Round 15 Recap: Cox Rescues Eagles from getting ScRood; Like a Bridge over Troubled Waters

Again the Eagles failed to play an entire 4 quarters on the road. But this time, we managed (barely) to grab 4 points which will prove vital in our quest for a top 2 spot on the ladder.

The game started well for the Eagles, with a goal within the first minute and 3 of the first 4 goals. But from there the Roos exploded and held a 27 point lead at the major interval. It would be unfair to say we allowed the Roos to do that. I honestly believe they are better (well they have been of late) than their record suggests. Their midfield in particular is very strong. But still, the issue I have with the first half is that they seemed to have more intensity. I suppose some of that has to do with the frenetic pace with which they try to move the ball, but their effort did seem superior to ours. That shouldn't have been the case either. If a chance to move into the top 2 wasn't big enough motivation, the knowledge that it was a major milestone game for a club legend should have been more than enough. Yet, it wasn't to be.

Thankfully, after the break we fought our way back into it. Partially, I believe it was due to the Roos style where, at the moment at least, they can't play four quarters with their current gameplan without dying of exhaustion.

But, from our point of view, if we can attribute the fightback to one guy it would be Mr Cox. Even as Eagles fans who have watched this legend for 10 years this one was something of a treat. He was seemingly everywhere taking key grab after key grab with 15 marks. He kicked both the first and last goal ending with 3.1. He had 21 possessions and 24 hitouts. Simply superb.

And the result was huge. The Pies blew it against the Blues and the Dons were insipid against the Saints which meant we moved up to second spot. The next 2 weeks could well determine if we solidify that position. Looking ahead and the next 2 (vs Sydney and Adelaide) and the last 2 (vs Collingwood and Hawthorn) are the critical periods in our seasons.

Yet, in truly horrible news Beau Waters will miss 3-5 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Although any injury news related to Waters isn't surprising, it's a huge blow. I guess the door now opens for Adam Selwood to return but that doesn't exactly fill me with optimism. He was poor earlier in the season and Waters isn't really a man with a 'good replacement'.

Regardless we must go on. I can't state enough how big next week is. Leaving ladder position aside, I hate the Swans with a passion. They were and always will be ugliest of all ducklings to me and the fact that we haven't beaten them since 2007 is a blight on our record. A blight on the world really.

Let's destroy them.