Coming up against a top five opponent with a three-game winning streak behind them is never an easy task, however West Coast midfielder Bella Lewis says the Eagles come into their clash with Geelong confident they can get the job done. 

Consistency will be key for the Eagles, who have taken significant steps in their development as a side after an off-season of investing in youth.

“Our team is always used to tough games; we love them,” Lewis told westcoasteagles.com.au.

“If we can put together four quarters together of good quality football, we will be okay.

“We’ve come very close in the past couple of weeks and taken a lot of positives out of those games, especially being the youngest team ever in AFLW.” 

There will be a familiar face in the opposition line-up on Saturday, with ex-Eagle Mikayla Bowen expected to play out on the wing for the Cats.

Lewis was able to catchup with her former teammate during the AFLW’s launch of Pride Round at IKON park.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 13: Mikayla Bowen of the Cats and Bella Lewis of the Eagles pose for a portrait during the 2022 AFLW Pride Round Launch at Ikon Park on October 13, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

While still good friends, Lewis said there will be no love lost when they matchup this weekend.

“’Bowey’ has always been one of my best friends at the club when we played together,” she said.

“It was really good to see her, I didn’t know she was coming and it was great to catch up before we play against each other on Saturday.

“We are friends today but with all respect to her, I know it’ll be a great battle on the field and I know we both won’t leave anything out there when it’s all said and done.”

During the launch, each of the six teams competing in Carlton this weekend had the opportunity show off their Pride guernseys as the AFLW looks to promote inclusivity with a united approach.

“It was really special to see each club represented in the round, hearing about all the stories that went behind each club’s jumper I think is a great way we can educate others,” Lewis said.

“To see the inclusivity and the diversity within the AFLW right now is really good to see and every club is really getting around it.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 13: (L-R) Mua Laloifi of the Blues, Eilish Sheerin of Tigers, Bonnie Toogood of the Bombers, Alice Mitchell of the Swans, Mikayla Bowen of the Cats, and Bella Lewis of the Eagles pose for a portrait during the 2022 AFLW Pride Round Launch at Ikon Park on October 13, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

As a part of AFLW’s celebrating of Pride Round, IKON park will host three games this weekend kicking off with Carlton playing Richmond tomorrow night followed by a double-header on Saturday.

Saturday will see the penultimate game between Sydney Swans and Essendon before West Coast play Geelong at 5:40pm AEST (2:40pm AWST) as a climax to the weekend’s festivities.