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.
A positive
If there is one more noticable positive that should prove beneficial through the year is West Coast look fitter this year.
They are running this game out better than the Suns it’s just their skills that have allowed the home side back in for the most part.
And a block called Petracca. Brownlow favourite?
GCS 119, WCE 65
CDT
It was a very tough start to life in the AFL for Cooper Duff-Tytler in the first half but he has worked his way into the contest since.
He nearly had his first AFL major and has worked up to seven disposals, five tackles, two clearances and four hitouts.
With a behind.
GCS 112, WCE 65
Waterman’s back!
Jake Waterman is all over Andrews, hence why the Gold Coast defender is so agro.
The Eagles got a good chain of handballs going from the back half before Yeo delivered a good ball high for Waterman to use his body to beat Andrews.
The big man snaps his third goal of the night from the set shot.
GCS 104, WCE 63
Record
The Eagles registered a new club record in the third term.
They produced their biggest-ever positive tackle differential for a single quarter with 27 tackles to six from the Suns.
3QT: Suns 104, Eagles 56
The Eagles win the quarter and that’s a huge turnaround considering how badly they were beaten in the first half.
Yeo kicked two for the term while Newton grabbed a late one with just seconds left and Mac Andrew sparked a scuffle with Cripps for no real reason.
The Eagles backed their man up which is good to see.
Better
The Gold Coast crack the ton but West Coast come back with another goal of their own through Waterman to stay in the quarter at least.
They are winning the term at this stage with two minutes left.
GCS 104, WCE 49
On the board
Shanahan opens his account!
Duursma had a wing run that included three bounces but kicked it out on the full.
However, the Eagles were able to stop the Suns at half back with Hough breaking forward and finding Bo Allan on the wing for a run and bounce.
His kick was better, allowing Shanahan to take the ball up high.
GCS 92, WCE 42
Reid’s lift
Harley has shot up the Eagles’ ball winners list and has 17 after a bright start to the second half.
It’s coincided with West Coast slowing the Suns down slightly.
Someone got in his ear at the break because it was a lame start from the third-year Eagle.
GCS 92, WCE 35
Yeo blow
It’s a welcome sight for West Coast fans as Yeo bombs a goal from 50.
He tracked through the front of the forward 50 and found space for a hit up lead.
The Ginbey kick fell short but the veteran cleaned it up and gave fans something to smile about.
And some rain has now started.
GCS 91, WCE 28
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
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