Eagles legend palms off Clive

Clive Palmer tried to recruit Glen Jakovich. Picture: Ben Robinson Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast Eagles champion Glen Jakovich has turned down an offer to join Clive Palmer's new political party, even after the billionaire flew him to Brisbane to be wined and dined at an exclusive club.

The two-time premiership defender told The Sunday Times he had a "lengthy meeting" with Mr Palmer a few weeks ago. He liked his ideas, but he didn't have the time to enter federal politics.

Mr Palmer has already recruited several big-name sporting identities to the Palmer United Party. Among them are former rugby league champion Glen Lazarus and former AFL star Doug Hawkins.

Jakovich said Lazarus was also at the swanky United Service Club in Brisbane CBD when he met Palmer.

"I spoke to him. It was a lengthy meeting (and) I liked his ideas," he said. "But I decided there was too much going on in my life. I also have a young family."

In Perth this week, Mr Palmer confirmed to The Sunday Times that he had met Jakovich and tried to draft him into his team.

He also hosed down media speculation he was in financial trouble. "There is no truth in it," said the man whose wealth is estimated at between $700 million and several billion dollars.

"I can say to everyone in Australia  I have no debts personally and our companies have no debts. So we don't owe anyone any money. That's what it boils down to."

Mr Palmer said Jakovich still had two weeks to make up his mind.

He said that he would run candidates in all 15 WA federal lower house seats, as well as the Senate.

So far, the only two people who have been signed up to contest WA seats for Mr Palmer are educator Teresa van Lieshout for Fremantle and university academic Chamonix Terblanche for the Senate.

Mr Palmer said Jakovich would have been a great catch.

"Glen is a great guy. He said he had a strong commitment to WA," Mr Palmer said. "He particularly raised with me the problems in Perth. Of the different communities and ethnic groups and the problems with law and order around Perth where a lot of youths had lost their way and direction. He said something had to be done about it."

In Perth this week, Mr Palmer said he had strong links to WA.

Much of his wealth comes from the $400 million sale of magnetite iron ore mining rights at Cape Preston near Karratha in 2006.

Mr Palmer said his success in mining proved he would be no lightweight in the political world.

Mr Palmer labelled Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott "hopeless".

He said his plan for WA was to inject $8 billion into the state's health service, with particular emphasis on palliative care.

He also believed there should be commonwealth backing for the stalled Oakajee Port project and a review of the GST carve-up for WA.

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Humble hero's brave fight-back

Charlene Hordyk has been nominated for a Pride of Australia Award.  Picture: Ross Swanborough Source: PerthNow

DOCTORS have told her she can't go into the sun for two years because her burns are so severe.

But firefighter Charlene Hordyk, left with burns to a fifth of her body after battling a blaze near Albany that killed a fellow firefighter, dreams of once again being able to play beach cricket with her little brother Liam under a golden sun.

That dream is the inspiration for her remarkable recovery - a recovery that surprised doctors and saw her return to work just months after the October 12 fire that claimed the life of mother-of-three Wendy Bearfoot.

Today Ms Hordyk, 25, speaks about the ordeal for the first time after being nominated for a Pride of Australia medal.

Ms Hordyk and Mrs Bearfoot were members of a DEC crew engulfed by flames when a freak wind-change trapped them in their fire trucks at Two Peoples Bay. Both women were flown to Royal Perth Hospital in a midnight mercy dash for emergency treatment under the care of burns specialist Fiona Wood.

Tragically, Ms Bearfoot died three weeks later. Ms Hordyk had burns to her face, neck, hands, arms and legs.

"I cannot go in the sun for two years," she said.

 "I have to have laser surgery on my hands because the scarring is not breaking down as it should. It's a setback, but I'm thankful that I have access to this kind of treatment.

"The nurses at the burns unit said to have a dream and keep thinking of that. (Mine is) that I will one day play cricket with my nephews and little brother down the beach again."

For the first six months after leaving hospital she needed three-hour scar massages every day and pressure bandages all day, every day. She still needs the bandages and occasional scar massages.

A conservation worker since 2008, she has had to swap most of her physical tasks  such as weed spraying and animal trapping  for a more computer-based role.

She said she owed her life to her DEC superior Shaun McHenry. "We were in the truck together," she said. "Without him leading me out I wouldn't be here today."

