AFL 2026 live scores: West Coast Eagles face tough Gold Coast opener against Suns
West Coast start their 2026 campaign with four debutants but face a steep hill to climb against top-four fancies Gold Coast who began their season with a bang.
No.1 draft pick Willem Duursma, Cooper Duff-Tytler, Josh Lindsay and Milan Murdock will all mark their first AFL appearance at People’s First Stadium while former Lion Deven Robertson and former Tiger Tylar Young make their club debuts.
Meanwhile, Jack Graham will notch 150 AFL games in his second season on blue and gold.
Follow all the action with our live blog.
More of the same
It takes less than a minute for the Suns to get the first goal of the second half and it started with Graham letting go of Rioli as the Sun spun in the tackle.
The Eagles could be in for some more dire records if they can’t start winning the ball.
GCS 90, WCE 22
HT: Suns 84, Eagles 22
West Coast’s optimism has been crushed in a half. They are so far off the Suns it’s not funny.
In their favour is the fact the Suns look set to maul quite a few teams this season and deserve to be in the top-four discussion.
However, with Murdock in his first game having 13 touches and two goals as the only Eagle to look any good, it doesn’t say much for the rest of the team.
Fans can only hope the more games this group play together the more they will improve.
McQualter will have plenty to say at the break.
Ball allergies
There’s a few West Coast players striggling to touch the footy.
Duff-Tytler and Waterman have had just one touch with Reid having had two.
Hough has had just three which includes a stint in the middle.
Newton has also had only three while a string of Eagles have had four.
GCS 82, WCE 16
Effort play
Murdock busted his gut to impact three contests from defensive 50 to offensive 50 and it resluts in a shot to Shannahan.
The young gun missed but the repeat efforts from Murdock are showing some of the other how it’s done.
He really just needs to clean up his use with a kick and handball making things hard and forcing him to follow up.
GCS 70, WCE 14
150!
Anderson missed a set shot at the other end but the Eagles finally find some forward momentum and Waterman is the beneficary.
He goes back and slots the set shot from 50 and that is his 150th AFL major.
GCS 46, WCE 13
QT: Suns 45, Eagles 7
The Eagles made some changes to end the term with Shannahan going back and Yeo moving onto Petracca but skill errors are hurting.
Duursma has looked bright but some of his kicking has been poor while Reid looks rushed and panicked when he gets the ball.
The Suns are just oozing quality and not trying too hard in ominous signs for West Coast.
Murdock has been the bright point of the first term, leading the Eagles with seven disposals and appearing disappointed his teammates have not been in position to help when he gets the footy.
Three all ready
Petracca is running riot in the forward line.
He has three goals already with Duggan struggling to stay close enough to stop him.
He’s had a lucky moment or two but he only kicked three for the match last week.
GCS 39, WCE 7
Turnovers
The Eagles are struggling to retain the ball and it’s leaving their defence exposed.
Basic skill errors by hand and foot were ugly to watch in pre-season and while they have been better so far today, it’s still killing them.
The Suns have four majors and three have come from turnover.
GCS 27, WCE 7
Debut major!!
Murdock makes an instant impact!
He catches Mac Andrews holding the ball and then gets a 50 after the Suns defender dumped him in the dirt.
Murdock then ensures his teammates don’t reverse the call with remenstrations and pops through his first AFL goal.
GCS 12, WCE 7
Suns start proceedings
The Suns go end-to-end after a free kick against Waterman for a push and they goal first.
Young came off King to kill the initial entry but the Eagles can’t get it at ground level and the Suns find King alone in space.
He makes no mistake as he snaps a goal.
GCS 6, WCE 1
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