West Coast Eagles head coach Michael Prior has attributed the work put in pre-season as a key reason his side was able to make a four-goal comeback in the final quarter in their 6.4 (40) to 4.4 (28) victory over Port Adelaide.

The Eagles trailed by two goals at the final change on Saturday before storming home in front of a vocal home crowd.

“Over the last 10 weeks during pre-season we’ve introduced little things that have really improved this side,” Prior said.

“We introduced extra fitness sessions and some differently structured blocks of work here and there and the side really bought into that.

“It showed today that we can finish a game really well, so the confidence we get out of this is huge for the season ahead.

“Over the next few rounds, we now know that if we are in a similar position, we’ve got the run in our legs to stick it out the entire game.”

After a lacklustre third quarter Prior’s side flipped the script in the final term at Mineral Resource Park, slotting four goals to nil, including a stunner from debutant Mikayla Western that saw her outrun the Power defensive line to put her side in front.

Eight Eagles made their debut against Port Adelaide with Prior crediting the team’s leaders for bringing the team together to finish.

“The cohesion of this side was a little bit of an unknown to us considering we had all the new debutants, however a few of them have played AFLW before for other sides so I’m sure a win will help today,” Prior said.

“I’m really pleased with how the whole side played, there wasn’t really anyone who couldn’t keep up with the pace of the game so that is really pleasing to see.”

The Eagles will try and carry the moment from their first win to the Gold Coast for round two of AFLW when they face the Suns at Metricon Stadium on Sunday September 4.