Ms Hordyk is nominated in the courage category - aimed at recognising those who have overcome personal adversity through determination and strength of character  in the Pride of Australia awards, run by The Sunday Times' publisher News Limited.

To nominate someone for Pride of Australia, go to: www.prideofaustralia.com.au

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Delis push to sell grog

Delis are pushing to sell alcohol. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

CORNER stores want to sell liquor to make up for money lost because of plain cigarette packaging.

In a submission to a review of the state's alcohol laws, the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores admitted there was a "significant emotional hurdle" to overcome, but allowing stores to sell booze was an "obvious and necessary" reform to modernise WA retail.

The submission is just one of 84 before a committee reviewing the WA Liquor Control Act.

Other submissions include:

- A push by the Drug and Alcohol Office to ban alcohol advertising within 400m of schools.

- A paper by the Australian Association of National Advertisers that claims there is no link between alcohol advertising and problem drinking.

- A call from the City of Cockburn for the legal drinking age to be raised to 21, unless alcohol abuse by young people declines by 2018.

- A demand from Tourism WA and the Tourism Council to be granted equal say with police on liquor licence approvals.

Submissions calling for pubs and clubs to be allowed to open until midnight on Sunday.

The review has prompted Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan to campaign for tougher alcohol advertising restrictions, including a ban during live sport.

And parent groups have demanded WA introduce secondary supply laws to penalise adults who supply alcohol to children in their homes. The committee is expected to report to the Barnett Government within months with recommended changes to the Act.

 AACS executive director Jeff Rogut said the stranglehold Coles and Woolworths had on the alcohol market stifled convenience stores.

"Nowhere else in the Western world do two companies have such a disproportionate hold on consumers' dollars," he said in its submission. "The supermarket duopoly has successfully used the existing regulatory framework to dominate alcohol sales to a level that has become unsustainable."

Mr Rogut said it was time for a "fair, level-headed discussion" on letting corner stores sell alcohol.

"Together with the difficult trading conditions faced by the retail sector, the introduction of the carbon tax, tobacco plain packaging, the rumoured introduction of a 'fat tax' and already high utility and labour costs, many small businesses in this sector face an uncertain future," he said. "Reviewing legislation to permit convenience stores in WA to sell packaged alcohol is one way to generate new revenue opportunities."

However, McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth director Mike Daube said selling packaged liquor in convenience stores was the last thing WA needed.

"The prospect of selling alcohol in convenience stores would have every parent shuddering," he said. "We know that a lot of retailers are willing to sell cigarettes to children underage  just imagine how that would work with alcohol."

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Exposed: Shameful acts on Perth trains

Transit officers during a night shift on Perth trains. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

FOUL language, sexist and racist comments and rudeness from other passengers have become commonplace for commuters on Perth trains - forcing some passengers to return to choked roads instead.

The Sunday Times rode Perth's five train lines during peak hour and at night, and found commuters were forced to put up with swearing, obscene conversations, passengers who shoved in front of mothers with prams and others who refused to stand for the elderly.

It comes in the same week a video was posted online showing a young woman calling a pregnant woman a "fat f---" because the expectant mother asked her to move her belongings from a seat so she could sit down.

The footage now has more than 20,000 hits on Facebook, YouTube and PerthNow and has generated hundreds of comments, including from pregnant women who said rudeness on trains made them "ashamed of fellow humanity" and no longer use them.

"Not only would people refuse to offer me a seat but the train would be so unbelievably full that I was afraid someone would bump into me. Eventually I chose to drive instead," one Perth commuter named Stacey commented.

Last month, a woman was caught on camera racially abusing a passenger on a train in East Perth. And in May, footage of transit officers breaking up a brawl on another Perth train went viral on social media.

RAC head of member advocacy Matt Brown urged the Public Transport Authority to "adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards this behaviour by fining troublemakers up to $500 and banning repeat and serious offenders from the system".

Many journeys passed without incident, but on other train trips this week passengers were subjected to:

- A tirade of swearing as four men in their 20s loudly discussed how they were going to "f--- up" a rival and "slit his throat".

- A sexist rant between two men, one who said he hated his former girlfriends and wanted to "kill" the mother of his child because "she's a bitch".

- A commuter crush as about 20 people waiting on a platform at Perth station pushed in front of a mother with a pram.

