New era and new direction was the mantra of the West Coast Eagles’ fourth AFLW campaign, with the club hoping to look back on the season as the moment where fortunes started to turn.
AFLW entered rare territory playing its second season in the one calendar year and the Eagles underwent significant change during a brief off-season.
An extensive list turnover shifted the squad towards a more youth focused approach as they brought in a League record 15 new players in between the conclusion of season six and the start of season seven.
Building through the draft and developing the side together was a key focus as the Eagles fielded the youngest side ever in AFLW with an average age of only 22.8 when they played Hawthorn in round six.
The revitalised side got off to a flying start to the season, coming away with a 12-point victory against expansion team Port Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park.
Eight new faces donned the blue and gold for the first time as the Eagles saw Ella Roberts, Isabella Simmons, Jessica Sedunary, Emma Humphries, Mikayla Western, Krstel Petrevski, Kate Bartlett and Sasha Goranova all make their debut for the club.
The comeback victory was led by Irish superstar Aisling McCarthy who was not only able to dull the influence of Port star Erin Phillips, but helped the Eagles arrest an issue around clearances.
McCarthy also kicked a remarkable last-quarter goal – selling a little candy, side-stepping and then slotting a classic from the pocket.
McCarthy’s major jumpstarted West Coast into a remarkable four-goal comeback in the final quarter that saw goals from Aimee Schmidt, Kate Bartlett and Mikayla Western.
Two losses followed against clinical sides in Gold Coast and Essendon as the new Eagles fell victim to poor first quarter performances, prompting the West Coast trainers to rework the sides pre-game warmup.
Former basketballer Eleanor Hartill made her debut against the Bombers, getting her first shot at the Eagles after getting picked up at a talent search day.
Come round four, the Eagles put on one of their most impressive performances of the year against Greater Western Sydney at Accor Stadium.
The young side identified the Giants gameplan of quick ball movement through the use of handball and worked to stop it with a barrage of tackle pressure - ultimately coming away with a seven-point win.
Peel Thunder youngster Jaide Britton made her AFLW debut while Sophie McDonald shutdown League legend Cora Satuton.
Flying high, the Eagles returned home to Optus Stadium to face crosstown rivals Fremantle in a nailbiting AFLW RAC Derby.
West Coast put on a gritty display and ultimately fell by just three points in the closest margin in AFLW RAC Derby history.
Another up-and-coming midfielder on the Eagles list, Abbygail Bushby, debuted for the side in style, kicking the first goal of her career late in the second quarter in front of a lively crowd at Optus Stadium.
Second-year ruck Sarah Lakay was outstanding against the Dockers, dominating with 42 hit-outs in a contribution worth a Rising Star nod – the first nomination of the year for the Eagles.
In terms of Rising Star nominations, the flood gates were open with Eagles youngsters stepping up to put their hat in the ring for the award at the end of the year.
Rookie Ella Roberts gained a nomination for her performance against Hawthorn where her side went down by three points in windy conditions in Frankston.
Second-year halfback Charlie Thomas followed suit, earning herself a Rising Star nod in a challenging match against Richmond where she had a game-leading 23 disposals.
Ella Smith (round six) and Ashleigh Gomes (round eight) also made their debuts late in the season against Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs, respectively.
The last three games of the season saw West Coast come up short against some more experienced sides in the League and the Eagles finished the season 16th on the ladder with two wins on the board.
In the last game of the year against Melbourne, defender Belinda Smith ticked off the 50-game mark in AFLW.
Season seven of AFLW saw 13 Eagles get their wings and there were highlights about the second season of 2022, including Ella Roberts finishing fourth in the Rising Star race and skipper Emma Swanson being named in the All-Australian squad of 44.
