion following a first-half strike.

Jacob Newton (2 goals) ended the game early with precautionary ice on his left ankle and Harley Reid (22 disposals) was briefly hampered by a leg problem.

The Eagles turned to young players for inspiration; Josh Lindsay (22 disposals, one goal), Willem Duursma (16 touches) and Cooper Duff-Tytler (one goal) were among those who caught a brief glimpse.

No. 1 draft pick Duursma was busy but made some bad mistakes with his feet, shooting out of bounds and giving up a goal with a turnover deep in defense.

The 18-year-old is likely to be included in the Eagles’ first round match against Gold Coast on March 15.

Former Brisbane player Deven Robertson (28 disposals) and former Magpie Finlay Macrae also excelled in their first official matches for West Coast, while Jake Waterman and Matt Owies kicked two goals each.

More importantly, injury-prone star Elliot Yeo (nine disposals) survived another pre-season defeat unscathed.

Eagles coach Andrew McQualter was disappointed with the result and admitted his players’ skill level and ability to handle pressure were not up to the required standards, but he did see some positives.

“All our young players showed some moments… There’s definitely some excitement there,” McQualter said.