- An elderly woman forced to stand while schoolchildren had their feet on seats.

- A loud conversation between a young man and two young women about masturbation, one simulating sex acts.

PTA spokesman David Hynes said that while more people were filming incidents on phones, "we believe the types of incidents being recorded are on the decline".

"Though you might not always like the look, smell or even language of a fellow passenger, this doesn't mean that public transport is unsafe  it simply shows that anti-social behaviour is not restricted to pubs. The media-driven, including social media, perception that public transport is dangerous is not supported by surveys of people who use our services on a regular basis."

Transit officer Geoff Rogers, 42, said every train had posters urging passengers to show respect and "the vast majority do the right thing, though the odd one needs reminding".

Percy Institute of International Protocol founder and etiquette expert Louise Percy said it was "not a youth problem or a public transport problem, but a lack of respect permeating every level of Australian society".

"We're quick to blame kids. Many lack respect but they're not born bad-mannered, they learn that," she said.

University of WA's Centre for Child and Adolescent Related Disorders director Stephen Houghton said young people acted in an anti-social or "non-conforming" way to gain status.

"Reputation is one of the most significant factors why young people behave the way they do," Prof Houghton said. "Engaging in behaviour that would shock or offend, and establishing that reputation because it has status."

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Perth supermum has 12th baby

Tracy and David Ryan with their children Willow (3), Isla (5), Piper (7), Griffyn (10), Trinity (12), Austin (16), Connor (19), Shelby (21), Mason (22) and Bryce (26) and Landon (1 month) at their home in Belmont Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow

SUPERMUM Tracy Ryan can categorically prove that children aren't cheaper by the dozen. But she also firmly believes the more you have the merrier you are.

Last month, Mrs Ryan gave birth to her 12th child, Landen, with her husband David, a police forensic investigator.

Amazingly, Landen became an uncle before he was born because one of his older brothers welcomed his first child into the world on May 1.

Click here for pictures of the big Ryan family.

 Landen joined Bryce, Mason, Shelby, Connor, Austin, Trinity, Griffyn, Piper, Isla and Willow to squeeze into the Ryans' crowded but happy house. Mrs Ryan lost her 11th child Vallon in February last year when he didn't survive his premature birth at 26 weeks.

Mrs Ryan is contributing more than most women to the state's baby boom, which reached a record 33,920 last year.

 About 14,000 WA women have six or more children, but these days, few mums are putting their hands up for the 10 loads of washing a day, $500 weekly grocery bills and non-stop housework that comes with Mrs Ryan's massive brood.

The 44-year-old has spent the past quarter of a century having and raising children and said that despite the challenges, she loved her job as a mum and wouldn't have it any other way.

"I love it  I don't see it as a sacrifice," Mrs Ryan said.

 "People ask me what my job is and I say: 'This is my full-time job'. This is what I'm meant to do and why I believe I've been put here."

But Mrs Ryan said the whole operation wouldn't work if it wasn't for her husband's enthusiasm and effort.

"David loved my big family of eight kids, but he only has one sister," she said.

 "He's a fantastic father and we work well together. Importantly, we are on the same page, which is the only way we could make it work."

Yesterday, Landen's name was tattooed on his dad's arms, next to those of his brothers and sisters, who range in age from three to 25.

Eleven of the Ryan children have been born at Mount Lawley's Mercy Hospital over the past 22 years and eldest son Bryce was born in her home town of Auckland in New Zealand. "I love the staff at Mercy Hospital and can't praise them enough," Mrs Ryan said.

 "They have always looked after us, especially last year when I lost my gorgeous son Vallon at 26 weeks.

"It's been 23 years since I first went to Mercy Hospital and I've seen a lot of changes in that time, but most importantly I feel comfortable with the midwives  they are always caring, compassionate and professional."

The hard-working couple make sure they find time for themselves by scheduling date nights and have already managed to see a movie together with four-week-old Landen.

"I cope by having a roster system, and the biggest calendar I can buy so I always know what everyone is doing, whether they have school or work or activities to go to," Mrs Ryan said. The biggest challenge was keeping the family budget in the black as it was stretched to the limit with rising living costs. Her shopping advice was to buy food when on special and work the meal plan around that.

"Some people say I am absolutely crazy, but every one of my children is a blessing and they are a talented bunch  most of them do Irish dancing and three have even competed at a state and national level," she said.

