West Coast have had a hard return to Mineral Resources Park for round three of the AFLW competition going down by 52 points to the Essendon Bombers.  

Despite the 4.8 (32) to 13.6 (84) scoreline on a tough evening, there were some shining lights within the side, Ella Roberts had a big game with 17 disposals alongside Courtney Rowley (14 disposals, three tackles) who was busy defensively.    

The Eagles were slow in the first half, entering halftime with a huge mountain to climb.  

Similar to last week’s game on the Gold Coast, West Coast had a significantly improved performance in the second half relying on key leaders Emma Swanson (25 disposals, 18 kicks) and Aimee Schmidt (six marks, two goals) to reinvigorate the side.  

00:39

Cameron gets the girls going

Imahra Cameron snaps through a ripper to give West Coast a much-needed first goal

In the first term the Eagles went hard at the ball however the Bombers were too successful at converting well early, scoring the first six goals of the clash.  

Aimee Schmidt did well to limit the Bombers’ attack with some handy interceptions playing in a new position down in the backline.  

West Coast kept the pressure up but had trouble getting clearances resulting in them playing down in their own half for majority of the second quarter.  

In the later part of the first half Eagles ceased a little bit of momentum by upping the pressure and keeping Essendon down in their own half resulting in their first goal scored by Imahra Cameron.  

01:08

Roberts post-match v Essendon

We spoke to Ella Roberts after tonight's loss to the Dons

The momentum kept going the Eagles way as they lifted the pressure with Schmidt getting the side's second goal going into halftime.  

West Coast looked like an improved side coming into the second half but still found it difficult to convert good passages of play into points.  

Ultimately Essendon was too good in the second half led by Madison Prespakis (22 disposals, two Goals and Daria Bannister (14 disposals, two Goals)

West Coast heads east next weekend to face Greater Western Sydney Giants at Giants Stadium as they look to get their season back on track after two back-to-back losses.  

Details

WEST COAST 5.2 9.4 10.4 13.6  (32)

ESSENDON  0.2 2.3 3.6 4.8 (76)

 

GOALS  

West Coast: Cameron, Schmidt, McCarthy  

Essendon: Bannister 2, Prespakis 2, Scott 3, Vogt, Wales 2, Wuetschner 2

 

BEST  

West Coast: Roberts, Schmidt, Rowley, Swanson

Essendon: Prespakis, Bannister, Wales, Scott

 

INJURIES  

West Coast: Nil

Essendon:  Nil

Crowd: 1500