One of Mrs Ryan's greatest skills is doing housework one-handed, with a baby in the other arm, but she joked that there were so many extra hands to help out that baby Landen would never get to lie down.

"We are like any other family, just a bit bigger," Mrs Ryan said.

 "The older kids help the younger ones and everyone has a job to do and pitches in to help. Even my three-year-old knows to bring her plate up to the sink when she's finished. Though our children know the value of having to wait, they don't go without either."

Mrs Ryan said the difficulties paled in comparison to the rewards.

"They're never going to be without someone who loves them," Mrs Ryan said.

 "They are always going to have someone there for them.

"The good parts are the unconditional love and there's nothing more beautiful than when Dad walks in the door and they run to him saying 'Daddy, you're home'."

Mrs Ryan expects Landen will probably be her last child, but she has no plans of slowing down. "Once the kids have all grown up, I've always wanted to start my own party-planning business," she said.

"I love organising massive themed parties for birthdays and special events."

Despite the family's hectic schedule, they still manage to occasionally go on camping holidays, but only have one vehicle  an eight-seater van, which is now one seat short for the kids who don't have their own car.
 

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The 20 best pub billboards

MOST of us don't need any help getting ourselves into a bar for a drink.

But these pubs have made a trip to the watering hole all the more interesting with a clever pun or two to help entice drinkers in for a pint.

We've sourced some of the best - and most clever - pub billboards from around the world.

They're guaranteed to make both well-seasoned drinkers and teetotallers giggle all the same.

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Leave your comment below. Have you seen a better pub billboard?

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The boy who just wanted to fit in

BEFORE: Miles is segregated from the rest of his classmates in the photo that broke his parents hearts. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

IT WAS the school portrait that Miles Ambridge's parents vowed never to show him for fear of hurting the seven-year-old's feelings.

As his classmates at Herbert Spencer Elementary School in British Columbia sit together in three neat rows, Miles, who has muscular dystrophy, is seen stranded in his wheelchair to the group's left, straining his body to get closer to the other children.

The photo made world headlines earlier this week after his heartbroken parents posted it on Facebook to raise awareness of discrimination against disabled children in schools.

Mother Anne Belanger told local media she couldn't bear to look at the photo.

"Look at the angle that he was in," she said.

"He's ostracised, he wants to be part of the gang so much."

Miles' father Don Ambridge added: "For some reason, it makes me feel even worse that he's so happy in the picture. I think it's because he's still innocent … He's still naive to how other people can treat him."

Thanks to their campaign, Lifetouch, the company who took the original photo agreed to a reshoot - with amazing results.

This time Miles sits in the front row, minus his wheelchair, sporting a proud grin.

"You can't pick him out this time," an overjoyed Ms Belanger told local newspaper The Province. "For him, to fit in, this is what it should be."

Incredibly, the new photograph has been criticised as "sending the wrong message" because it shows Miles out of his wheelchair.

But Mr Ambridge disagreed.

"All you've got to do is look at the kid sitting on the bench with a grin on his face and that's why we do it.

"He's a happy little guy."

Miles was never shown the original photo, but his parents have kept a copy in case he ever wants to see it.

On Wednesday, Ms Belanger showed her son the new class photo.

His response: "Oh, mummy, that's so nice!"

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Teenage girl's 'hero' jailed for child stealing

JAILED: Wayne John Morley, who has been jailed on the relatively rare charge of child stealing. Source: PerthNow

CCTV: Wayne Morley, left, and a teenage girl are caught on CCTV arriving at a motel in Mundaring on one of the two occasions he ran away with the teenager. Source: PerthNow

A 44-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for three years for the rare offence of child stealing, after admitting to twice running away with a 13-year-old girl he was romantically interested in.

Wayne John Morley was captured by WA police after hiding out at a bush camp in Chidlow, east of Perth, with the teenager daughter of his former partner.

It was the second time in two weeks the pair had disappeared, with Morley believing he was the "white knight'' who was saving the young girl from a chaotic home life.

Instead, Judge Philip McCann said Morley had put his own selfish and inappropriate feelings for the girl before any sensible judgment, embarking on two absconsions with her that were "doomed to fail''.

WA's District Court heard Morley had formed a bond with the girl during his tempestuous 15-month relationship with her mother, while the girl and his daughter had become best friends.

After authorities ordered the teenager to live with her father in Perth, Morley also moved to the state and re-established contact with the girl.

On August 10 last year, Morley, his daughter and the teenager arranged to meet in secret and set off to drive to Victoria, but were stopped at the WA/South Australian border.

Two weeks later, Morley booked plane tickets under a false name for him and the girl, and took her to a hotel in Mundaring.

After seeing media coverage about their disappearance, the pair panicked and disappeared into the bush for three days, living mainly on oranges.

He was arrested and pleaded guilty to two child stealing charges in March.

Defence lawyer Justin Geoghegan said Morley believed he was the girl's hero, but also admitted his feelings for her were inappropriate.

"The plan was based on emotion and doomed to fail from the start,'' Mr Geoghegan said.

"He wanted to be her hero, but the romantic interest tainted any good judgment he had left.''
Judge McCann accepted the girl had suffered no physical harm, but had been seriously affected nevertheless.

"He pandered to this immature girl's wrong-headed thinking. And she is still going through the throes of this whole fiasco,'' Judge McCann said.

Both the girl and her mother were in court to support Morley, despite restraining orders preventing them being in close proximity.

Morley was made eligible for parole after 18 months, and the sentence was backdated to the date of his arrest in August last year.

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Mum denies putting son in machine

Mother Kerry Murphy admits she struggled to cope with her son Sean's energy. The toddler died in a closed washing machine. Picture from Channel 9. Source: PerthNow

Perth Now Kerry Murphy (in blue top) leaves the coroners court after inquest into the death of her child. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

THE mother of a young boy who died from being trapped in a washing machine has told a Perth court she did not place him in there and was fast asleep when he climbed in himself.

Kerry Murphy, 27, gave her evidence on the final day of a coronial inquiry into the death of Sean Murphy, 3, who was found in the front-loader machine with his dead pet cat on September 20, 2010.

She claimed she had overslept into the early afternoon and Sean - for the first time since he had become mobile - had not jumped on her to wake her in the morning.peMs Murphy, who was diagnosed as having a borderline personality disorder when she was 18, suggested spring-time asthma and allergies had made her drowsy, and said she was a heavy sleeper.

She was woken by a phone call, she claimed, and noticed the public housing property was quiet, so began frantically searching for her son.

Ms Murphy found Sean ``in a foetal position'', pressed against the rear of the washing machine, and she had to remove the stiff body of the dead cat first before she could get to her son.

She attempted CPR and called 000.

When paramedics arrived, a hysterical Ms Murphy said: ``I've killed my baby.''

She said that because she feared he'd been injured during her resuscitation attempts and because she blamed herself for what happened, Ms Murphy told the court.

``If I'd been awake, he wouldn't have climbed in there,'' she said.

While the washing machine door had been closed after the last load, Sean could have opened it himself and climbed in, she said.

``I could have used one finger to open that door.''

The inquest was shown a photo of the boy some six months earlier, playing ``hide and seek'' in a dryer that was missing its door.

Ms Murphy said she should have explained to her son - who climbed on anything that was ``climbable'' - that hiding there was dangerous.

The inquest heard earlier this week from a neighbour - who admitted he had a falling out with the boy's mother - that he heard yelling, stomping and muffled cries coming from the house hours before Sean died.

Coroner Alastair Hope said there were three possible scenarios that he would consider: the family dog had jumped up and closed the washing machine door shut after the boy had climbed in, Sean had trapped himself inside the machine - pushing the door from the inside so it rebounded and closed - or the mother was involved.

But he had difficulty envisioning how Sean physically could have entered the machine to have wound up in the position in which he was found, and how he could have caused the door to rebound shut given that position.

``These are the practical aspects that are troubling me the most,'' Mr Hope said.

He will hand down his findings on July 19.

Kerry Murphy leaves the Coroner's Court after giving evidence into the inquest into the death of her child. PICTURE: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

Earlier today - mum admits she 'struggled' with her son's energy

Kerry Murphy, 27, made the admission in the final day of a coronial inquiry into the death of Sean Murphy, who was found in the front-loader machine with his dead pet cat on September 20, 2010.

Ms Murphy claimed she overslept until the early afternoon and after being woken by a phone call, realised the public housing property was quiet, so she began a frantic search for her son.

She could not explain why she had slept so long, but suggested spring-time asthma and allergies had made her drowsy.

Ms Murphy found her son "in a fetal position'', pressed against the rear of the washing machine and had to remove the stiff body of the dead cat first before she could get to her son.

She attempted CPR and called triple-zero.

Ms Murphy said she recalled telling paramedics "I've killed him. I've killed my baby''.She explained that comment by saying she was worried she'd injured him during her resuscitation attempts and that she blamed herself for what happened.

"If I'd been awake, he wouldn't have climbed in there,'' she said.

While the washing machine door had been closed after the last load, Sean could have opened it himself and climbed in, she said.

"I could have used one finger to open that door.''

The inquest was shown a photo of the boy some six months earlier, playing "hide and seek'' in a dryer that was missing its door.

Ms Murphy said she would never have encouraged him to play a game with the machine.

"I didn't explain to him that it was dangerous. I should have done,'' she said.

Ms Murphy had earlier told the inquest that she struggled to know how to respond to his behaviour, which she described as active.

"I didn't cope very well with it, but I did the best that I could.''

The inquest was also shown a video of Ms Murphy dropping one of the family's cats in front of their dog, which then attacks it - an incident for which she was later convicted for animal cruelty.

Kerry Murphy leaves the Coroner's Court after giving evidence into the inquest into the death of her child. PICTURE: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

She said it was the cat that was being "vicious'' and that the dog was being "playful''.

The inquest continues.

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Sharpshooting Hawks down Eagles

Hawthorn have stretched their winning streak to 11 straight matches with a twenty point victory over West Coast.

• Hawthorn 19.9 (123) bt West Coast 16.7 (103)

FOR the second successive Friday night, an opposition threw the kitchen sink at Hawthorn.

In Round 12, Carlton tried to dazzle Hawthorn with midfield speed and, for the most part succeeded. Statistically at least. But on the only count that mattered, the Hawks held sway on the scoreboard.

Friday night, West Coast - a vastly improved outfit on the one that hobbled past St Kilda at its most recent start - emerged as if shot from a cannon.

With big men blazing at centre clearances and up forward, the Eagles looked the real deal for one of the few times in a season that could generously be described as erratic.

SuperCoach scores and stats

The tactic was clear. Again pump the hosts in the middle and bomb it as high and as quickly as possible to stretch the shorter Hawks backline.

Statistically, again, it worked a treat. By halftime, the Eagles had 33-24 inside-50s, a 22-18 clearance edge and accordingly had the ball in their forwardline an amazing 66 per cent of the time.

Shane Savage kicks a goal against West Coast.

But there was one problem.

Hawthorn booted six goals in each quarter and led by an ultimately critical 26 points.

It's that critical time of the year when coaches are sizing up exactly how to counter the league's powerhouses.

There's talk of slingshot footy off half-back, or of stacking half-back lines to form walls with space ahead into which rebounding teams can run.

But the explanation for Hawthorn's 11-game winning streak - just one off the club record with lowly Brisbane to come next week - is actually far more simple.

The forwardline is elite, perhaps the deepest in years.

Scott Selwood of the Eagles handballs whilst being tackled by Luke Hodge of the Hawks during the round 13 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the West Coast Eagles at Etihad Stadium.

Reams of paper have been dedicated to Lance Franklin, and his partner in crime Jarryd Roughead - the matchwinner Friday night - has found career-best form.

But it's more than that.

Jack Gunston is ruthlessly efficient when the ball comes his way and Luke Breust would be in All-Australian reckoning as a mediums-sized opportunist.

Tackling terrier Paul Puopolo was a late withdrawal, while livewire Cyril Rioli is poised to return within a fortnight to add to the firepower of a unit that last night produced an extraordinary set of numbers.

Six of nine times the Hawks went inside 50 in the first quarter they kicked a goal.

By halftime that was 12 of 24 -- a staggering 50 per cent success rate.

Lance Franklin works his magic against the Eagles. Picture: Michael Klein

This from a team that already leads the league in that category with a season average of 30.7 before this game.

That it tailed off to 16 of 35 and 19 of 49 by fulltime was an invevitable "market correction".

But keep in mind that West Coast played arguably its best game of the past two months and still came up 20 points short with eight more forward 50 entries.

For other clubs, there's no solution to those numbers just yet.

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